Under the Hood with Angelo Van Bogart

What? A Cadillac outsells a '57 Chevy convert?!
Posted by Angelo

I hate to see a fine collection of cars spread to the wind, but this isn't a perfect world. Oldsmobiles and Duesenbergs aren't in production, my favorite drive-in is closing for the season and '57 Heaven Museum in Branson, Mo., has closed its doors. Even when bad things happen, there can be a bright side, even if it doesn't shine as brilliant. I'll appreciate that pizza burger in spring a lot more when the Dari-Ette drive-in opens next spring, people value Duesenbergs for their place in history and the cars of the '57 Heaven Museum are in appreciative new hands that may expose the cars to car events the vehicles have never appeared.

The Oct. 24 sale of the contents of the '57 Heaven Museum was conducted by Mecum auctioneers with mighty results. What shocks me is that a 1957 Cadillac convertible outsold a '57 Chevrolet convertible at this sale, and the Chevy was an ultra-rare Morocco. It's always amazed me how a Chevrolet, which was far less expensive than a Cadillac, could regularly outsell its spendier GM sibling. But not at this sale. (Fellow Cadillac nuts will also notice the high-selling Cadillac was a Series 62 convertible, which also outsold a generally more-valuable Eldorado Biarritz. Perhaps condition was a factor here.)

It also surprises me that neither of the collection's 1957 Oldsmobile convertibles made it to this list, and 1957 Ninety-Eight and Super 88 and Rocket 88 convertible sales have been very strong in recent years. We'll get the details from John Lee's report of the sale in Old Cars Weekly.

If you want to do your own comparison of auction results for cars, go to Old Cars Report.

For those curious, here's the official press release from Mecum:

MECUM '57 HEAVEN MUSEUM AUCTION TOTALS $7 MILLION IN SALES
Classic Cars, Vintage Signs, Memorabilia from the Era
Crossed the Block during One-Day Event

MARENGO, Ill. - It was a standing-room only event as thousands of collectors packed into the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Mo., for the Mecum '57 Heaven Museum Auction on Oct. 24, 2009.

Mecum Auction sold hundreds of items from the museum's unique collection of 1957 vehicles, authentic storefronts and automotive memorabilia, with total gross sales over $7 million (excluding buyer's premium).

"The Mecum team gathered a record number of pre-registered and registered bidders to buy pieces from the museum's incredible collection of cars, collectibles and re-created '50s-era storefronts like a drive-in movie and service station," said President Dana Mecum. "The '57 Heaven Museum drew an international crowd as well, with interested buyers from around the world - including Australia, Japan, South Africa and England - making purchases."

Attendees at the '57 Heaven Museum Auction bid on more than 75 classic cars and motorcycles of all makes and models. Also up for bid were neon and metal signs; vintage men's and women's clothing; furniture; books; magazines; vintage movie posters; and children's toys.

The '57 Heaven Museum Top 10 Sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:
1. 1957 Chrysler Dual Ghia Convertible (Lot S7) at $300,000
2. 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible (Lot S61) at $250,000
3. 1957 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (Lot S56) at $245,000
4. 1957 Chevrolet El Morocco Convertible (Lot S26) at $230,000
5. 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible (Lot S55) at $210,000
6a. (Tie) 1957 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible (Lot S28) at $195,000
6b. (Tie) 1957 Buick Super Convertible (Lot S29) at $195,000
8. 1957 Pontiac Chieftain John Zink Co. Record Setter (Lot S60) at $192,500
9. 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Convertible (Lot S4) at $190,000
10. 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible (Lot S31) at $172,500

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:31:17 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

Comments [1]

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Saturday salvaging
Posted by Angelo

It's been nine years since I moved to central Wisconsin to work for Old Cars Weekly, and I'm still surprised what treasures lurk around the the area. Last weekend, I found a new 'field of dreams,' and it was right under my nose.

Since winter is coming early to central Wisconsin this year, I took advantage of the reprieve from the rain and the slightly warmer temperatures last weekend to scout out a salvage yard I had never been to.

I learned about the yard at the 2009 Iola Old Car Show. A vendor there had several fenders in his booth, plus photos of cars in what appeared to be a salvage yard. I always stop to check out these photos in hopes I’ll spot a car like one of my own, and sure enough, there was a mid-1950s Cadillac coupe in the photos. Then I noticed the yard was within a half hour of my home! I inquired and grabbed a business card with the plan to stop at the salvage yard this summer. Well, I missed summer, so I wasn’t going to let the fall pass without a visit.

It turns out, I had actually driven past the yard this summer without my internal salvage yard diving rod going off. Thanks to the thickly wooded landscape, the yard wasn’t obvious until you drive well behind the owner’s home. My visit last weekend showed the fun begins about 100 yards beyond the house and past the tree line in an obscured but open field.

There aren’t a lot of prewar cars at Tom's Classic Cars & Parts, but there are plenty of mid-1950s to early-1980s cars. And while the yard isn’t huge, it’s certainly worth a visit since the cars are desirable and many are complete. A more in-depth story will appear in Old Cars Weekly, but in the meantime, enjoy these pix from Tom’s Classic Cars & Parts, located at 10281 Buelow Road, Amherst, WI 54406 (715-258-0362).

A cute little 1941 Buick fastback that could be resurrected.

A thought occurred to me upon seeing this 1946 to early-1949 Plymouth two-door sedan: Why do you never see these cars street rodded? If it weren't for the dented roof, this one would definitely be worth saving. Perhaps a fan with good skills will still drag it home and restore it.

Given its rusty front fenders and sedan status, this '49 Buick Roadmaster will probably remain a parts car. Perhaps if Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise had driven a '49 Buick sedan instead of a convertible, it would be a different story. As it is, this Buick's story won't have the happiest of endings.

Here's why I came to Tom's Classic Cars & Parts: a trio of mid-1950s Cadillacs. The siren that called to me from a photograph isn't pictured, but I was told there were three to four 1954-1956 Cadillacs. I spotted three, including the pictured 1956 Coupe deVille and 1954 Series 62 coupe. The '56 had some engine parts yet, including the desirable air cleaner with an asking price of $150, exactly what they sell for in online auctions.

A trio of new arrivals: A 1966 Chevrolet four-door sedan, 1946 Nash coupe and a 1957 Cadillac Series 75 limousine. Iola Old Car Show attendees who have been behind the downtown district may recognize the limo -- it has been rotting behind a local business for many years, and now it's found safe haven at Tom's no-crush yard.

Yup, a '57 Chevy two-door sedan, and it has relatives at Tom's Classic Cars & Parts, including an equally stripped hardtop, plus more complete sedans and station wagons.

Tom's Classic Cars & Parts is surrounded by a county-imposed metal fence, but you get a taste for the treasures inside by the early1960s Comet coupe and 1960 Chevrolet sedan outside.

You don't see too many 1960 Ford Starliners in salvage yards. This one is getting stripped and its getting rusty, but I'm sure there's a rare part waiting to be found on the car yet.

Like bubble tops? There are at least four of them in this yard, two Buicks and two Chevrolets. I regret I didn't determine whether this 1961 Buick was an Invicta or LeSabre.

One of the two 1961 Chevrolet Impala two-door hardtops at Tom's Classic Cars & Parts (the hood and rearview-mirror for the second is visible in the foreground of this image). At least one more resides in Tom's personal collection. Watch for pix of this car's twin in OCW.

If you like mid-1960s Chevelles, pay Tom's a visit. This is one of at least two 1967 Chevelle two-door hardtops; the second is even more complete. Watch for pix of this car's twin in OCW.

My great grandma drove a 1967 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan, so I have a long-standing affinity for '67 Chevys. This rust-colored Impala sport coupe tripped my trigger.

The owner of Tom's Classic Cars & Parts is a true enthusiast out to save cars. While many would have crushed this 1969 Buick GS 400, Tom saved it. Even though the engine, bumper and front clip are gone, he notes there are many rare options remaining inside the car, not to mention all of the GS emblems.

The hobby puts 1969 Chevelle SS convertibles on a pedestal,
and at Tom's Classic Cars & Parts, that's literally the case.
It's rare but it's too far gone to even consider for restoration.
Now, this 1969 Chevelle SS convert is simply salvage yard art,
a position it accomplishes beautifully. During my visit to Tom's,
a previous owner of this car was looking for partd for another car
and hinted at some of the wild adventures he had with the Chevelle.

Thursday, October 22, 2009 3:31:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)

Comments [1]

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Converted to a 'pickup man'
Posted by Angelo

I have some pretty evil friends who enjoy a good taunt. When we were in high school, and I was driving my ’62 Cadillac Coupe deVille and they were driving trucks (1980s Dodge Rams and Chevy 1500s), the song “Pickup Man” by Joe Diffie came out.

If you know the song, you know the lyrics include the line, “You can set my truck on fire, and roll it down a hill, but I still wouldn't trade it for a Coupe deVille.”

Well, they played that song over and over and over again, just because they knew it drove me nuts. But now, after all the taunting has died down, I can admit there’s a little bit of “pickup man” in me, too.

I haven’t sold any of the Coupe deVilles, but I bought a truck to use as an everyday driver, particularly in the winter. And I love it.

Other than being pretty good-looking vehicles that remain as easy to work on as rear-wheel-drive cars, there’s also a huge aftermarket parts network to personalize trucks. Headlamp covers. Brake lamp covers. Custom grilles. Lift kits. A huge custom wheel selection. The combinations are absolutely endless to make a truck your own.

I haven’t tacked on any accessories to my two-wheel-drive 2000 Silverado 1500 yet, but I have been eyeing a few covers and grilles. I’ve already snapped up a used flat lid to cover the truck bed and bought a set of factory wheels that are in better condition than what was on the truck.

My friends have since stopped playing that song to taunt me, but I’ll have the last laugh yet. I plan on using that truck to save my Coupe deVilles from the ravages of winter, and to carry around parts for the finned machines. And while I love the way the truck rides and drives, you could set that truck on fire and roll it down a hill, and I’d be happy to trade it for a Coupe deVille. Preferably a white 1960.

I guess you can put the man in the pickup, but you can’t take the Cadillac out of the man.

Here's a recent picture, with the bed cover removed to haul and after a wheel switch. These steel wheels have what I believe is a stainless face so they won't corrode like the aluminum wheels originally on the truck. Plus they are shiney, and shiney is always good.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 4:32:37 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)

Comments [1]

Friday, October 09, 2009

Cashed out Clunkers
Posted by Angelo

While on vacation, I swung through a couple dealerships to scout out the "gross-polluting clunkers" that were traded in for $3,500-4,500 during the cash for clunkers program. I didn't spot the 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante, 1998 BMW Z3, 1984 Buick Riviera convertible or the ultra-desirable 1987 Buick GNX that appeared on the government's list of "clunkers" that were traded in. Such cars were exactly what my were fears were: some pretty desirable cars such as these went to the scrap heap in the sky: 19 1985 Buick Riviera convertibles, 240 rear-wheel-drive Monte Carlos from the 1980s and countless Cutlasses built on the same platform and other cars that will make you scratch your head (including the three 1987 Excalibur phaetons). Also, it's worth noting that the intercooled turbo Buick GNX was clumped among 10 other ASC products from 1987 states as "unlisted" models; what were those other ASC cars? Were there more GNXes among those "clunked," but the sales people was just too lazy to complete all of the blanks, or just didn't know what they were receiving?

I did, however, see one of the 1,021 1992-'96 Buick Roadmaster station wagons (a car appearing in good condition and loaded, so you know there was an LT1 under the hood) and one of the 978 1992-'96 Roadmaster sedans traded in under the program.

What I also saw were some very good-looking trucks that looked like they could carry many more loads of lumber, yard supplies and furniture. But not anymore. There was also a sharp-looking late-1990s Cadillac Seville with the desirable red pearl metallic paint (an additional $500 when new) just as my dad was shopping for such a car.

My brother, who recently graduated from high school, just started a job at White Bear Dodge in the Twin Cities and has seen the process for destroying the engines of clunkers. As he explained it, the oil is drained from the vehicles in the parking lot. They are then driven without oil into the area for clunkers where the engine-destroying formula is poured into the crankcase. Within a few seconds of running, the engines quickly seize in an anti-climatic moment.

The good news is, these cars will soon be available for parts, as long as you don't need an engine!

View the list of clunkers traded in here.

Friday, October 09, 2009 8:27:44 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)

Comments [1]

Google Sponsored Links

Free Updates

Search

Navigation

Archives

Links