AutoHunter, driven by ClassicCars.com, has this 1958 Chevrolet Corvette listed for bidding. The car is one of 3,784 Corvettes produced with a 4-speed manual transmission for the year and one of 978 with the 270-horsepower V8 engine.
The roadster body is finished in Snowcrest White with silver blue coves and a white hardtop that can be used or removed as desired. According to the seller, a new wrap-around glass windshield was installed with new weatherstripping while the windshield posts have been re-chromed. The front and rear bumpers were also replated.
The silver blue interior features reupholstered bucket seats and new carpeting, dash pad, and door panels – perfectly matching the silver blue coves on the exterior. The original Wonderbar AM radio was replaced with a period-correct AM unit.
Under the hood is the 283cid V8 engine original to the car, according to the seller. The engine is equipped with restored dual 4-barrel carburetors and has the correct date casting #3737739 with date code B 24 8 and assembly stamp F226CU. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a date code-correct T-10 BW 4-speed manual transmission and 3.70 positraction rear end.
The odometer reads 17,000 miles, although true mileage on the car is unknown.
Worldwide Auctioneers, which held its 2021 Scottsdale Auction virtually from the company’s Auburn, Indiana, home base, reported that bidders purchased 93 percent of the 60 collector cars offered entirely online this year because of the pandemic.
While Worldwide did not provide a total-results amount for the January 23 sale held during a COVID-restricted Arizona Auction Week, it was pegged at $4.9 million by Hagerty, the classic car insurance and valuation company that regularly compiles and reports results for major auctions.
Leading the top sellers at Worldwide was a full-classic 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Phaeton, an exceptional example that notably carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a Chicago parade. The striking green 4-door sold for a record $571,500.
The 1934 Packard was used as a presidential parade car
Another record sale was made for a 1947 Mercury Series 79M wood-body station wagon equipped with Marmon-Herrington 4-wheel drive. The off-road equipped wagon sold for $346,000.
“This was a rare opportunity to acquire a hard-to-find, prize-winning automobile, and it hammered sold for a resounding, record-breaking price, proving that in spite of today’s challenging circumstances the market for really great cars is as strong as ever,” Rod Egan, principal and chief auctioneer, said in a news release.
An as-new 1996 Dodge Viper GTS driven just 22 miles set yet another auction record at $122,080, the highest price ever achieved for the model.
The ultra-low-mileage 1996 Dodge Viper GTS
A piece of retro TV magic came in the form of a 1979 Chevrolet “A-Team” van, one of only six officially licensed by Universal Studios to Hollywood Productions Inc. for promotion of the ‘80s action-adventure series.
The distinctive van sold for $84,000 after a fun session of competitive bidding, according to Worldwide, with proceeds benefiting the J. Kruse Education Center, which provides career pathway development to students and transitioning veterans.
The A-Team Chevy van was used in promoting the hit TV show
Arizona Auction Week is normally a jam-packed collector car celebration, with tens of thousands of fans crowding into the Phoenix/Scottsdale area to buy, sell or just enjoy the spectacle. In January 2020, a record eight auction companies held sales during the week.
This year was decidedly different because of COVID-19 restrictions. Worldwide was one of four auction companies holding collector car sales during a scaled-back Arizona Auction Week, two of them live/online sales held in Scottsdale and two, such as Worldwide, as online auctions at remote locations. Two others, the flagship Barrett-Jackson auction and Russo and Steele, postponed their sales until March, while Leake and MAC cancelled their events.
“We extend sincere thanks to all of those who were flexible enough to pivot with us in these exceptional times, and whether virtually or in person, help us make this year’s Scottsdale Auction here in Auburn such a great experience,” said John Kruse, Worldwide principal and auctioneer.
RM Sotheby’s scored the highest sale of the week with a 1955 Jaguar D-type that went for $6 million | RM Sotheby’s
Of the auction companies doing business during Arizona Auction Week, RM Sotheby’s was the champion with reported sales of more than $35 million for its live/online sale, Bonhams tallied $5.89 million for its live/online sale – both of those held in Scottsdale – while Gooding & Company had sales of $7.1 million for its all-online sale.
The total for the week was about $52.9 million, pending additional post-auction sales. While that’s only about 20 percent of the take for Arizona Auction Week 2020, there were twice as many auctions happening last year including Barrett-Jackson, which alone totaled $141 million.
Worldwide Auctioneers had a major business development this week with the announcement that the company has been acquired by Perpetual Industries, an Indiana-based technology and innovation group. The plan is to continue Worldwide auctions as usual with the backing of Perpetual.
“Worldwide will continue to be led by principals Rod Egan and John Kruse and operate independently under the Worldwide Auctioneers brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of Perpetual, driving forward with a continued focus on its mission, customers and community,” Perpetual Industries said in its acquisition announcement.
The top-10 sales for Worldwide’s Scottsdale Auction, as reported by Hagerty, are:
1. 1934 Packard Twelve-Series 1107 Phaeton sold for $571,500
2. 1947 Mercury Series 79M station wagon sold for $346,000
3. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette resto mod split-window coupe sold for $240,800
4. 2014 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta coupe sold for $218,400
5. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air resto mod convertible sold for $156,800
6. 1934 Cadillac Model 370D Fleetwood (Vee Windshield) Convertible Sedan w/Divider, 5-p sold for $140,000
7. 1942 Mercury Model 29A station wagon sold for $134,400
8. 1936 Cord 810 convertible phaeton sedan sold for $131,600
9. 1933 LaSalle Series 345-C Fisher convertible coupe sold for $123,200
10. 1996 Dodge Viper GTS coupe sold for $122,080
For more information about Worldwide auctions and results, visit the company website.
Much was made recently of actress Betty White’s 99th birthday. But did you know one of her favorite cars, a 1977 Seamist Green Cadillac Seville she named “Parakeet,” resides at the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania?
The car was a gift from her late husband, television game show-host Allen Ludden. To celebrate its former owner’s birthday, the museum staff staged a 99th birthday party around the car.
In an interview in 2010 with The New York Times, the actress said Ludden surprised her with the car, which she kept until 2002 when she donated it to the Los Angeles Humane Society. A subsequent owner, Nicholas Ferrantino, donated the car as well, still in original condition, this time to the museum.
By the way, the actress said she names all her vehicles after birds. She had a yellow Cadillac named “Canary” and in 2010 was driving a silver Cadillac she called “Seagull.”
Parakeet not only came with custom paint but with an AT&T telephone and a “Betty” nameplate.
America On Wheels joins Automotive Trust
America’s Automotive Trust, which already includes the LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, and the RPM Foundation, has announced that the America On Wheels museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania, has become a Trust member and that another Allentown institution, The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage, has become a Trust affiliate.
Among other things, the NB Center houses the car collection of Nicola Bulgari, vice chairman of the Italian retailer Bvlgari. Bulgari has been a Trust board member since 2003.
The announcement noted that the new relationships will give the Trust a presence in the eastern part of the country while helping to transform America On Wheels from a regional to a national institution.
Dyson becomes Indy museum chairman
Auto racer and car collector Rob Dyson, of Millbrook, New York, is the new chairman of the board of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. He replaces Tony George, who held that title for 35 years. Dyson has been on the museum board since 2011.
Dyson, chief executive of a privately owned holding company, first watched the Indy 500 in person in 1962 with his father. Dyson still has tickets to those seats at the speedway.
Dyson’s car collection includes a 1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM, a 1961 Kimberly Cooper Climax Indy racer, and the 1978 Budweiser McLaren M24B driven by Johnny Rutherford. Behind the wheel, Dyson was 1981 SCCA GT2 national champion and was co-driver in the Dyson Racing Ford-powered Riley & Scott prototype that won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 1997.
Hall of Fame ‘track’ gets new cars
Crane carefully lifts cars into place on museum’s banked display track | Museum photo
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Florida, showcases historic racing machines on a 40-foot tall, 31-degree banked track display it calls the “Sweep of Speed.” Two new vehicles were recently inserted into that display in a two-day process that used cranes to remove two other cars and replace them with the 1979 Can-Am series winning Lola T333CS driven by Jacky Ickx and the 2008 Indy-winning Dallara-Honda driven by Scott Dixon.
The museum said it was the first major “refresh” of the display since the museum’s opening in 2016. The work was done by Orlando-based Nassal.
Play Corvette Trivia
Amazon’s Alexa and the National Corvette Museum at Bowling Green, Kentucky, have cooperated to present a Corvette trivia game. If you have an Alexa device, you merely request “Alexa, Play Corvette Trivia,” and she asks you how many players and launches into the trivia questions.
“The (museum’s) tech committee was brainstorming ways to engage with our enthusiasts and we were talking about different games you can do through Amazon, so we looked up what it would take to build some skills,” Chris Huffman, museum IT operations manager, is quoted in the announcement. “One thing led to another and we create the trivia game.”
Questions will be updated from time to time to keep the game fresh, the museum said.
Brumos displays at Daytona race weekend
Brumos Collection Porsche returns to Daytona, where it won the 24 Hours race in 2009 | Museum photo
TheBrumos Collection is a car museum in Jacksonville, Florida, but if you visit this weekend, several of the cars won’t be there. Instead, they will be a few miles away, taking laps of honor before the 59th 24 Hours of Daytona.
“59 For The 59th” is the theme of a special celebration that will put half a dozen of the Brumos Porsche race cars back on the Daytona International Speedway track. Brumos Porsches traditionally wore racing Nos. 58 and 59.
Those cars are the 1971 914-6 GT IMSA champion; the 1975 911 RSR, which will be driven again by Hurley Haywood; the 1979 935, the last car raced by Peter Gregg; the 2009 Daytona-winning Porsche Riley, to be driven by David Donohue; the 2011 911 GT3 Cup car; and the 2017 911 RSR.
In addition, Brumos Collection owner Dano Davis will be the honorary starter for the 24-hour race.
Donations benefit museums
The Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, which includes the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, has received what it calls a “transformational” gift of $3 million from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. Funds will be used to renovate the 4-story library and office building at the Cleveland History Center, the society said.
The society also announced a $750,000 appropriation from the State of Ohio for capital improvements at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum.
The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Michigan, has proclaimed Hagerty a “Partner in Innovation” after the automotive lifestyle, insurance and vehicle valuation company pledged a $1 million donation. Hagerty also becomes the presenting sponsor of the Motor Muster and Old Car Festival held annually at the museum’s Greenfield Village.
Mark your calendar
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, hosts a “Sweetheart Soiree” on February 13. Three seating times are available. On February 14 the museum hosts a “Toast to Love” brunch, again with three seating times available.
The Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, offers its Third Thursday Talk at 7 p.m. on February 18 with Dale Johnson presenting “When GM headed West.”
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, presents “Hemi Highlights: The Ardun Hemispherical Head Design Flat Head Ford Conversion” at 10 a.m. February 20 featuring Lynn Paxton, Eastern Museum of Motor Racing curator. Topics to be covered include how the Ardun design relates to the Chrysler Hemi, connections to Allard, and research and design in dirt track racing.
1972 Mercury Model 250ER snowmobile | Michael Allen Collection photo
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, stages its first Winter Motoring Meet on February 20. The museum will offer rides around the likely snow-covered campus in vintage vehicles, an exhibit of vintage snowmobiles, an ice-carving exhibition, outdoor games, and food and beverages.
The Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord, North Carolina, hosts its monthly Fords on Sunday car show February 28.
The 2021 season opens March 5 at the National Corvette Museum’s Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with a driving club day. The Kartplex opens the following day and a King of the Heap event also is scheduled for March 6.
The Mustang Owner’s Museum has moved its Spring Carolina Cruise to April 24 and its California Special Mustang Day to May 1.
Does your local car museum have special events or exhibitions planned? Let us know. Email [email protected].
Launched in 2020, the fifth-generation Supra received mixed reviews about the car produced in a collaborative process between Toyota and BMW (the Z4 is BMW’s version). I had to know if all of that commotion was really necessary. I discovered that the 2021 Toyota Supra GR 3.0 Premium is, indeed, an enthusiast’s car.
For the 2021 model year, the 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine gets a 14 percent power bump from the 2020 model, with 382 horsepower versus the previous 335, and with a very slight increase from 365 pound-feet of torque to 368.
The extra punch is from the change in pistons, resulting in lower compression ratio (10.2:1) but allowing the turbos to push a bit harder. (Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do a back-to-back comparison with the previous version, but Larry Edsall did a pretty raving review of the 2020 model last year.
However, I have had a chance to briefly get behind the wheel of a highly modified 1994 Toyota Supra, and while it is not exactly a direct comparison, I had just about as much fun in the that car as I did in the 2021 model.
In the new version, and even without a manual transmission option, the 8-speed automatic transmission with electronically locking differential performed beautifully in sport mode, not so much in I guess what we can call “non-sport” mode. In the “non-sport” mode, the transmission seems to over compensate and runs through the gears too quickly. My first experience was driving casually through my neighborhood at about 35 mph and the car decided sixth gear was appropriate. Granted, the car didn’t feel sluggish while cruising at this speed, it just felt confused when I had to accelerate as it wasn’t sure if it needed to downshift or not.
Sport mode was where I ended up keeping the Supra set. I’ve had the opportunity to experience sport mode in Toyota’s counterpart Lexus sports cars, like the RC-F and the LC500, but they were lackluster compared to the Supra. What made the difference was the choice of gear at specific speeds. Compared to the lazier versions in the Lexus models, the Supra’s sport mode drove like an enthusiast would drive, picking the right gear to maximize the performance.
Confidence is written all over the handling of the 2021 Toyota Supra GR. For the 2021 model, Toyota increased the stiffness by adding two aluminum arms between the radiator support and strut tower brace. Between that and the adaptive variable sport suspension, stability control systems and sport-calibrated electric power steering, I always felt confident.
Once in the Supra, it’s hard to want to leave the driver’s seat, not only because of how responsive and exciting it is to drive, but also because of how difficult it is to get in and out! I’m 31 years young, but the extremely thick door sills in a sports car that sits very low made for a knee-popping experience.
Once inside, I found the seat to be a welcome surprise. I’m rather thin but with 8-way manual adjustment plus 4-way lumbar and 2-way bolster adjustment, I was very comfortable. Unfortunately for him, my 6-foot-5 boyfriend was not. Oh, well, more seat time for me!
Covered in Toyota’s signature Nitro Yellow, the GR Supra’s aesthetics didn’t change from the previous model year. Yes, there are ‘fake vents’ styled into the hood, front bumper and doors, but they aesthetically compliment the overall body design. I can’t say that I’m a big fan of the aero underbody panels, but I spend little time looking below the beautifully sculpted headlights and taillights. The triple LED headlights with the swooping LED below is a signature look for the new Supra.
Oh, and lest we forget, the car also is available with a 255 horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. That engine is new to the lineup. So is the A91 Edition, of which only 1,000 are being produced with the 6-cylinder engine and Nocturnal or Refraction paint, some black carbon fiber trim, matte black wheels and Alcantara-trimmed interior.
It’s been a week and I still remember how it felt to drive the 2021 Toyota Supra GR. That’s testament to the well thought out performance-focused machine with the engineering of two successful brands of sports cars.
Apologies to the purists, but the combined engineering power of Toyota and BMW was well placed.
2021 Toyota GR Supra 3.0-liter Premium
Base Price: $54,490 Price as tested: $57,185
Powertrain: Twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6, 382 horsepower at 5,800-6500 rpm, 368 lb-ft of torque at 1,800-5,000 rpm Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission, RWD
To avoid any validation issues, the Tuatara was equipped with multiple satellite tracking systems including two Racelogic VBox systems, a Life Racing tracking system, two Garmin systems, and a trap speed system from the International Mile Racing Association.
Lau and SSC CEO Jerod Shelby provided Motor Authority the Racelogic VBox’s data file. The data file has been independently checked and verified for MA by Eddie Nakato, founder of AR Motorsports.
“Good satellite signal, did all the things they said they did, and the data matches up. It’s as legit as it can be,” Nakato said.
For the record attempt that fell short in December, the SSC team swapped the final drive ratio to 3.167 from the original 2.92 used for the record attempt in October. This change in final gear ratio shortened the gearing in an attempt to get more speed in a shorter distance given the 2.3 miles the Tuatara had to work with before hitting the mile braking zone. The same drive ratio was also used this time as the venue stayed the same.
Issues encountered during the December record attempt prompted the SSC team to re-engineer the cooling system with larger intercoolers, more water capacity in the water-to-air intercoolers, and increased venting on the dry-sump oil system. Shelby noted that all future Tuatara models will get these changes and they will be retrofitted to all Tuataras already on the road today.
The Tuatara is powered by a Nelson Racing built 5.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 with up to 1,350 hp on 91 octane pump gas and as much as 1,750 hp on E85. A 7-speed automated manual transmission built in Italy by CIMA sends power to the rear wheels.
During the first pass on Jan. 17 the car pushed 24 pounds of boost in 6th and 7th gears. This, teamed with E85 fuel, gave the car approximately 1,500 hp and 1,070 lb-ft of torque. For the second run, also on E85, the engine output was upped to the full 1,750 hp and 1,322 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm as the car used the full 28 pounds of boost during the second half of 7th gear.
Caplin and the Tuatara hit the top speed of 286.1 mph in 1.9 miles and hit 244 mph in one mile. It took 2.87 seconds for the Tuatara to accelerate from 274 to 286 mph. “At 275 mph this car is accelerating ten times faster than any other production car in the world,” engine builder Tom Nelson said.
Shelby said he’s less concerned with what other manufacturers are doing and more concerned with finding out the true capabilities of the Tuatara. Shelby told MA that SSC will make further attempts in the coming months to improve upon the record, and this is considered part of ongoing high-speed testing. The CEO expects the car to top 300 mph with the full 28 pounds of boost in 5th, 6th, and 7th gears in the same 2.3-mile stretch.
What’s the matter with the car I’m driving? / Can’t you tell that it’s out of style? / Should I get a set of whitewall tires? / Are you gonna cruise the Miracle Mile?
Billy Joel summed it up pretty well in his hit 1980 song “It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me.” Automotive trends evolve just like fashion trends. And whether it’s whitewall tires, window louvers or body kits, the automobile has always been a means of individual expression.
Wood paneling, like so many other aesthetic enhancements, has pretty much phased out. But 70 years ago, Chrysler was wild about wood.
Wooden bodies and wood accents have been around since the dawn of the automobile. Early cars were horseless carriages after all. But toward the middle of the 20th Century, wood paneling had evolved into a stylistic enhancement rather than a means of construction. And thus was born the “woody.” California’s surfing community will forever be associated with woody wagons.
This Chrysler Town & Country is powered by an inline-8 engine paired with a three-speed fluid-drive automatic transmission, a rare configuration, according to the seller, with only 698 built. The seller calls the vehicle “semi-restored,” and goes on to describe the condition of the 76,000-mile woody.
“This fine example features original wood panels and original engine, rebuilt,” the seller says in the ad. “The paint shows very well, the interior is new and period correct, it drives smooth and the engine purrs like a kitten.”
The seller’s photo gallery conveys how well the Chrysler shows for being 71 years old, right down to the generous chrome trim, dual spotlights and hood ornament. The doors, rear quarters and trunk lid are all trimmed in a combination of chrome and wood that works well with the brown paint scheme.
The Town & Country model was launched in 1941 and went on to be offered in a variety of body styles: station wagon, 4-door sedan, 2-door hardtop and convertible. Much later, the name was applied to a rebadged version of the Dodge Caravan minivan. And indeed, the Town & Country minivan could be had with faux wood paneling; by that time, real wood had been replaced by woodgrain applique.
A handful of vehicles as recently as the 1990s, such as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and a limited-edition Chrysler PT Cruiser, briefly brought woodgrain trim back to life. But it’s been a couple of decades since wood was used in exterior applications on production vehicles. Today’s use of wood is primarily limited to interior trim in the luxury-car segment.
The seller is asking $28,000 for this wood-trimmed hardtop. Oh, and it also has those whitewall tires Billy Joel was talking about.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Currently up for auction on AutoHunter, driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS powered by a 383cid V8 small-block GM performance crate engine backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission.
The royal blue exterior was professionally repainted during prior ownership and the current owner has replaced much of the trim and moldings.
Quad headlights with turn indicators integrated into the bumper are found on the car’s front end along with SS badging on the rear quarter panels and deck lid and Chevy crossed flag emblems on the fenders.
Holding up the Malibu are 17-inch polished Intro wheels wrapped in a staggered setup on radial tires measuring 215/50 on the front and 235/45 on the rear. Suspension modifications include Hotchkis lowering springs, Ride Tech 1-inch lowering spindles, KYB shocks and tubular A-arms.
The interior includes black vinyl bucket seats with matching door panels and dash. A ribbed metal trim plate runs the full length of the console that houses the upgraded stereo with AM/FM and Bluetooth.
Under the hood is the ZZ383 V8 engine that produces 425 horsepower. Additional upgrades include an aluminum intake manifold, high torque starter, and MSD ignition. The exhaust system was recently replaced and consists of tubular headers, 2.5-inch pipes with electric cutouts, and Flowmaster mufflers.
The analog odometer shows 16,000 miles although true mileage is unknown.
(Editor’s note: this story is sponsored by WD-40 Company)
A new year brings along a whole new set of decisions and while the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have thrown a wrench in a lot of our future plans, it’s also given us time to reflect and explore different opportunities. This is especially true for young students and their parents.
TechForce Foundation
To help these students, the TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit promoting the potential of professional technician careers, has kickstarted its “Be A Pathfinder” campaign, supported by WD-40 Company, that inspires students to discover and understand their learning style and see if a future in the transportation industry is the perfect fit.
“Everyone has a learning style, some people are visual learners, some learn best by listening, and some are hands-on – they learn by doing,” TechForce says in its campaign announcement. “For these hands-on learners, a career in a hands-on field, such as the high-tech transportation industry not only suits their strengths, but also brings them satisfaction and security.”
As part of the “Be A Pathfinder” campaign, TechForce offers a free online quiz to help students identify their learning style, visual, auditory, or kinetic, and a detailed report with educational and career advice based on their learning style.
Visit the campaign page here to take the learning style assessment.
“For too long, we’ve accepted as truth that a college degree is the only way to get ahead and we’ve overlooked the gifts, talents and significant contributions of students who don’t fit the four-year mold,” says Jennifer Maher, chief executive, and executive director of the TechForce Foundation.
“For students who are mechanically minded, and learn best when they’re in action, a quality technical or vocational education can be the path to success.”
To support its campaign, TechForce is teaming up with WD-40 Company, known for developing and selling superior performing maintenance products that solve problems in auto shops, garages, factories and homes around the world.
“WD-40 Company shares our passion for helping the next generation of technicians discover and embrace this rewarding career path,” said Maher. “For TechForce, it is a great brand alignment.”
Greg Kershaw, director of digital marketing at WD-40 Company, echoes Maher’s excitement: “There’s a shortage of technicians in the industry right now, so we wanted to be part of the solution – helping reach that next generation of hands-on problem-solvers to get them excited about the trades. Since TechForce Foundation has a comprehensive industry-wide plan to do that, it was an easy decision to join forces and tackle the challenge together.
“We want more middle- and high-school students, along with their parents and guidance counselors, to know that the four-year college route isn’t the only path to success. The transportation industry offers rewarding, high-tech and in-demand careers that may be a better match for hands on learners”.
To help support TechForce’s “Be A Pathfinder” campaign, WD-40 Company is driving awareness by sharing the campaign with its customers and members of their Techs and Trades program.
“The Tech & Trades Program builds off WD-40 Company’s work with industry partners and associations by providing product education to tradesmen in automotive, construction and industrial professions,” explains Adam Lindquist, manager of trade association partnerships at WD-40 Company.
WD-40 Company’s Tech & Trades Program
“By joining the WD-40® Brand Techs & Trades Program, professionals receive member-only offers, industry news, content from skilled-trade influencers, and product use and tips that will help them become more effective in the workplace – saving time and money throughout their careers,” he added. “Whether they are an industry veteran or learning the fundamentals of the trade, we’re committed to providing tradesmen and women with the tools to get the job done right today and well into the future.
“The synergy between the program and TechForce Foundation allows us to maximize our efforts in reaching, educating, and empowering the next generation of transportation professionals.”
To learn more about TechForce’s “Be A Pathfinder” campaign and take the learning assessment quiz to discover your unique learning style, visit TechForce’s website.
With more than 2,000 collector cars crossing the block with a resounding 89 percent sell-through rate, Mecum Auctions racked up $122.8 million in sales from its massive 10-day Kissimmee, Florida, auction, the highest overall result for a single-event auction in the company’s history and “an unprecedented sales percentage for a reserve-based auction of this magnitude,” the company said.
Less than a week later, Mecum auctioned the Motor City Museum collection of 200 cars and automobilia lots in Punta Gorda, Florida, adding another $18.4 million to January’s results, for a total of $141.2 million (all results include auction fees).
A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS rolls past the crowd
Not too shabby for a pair of collector car sales held live and on-site during the height of a worldwide pandemic. The overall results for Mecum’s two Florida sales could have gotten a boost from the postponement until March of Barrett-Jackson’s signature Scottsdale, Arizona, auction, which usually competes directly with Mecum’s annual Florida event.
The top result in Mecum’s January 7-16 Kissimmee auction was a whopping $5.94 million for Carroll Shelby’s personal 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra, making it the most-expensive Cobra ever sold at public auction.
Carroll Shelby’s personal Shelby 427 Cobra
Shelby’s own Cobra was one of seven cars selling above the million-dollar mark in Kissimmee, followed by a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 roadster for $2.5 million; a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing coupe at $1.57 million; another 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra at $1.38 million; a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS at $1.35 million; a 1957 Mercedes 300 SL roadster at $2.21 million; and a 1965 Iso Grifo Bizzarrini at $1.18 million.
Mecum extended its Florida auction action this year with the Muscle Car City Collection sale held on-site in Punta Gorda during the weekend following Kissimmee. The auction of cars and memorabilia came from the vast collection of General Motors vehicles that Rick Treworgy had brought together and opened to the public in a popular private museum, where the auction was held.
1969 COPO Camaro was a top seller at the Motor City Museum auction
The top-selling cars included a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette resto mod that sold for $368,500; a 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro at $297,000; and a 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible resto mod for $253,000.
Both Florida auctions were held under strict pandemic restrictions, according tot Mecum, which included mandatory mask wearing, social distancing and hand sanitizing at provided stations. Mecum stands apart from most other collection car auction companies for re-opening its nationwide events to the public once again despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The top-10 sales at Mecum’s Kissimmee 2021 auction were:
1. 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra roadster at $5,940,000
2. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 roadster at $2,500,000
3. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, at $1,567,500
4. 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra roadster at $1,375,000
5. 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS at $1,347,500
6. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster at $1,210,000
7. 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C Bizzarrini at $1,182,500
8. 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition at $990,000
9. 1971 Plymouth Cuda convertible at $962,500
10. 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra roadster at $935,000
The top-10 collector-car sales at the Muscle Car City Collection auction were:
1. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette resto-mod at $368,500
2. 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro at $297,000
3. 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible resto-mod at $253,000
4. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible resto-mod at $231,000
5. 1961 Chevrolet Impala convertible at $220,000
6. 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible at $214,500
7. 1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro at $209,000
8. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible at $209,000
9. 1965 Chevrolet C10 pickup at $198,000
10. 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16 at $187,000
(All results include auction fees)
Mecum’s next auction takes place March 18-20 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with about 1,200 collector cars crossing the block.
Ferrari fans know Il Cavallino, the restaurant in Modena, Italy, favored by Enzo Ferrari. They also likely know that the restaurant was managed for 36 years by Giuseppe Neri. Now, they may be excited to learn that Neri’s collection of Ferrari automobilia is being offered for auction February 6 at a special Ferrari Automobilia sale by Artcurial Motorcars.
Neri, who died in 2020, was born in Modena in 1938 and grew up in his family’s construction business. In the 1970s, under Neri’s leadership, that business expanded to include restaurants.
Restaurant exterior
Restaurant interior
Neri also grew up as a Ferrari fan, though it wasn’t until the 1970s that Neri and Ferrari met on a construction project commissioned by Ferrari. A friendship was founded. Neri organized the first Ferrari Day in 1982 and fed lunch to 2,000 people.
Two years later, Ferrari asked Neri to handle the renovation of Il Cavallino, the restaurant located near the factory at Maranello. Neri became the restaurant manager, a role he held until January 2020.
Alan Prost car bodywork from 1990 season
F412 T2 engine from 1995 season
Michael Schumacher 2005 helmet
Among the items going to auction from Neri’s collection are the engine and monocoque (separate lots) from the F1 412 T2 driven by Gerhard Berger in 1995, pieces of bodywork from the 641 raced by Alain Prost in 1990, an engine cover from a F-2002, and a Michael Schumacher helmet from the 2005 season.
Also going up for bidding is a collection of items from another consignor including spare parts, tools and technical manuals from the automaker’s workshops.
