Monday, August 31, 2020

1969 Ford Torino Talladega Fastback - $58k

The Ford Torino Talladega is a muscle car that was produced by Ford only during the first few weeks of 1969. 754 were produced. Matching numbers Q-code 428/335 HP Cobra Jet engine. C6 HD automatic transmission. Ford 9-inch rear end with 3.25 gears. Royal Maroon paint. Power steering. Power brakes. Exterior oil cooler. Original bench seat interior. Believed to be 25,000 miles. Highly original.
Talladegas were equipped with the new 428 Cobra Jet, which, while powerful, was intended as a street engine as it developed high torque at low RPMs, rather than a high-revving race engine.
The Torino Talladega did exactly what Ford hoped it would do on the racing circuit: it won 29 Grand National races during the 1969 and 1970 NASCAR seasons. Ford completely abandoned all of their racing programs, starting with the 1970 season. Today, a Torino Talladega is a very collectible car with Hagerty suggesting a concours example is trending around $80k.
The car went unsold at Mecum Harrisburg. It appeared at Mecum's event and made $58k.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

1970 Plymouth Road Runner - $176k

Last time on road was 1974. 19,100 actual miles. First time offered for sale. Original V-code 440 BBL engine. Original 4-speed transmission. Original Dana 60 4.10 rear. Original stainless, chrome, and sheet metal. Rare factory TX9 color. Original glass with inspection sticker. Black deluxe bench seat. Original AM/FM radio. Power steering with cooler. Rare front disc brakes. VIN verified with photos. One concours repaint in 2017.
Plymouth developed the Road Runner to market a lower priced, basic model to its upscale GTX. The Road Runner was based on the Chrysler B platform with the 440 Six Barrel an option for 1970. Sales of the 1970 Road Runner dropped by more than half over the previous year as insurance rates killed the muscle car.
This top tier example made $176k at Mecum.

Friday, August 28, 2020

1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupe

One of the most iconic cars in existence, the 300 SL, with its upwards-opening ‘Gullwing’ doors was the first in a line of performance-focused Mercedes SL models that continues to this day. With a revolutionary fuel-injected engine and the title of world’s fastest production car — with a speed of 161 mph — the 300 SL has all the parts needed for supercar status.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer. Introduced in 1954 as a two-seat coupé, it was later offered as an open roadster. The original coupé was available from March 1955 to 1957, the roadster from 1957 to 1963.
The 300 SL's main body was steel, with aluminum hood, doors and trunk lid. It could be ordered with an 80 kg (180 lb) saving all-aluminium outer skin at tremendous added cost; just 29 were made.

80% of the vehicle's production of approximately 1400 units were sold in the US, making the Gullwing the first Mercedes widely successful outside its home market. The 300 SL is credited with changing the company's image in America to a maker of high-performance sports cars.
Derived from the DB 601 V12 used on the high-powered Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter of World War II, the 300 SL put out 175 hp to 215 hp. The result was a top speed of up to 260 km/h (160 mph), making the 300 SL the fastest production car of its time. A four speed manual was standard.
The 300 SL is considered one of the most collectible Mercedes-Benz, with prices generally in the US$1m to 2.5m range.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

1970 Chevrolet LS5 Chevelle SS Convertible - $93k

LS5 454/360 HP engine. Automatic transmission. Positraction rear axle. 8,400 actual miles. SS wheels with wide oval tires. Correct spare and jack assembly. Power steering, windows, and convertible top. Sport steering wheel. Black bucket seat interior. Under hood auxiliary light. Factory Cranberry Red. Front bumper guards. Pushbutton AM radio. Oval aluminized exhaust.
1970 was a watershed year in the history of American muscle. Most would agree that the muscle era hit its apex in 1970. Vying for the top of the pops was Chevrolet's Chevelle SS 454. The SS 454 carried Chevy's intermediate performance banner. The Super Sport package, Chevelle's highest performance option, was available in the hardtop Sport Coupe ($3,497) and convertible. ($3,697)

The big block LS5 454-cubic-inch V8 produced 360hp in standard form. The LS6 produced a claimed 450 gross HP in solid-lifter, high-compression guise and cost a mere $263.30. 4,574 LS5s were produced in 1970. Of those, 91 were convertibles.
While not the uber top end LS6, they surely aren't giving these babies away. A 1970 LS5 Convertible made $ 185k in 2011 at Barrett Jackson. This example appears at Mecum.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

2016 Ford Shelby GT-H

1 of 171 produced. 40 original miles. Built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rent-A-Racer program created by Shelby and Hertz. 5.0L V-8 engine. Ford Performance cat-back exhaust with chrome tips. Ford Racing handling pack. Carbon fiber front splitter. Polycarbonate hood with vents. Rear spoiler. Navigation. Back-up camera. Heated and cooled seats. Air conditioning. Power windows, locks and seats. Staggered wheel kit.
Output is 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. Starting MSRP was a highly reasonable $55k.
The vehicle appears at Mecum.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - $230k high bid

14,500 miles. Rosso Competizione Metallic. Rosso leather interior. Carbon fiber body and components. 20 inch Clover design light alloy wheels. Factory Brembo carbon ceramic disc brakes. Carbon fiber sport seats. Pushbutton start. Quad-outlet factory sport exhaust.

500 8C Competizione and another 500 8C Spiders were built.
The car's powertrain features a Ferrari/Maserati derived cross-plane, wet sump 4.7 L (4,691 cc) 90° V8 engine assembled by Ferrari. The engine has a maximum power output of 444 hp at 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 354 lb⋅ft at 4,750 rpm. Redline is a significant 7,500 rpm.

The six–speed transaxle gearbox has computerized gear selection via paddles on the steering column. The gearbox can shift gears in 175 milliseconds. The car carried a starting MSRP around $235k.
The car appears at Mecum.

Monday, August 24, 2020

UK man demolishes F430 Scuderia less than an hour after he bought it

Ever purchase something, say a nice shiny pencil, and then go on to lose it later that day? Agh, that’s the worst. Ever drop $288,000 on a Ferrari F430 Scuderia and then go demolish it less than an hour later?

Cops had this to say ... "the vehicle had left the carriageway and burst in to flames. Road conditions were wet at the time and as officers arrived on scene it became clear there was a vehicle well alight and colleagues from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue were in attendance squirting water all over some kind of sporty model".
This charred and twisted blob of hi-teck is all that’s left of the lightweight exotic after it flew off the road in wet conditions and went airborne on the M1 in South Yorkshire.

After its unscheduled flight, the F430 careered down a bank for 50 metres before finally coming to a halt in a field. It proceeded to burst into flames. The unnamed driver escaped with only minor cuts and bruises. One assumes next time he'll learn how to drive.

Sunday, August 23, 2020

1970 Ford Torino King Cobra - $ 192k

1 of 3 Torino King Cobras produced. Prototype King Cobras were never homologated for NASCAR because of the production cost and change in Ford's corporate structure.

This is the only example built with the 429 Boss motor and 4 speed.
Instead of being destroyed like most prototypes, two of the King Cobras, including this one, were delivered to Bud Moore Engineering in 1971. Moore eventually sold this orange King Cobra, which was rediscovered many years later in a South Carolina field.
An extensive restoration has brought the car back to its original prototype condition, including its one-of-a-kind convex glass rear window. Instead of the original 429 Cobra Jet, this King Cobra is now powered by a Boss 429, Ford’s NASCAR engine of the era.
Per original, the black interior is purposefully spartan with a bench seat and Hurst shifter. The car made $192k.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Bonhams' Goodwood Revival sale 2018

A 1964 Shelby Cobra 289ci Competition Roadster was the top lot, selling for £1,359,000. The chassis was one of 32 competition cars that were developed and made in-house by the Shelby factory.
A 1990 Jaguar XJR-11 Group C prototype made £1,191,000. One of three made for the World Sportscar Championship, it had substantial success in Formula 1.
A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, originally exported to the USA, sold for £754,2000

Friday, August 21, 2020

2019 Porsche Turbo S Exclusive Series Convertible - $250k high bid

The 2019 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series carries a 3.8-liter six-cylinder horizontally opposed twin-turbocharged engine delivering 607 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque to all 4 corners.

The 911 Turbo S Cabriolet boasts a 0 to 60 in a blistering 2.8 seconds. 500 examples were available worldwide at a starting price of $258k.
A scant 200 were produced for the North American market. This example appears at Mecum.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV - $95k high bid

Extensive nut and bolt rotisserie restoration. Original sheet metal. WW code Ram IV engine. Rochester no. 7028273 Ram IV carburetor. No. 1112011 Ram IV distributor. 4-speed transmission. 64,200 actual miles.

Of the 40,149, GTOs built in 1970, 3,797 were Judges. Of those only 168 were ordered with the Ram air III or Ram air IV, with 24 of those being convertibles.
The 1970 Pontiac GTO was available with three 6.6-liter V8s, the basic 350-horsepower unit, the Ram Air III, and the Ram Air IV, as well as the 7.5-liter 455 HO V8. The grossly underrated engines pushed more than 400 hp.

Suspension on the 1970 GTO was independent up front with a solid axle at the rear. Anti-roll bars at both ends were new for 1970. This minimized the car’s tendency to roll through corners although the 58/42 weight distribution still made it prone to understeer.
A top tier Judge Ram Air IV is a highly desirable car. This example appears at Mecum.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

1959 Scaglietti Corvette

Primarily known for their coachwork on Ferrari race cars, Scaglietti handcrafted three Corvette Italias in collaboration with Gary Laughlin, Jim Hall and Carroll Shelby. Three bare 1959 Corvette chassis were shipped to Scaglietti of Maranello and constructed with a special lightweight alloy body.

Their intention was to race the cars against the Ferrari 250 Testarossas and 250 SWB Berlinettas. Scaglietti's principal customer, Enzo Ferrari, was not pleased, and the cars took more than two years to complete.
The 1959 Scaglietti Corvette Italia was intended to be produced in limited numbers, and would have competed in the same market as high-performance European sports cars.
The concept was to use an inexpensive, reliable American drive train mated with an exotic Italian body. One chassis had a four-speed transmission, the others the powerglide, all came with a 283 cubic-inch engine.

One of the Scaglietti Corvettes was advertised for sale in Hemmings last year for $995,000.