I remember when I sold one for a record price of $30,000. I’m sure someone called the buyer a lunatic for paying so much Don Yenko was the major Chevrolet performance dealer for many years, and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the 427 Camaro. He converted numerous cars […]

Pontiac Historic Services build sheets are the only way to tell which cars left the factory as real GTOs {vsig}2005-7_1855{/vsig} The exemplary 1965 GTO offered here is one of only 11,311 Pontiac GTOs that came as convertibles, just 15% of production in 1965. How many came with the ultimate 389-ci, […]

When Hot Rod Harry had a disastrous engine failure, he souped up the powerplant and installed an overdrive five-speed transmission {vsig}2005-6_1843{/vsig} In 1925, Errett Lobban Cord added the Duesenberg Motors Company to his rapidly growing enterprise, the Auburn Automobile Company. Cord’s vision was to create an automobile that would surpass […]

Its massive fins reflect the height of American optimism, a sculptural representation of the opulence of the era {vsig}2005-5_1836{/vsig} This 1959 Cadillac convertible was previously owned by Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis of German Royalty. The onetime waitress who used to be known as the “Punk Princess” because of […]

GM’s Motorama displays ignited millions of automotive passions, and the heat can still be felt in 2005 {vsig}2005-4_1830{/vsig} Throughout the 1950s, the grandest expressions of General Motors’ visions of the automobile’s future routinely went on display at the corporation’s Motorama shows. But once out of the spotlight, GM’s “dream cars” […]

Slowly examine one of these cars from every angle and the true genius of Walter Dorwin Teague Jr.’s design is apparent {vsig}2005-3_1823{/vsig} Howard Marmon was a brilliant engineer; he completed his first automobile in 1902 at the age of 23. It was remarkably advanced for its time, featuring an overhead-valve, […]

The Hemi brand is now potent enough that DaimlerChrysler is fashioning its entire North American automotive operation around it {vsig}2005-2_1816{/vsig} Plymouth added the Road Runner to its model lineup in 1968, a bare-bones performance car built to a price. At only $3,000, Road Runners came with standard Plymouth Belvedere equipment, […]

In 1959, Ford kept its Blue Oval models relatively devoid of chrome, mile-high fins, and many of the other excesses that were common to the era   {vsig}2005-1_1808{/vsig} New for 1959, the Galaxie began life as a variant of the highly successful Fairlane. The year is considered by many to […]

GM design chief Bill Mitchell’s “personal luxury” land yacht set sail as a sophisticated merger of Ferrari GT car style with Rolls-Royce luxury {vsig}2004-12_1536{/vsig} Although Buick was primarily a luxury line, in 1963 it issued a sports model, a beautiful coupe called the Riviera. It was America’s answer to the […]

Prior to the auction, guesses as to its eventual selling price were rampant, and the result was a staggering achievement for a Duesenberg. {vsig}2004-11_1470{/vsig} In an era of record-setters, Ab Jenkins and his Duesenberg Special surpassed them all. Racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats, he performed landmark miracles of speed […]