Wednesday, January 25, 2017

1961 Chrysler New Yorker Hardtop Station Wagon

Refurbished 1961 Chrysler New Yorker hardtop station wagon for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller’s description:
This is without question, one of the nicest wagons on the planet. Several factors determined that statement. First being the rarity of this highly optioned, top of the line Chrysler New Yorker 9-passenger wagon. Features include power windows, dual front & rear air conditioning, power door locks, power rear lift gate window, full roof rack & more. A second factor would be the design of this amazing classic inside & out. The early 60s styling is second to none. This post-free Wagon is as rare as they come and are extremely sought after. Finally, the condition of this huge wagon is nothing less than mint!! The paint has been refinished and is absolutely beautiful. The interior is all original and immaculate. Both are Special Order colors as shown on the fender tag and documentation.
To begin, we would like to point out the condition of the exterior. The Special Order blue paint (999) is exceptional. It shines bright with no dings, bubbles, runs or flaws of any kind. The chrome on those two huge beautifully styled bumper are spectacular. The many trim pieces are ding free and gleaming as well.
The interior is all original in Special Order White (888). All power windows, power seats & power door locks operate as they should as well as every other feature and option, Rear lift gate window included. The Golden Touch Tuner radio plays great and has the station changer button on the floor, a Chrysler exclusive option. The factory dual front & rear Air Conditioning and factory cruise control options are exceptionally rare. All lights inside and out work as they should. The signals and wipers work as the should. Bottom line; there is nothing that needs to be done here. Period correct front and rear seat belts have been added.
The Golden Lion 413ci 4barrel engine is original, not a replacement. The 3 speed torque flite pushbutton automatic transmission shifts smoothly. The engine starts and runs beautifully. Brakes stop as they should.
The undercarriage is completely rust free, partially due to the factory undercoating.
A duplicate window sticker and an original brochure is included with this classic.
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Source: blog.hemmings.com

How Many Of These Do You Remember?



1948 Studebaker Commander Coupe


1957 Pontiac Safari Wagon

1956 Chrysler 300B

 

1960 Plymouth Fury   Golden Commando

1940 Plymouth Deluxe Convertible

Source: hemmings.com

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Top 10 Classic Cars To Buy, Keep And Drive

1958 Buick Limited Convertible
1958 Buick Limited Convertible

As with the other models included in this list, this classic Buick Limited convertible from the 1950's was chosen by experts at Auctions America by virtue of its desirability and potential for high regard.
General Motors slathered this unique and exceptionally rare ragtop with excessive amounts of chrome and it is said to have more square inches of chrome than any other American vehicle from the same era.

In pristine condition, expect one of these classic cars to command between $90,000 and $120,000.

Buick Riviera GS

1965 Buick Riviera GS 

The 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport is the most affordable model in this list of collectible classic cars. This huge “Riv” coupe is an elegant luxury sports sedan that was an incredible performer in its heydays.

It was powered by a 425 engine rated at 360 hp and 465-lbs.ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm. The engine is mated to an improved transmission called the Super Turbine 400.

The car’s most distinctive features are the stacked headlights hidden under retractable chrome covers. Expect this car to be valued at around $40,000 to $60,000.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

This palatial Eldorado has been cited as one of the most modish American convertibles from the ’50s.
Standard equipment included a six-way power front seat, power door locks, power windows, fog lamps, air-assisted suspension, heater, radio with a rear speaker, and whitewall tires.

The car is powered by the top Q-code 390 cubic inch V8, which cranked out 345 horsepower and mated to a 4-speed Hydra-Matic Drive automatic transmission.

The Biarritz is expected to command between $100,000 and $200,000.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS-6
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS-6

This is the ultimate muscle car that ruled American roads.

It is powered by a 450 horsepower engine bolted to either the 3-speed M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic or the Muncie M22 “Rock Crusher” close ratio 4-speed manual.

The exterior of the Chevelle featured sculptured lines above the wheel openings and a blacked out grille that was split horizontally and dominated by a huge SS emblem in the center.

Cowl Induction hood, hood pins and “Stereo Stripes” all formed part of the Chevelle’s muscular look. The car is valued at about $75,000 to $100,000.

1955 Chrysler C-300 Coupe
1955 Chrysler C-300 Coupe

The C-300 coupe is Chrysler’s first muscle car and the first mass-produced 300-horsepower car in America.

highlighted Chrysler’s excellent engineering reputation and was a showroom attention-getter that was instrumental in helping the lesser models to sell.

It was powered by a race-style version of Chrysler’s new “Hemi” V-8 rated at 180 horsepower.
Only white, black and red paint was available, and the few added perks included a heater, a radio, power steering, power seats, power windows, tinted glass and wire wheels.

The C-300 is one of a handful of classic cars with a good future market potential and is valued between $80,000 and $120,000.

1947 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible
1947 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible

Chrysler sold more non-wagon woodies than any other automaker in 1946 to 48, majority being convertibles and the most popular of its lineup was the 1947 Town & Country.

Although there wasn’t really much competition: just Nash’s Suburban sedan and the Ford/Mercury Sportsman convertibles, the ragtop Town & Country led the way not only in sales but in effectively combining vault-like solidity with sporty elegance and loads of glitter.

This big Chrysler is one of the more expensive classic cars in this list, valued at around $100,000 to $150,000. It has been cited as “a superb open-air woody tourer” that’s seeing an uptick in value.

1966 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350
1966 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

The 1966 Mustang GT350 was the lightest and smallest in the GT 350 lineup.

The cars are frequently called “Cobras”, which were the two-seat sports cars also built during the same period by Shelby American.

Power comes from the K-Code 4.7 liter engine which was modified to raise power output from 271 to 306 hp.

The GT350 is highly regarded as an open-road touring car that handles corners just as well as it accelerates on highway straightaways.

Its estimated price tag of $140,000 to $160,000 exemplifies its desirability in the collectors’ market.

1959 Fiat Jolly
1959 Fiat Jolly 

Only a handful of Fiat Jollys were produced and fewer remain in existence.

These classic cars were basically Fiat 600s equipped with wicker seats along with an optional fringed top for the rich and famous who may want to use the cars on their luxury yachts for dockside transport.

The Jolly is also perfect for leisure duties on golf course greens and upscale resorts. It is considered a micro-car powered by two-cylinder 497cc engines which deliver a precarious top speed of 55 mph.
Owing to their rarity, the cars are currently commanding about $50,000 to $100,000.

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442-W-30 Convertible
1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442-W-30 Convertible

The 1970 Oldmobile Cutlass 442 convertible is a favorite among avid collectors of classic cars because of its stylish design, remarkable performance and limited production.

Moreover, the W-30 package provides the best in Oldsmobile performance. The car is among the most powerful production Oldsmobiles ever produced.

The 370 hp from its 455 engine is impressive, but what’s truly amazing for those who have driven it is the 500 lb-ft of torque. The only other car from that era to match such torque figure was the 1970 Buick GS.

Even today, only a handful of naturally aspirated cars can equal or exceed the 500 lb-ft of the 1970 W-30. If you want one, prepare to shell out between $75,000 and $150,000.

1959 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible
1959 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible

The Bonneville played a significant role in the introduction of two of Pontiac’s best marketing inspirations — the wide Track slogan and the split grille.

The car also boasts of having what has been cited as the finest dashboard and interior of any American car from the 1950's.

Moreover, given its vintage, the bold and big Bonneville afforded proud owners an open-air experience with an astounding array of contemporary auto amenities.

The car is projected to command anywhere between $100,000 and $150,000.

Source: legendaryvideos.com





20 Rocking Cars That Were Far Ahead Of Its Time

If you are still wondering which were the best rocking cars that were made and designed so well it offered features and configurations beyond the time where they were built. Then the list of 20 rocking cars is given below so you can read and find information about the features that brought revolutions in the automobile industry,

Citroën-Traction-Avant
The impact that Citroen Traction Avant had on the world during the vintage period was phenomenal given its features, especially its front-wheel power. It was not priced high and which remained in the grasp of the middle class who could afford this beautiful car. The engine and the transaxle were located in the front giving it a nice feature and design that the buyer appreciated. No doubt this was amongst the rocking cars of the 1930's

Tucker

There were only 51 cars made by the company and was among the rocking cars of the 1950's which earned fame. The innovative design marks the best feature of the car and which were actually extraordinary in shape and appearance at that time. The headlight which was placed in the center of the car gave it a unique look. The design carved on the front suspension has always shown a change during every upgrade of the Tucker family.

NSU-Ro80
The most notable feature of the car was the aerodynamic shape that provided it more swiftness on the road. It was boasting an engine that could run it like a train with a transmission that was semi-automatic loaded with a vacuum system. The car featured whole advanced disc brakes on all the four wheels which were generally a feature of rocking cars. The 3-speed gearbox and the wheelbase was a big add-on to the already awesome car.

Volvo-240
The car looked very simple and ordinary from the outside but the inside offered much space which made it ideal for families. It had all the looks of a luxury car when it came to the top model specifications. It was the car that was perfect for families and could provide space for sitting as well as storage which made it one of the rocking cars of that era. In almost every year of production, this has always shown incredible improvements.

AMC-Eagle
It offered precise tractions and the ride was comfortable and the controlling was perfect. The engineering used in the car gave it the best features that allowed it for off road uses as well. It was affordable and the first ever in the American history to offer four-seater at that point of time. This car remains legendary, particularly a rarer series so far. This is also one of the most sought after vehicle when taken into the picture, its price and features.

Porsche-959
The car was made specifically for rally and races but later the production was increased to bring it on the streets. It was the first car that was legal with twin engines that could be driven on the roads with a top speed of 195 miles per hour. The technology used was advanced and made it among the best rocking cars that were ever built. This car had let everyone in the period to have an anxious feeling to drive it and having one was an ultimate expression.

Infiniti-Q45a
It was a luxury car which was a rear wheel drive sedan with four doors loaded with a V8 engine.  It had the perfect handling and the speed performance that was much sought by the people. The appearance was nothing special but the performance was ensured to be top notch in the car. This car held a multi-linked suspension at its front and rear wheels and had a 1 mm smaller rear stabilizer bar compared to its master version.

GM-EV-1
It was hailed among the people that encouraged the General Motors to produce on a mass scale. This car was the perfect output for the massive expectation. The electric car was designed to meet the relevant changes according to the modern era. It received an enormous response in the market for the electric concept which was well-designed. It had a huge impact on the market and inspired many rocking cars that came after it.

Ford-Model-T-Depot-Hack - rocking cars
The feature of this car was simple yet classy which was designed basically to meet the needs of the travel for short distance only. The wagons or hacks were sent to pick up and drop off the guests from stations. It used wooden parts to prepare the structure of the cars at that time and is definitely one of the rocking cars. The restoration this car had was very presentable and feasibility had always shown a drift.

Lancia-Lambda
The car sported most of the unique features, a dream car should possess and this one was the perfection that had the body upon the chassis which reflected the innovative change in the automobile industry. The car had shockers and even brakes that were available in all the four wheels. The V4 engine was significant in the car and displacements that had 4.7in stoke. This car is considered as one of the innovative automobiles produced so far.

Chrysler-Airflow
It was first of its kind which had a proper body which streamlined the sleek design and the automobile industry. The first change in the car designs was attempted which offered a significant change by introducing the airflow. The innovative design supported the movement allowing smooth speed and air resistance to the car. This full-size car marketed its companion model from the DeSoto Brand. The modifications were made according to the consumer’s expectations in the car.

Stout-Scarab
The first-ever minivan that was manufactured provided space and perfect storage capacity to the buyer. The car had air suspension to absorb the maximum shock and featured a fiberglass body. The car was made shorter from the front making it nose almost curved and this provided more space in the car. Stout Scarab’s already remarkable interior space was maximized to dispense with the running boards, which further led to expanding of the cabin.

Jensen-FF
The car sported a sophisticated look and controlling system with antilock brakes. The car featured the torque-split mechanism which allowed it to drive on four wheels and disc on all the wheels. This remains among the list of rocking cars at that time which were produced to win hearts of the riders. The four-wheel drive tourer is a British production and was proudly considered as the first non-all-terrain production car plus it also had an anti-lock braking system.

Citroen-DS-2.
The car was front wheel drive and the engine was loaded in the front. The car sported the convertible configurations and was designed b y the best designer to offer it such a unique design. The design was extraordinary and the engineer made it from a different era in time. It had the perfect set of brakes; handling and quality that made it stand unique among other rocking cars. This car had features that were amazing for the 50's production of automobiles.

Lamborghini-Miura
The racing instinct was reflected in the car with mid-engine two-seater body. It provided the car performance that no other cars could compete at par with it. In a matter of looks and design and stood unique among the other rocking cars of that era. The car was most suitable for people looking for speed and impressive looks. Just as in the standard is now, the brand had maintained the same innovation in features with this version too.

audi-front-uw-225
Audi Front UW 225, presented in the 30's, the very first royal car of the Europe combined the front-wheel drive with an engine that held six cylinders. This overcame the engine issue that was seen in its previous version. Audi Front UW 225 has managed to be on the list of top cars for a while then. This car claimed to show the maximum power output in the series. This car featured a wanderer engine and was actually ahead of time.

Lamborghini-LM002
It was a very different approach from the manufacturers that were known for making cars that were designed for luxury and to behave like sporty. The SUV was four-wheel drive and aimed to attract people from industries which were in the production sector. The engine was first installed in the rear then later shifted in the front to make it more efficient. This car was primarily known for its high performance being a sports car itself.

Honda-Prelude
It was a coupe which sported two doors giving it a hint of a sports car and yet luxurious. The engine, brakes, and the four wheel struts were followed to develop and make it more expressive. The moonroof was one of its essential features and later making it the trademark to the car.  This couldn’t be kept out of the rocking cars that were made at that time. This amazing creation, in its very first generation, was ranked in the Accord and the Civic for its impeccable styling.

Aston-Martin-Lagonda
The design was pretty unique and unconventional that no other automobile manufacturer could think of. The look was strikingly fierce and the interior was very classy and rich that made it the best saloon four doors of that era. It could easily be contrasted because of its extraordinary feature from other rocking cars. This car had two brilliant versions of itself. Unbelievably, this production brought a lot of fortune to the company from potential customers.

Oldsmobile-Jetfire
The car was loaded with an engine that offered it power that could make it run at a speed which could not be measured by other cars of that era. The Turbo Rocket Fluid provided it the necessary induction that allowed it more speed and potential to compress and force the engine to limits. The list of rocking cars would be incomplete without this Jetfire. The brand’s compact hardtop added as a bonus under the hood.

This is the list of 20 rocking cars that were made in a time when they actually had specifications and configurations that were beyond imaginations. They had best of the controls and handles that made it from a different time era altogether.

Source: legendaryvideos.com















Tuesday, January 3, 2017

1951 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery


One benefit of spending (way too much) time looking at cars for sale online is that you can actually learn something new almost every day. Before seeing this 1951 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery for sale on Craigslist, in Enosburg, Vermont, I’d never heard of Minneapolis, Kansas.  A town of around 2,000 people, it is the county seat of Ottawa County in north central Kansas, a bit north of Interstate 70 and Salina. Known locally as the “City of Waters,” it was named after Minneapolis, Minnesota.



I went on this little geographical side trip because the sedan delivery for sale here still shows its original owner’s name, phone number and location. Evidently, back in 1951, if you lived in Minneapolis, Kansas, you could call the nicely alliterative Dallen’s Dairy Delivery (phone number “263”) to have milk and eggs delivered to your door.


Chevy sold well over one million cars in the Korean War year of 1951, but only 20,817 of them were sedan delivery models. This sort of local delivery use was fairly typical for these cars in the forties and fifties. I believe turn signals were an optional purchase on 1951 Chevies, and it looks like this one did not have them!


Since not that many of these cars have survived, and many that did were street rodded, sedan delivery values have skyrocketed. This seller’s asking price of $4,995, while high, is not completely crazy, especially given that this example is so original and appears to have its sedan delivery specific parts present.


Not much is said about this car’s condition by the seller, but based on the photos provided and the fact that it’s 65 years old, you can expect to find plenty of rust in its floors, rockers and fenders. Hopefully the frame is still solid.


I wish the seller had provided photos of the interior and engine compartment. This car looks like it has not run in a very long time, and you can safely assume, it needs just about everything. Even so, this sedan delivery is well worth saving, and it would be fun to see it restored, with its original signage present.


Of course, Dallen’s Dairy Delivery does not exist anymore, but there are still some folks named Dallen living in Minneapolis who might enjoy seeing it. I hope this great example of mid-century small town America will find a new owner willing to take on the work needed to make it new again.

Source: barnfinds.com/

1955 Corvette Barn Find Story


Vintage Corvettes are among the most desirable and iconic old cars for many of us. Even if you are not a Corvette fan, this story in Super Chevy magazine is inspiring, as it shows that there really are still some very special cars hidden away in garages and barns all over America.



The Roman philosopher Seneca said that “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity.” And as the psychologist Richard Wiseman said: “Lucky people generate their own good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.” This does seem to explain why some people get all the luck when it comes to finding hidden long-lost cars.


Jim Wallace is a retired GM engineer who has been very “lucky” when it comes to finding rare and unusual Corvettes. He’s found three rare cars in his lifetime. According to the Super Chevy article, “he came across an original LeMans Blue 1969 L88 stowed away in a building since 1979. It had sat in the same spot untouched for 31 years. Nearly 3 years later, in 2013, Jim Wallace located a second LeMans Blue 1969 L88 Corvette sitting in a barn untouched since 1988.” And then he found the third, which this story is about.


This story is about a 1955 Pennant Blue Corvette – it’s a rare car, as only 700 Corvettes were made that year, and only 45 were this color. The hardtop is not a Chevy product but from an aftermarket manufacturer, but looks very cool on this car. It’s equipped with the 265 cubic inch V-8 that was new for 1955, and the optional Powerglide automatic transmission.


This particular Corvette was owned by another GM engineer, George Cromer, who purchased it as a used car in 1959. He drove it for nine years and then parked it in his garage, where it sat until Jim Wallace met George.  It did not take long for Wallace to decide he wanted this amazing find, and a deal was soon struck.


While keeping this car original was an option, its condition was pretty poor after so many years of storage – rodents had a good time with this car. So Wallace decided to send it to D & A Corvette for a complete back-to-factory specifications restoration. Personally, I think that was the right decision for this very rare car.


You can read the full story and see all the pictures at Super Chevy’s website. I love barn find discovery sagas like this one. It’s inspiring to all of us who dream of finding that special car that’s currently hiding in someone’s barn, maybe right around the corner like this Corvette was, just waiting to be uncovered and brought back to life.

Source: barnfinds.com