O C T O B E R 2 0 13
January 17-26, 2014
The Real McCoy
TO CONTACT MECUM AUCTION
Via Mail, E-mail, Phone or Fax: Mecum Collector Car Auctioneers 445 South Main Street Walworth, Wisconsin 53184 Website: www.MECUM.com Office: (262) 275-5050 Fax: (262) 275-3424 E-mail: info@mecum.com
SELL A VEHICLE
AT A MECUM AUCTION
OCTOBER 2013
CONTENTS
FEATURES
6 RECORD BREAKER IN DALLAS
PAGE
Dallas Auction Results
12 HARLEY J. EARL CORVETTE One of a Kind Styling Car
16 EVER GREEN
The Return of the Grasshopper
20 RESTO MOD NOMADS
55 & 56 Updated 2-Door Wagons
28 THE WINNING SUPER SEVEN
Download a “Request for Position” form today. Visit www.MECUM.com. Click on the Seller info tab at the top of the home page to fill out or download all forms. Be sure to fill out separate forms for each vehicle when requesting positions.
BUY A VEHICLE
AT A MECUM AUCTION
Mecum provides two ways to become a registered bidder and purchase vehicles at our auctions. In addition to conventional onsite bidding (recommended), we also offer absentee services to bid via the telephone. For complete bidder registration information, visit www. MECUM.com, click on the Bidder info tab at the top of the home page. For any questions contact the bidder department at 262-275-5050.
Mecum Vintage Racer
32 MCACN 2013
Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals
34 THE GABUS COLLECTION The Man Behind It C OLUMNS
1 5 THE DEALMAKER
The Calendar Continues
15 ROAD ART Illuminating Lineup For Chicago 19 INSIDERS SCOOP
Resolution
www.facebook.com/mecumauction Nobody Sells More Than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wisconsin.
24 THE REAL BARN FINDS The Ultimate New Gens
27 AT THE REDLINE
Keep On Truckin’
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Copyright © 2013 Mecum Auction, Inc. All rights reserved.
MECUM.COM
The Dealmaker
DANA MECUM
The calendar continues October is Chicago month for Mecum. For our first auction at the Schaumburg Convention Center, we kick off October 10th in true Mecum fashion with over 1,000 cars filling the building and grounds to capacity and offering an incredible selection to choose from for the three-day event. November 1-2 we’ll be next door in Davenport, Iowa for the Mecum Vintage Tractor Auction Iowa Premier, and then it’s off to sunny SoCal for our second annual Anaheim auction November 21-23. Following last year’s inaugural event, we’re excited to return to the Anaheim Convention Center with 750 classic and collector vehicles ready to go under the Mecum hammer. December 5-7 we’ll return to Kansas City for 2013’s grand finale event with 750 cars including a dozen classic Fords from the Charles Gabus Estate Collection. The consignment book is now open for the Mecum Marathon in Kissimmee January 17-26 featuring 3,000 cars and 10 days of non-stop auction action. Kick off the New Year with Mecum and join us at the world’s largest collector car auction.
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RECORD BREAKER IN DALLAS 1,400-Car Lineup Achieves 70 Percent Sell-Through and $38 Million in Sales
of a whopping $38 million, which includes the unsurpassed sale of collector Buddy Herin’s 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible (Lot S123) that brought a healthy $3.2 million. “Buddy’s collection, as anticipated, was the highlight of the four-day event,” commented Mecum President and Founder Dana Mecum. “His record-setting L88 made history once again, selling for $3.2 million, the highest price ever achieved for a Corvette at auction.”
Some things are just meant to be, and Mecum and Dallas are like engines and horsepower. As an event that began with an anticipated 1,000-vehicle lineup, the third annual Dallas auction exploded with 1,432 classic and collector cars crossing the Mecum block throughout the four-day event and 986 of them hammering sold. The auction is now in the books as one of the most successful Mecum auctions on record with an impressive overall sell-through rate of 70 percent and sale totals 6
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In total, four cars from the Buddy Herin Collection offering made the top 10 sales list including his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (Lot S127) that swooped in to occupy the second seat hammering at $530,000. As number 62 of just 69 produced, the highly-optioned ZL1 was the only one to roll out of the factory in its desirable Red-on-Red color combination. Following what quickly became a
Chevy-heavy theme in the top 10 sales, number three was Herin’s 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Airbox that sold for $290,000, with a 2005 Ford GT (Lot S107) and 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago (Lot S110) from the Michael Scott Collection representing the only non-Chevy cars to make the list selling for $255,000 and $230,000 respectfully.
DALLAS 2013 AUCTION RESULTS TOP 10 SALES
VEHICLE
DESCRIPTION
SOLD FOR*
LOT NO.
1. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible 1967 NHRA A/Sports Champion, Tank Sticker $3,200,000 S123 2. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 #62 of 69, The Only Red/Red ZL1 Produced $530,000 S127 3. 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Airbox 1 of 43 Airbox Corvettes Produced $290,000 S121 4. 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro YS9637, COPO 9561 and 9737 $275,000 S134.1 5. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Convertible 454/450 HP, 4-Speed $275,000 S122 6. 2005 Ford GT 5.4/550 HP, 6-Speed, Less Than 1,850 Miles $255,000 S107 7. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Red/Red, Bloomington Gold Certified S125 $250,000 8. 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster Paddle Shift, Less Than 1,400 Miles $230,000 S110 9. 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16 Original Engine, Paint and Interior $225,000 S165 10. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe 427/435 HP, Bloomington Gold Benchmark $205,000 S204.1 * All Sales Reflect Hammer Prices. MECUM.COM
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$3.2 MILLion
History was made September 7 at the Dallas Convention Center when Mecum Auctions sold Buddy Herin’s 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible for a recordshattering $3.2 million. Staking claim as the highest price ever achieved for a Corvette at auction, the L88 sold for double that of the previous record of $1.6 million. With the ‘67 model year considered the most desirable year for Corvettes, and the L88s being especially rare, these cars are at the very top of Corvette collectability.
In total, 216 L88s were produced from 1967-69 and prices from all three years of production have steadily and significantly increased in value over the past two years. This particular L88 is one of just 20 produced in 1967 and boasts an impressive background on the track. Well-documented and extremely well-cared for, the car was offered with the accompaniment of its original tank sticker, vintage race photos and time slips, and the bragging rights of being the winner
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of the ’67 NHRA A/Sports Nationals at Indianapolis. Mecum’s offering of this L88 from the Buddy Herin Collection marks the first time that a ‘67 L88 has been offered at public auction since the market has been on the rise. Corvettes have always been America’s favorite sports car, but this sale set an entirely new standard for the desirability of this widely collected and respected brand. M MECUMMONTHLY
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Schaumburg Convention Center - Schaumburg, Illinois
OCTOBER 10-12, 2013
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THE Harley J.
The 1963 General Motors styling car, Shop Order 10323, is known as the Harley Earl Car. Harley J. Earl was the Vice President of Design for General Motors. He joined GM in 1928 and retired in 1958. Over his 30-year career, Harley Earl became one of the most influential automobile stylists in the world. His best known innovations include the 1927 LaSalle redesign, the Buick Y-Job and LeSabre styling cars, the ground-breaking Motorama dream cars, the iconic big fins of the 1950s, wrap-around windshields, pillarless hardtops and two tone paint. He is often considered the second most important man in the history of the American automobile, commonly known and accredited as the man who 12
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brought design and color to the American Auto Industry. As the father of the Corvette, it was his designs in the ‘50s at the Motorama tours that brought the Corvette to the attention of the American public and the world. This car was given as a gift to Earl, sent straight from GM styling to the driveway of his Palm Beach, Florida, home. Earl used the car as a personal driver for two years in addition to running it as the parade car at the 1965 Daytona 500 when he served as Grand Marshall. The trophy for winner of the Daytona 500 remains “The Harley J. Earl Trophy” to this day. While the car bears a 1963 serial number, it is fitted with several 1965-vintage components and a number of MECUM.COM
items that were never Corvette production pieces, such as the strange side-exit exhaust that sprouts from behind the front wheel wells. The interior is modified, with instruments installed in the glovebox panel, metal foot well plates and custom leather seats and door panels. The exhaust intrudes into the area for the battery, which was relocated behind the passenger seat. There is extensive use of cast brass emblems and other details, including the console trim. It is equipped with factory air conditioning and a fourspeed manual transmission, and while certainly a 1963 model, its chrome trim, exterior emblems, interior control knobs and fourwheel disc brakes are all 1965 parts, as is the hood.
Earl CORVETTE
Another styling car of the same color was built for the Chicago Auto Show. It however, did not receive the gauge and dash treatment of S.O. 10323. In comparison to standard instrumentation, the clock was moved to the glovebox and accompanied by an accelerometer, vacuum pressure gauge, oil temperature gauge and matching inside/outside temperature gauges, while an altimeter replaced the clock in the center of the dash. As for the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most distinguishable feature, only four Corvettes were ever built with this custom cove-exiting exhaust system: the original styling Mako Shark, the Harley Earl car, the Bunkie Knudsen car and the Chicago Auto Show car. When previous owner Joe
Clark first acquired the car he was unaware of its unique history. As prominent Corvette hobbyists and collectors, he and his partner Bob Gold soon realized that they had more than just a custom car. Their conviction drove them to engage the factory in the search for more answers about this special Corvette. Clark and Gold were quick to meet with the GM Design Staff, the most important result of which was that they confirmed the car as the very one custom-built as a gift to Harley Earl. It began life as a fuel-injection-equipped Red four-speed convertible that likely found service as a pool car or test mule. Designated Shop Order 10323, records indicated that the special glovebox-mounted instruments were originally MECUM.COM
intended for the Chicago Auto Show car but were installed in the Harley Earl car instead. GM Design Staff were instrumental not only in establishing the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history; they also made important contributions to the accuracy of its restoration. A mainstay of the Bloomington Gold Special Collection (invited more times than any other car) and Corvette Hall of Fame inductee, this styling car is a one-of-akind factory special that has been confirmed by the GM design staff as the original Corvette Sting Ray gifted to the great Harley J. Earl. As lot S110 it is scheduled to cross the auction block on Saturday, October 12 at the Mecum Chicago auction at the Schuamburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. M MECUMMONTHLY
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With over 50 new items, plus some of your favorites, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sure to find that stylish piece just right for you. From comfortable apparel to great novelty items, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve expanded every category, and all are decorated with the trusted Mecum name. TM
mecumGear.com
Road Art
Bob Sain
ILLUMINATING LINEUP I have been working with Mecum Auctions for nearly four years, and I’ve been involved with the exchange of memorabilia and Road Art items for more than 22. Even with all those years under my belt, I never fail to get excited about a great piece, and I have never stopped learning. With our Chicago auction debuting at the Schaumburg Convention Center, we’re kicking off the Road Art segment right and doing it big, offering quality and quantity. I’m pleased to report that between regular and silent auction items, we will have around 400 pieces of Road Art to offer including rare and investment-grade items ranging from original neon signs to the
vintage gas pumps featured in last month’s issue. Road art is an integral part of our auctions and a few of Mecum’s events have quickly become notorious for offering a huge selection of excellent collector pieces. Chicago 2013 will see an impressive 1,000-car lineup of stunning cars rolling into Chicagoland and 400 Road Art items throughout the threeday auction. And for size, we’ve sacrificed none of the quality. We have some of the most coveted collectible pieces from brands like Sinclair, Firestone, Dodge, Hudson and more. In the time I’ve been dealing with Road Art, I’ve learned a lot more about it. I’ll be onsite MECUM.COM
at the Chicago auction, so if you’re interested in something you see in the lineup, or if you have questions about your own personal collection or items in it, stop over and ask! I’m always interested in hearing about unique items and collections, and if the Chicago lineup inspires you to start your collection anew, I can even help set you up to consign your Road Art for the next Mecum Auction. Log on to Mecum.com and start searching our Chicago Road Art lineup for that perfect piece to complement your collection. Don’t forget to check out the Silent Auction items as well. With a lineup this big, you’re sure to find something you like! M MECUMMONTHLY
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EVER GREEN
The Grasshopper was the creation of brothers Larry and Mike Alexander, whose Detroit garage, Alexander Brothers Custom Autos, became one of the most acclaimed custom automotive shops of the 1960s. Unlike such self-promoters as Barris, Bailon and Jeffries, the Alexander Brothers relied on the quality of their paint and metal work to do their talking for them. The result was a thriving business whose creations included ‘Chili’ Catello’s 1932 Ford ThreeWindow “Silver Sapphire” coupe, which graced the cover of Hot Rod 16
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Magazine and became famous as The Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe,” the “Alexa,” built to Harry Bradley’s design for the 1964 Ford Custom Car Caravan, and the “Victorian,” a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria named to Car Craft Magazine’s Top 10 in 1960. The brothers originally built the Grasshopper 1931 Ford Model A pickup in 1958 to serve as the company truck, but as they added one custom touch after another it became the shop’s rolling advertisement, eventually winning many show awards, including Best Paint at the 1958 MECUM.COM
Detroit Autorama. While subtle by Alexander Brothers’ standards, the custom work they performed on the Grasshopper was quite extensive. They chopped the top 2.5 inches, swapped the original fenders for 1929 pieces, replaced the bed and front grille with 1932 units and incorporated 1942 Dodge headlights. A ‘51 Ford flathead V-8 was installed and the truck finished in its prize-winning Glade Green paint. With the decline of the custom car craze the Alexander Brothers closed their shop in 1969 and went their separate ways. They
the return of the grasshopper sold the Grasshopper to an Ohio man who continued to show it until he sold it to pinstriper Don “The Egyptian” Boake of Dayton. More than 30 years later, Don Boake sold the truck back to Mike Alexander so he could restore it in time for the 50th anniversary of the Detroit Autorama in 2002. Alexander replaced the original frame with a reproduction 1929 chassis and had Motor City Flatheads prepare a 1948-vintage
unit with gleaming Offenhauser finned high-compression heads, an Edmunds high-rise intake manifold with dual Stromberg 97 carburetors and modern electronic ignition. The original 1939 Ford transmission gave way to a Ford C4 automatic. Alexander credits his old friends the Gaffoglio family, Bob Hedrick, and Kenny Pfitzer of Metalcrafters, Inc. in Fountain Valley, California, as crucial to the restoration. They restored the bodywork and laid down the Grasshopper’s striking new Sikkens Emerald Green enamel
paint. Paul Hatton, who did the original tailgate lettering and pinstriping, reprised his work, and Little John, also of Fountain Valley, reproduced the truck’s original Green and White pleated upholstery. The rest of the details, such as the handmade instrument bezel, 1950s Chrysler gauges and banjo steering wheel were all retained. A particularly delightful feature is the beautifully polished oak floor in the pick-up bed hidden beneath the white hard tonneau cover.
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restored Alexander The Brothers Grasshopper 1931 Model A pickup proved as big a sensation at the 50th anniversary of the Detroit Autorama as it was in 1958. Instantly recognizable as an icon of the American custom car craze period of the 1950s and ‘60s, the Grasshopper will add prestige to any collection as a significant example of the customizer’s art. The opportunity to own it is this November 21-23 at the Mecum Anaheim auction as it crosses the block as Lot S134. M
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NOVEMBER 21-23, 2013
Anaheim Convention Center - Anaheim, California
IT’S TIME TO CONSIGN
S92 - 1964 Porsche 356C Coupe
BR O A D C A S T L IV E O N
CONSIGN A VEHICLE California License #81410
Mecum.COM
262-275-5050
REGISTER TO BID
Insider’s Scoop DAVID NEWHARDT
For many of the Mecum Monthly’s past issues, I’ve been giving out tips for ways that you can improve the look of the images that you send us. Good photos = good bidder response. Every consigner wants their vehicle to be seen in the best possible light. I have pointed out the significant visual difference between a real camera and a camera phone. The biggest difference is the quality of the lens and the size of the sensor. Thus I’ve “encouraged” sellers to use a true digital camera. The results will speak for themselves. But there is one part of the equation that is crucial in securing the winning photo – resolution. Digital cameras can be programmed to save an image in a number of formats, such as RAW, TIFF or JPEG. The most common format is JPEG, which is easy to email as the file size is not gargantuan. Most cameras have an adjustment that will allow the camera user to pick which level of resolution they want. Ideally, the camera should be set for “JPEG fine.” This will
RESOLUTION
give a high-quality image that can be enlarged – a real concern when the Mecum Auctions Presentation Department wants to use a photo in a bigger format than web use, such as on a banner or a two-page spread in a brochure. Bigger really is better. Here are two examples of an image; one is low-resolution, the other is high-resolution. It’s pretty evident which one is which, and it’s pretty evident MECUM.COM
which one a consigner would rather use. Accessing the menu in your camera isn’t difficult, and by scrolling through the menu, you’ll come across the folder that gives you resolution choices. Click on the highest quality, and you’re ready to create photos that will work to create buzz for your vehicle. And isn’t that the whole idea? M
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Resto Mod
Chevrolet’s sporty 1955-57 Nomad found a natural home in the youth-culture boom that detonated in postwar Southern California and spread across the nation throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s. Cars and surfing were central to the phenomenon, cross-pollinating to produce a uniquely American icon, the surf wagon. The Nomad’s combination of style and functionality perfectly suited the surf wagon’s role as a symbol of the youth culture. The echoes of 20
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that era still reverberate today as succeeding generations adapt present trends to the ever-popular 2-door wagon, two shining examples of which will cross the block at Mecum’s Anaheim 2013 Auction. Evoking the brilliant natural colors of the California coast, this 1955 Nomad Resto Mod (Lot S105) is wrapped in gleaming Azure Blue paint perfectly accented by its handsculpted Tan leather interior, White roof and sparkling MECUM.COM
chrome, the only exterior departure from stock evident is in its raked stance and large diameter polished billet wheels. Back in the day the Corvettebased 283 and 327 CI small block V-8 was the powerplant of choice; today it’s still Corvette power, but in the modern form of the all-aluminum 5.7 L LS1, which is teamed here with a 4-speed automatic and packaged with power rack and pinion steering and dual circuit power disc brakes.
NOMADS
A frame-off Resto Mod buildup by Hot Rod Heaven, this 1956 Nomad (Lot S135) has a style all its own. Completely disassembled to its bare metal essence, it is built on an Art Morrison chassis, combining an LS1 V-8 and 4L60E overdrive transmission with a host of modern conveniences that includes ice cold air conditioning, power steering and Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes, power windows and a commanding sound system.
This iconic Nomad Resto Mod takes the traditional ‘50s twotone color scheme and amps it up with mirror-like Red and Silver over carefully prepped sheet metal. The Concoursquality presentation is sharpened by all triple plated chrome, refinished or new stainless trim and chromed billet wheels. Upholstery legend Ron Mangus created the stunning leather interior, echoing the car’s brilliant exterior finish.
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The Anaheim auction is set in the perfect locale for these two SoCal dream cars. These resto-modded Nomads will ride Mecum’s signature red carpet on Saturday, November 23 at the Anaheim Convention Center. M
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Gone Farminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Auctions
Episodes Airing Every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. CT and on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. CT
Go to rfdtv.com to find out if RFD-TV is available from your Pay TV provider
November 1-2, 2013 Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds •Davenport, Iowa
Over 250 Vintage Tractors
S35 - 1963 John Deere 3010 Orchard 1 of 19 Built
S50 - 1937 John Deere A Two Of A Kind
Over 200 Signs & Farm Relics
S42 - 1972 John Deere 4020 High Crop Powershift Diesel 1 of 16 Built in 1972
F56 - 1958 Farmall 350
The George Kerckhove 52 Tractor Collection All Offered at No Reserve on Friday Nov. 1
Consecutive Serial Numbers
All proceeds go to local FFA chapter
S40 - Oliver 770 LP Orchard
S28 - 1966 International 1206
F20 - 1941 Mccormick Deering 0-4 Orchard
S38 - 1945 Minneapolis Moline R Cab
S68 - 1937 Silver King R-38 Orchard
IT’S TIME TO CONSIGN.
mecum.com 262-275-5050
WATCH GONE FARMIN’ AUCTION EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY 4:30 PM CST AND EVERY SATURDAY 10:30 AM CST.
THE ULTIMATE NEW
American automobiles from the 1960s were innovative and had style. These cars, for many reasons, have been cornerstones at Mecum Auctions. Tractors from the 1960s also had great leaps in technology and are regarded as some of the best tractors ever made. John Deere set the mark for the decade when they unveiled the New Generation tractors on August 29, 1960 at the Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. The road to Dallas began in 1955 when a note that read “not content to be runner-up” crossed the desk of John Deere’s new president William Hewitt. That note was one of International Harvester’s slogans in 1955.
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Hewitt concluded Deere was not content to be number two, and he was driven to prove that it was more than family ties that got him to his position. He led what was one of the best-kept corporate undercover operations in history. To increase the capabilities of the new line of tractors, an increase of horsepower was a top priority. After over 40 years of the two-cylinder engines, Deere made the jump to bigger engines with more power. There was rigorous testing to find the next engine combination and in the end they found that the dispersion of gases in the V block was too inefficient and went with the inline 4- and 6-cylinder design. Another game MECUM.COM
changing improvement was the triple-circuit hydraulic system allowing separate circuits for power steering, power brakes and a third for the 3-point or implement remote. Up to this point all operations had to share one hydraulic line. To introduce this top-secret project to the world, Deere flew over 6,000 dealers and other quests in over 100 airplanes from around the country to Dallas. To witness the display of those 136 new tractors firsthand had to have been awesome. The new tractors were built in four new models, the 1010 30 HP, 2010 40 HP, 3010 55 HP and the 4010 with 80 HP at the drawbar. These models were available in many combinations
The Real Barn Finds DAN MECUM
Gens
including utility, row-crop and the limited production specialuse tractors such as orchards and Hi-crops. As these tractors kept improving, the next series of new generation tractors were available in 1964. The keystone of the new 20 series and one of the most popular tractors of all time was the 4020. The horsepower was increased to 94, the cockpit was redesigned and the new power shift gearbox was available. The Iowa Premier vintage tractor auction coming up November 1st and 2nd has an impressive offering of “New Generation” tractors headlined by a 1963 3010 gas Orchard (Lot S35) and a 1972 4020 Hi-crop diesel with a power shift (Lot S42).
The 1963 orchard was a special use tractor engineered for orchards and vineyards. The orchard fenders are designed to allow the tractor to pass under branches while protecting both the operator and the fruit on the trees. New generation orchard tractors are considered some of the best-looking, most aesthetically pleasing tractors of all time. Fulfilling a small niche, just 76 3010 orchards were ever produced. Of those, 57 came with a diesel engine, while only 19 came with a gas engine. The 1972 4020 Hi-crop is another low-production special use tractor. Most of the high clearance tractors were sent to Louisiana to harvest sugarcane. From 1964 to 1972 a total MECUM.COM
of 714 4020 Hi-crops were manufactured. As the new generation tractors kept evolving most collectors consider the last year of production the pinnacle of perfection. In 1972 only 16 4020 diesel Hi-crop power shift tractors were built. The ’72 tractor has almost every option and update a new generation tractor could have. Every auction brings a new “first,” and this is the first time we’ve seen tractors like the 3010 orchard and the 4020 Hi-crop offered at auction, and our team is excited for the opportunity to offer them in Davenport, Iowa, at the Gone Farmin’ Iowa Premier. M
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WE PROTECT WHAT YOU COLLECT. Get a quote today.
Just Call 888-98MECUM (888-986-3286) or E-mail MCIA@AMIG.COM
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At The Redline JOHN KRAMAN
keep on truckinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Is it surprising that vintage trucks have emerged as one of the hottest segments in collector vehicles? The GM debut of the stunning 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier and its rare cousin 1955 GMC Suburban Carrier are considered the first major effort to blend upscale appearance with the utility of a truck. They have both been quite collectible since new and continue to be highly sought after today. But today, all brands and types of vintage trucks have become very popular and many are being treated with lavish restorations to original condition.
Old trucks are simple, rugged and oozing with Americana charm from a bygone era with fond memories of a rural lifestyle. While most sales consist of entries from the Detroit Three, it is not uncommon to see independents such as Studebaker and International selling as well. While hot-rodded trucks have been with us quite a while, stateof-the-art resto modding is now being applied to this market as well. Electronically controlled, fuel-injected contemporary V-8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, big 4-wheel disc brakes and updated suspensions are fairly MECUM.COM
easily installed and will drive up the prices as well. Of course a nice driver, quality truck is still available in the sub $10K range, but the sky is the limit for highend restorations. This is especially true for factory 4-wheel drive and high option versions. While prices have risen dramatically over the past five years, they are still affordable compared to most cars, so now is the time to buy. And there is always a wide selection to choose from at a Mecum Auction! M
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THE WINNING
Mecum Auctions has teamed up with Denny Wilson and his winning Lotus Super Seven for vintage races across the country. Denny’s black and yellow Lotus, dressed in full Mecum livery, has won every event entered this year including major race meets at Virginia International Raceway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, to name a few. “It is great to have this association with the Mecum organization as they are the world’s premier classic and vintage auto auction company,” commented Denny. “They treat
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every customer, buyer or seller, in a first class manner. Dana Mecum has a love for the vintage race cars as demonstrated by his impressive collection of Indy race cars and his presidency of the Miller club.” Denny’s racing background is impressive with stints in short track stock cars, Sports Car Club of America Nationals, USAC, IMSA Camel GT and NASCAR. He has won the coveted Mark Donahue Award presented by the Road Racing Drivers Club, the Grove Racing Award twice and 10 various SCCA championships. He has also been a driving consultant and instructor for licensed race
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drivers wishing to improve their abilities and go faster. “Vintage racing gives us an opportunity to race these wonderful cars of past years,” Denny explained. “It is often super competitive but with that touch of restraint that hopefully will allow the racers to bring their cars home in one piece. Many of the cars that you will see racing are actually faster than they were years ago; they may look the same but the development has continued.” Vintage racing has steadily grown from just a few events each year, to races almost every weekend across the country.
SUPER Seven Major venues from Watkins Glen, New York, to Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, hold races with participants piloting cars from the small Austin-Healey Sprites to ultra-expensive cars like Ferrari and Shelby. The race fans have also discovered this form of auto racing, with many venues drawing
thousands of spectators who enjoy the access to the paddock area and the experience of walking among millions of dollars-worth of historic race cars, transport rigs and all of the support equipment necessary for racing. The opportunity to talk directly to drivers enthusiastic about
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the race cars and their history is another perk relished by spectators. Dennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next race behind the wheel of the black and yellow Mecum Lotus Super Seven will be at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this October 24-27. Stop by and check out the winning Mecum Lotus and talk to Denny. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always happy to share his passion with fellow race enthusiasts. M
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DECEMBER 5-7, 2013
Kansas City Convention Center at Bartle Hall • Kansas City, Missouri
F217 - 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible GTOAA Nationals Concours Gold
BROADCAST LIVE ON
TIME TO CONSIGN
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BY BOB ASHTON
MCACN2013 The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show, affectionately referred to as “Mc-Ac-N,” has quickly established itself as the place for muscle car enthusiasts. The unique show offers the perfect venue to showcase the rarest and most desirable high-horsepower machines from across the country. Each year, the show takes place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in the greater Chicago area
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of Rosemont, Illinois, the weekend before Thanksgiving. This November 23-24 will mark the gathering’s fifth anniversary. Over 550 cars will be on display ranging from multimillion dollar Cobra’s like the very first 427 Cobra, CSX3002, to farm fresh “barn finds” that have been hidden from view for years. Corvettes of all generations ranging from 1954 -2014 will also be featured.
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This year’s MCACN show will feature many of the popular Special Invitational displays. Outstanding groups of Ford’s hottest performance models, Oldsmobile “W-Machines” and Plymouth Roadrunners are among the highlighted groups. The “Barn Find/Hidden Gems” section returns, with some of the most sought-after performance cars that many assumed were gone or destroyed. The Vintage Certification program,
for unrestored and original muscle machines, and the Triple Diamond Corvette competition, two of the fastest growing parts of the show, return with all new entrants ranging from 1954-74. And if that isn’t enough, MCACN is thrilled to be hosting the “Great American Muscle Car Giveaway,” which will be an annual event at the show. With 100 percent of raffle ticket sales going
directly to the March of Dimes this year, Charley Hutton of “American Hot Rod” television fame will draw the winning ticket Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Charley just may hand you the keys to a beautiful 1970 Oldsmobile Rally 350! The Mecum Lounge will again be featured right up front. With bidder assistants onsite, you will be able to place bids for vehicles at Mecum’s Anaheim
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auction directly from the MCACN show. Last year, several participants placed winning bids from the comfort of the Mecum Lounge. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this year’s Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show. Register to bring your car or just come as a spectator to take it all in. More information on the fifth annual MCACN show set for this November 23-24 can be found at www.mcacn.com. M
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the man behind the Charles Gabus Ford may be one of the most successful dealerships in Iowa, but it’s the man who built the business with the real story to tell. Though Charles Gabus passed in 2008 at the age of 90, his legacy lives on through his business, his family and friends, and perhaps not surprisingly, through his collection of classic Fords. Gabus’ good friend and longtime employee Jim Bintner talked about Gabus and his history. “I’ve worked for the Gabus family for 36 years now, Charlie raised me in the car business,” Bintner explained. “He was a school teacher by trade; he started out in Nebraska as a school teacher and did that for a couple years and decided he was better suited to be an entrepreneur.” Gabus wanted to make a comfortable living for his wife and family, Bintner said, so in the
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early ‘50s he became an appliance dealer in Auburn, Nebraska. “He was selling washing machines, stoves, refrigerators, air conditioning and radios like there was no tomorrow,” Bintner described. “They used to finance them through GMAC (General Motors Acceptance Corporation) and the guy that worked there said to Charlie after a while ‘The way you’ve been selling these appliances, you should be selling cars!’” Bintner said Gabus went home
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to his wife Frances and told her of his intentions. Her response was simple and direct, she said, “That’s great – we can be car dealers. But we’re going to sell Fords.” Frances’ father had driven nothing but Fords all her life and according to Bintner, “It was just that simple.” Gabus didn’t waste any time diving head-first into the car business, buying a small dealership in 1953. In 1967 the couple moved shop to Des Moines, Iowa, as a result of Frances’ desire for big city amenities with a Midwest locale. It wasn’t long before business took off and the Gabus Ford group became one of Iowa’s biggest and most successful car dealerships. Though Gabus may have seemingly stumbled into the car business, he had always had a love for cars and a knack for restoration. “As a young man, he and his brother would help rebuild cars and sell them to make a little money during the depression,” Bintner explained. “And then he worked in a body shop when he was going to college.” It was only natural as he continued in dealing cars that he began to build a collection. Now and again someone would come to the dealership with a trade-in that Gabus just
gabus collection couldn’t bring himself to resell. “The ‘56 T-bird (Lot S117) was probably his favorite car,” Bintner said. “He and Fran had a lot of memories in that car – that’s when they got started collecting.” Bintner went on to describe Gabus’ love for convertibles and told the story of how most of the cars in Gabus’ collection came to be. “The first collector car Charlie owned was a Red Model-T. He traded it in and got the 1915 Brass T (Lot S119) and the 1931 Model A (Lot S114) that are still part of his collection.” From there, Bintner said the collection just kept growing. “A little white haired lady used to own that ‘59 T-bird (Lot S120), believe it or not,” Bintner laughed. He said the woman would bring the car to Gabus Ford to have it serviced a few times a year. “I’m sure this lady got bugged every day to sell this car. Charlie gave her his business card one day and said ‘I know you get hounded about selling this car but if you ever decide to sell it, I’ll take it
off your hands.’ Well, she came in a couple years later and Charlie wrote her a check on the spot.” The cars all have interesting back stories, with nearly half of them finding Gabus’ when they rolled into the Gabus Ford lot as a trade-in. Gabus would take the cars as trade-ins and then write checks to the company, purchasing the cars to keep as his own. “He just enjoyed them,” Bintner said. “He would always volunteer somebody to take them out to the parades, he liked doing that.” The Gabus Ford group took care of the cars onsite in the company shop, and many were even completely restored by Gabus himself. “The 1940 Convertible (Lot S118), he got that in the middle ‘90s,” Bintner recalled. “He liked the style of it and he redid it from the ground up. He put a lot of money and work in it; it had a total frame-off restoration. Same with the ‘50 Convertible (S116); that car was originally that pea green, that ugly green they had in the forties. And the last one he
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did was the roadster (Lot S115). It had been sitting in somebody’s barn and it looked like it had been totally neglected. But he brought it back.” Bintner said that Gabus had always been a charitable man, and that now the family wants to use the collection to carry on that legacy. “They just don’t get the attention that they should,” Bintner said of the cars. “And we want them to do some good.” The Gabus family decided to consign the group of 12 cars with Mecum Auctions. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum located at Camp Dodge, a military camp in Johnston, Iowa. The collection will cross the block at Mecum’s Kansas City, Missouri, auction this December 5-7 and Bintner plans to follow them there. “I’ve been babysitting them for 36 years – you can bet I will be there when they cross the block.” And what better way to honor the memory of a car dealer, collector and lifelong friend. M
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OCTOBER 10-12, 2013
Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, Illinois
NOVEMBER 21-23, 2013 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California
DECEMBER 5-7, 2013
Kansas City Convention Center Kansas City, Missouri
JANUARY 17-26, 2014 Osceola Heritage Park Kissimmee, Florida
CHICAGO AUCTION LOT S178 - 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor From the Movie Gone in 60 Seconds