American

This price can be explained by the “ABC” factor-Aging Billionaire Collector. Such buyers can’t wait another 20 years, so they pay whatever it costs {vsig}2008-11_2243{/vsig} Preston Tucker’s promise of “the first completely new car in 50 years” struck a chord in the hearts of the public in 1948 and again with the release of Francis…

While this car was created to race, it combines a high level of technical competence in construction with the highest standard of finish {vsig}2008-10_2231{/vsig} Hot rodders Art and Lloyd Chrisman were early and successful pioneers of drag racing with their famous #25 dragster, which was the first to achieve trap speeds of 140 mph and…

The aluminum heads had intakes that could swallow a tennis ball, which was great for 200-mph laps around Daytona {vsig}2008-9_2218{/vsig} In 1969, Ford introduced a limited-production model to the Mustang line. This addition was the Boss 429. It was the most powerful Mustang, and the name referred to its 429-ci engine, which was built in…

My 9-year-old son was very agitated as I loaded the car. He said “Dad, you can replace any one of the others-this is unique” {vsig}2008-8_2205{/vsig} Built by tobacco heir Zachary Reynolds, the “Tobacco King” 1964 Ford Galaxie was as wild an example of a Rocket Drag Axle-equipped car as one could ask for. Playboy, pilot,…

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 the longest production line in…

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, then with the 1928 Model…

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 at RM’s February 15-17 Fort…

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 for city driving and chauffeur…

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 the Wiseman Collection. At first…

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 was evolving, and in 1965,…