Currently up for bidding on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1990 Ferrari 348 TS. It’s powered by a mid-mounted 3.4-liter V8 paired with a gated 5-speed manual transmission.
The body is finished in its original Negro Daytona Metallic Black paint. Features of this TS model include the removable roof panel finished to match the body, pop-up headlamps, side intake slats and louvered tail lamps. On the rear is an aftermarket exhaust with four polished tips and Scuderia shields on the fenders.
Peeking inside the Ferrari, you’ll find black leather bucket seats with a leather-upholstered center console, door panels and dashboard. Carbon fiber accents are on the dash bezel and shift knob.
The seller upgraded the wheels with an 18-inch 5-spoke set from a Ferrari 360.
The quad-cam, mid-mounted V8 is original to the vehicle and puts out 296 horsepower. The seller had an engine-out service, including a timing belt replacement, done 500 miles ago.
The odometer reads 36,000 miles original to the car.
The auction ends February 5 at 12:30 p.m. MST.
Visit this vehicle’s AutoHunter listing to find further information and a gallery of photos.
“Classic” is a word with several meanings, and at least one of them applies to the Ford F-150 Raptor, the high-performance off-road pickup truck Ford first unleashed back in 2009.
On February 3, Ford unveiled the third-generation version of the off-pavement predator. This newest one builds on the previous versions and adds 5-link rear suspension, new electronically controlled Fox shocks with “Live Valve” technology, and the availability of 37-inch tires to take on even tougher terrain.
In addition, the next Raptor will offer cloud-connected navigation with digital trail maps and a FordPass mobile app so you can check some truck features from your smartphone.
Ford also said the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine offers better low-end torque, increased towing and payload capacity, increased range — to more than 500 miles before needing more fuel.
Oh, and a Raptor R (V8-powered) version is coming in about a year.
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
That all sounds amazing, and that statement is coming from those who have driven and were very pleased with the previous versions. You can read Bob Golfen’s impressions of the second-generation Raptor here and in the pre-Journal era, Larry Edsall wrote on another website how he was amazed with how the first-gen Raptor dealt with Arizona desert terrain.
“Raptor is the original desert truck. We just took it to another level,” Ali Jammoul, Ford Performance vehicle program director, is quoted in the automaker’s news release. “The all-new Raptor splices high-speed off-road performance muscle with advanced technology and connectivity that comes together in a unique Built Ford Tough way.”
In a stretch-of-the-imagination effort to underscore the performance capabilities of a pickup truck, Ford notes, “Over the last four years, the previous-generation Raptor cumulatively outsold Porsche’s entire lineup of sports cars and also outsold Chevrolet’s Corvette.”
No doubt true, but the last time we saw a Corvette off-road in the desert was in an episode of the 1960s television series Route 66.
New features include 5-link rear suspension, new Fox shocks, and adjustable exhaust modes
New Fox shocks
37-inch BFG tires
Besides, the Raptor’s capabilities off-pavement have never been in question.
“A high-performance off-road pickup is defined by its suspension, and the all-new F-150 Raptor debuts with completely redesigned running gear,” Ford reports. “It is re-engineered with an all-new five-link rear suspension developed specifically for Raptor, designed to deliver more control and power to the ground with greater confidence over rough terrain at high speeds.
“Raptor is rooted in Baja 1000 racing, and its suspension advances our capability and performance – a five-link rear setup with more wheel travel than any Raptor before it,” the news release quotes Ford Performance chief engineer Carl Widmann. “And like a trophy truck, every aspect of Raptor has been engineered to deliver precision capability when your foot is flat on the floor, way out in the middle of nowhere roaring across the desert.”
Ford says the new rear suspension features “extra-long trailing arms to better maintain axle position on rough terrain, a Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs – the longest in the class. The suspension design combined with more sophisticated engine management software means the truck can put more torque to the rear wheels for quicker starts off the line, faster acceleration and better throttle responsiveness while simultaneously delivering comfort, stability, handling, control and traction at speed.”
Contributing to such capability is the next-generation, electronically controlled Fox shocks with Live Valve internal bypass technology. Ford says the shocks are the largest ever from the off-road suspension specialist supplier and “are designed to better resist heat buildup and to react even faster to terrain changes for greater confidence over extended desert running.”
Also new is the availability of 37-inch as well as 35-inch tires.
“These specially designed BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires offer maximum traction and handling,” Ford reports. “Wearing 35-inch tires, Raptor clears 12-inch obstacles with an approach angle of 31 degrees, maximum departure angle of 23.9 degrees and breakover angle of 22.7 degrees. Raptor with 37-inch tires features 13.1 inches of running clearance, 33.1 degrees of approach angle, a maximum 24.9 degrees of departure angle and 24.4 degrees of breakover angle.”
The third-gen Raptor also can be equipped to serve as a mobile 2.0-kilowatt generator for running power tools, lights, etc.
Among other changes are a new exhaust system with a “trombone” loop and four selectable sound modes — Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja. Speaking of modes, there are seven settings on the terrain-management system — Slippery, Tow/Haul, Sport, Normal, Off-Road, Baja and Rock Crawl.
Rock Crawl is enhanced with standard 1-Pedal Drive that allows the driver to use only the accelerator pedal while the vehicle applies brakes proportionally as the driver releases pressure on the gas pedal. Also standard is Trail Control, like cruise control for off-pavement driving.
Also new is a customizable 12-inch center screen on the dashboard. A 360-degree camera package is available with “real-time tire track overlay” to show objects ahead of the front wheels. The FordPass mobile app that can check tire pressures, fuel level and even includes a trailer-theft alert.
For more information on the third-gen 2021 Raptor, visit the Ford website.
The 1955 Chevy Bel Air has been among the most-searched vehicles by model year list for many, many months, but the ’57 version suddenly appeared among the dozen most-searched in that listing in January.
While the top-10 remained pretty much the same, dominated by late 1960s Impalas, Mustangs and Chargers, the ’57 Bel Air continued its climb to the point of ranking 12th on the list.
“I am simply surprised by this,” said Andy Reid, our East Coast editor and collector car market analyst. “The Tri-5 chevy has been dying in popularity in the market and maybe we are seeing an upswing that I never would have expected.”
Meanwhile, among those searching simply by make or model regardless of model year, all-years Chevrolet, Mustang and Ford continued to shuffle the top-4 places among themselves, and this month with the classic Chevy C-10 pickup again in the No. 4 spot.
Dodge edged ahead of the Buick Grand National to round out the top-5.
Plymouth Furys had tall tail fins back in 1957
There was some shuffling for position in the bottom half of the top-5, but the news was all-years Plymouth emerging strongly in the mid-teens for the first time in ages.
“Collectors are always looking for alternatives, especially as other like cars become more costly to buy,” Reid responded. “Plymouths, with exception of the mythic Superbirds and Cudas, have been that kind of a left of center value for a while.”
Also of interest was this note: vintage Ford Broncos dropping out of the top-20 searches for the first time in memory.
If you’re perusing this website, you not only know MPG and RPM, but DOHC and even CFM. But do you know ADAS?
ADAS is short for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, automotive technology that uses cameras and computers and various sensors to alert a driver to potentially dangerous situations and, taken to the extreme, can supplant that driver, not only in a dangerous situation but, we’re promised, in every driving situation.
“2021 looks to be a big year for hands-free driving systems,” reports Autolist.com, a website created to ease the car-buying or -selling process.
“General Motors will begin rolling out its Super Cruise setup in multiple Chevy, GMC and Cadillac models; Ford will make its system functional on certain Mach E and F-150 trims; and Tesla is widely expected to make its Full Self-Driving feature available on a subscription basis,” Autolist.com continues.
“While none of these systems are truly self-driving or autonomous, interest in them is high. We at Autolist.com were curious about how consumers viewed these ADAS and future self-driving setups. So, we polled nearly 3,400 current car shoppers in early 2021 to find out.”
And what did that survey disclose?
“Our survey found that 44 percent of consumers would prefer to pay for ADAS or self-driving features upfront rather than subscribing.”
Only 18 percent said they would prefer ADAS on a subscription basis.
I drive a pickup truck with 180,000 miles on the odo, so it’s been a while since I’ve visited a car dealership showroom, but my reaction was one of surprise, surprise that self-driving technology was something you might get on a monthly subscription basis, like satellite radio or OnStar, or like your smartphone or home garbage service.
Autolist founder and president Corey Lydstone also was surprised, but from a much different perspective.
“Frankly, we were surprised more shoppers didn’t prefer subscriptions in this survey,” Lydstone is quoted. “When you consider the high upfront cost of these systems and how many other services we all subscribe to in our daily lives, we expected them to be a shoo-in.”
High up-front cost?
Autolist says Tesla charges $10,000 for its Full Self-Driving system, that Cadillac’s Super Cruise is $2,500 on the 2021 Escalade SUV, and that Ford will offer Active Drive Assist for $1,595 on the F-150 and for $3,200 on the Mustang Mach E.
It added that GM plans to charge $25 a month for ADAS, though that figure drops to $15 for those already subscribing to OnStar.
“Since it’s early days for these assisted-driving systems, it’s clear automakers are still figuring out just how much of their costs the consumer is willing to absorb,” Lydstone explained. “But with brands like GM and Ford adding these systems to a wider variety of vehicles – including some of their top sellers – we expect costs to decrease quickly.”
He also offered a reason why the automakers would like the subscription setup: “A key appeal of subscriptions for automakers is the consistent revenue stream they offer throughout multiple owners of a single vehicle.”
Which brings us to those who prefer less rather than more technology in our vehicles. I’m not such a fuddy duddy that I want to go back to hand-crank starters or bias-ply tires, and, yes, I think power steering and ABS and backup cameras are wonderful things.
But as long as I am able, I prefer to drive myself. I’ve driven new vehicles with lane-keeping and other “driver assist” systems and I don’t like arguing with the car I’m attempting to drive. I know how to stay within my lane, and I know how to hit the apex of a curve on an open and empty stretch of winding roadway.
(Editor’s note: During the month of February, the ClassicCars.com Journal will present a series of stories exploring car clubs and what they offer to the collector car community. Tom Bechtel, ClassicCars.com’s director of operations, kicks off the series today, sharing his experience as a member of the Pantera Owners Club of America. If you have a car club story to share, see the note at the end of Tom’s story.)
I’ve been fortunate to be part of some really great car clubs over the years. There is nearly a club for every conceivable make and model. Car shows, part sourcing, history, camaraderie, insider knowledge, rallies, racing, or simply lending a helping hand, we all have different reasons for joining. Still, in the end, it’s the raw passion that leads you to find intrigue in any or all of these areas. In other words, true passion is the common denominator.
Having a passion for rear-engine sports cars, it was only natural for me to team up with other car lovers. One of the more enjoyable clubs I’ve been part of is the Pantera Owners Club of America, better known as POCA. With chapters in cities across the country, POCA has been operating since 1973.
Tom’s 1972 De Tomaso Pantera featured in Mustangand Fords Magainze in 2005
It was the early ’80s and I was a young college grad when I joined POCA. I was one of the few members in the club without a Pantera of my own. The other club members would scratch their heads…who was this kid with no car? But I had a vision. In my spare time I was going to earn my street cred, show up at every event, hang out at garages, and bury myself in all things De Tomaso. I knew it was only a matter of time until I would wind up with a car (even on my modest budget). Little did I know that I would eventually restore four Panteras, with the last one turning into a show car contender.
2005 Ford and Mustang article
The club had monthly meetings where we would discuss upcoming events, meeting locations, garage talk, new-member initiation and check out all the member’s cars. There would be newsletters, membership drives, rallies, visits to restoration shops, an occasional dignitary and “all members on deck” to help repair another member’s car.
It was the annual POCA Vegas rally and convention that members couldn’t wait to attend. Its reputation proceeded it, and it did not fail to deliver. I had been to it many times, but the 1986 event is my most memorable.
First, there was the Pomona meet up with the Los Angeles Chapter to do an “organized” cruise to Vegas. It was organized, just not the organization I expected – spotters, radar detectors, chase cars, meal stops, checkpoints and everything but a speed limit. Advertised as a fun rally? Not!
POCA Pantera’s lined up in LA for the 1986 cruise to Vegas
I was in heaven. It was an electrifying, gritty time inside a finicky beast known for driving hot, having spongy brakes and mysterious electrical gremlins… I was never sure that the car would even get there. I always packed more spare parts than I did baggage for the four-day stay in LV. It was all part of “the experience.” Somehow, every year, we always made it. What an indescribable thrill.
The Pantera Tom drove in 1986 Vegas cruise
This particular year, I discovered the I-15 speed limits the hard way. CHIP aircraft at the state line had been tipped we were on our way. With no sunroof, no one was looking up! I received a ticket, but not as bad as some of the other members flying down the road in triple digits. At least I was able to continue on.
We rolled into Vegas in the afternoon from all around the country – roughly 300 cars. Driving up Las Vegas Boulevard (aka The Strip) with the echo of those twin exhausts bouncing off the casinos – what a sound. Our destination was the Plaza on Fremont Street. Despite the long, hot trip, I was literally shaking from the adrenaline.
What proceeded was equally as good as the destination cruise – a stocked 24/7 hospitality room, vendor exhibits, Q&A panels, a huge reception dinner with an in-doors show car exhibit, a dedicated band, countless goody bags, a car show that closed down Fremont Street and the crowning of Miss Pantera. Even with all those attractions, the best part was hanging out in the parking lot with owners and their cars. I always found something to learn more about, see something I hadn’t seen before, and make new friends.
20-something-year-old Tom with his first Pantera parked on Freemont Street
POCA’s April 1994 newsletter
I left Vegas tired and with a permanent smile, eager for next year, but as the years passed, Fremont Street got a roof put over it, the Plaza got remodeled and the fire marshal said no more fueled cars in the hotel. Things just weren’t the same. The beginning of the end for the POCA Las Vegas rally was set in motion.
I’ll never forget the earlier Vegas days. The clubs of today still give me a rush in some way. It all goes back to the intrigue you find when you have true passion. If you’ve got it, you’ll find that special club connectivity… no matter which club you enjoy.
— Tom Bechtel, Director of Operations at ClassicCars.com
Our Car Club series, running throughout the month of February, will continue to explore different car clubs, what they have to offer and the memories members have made.
Do you have a car club story you’d like to share? Just go to this link, fill in the information and submit your story to be considered for publication in our Car Club Series.
Sometimes, family stories about a collector car seem greater than the car itself, as is the case with the Pick of the Day, a 1968 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe. Not to take anything away from the Ghia, which is a fun sports car in its own right, but this one-family-owned classic has quite the back story.
The Concord, California, dealer advertising the Ghia on ClassicCars.com includes the lengthy tale from the current owner, whose mother bought the VW new.
Here’s his story as told in the ad:
“My mother bought this car new in 1968. She had suffered a medical setback and ‘felt a little down’ as she put it and she had always wanted a red sports car. It made sense that a Ghia was her choice because my parents had owned several Bugs starting with a 1956 with the only gauge being an odometer/speedometer and a flip valve when you ran out of fuel.
“Mom was so coordinated she could flip it when she ran out so quickly she did not have to restart the engine. My parents drove to Washington D.C. from Berkeley twice and dad told me the fuel bill was about $200!
“In 1991, when the Oakland Fire Storm hit, and took our old family home, my mom had a tough decision as the fire approached because there were two cars in the carport, my dad’s old Mercedes (a nice car) and the Ghia. Mom chose to drive the Ghia out and thus save her. The Mercedes was lost, and mom had recently spent over $3,000 for needed upkeep.
“I got a call from mom about three weeks after the fire. She expressed doubt that she had made the correct decision vis-a-vis the cars. I said, ‘No mom, you made the right decision!’
“Mom drove the car until she was 87. Having moved to a home on Grizzly Peak Blvd. at the top of Marin Ave. in Berkeley, she traversed Marin (an extremely steep street) with the down shifting and driving skill needed.
“At that point she gave the Ghia to one of my older brothers. He did some fixup including having her repainted and then I took her over about 10 years later. I have had her for about 13 years and significantly redid much of the interior and addressed the other compartments and upkeep.
“Mom had the engine rebuilt in 1995. Even though that was 25 years ago, the mileage since then is less than 8,000 miles.”
The Ghia looks quite nice in the photos with the ad, aside from a couple of significant dents on its left side, one on the rear fender and one in the door. But it is apparently a running piece that could be enjoyed as is.
“My hope is that someone will take good care of her and continue to restore her to the best of their ability and enjoy a beautiful car relic,” the owner concludes.
The asking price for this family heirloom is a modest $13,950.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Over on AutoHunter, the online classic and collector car auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1971 Dodge Charger SE in Hemi Orange. It’s powered by the matching-numbers 383cid V8 linked to a 3-speed automatic transmission and limited-slip rear end.
The body is finished in the factory original shade of Hemi Orange (EV2) with a white partial vinyl roof up top. The car is equipped with hideaway headlamps and painted mirrors.
A previous owner added a gull-wing spoiler, power bulge hood with blackout applique, and dual exhaust tips. You’ll also find ‘383 Magnum’ badging on the hood, white pinstriping, flush-mounted side marker lights and a silver taillight surround.
The Charger’s interior is fitted with Saddle Tan high back leather bucket seats with matching door panels and carpet. Factory interior upgrades include a center fold-down seat, tan upper door frames, air conditions, a rim-blow steering wheel and should seat belts. The original radio was replaced with an AM/FM/Cassette unit. An OEM 8-tack player is also mounted to a standalone console on the transmission tunnel.
The original and matching numbers 383cid V8 engine was rebuilt four years ago and a Carter 4BBL carburetor was added.
The odometer reads just over 3,700 miles, although true mileage is unknown.
The auction ends February 4 at 11:45 a.m. MST.
Visit this vehicle’s AutoHunter listing to find further information and a gallery of photos.
A matching pair of high-performance American icons, a 1969 Ford Mustang resto-mod and a custom-built Fender Stratocaster guitar, have been created by Barrett-Jackson Builds and the Fender Custom Shop, both based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The gloss-black Mustang and Stratocaster represent the first partnership between the custom-build divisions of Barrett-Jackson collector car auctioneers and the Fender guitar company, with more collaborations to come, according to a Barrett-Jackson news release.
The Fender Tone Master amp is fitted to the Mustang’s trunk
The matched set, which includes a Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb amplifier custom fitted to the Mustang’s trunk, will be auctioned at no reserve during Barrett-Jackson’s annual flagship Scottsdale sale held March 20-27. The auction was postponed from its usual January dates because of coronavirus.
“We’re excited to begin this project with Fender,” Craig Jackson, chief executive of Barrett-Jackson, said in the release. “For years, Fender guitars and muscle cars were the soundtrack of American culture, and this project presents a wonderful opportunity to pay homage to that time and showcase the spectacular skills of the Fender Custom Shop and the Barrett-Jackson Builds team.”
The one-off guitar, built by Fender’s Custom Shop director and principal master builder Ron Thorn, is named the Fender Custom ’69 Stratocaster, and which Thorn calls a resto-mod version of a 1969 Stratocaster using modern high-performance components, refined styling and aggressive tones.
“This collaboration combines my top two passions in life – Fender guitars and high-performance cars,” Thorn said. “Stratocasters and fastbacks have long been two iconic symbols of high performance. They are loud, but also classic icons with beautiful lines.”
Ron Thorn director and principal master builder at the Fender Custom Shop, works on the Stratocaster body
The alder body shape and maple neck remain the same, the news release says, but Thorn deleted the pickguard and rear-loaded the knobs and push-button switching for a more modern and aggressive look. Letters spelling out MUSTANG are inlaid in sterling silver on the guitar’s fretboard, and the three humbucking pickups are housed in custom covers made from ’69 Mustang side-marker lights.
The tremolo arm is machined to match the turn-signal stalk of the Mustang, and the electronic control knobs for volume and tone and the pickup selector were made to match the Mustang’s radio controls.
The Mustang is thoroughly modern under its vintage sheet metal, powered by a BluePrint Engines V8 stroked to 347 cubic inches and dyno’d at 419 horsepower and 436 pound-feet of torque, linked with an automatic transmission and 9-inch posi rear. Brakes, steering, suspension and other component also have been upgraded with performance gear.
The Mustang wears a Fender logo on its grille
The Barrett-Jackson Builds team includes two veterans of the TV series “Fast N’ Loud,” Jason Aker, a famed Mustang builder who has worked with Craig Jackson in restorations, and Tony Cano for fabrication and painting. Also on the team is Barrett-Jackson vehicle logistics manager Jeff Catlin.
This Mustang-Stratocaster project launches a digital series called “Barrett-Jackson Builds,” featuring collector car restoration videos that document car builds and the craft people who make it happen.
“From concept to completion and auction, the 1969 Ford Mustang Resto-Mod will be fully documented in a 10-episode Barrett Jackson Builds video series that is now streaming on Barrett-Jackson’s YouTube channel,” the release says.
For more information about Scottsdale auction, visit the Barrett-Jackson’s website. For more information about Fender guitars and amps, visit the company website.
One of the best “car shows” of the year actually isn’t designed as a car show at all. It’s the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the nation’s premier vintage racing weekend, held during Monterey Car Week at what is now known as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
As noted in a recent news release from the track, “For years, old race cars were just that. Forgotten machines relegated to museums, private collections, left covered in dusty garages and even tucked away in barns. There wasn’t a calling to keep them running nor was there a suitable venue to safely exercise them.”
But, added Barry Toepke, the track’s director of heritage events and public relations, “That began to change in August 1974, when Steven Earle invited friends to ‘race’ their (vintage) cars.
“A small gathering of 60 cars rolled into the paddock of Monterey County’s 1.9-mile Laguna Seca road course where they were sorted into corresponding groups of type and speed. It was a light-hearted group of people who enjoyed racing their cars for sport rather than trophies…”
Earle’s event became the Monterey Historics, which became the Rolex Reunion, and the wonders of vintage racing spread across the country, elevating with it the value of old racing cars.
In his essay, Toepke notes the subtle difference between “vintage” and “historic” racing, and between “restoration” and “preservation.”
“For the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, cars must possess a level of authenticity and discernable pedigree, verifiable provenance of racing in the day, and have been cared for over time to be as authentic and true to the day they raced as possible,” Toepke notes. “It is this historic nature that separates cars from club events or large vintage events where only the age of the car is considered for acceptance.”
He also notes that while things break, for the Rolex races, cars can be restored only “to the point in time it raced, or preserved and maintained as it was,” with the only exceptions made in the name of driver safety.
All of that to get to this: Car owners have until February 15 to submit their cars for consideration for the 2021 Rolex Reunion races (not only the big event August 12-15, but the so-called pre-historics practice sessions the previous weekend).
Oh, and this: Not only do spectators get to see hundreds of historic cars zooming around the famous track, but between races those cars are displayed in the paddock in what amounts to a fabulous car show.
Taste of Motorsports adds Arizona event
Taste of Motorsports expands from Portland, Oregon, to two other venues in 2021 | Event photos
Taste of Motorsports, founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2018 takes its show on the road this year, adding events March 13-14 in Arizona and September 18-19 in Northern California. The annual hometown event is scheduled for August 28-29.
Founded by Tom and Stephanie Floyd, Taste of Motorsports is a luxury/exotic car event that includes track day, a car show, scenic rally drive and gourmet food experience. In Arizona, it will be staged at the Bondurant High Performance Driving School just south of Phoenix and will raise money for the Phoenix-based Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and the Drive Toward a Cure (another Parkinson-fighting charity).
“While we are all missing those car-minded friends we look forward to seeing nationwide, many are still not quite ready to travel to events just yet — so we’re bringing an interactive car experience to their local community,” Tom Floyd is quoted in the event announcement. “By
integrating a wonderful cause into the overall weekend, we can also do some good and allow participants to play a significant role in helping those in need.”
Vintage but customized Chevrolet C-10 | Kahn Media photo
According to the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, OBS is short for Old Body Style, vintage Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks from 1988-1998 that have become quite popular with younger vehicle owners.
“Because of their affordability and robust aftermarket support, OBS trucks have grown in popularity over the years with an enthusiastic and active community,” the Goodguys note. “Always seeking to be inclusive, Goodguys saw this as an opportunity to begin allowing the late model trucks into its classic car and truck events.”
Usually, 1987 is the Goodguys cutoff date for vehicles, but OBS trucks will be featured March 12-14 at the 11th LMC Truck Spring Long Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
The event will feature truck-only infield parking, a truck-only track cruise, a truck-only autocross event and a truck-only vendor showcase.
Updated 2021 concours, car show calendar
In addition to the Beaulieu car show schedule above, the following are dates currently set (but subject to change) for a variety of concours d’elegance, car shows and driving tours scheduled during 2021:
March
10-12, AACA Western Spring Nationals, Las Vegas; 12-13 – Goodguys Lone Star Nationals, Fort Worth; 13-14 – Taste of Motorsports, Chandler, Arizona
April
8-11, Charlotte AutoFair, North Carolina; 9-11, Goodguys at Scottsdale, Arizona; 19-22, AACA Southeastern Division Chain of Lakes Tour, Florida; 23-25 – Derbuy GT tour, Belgium; 25 – Simply Aston Martin, Beaulieu, UK; 30-May 1, Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Show, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
May
9 – Simply Vauxhall, Beaulieu, UK; 15-16, Goodwood Members’ Meeting, UK: 16 – Simply Audi, Beaulieu, UK; 20-23 – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida; AACA Founders Tour, Davis, West Virginia; 23 – Simply Electric, Beaulieu, UK
June
2-6, Retromobile, Paris, France, AACA Eastern Divisional Tour, Cambridge, Maryland; 5-6, Friends of Steve McQueen, Chino Hills, California; 6, Albuquerque Lowrider Super Show, New Mexico, Simply Porsche, Beaulieu, UK; 13 – Mini Cooper Day, Beaulieu, UK; 17-19, AACA Eastern Spring Nationals, Saratoga, New York; Simply VW, Beaulieu, UK; 20 – Hot Rod & Custom cars, Beaulieu, UK; 27 – Simply Jaguar, Beaulieu, UK
July
3-4 – Austin 7 Rally, Beaulieu, UK; 8-10, Iola Car Show, Wisconsin; 8-11, Goodwood Festival of Speed, UK, 11 – Simply Land Rover, Beaulieu, UK; 18, Forest Grove Concours, Oregon, Simply Ford, Beaulieu, UK; 22-24 – AACA Grand Nationals, New Ulm, Minnesota; 23-25 – Concours d’Elegance of America, Michigan; 25 – Simply Japanese, Beaulieu, UK
So, what’s the new normal and how soon does it arrive? How soon will be traveling again to car shows and auctions? And when can we shed these masks and once again shake hands, perhaps even give our car friends a hardy hug?
While admitting that it cannot predict the future, the market research department at SEMA, the Speciality Equipment Market Association, has compiled a 48-page “Future Trends” document full of graphs and charts and citing a variety of sources while presenting three scenarios for 2021 and beyond.
There are the Optimistic Scenario, the Pessimistic Scenario and the Projected Scenario. The Projected Scenario is the one SEMA’s researchers think is the most likely path forward, with a 55 percent chance of taking place. SEMA rates Optimistic at 20 percent and Pessimistic at 25 percent likelihood.
In the Projected Scenario, coronavirus lockdowns remain in place early in 2021, as many as 200 million people are vaccinated by the end of the year, and “normal business operations” resume by the end of 2021 or early 2022.
Key for the collector car community in the Projected Scenario may be the statement that in-person events return by September 2021, albeit with some safety measures remaining in place.
Even then, keys to economic recovery include the effectiveness of the vaccines and their rollout, on how soon governments relax restrictions, on federal stimulus to jump start commerce, and on consumer reaction to all of the above.
For the sake of comparison, the Optimistic Scenario has “herd immunity,” as many as 200 million people vaccinated, by late in the second quarter of this year and in-person events resuming in July. The Pessimistic Scenario includes a delay in distribution or the ineffectiveness of the vaccines, and a subsequent delay in in-person events until mid-2022, and still with safety measures required.
For the collector car community, the Projected Scenario would seem to indicate that you want to be sure to have refundable travel reservations for events taking place until late summer/early fall, that even then you’re likely to be masked and socially distanced, but at least you can give your buddies an elbow bump as you admire their cars in person.
