Taking place this weekend is the inaugural Mille Miglia Green, a new event based on the famed long-distance race in Italy, but this time open only to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Volkswagen has entered its e-up!, an electric vehicle introduced at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, and a pair of electric-powered vintage Beetles, the “e-Beetles.”
The event begins in Brescia and travels to Mailand and Lainate.
VW introduced its e-Up! electric vehicle at the recent Frankfurt show
“The Mille Miglia is without doubt one of the most legendary classic car rallies worldwide,” Volkswagen said in announcing its participation. “The ‘Mille Miglia Green’ is a completely new event that borrows the original idea of long-distance racing – but only electric and hybrid vehicles are permitted to compete.”
The route each day will cover as much as 180 kilometers. VW notes that the distance is well within the 260-kilometer range of its new e-up!
The Mille Miglia Green will include seven categories: Pure electrics, including fuel cell vehicles and EVs), hybrids (including full and mild, etc.) and classic cars produced before 1990, either electric or retrofitted with electric-drive systems.
Editor’s note: Cristy Lee hosts All Girls Garage and Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions LIVE and recently added MotorTrend Channel’s Garage Squad to her television resume. She’s also been a motorsports reporter covering motorcycle, rally, off-road and even monster truck competitions. She is an active motorcyclist, regularly participating in track days, trail riding and touring, and is involved in various auto racing and driving school programs. When time permits, she’s in her own garage restoring a 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible. Cristy Lee also took time recently for this interview.
How did you get hooked on motorsports and cars?
Between growing up in the Daytona Beach area and my father owning his own auto repair shop, I think I was bit by the bug at a pretty early age.I’ve been a tomboy my whole life and always a huge lover of cars, spending time in my dad’s shop and drooling over pricey sports cars on magazine covers. Shocking, I know.
My adrenaline addiction really kicked in when I bought my first motorcycle at age 18. Most of my friends in Daytona rode and I wanted my own sportbike as soon as I was ‘of age’ — I’ve been riding ever since!It wasn’t long before my street riding adventures ventured to the race track turning laps at open track days.
She’s as comfortable on camera as she is on her bike or in the garage | Barrett-Jackson photo
There is no shortage of automotive programming on television, and now online. Do you think these shows are important to enthusiasts?
Absolutely!There is an abundance of TV shows to entertain fans of every genre… cooking, home renovating, noodling for catfish, wilderness survival in the nude, or that show where they sing and you call in and vote or something like that maybe.
Obviously automotive has its own territory in the land of TV to stake out amongst the rest. A vast majority of people own and drive a vehicle, but most automotive TV programming, in my opinion, really concentrates on the DIYers and passionate car enthusiasts, more so than just the average “driver.”
Because there are so many different areas of automotive, fabricating, restoring, modifying, painting, welding, breaking (oops, hate when that happens)… and decades of different styles of automobiles, muscle cars, classics, big trucks, little trucks, off-road trucks, rat rods, customs, the options are limitless – there’s a different flavor for everyone when it comes to car TV programming and that’s a good thing.
What’s been your favorite project on All Girls Garage?
I can’t pick just one fav… The opportunity to work on vehicles using aftermarket products that I’d likely never get my hands on outside of the show has created so many amazing experiences for me.
A few that stick out were bending up a prototype exhaust system on a brand new Camaro. I recall restoring a ’67 Shelby GT500 and a ’63 Split Window. Installing a sound system on a platinum-selling rock band guitarist’s personal ride was awesome.
“I wish there were more pink cars with butterflies on them,” no woman ever said.
Charity builds for non-profits like the Wounded Warrior Project and Cancer Research Foundation are also a favorite.On a more personal note, we’ve had the chance to work on my own Kawasaki motorcycle when I “stopped by the shop” (but literally did) during a long-distance road trip through the South.We also worked on a 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible that resides in my garage as a project car. It’s not my personal ride, but a family car that was featured on the show. We even brought my dad’s BMW 325i into the shop for some much needed maintenance.
Is the staff of Garage Squad as talented as it appears, or is it just TV magic?
Everything that happens on Garage Squad is a team effort. There’s no wand waving. Our crew literally rolls up to the car owner’s garage (of course they’re expecting us and know that we’re about to film a TV show, I’m not Ed McMahon), we introduce ourselves, check out the ride and get right to work. And in seven days’ time, from start to finish – no more, no less, we restore their ride in their own garage. We get it back on the road!
The goal isn’t to build show cars or SEMA-worthy rides. The cars we work on almost never run and look pretty shabby once we arrive.Our focus is to get them up and running and looking as best as possible. Some transformations are bigger than others depending on the state the car is in when we arrive!No magic — yes, parts are sourced ahead of time, yes, we stumble onto problems along the way, yes, we work long days and late nights sometimes. But no, we don’t ever ‘not finish on time’.
These projects couldn’t be accomplished without a team effort from everyone on-camera to the entire crew behind the scenes.I’m amazed at what we accomplish.
‘Women have a tremendous influence, especially with the upward growth of females in the trades and the automotive industry in general.’
How much do you feel women enthusiasts influence emerging trends in restoration, custom builds, new “looks,” etc.?
“I wish there were more pink cars with butterflies on them,” no woman ever said.
Women have a tremendous influence, especially with the upward growth of females in the trades and the automotive industry in general.Women are more proactive, hands-on, supportive and empowered now more than they have ever been.That presence has most certainly impacted the trends and styles of cars. I don’t think there’s a specific “look” that defines that presence as a whole either, which makes it even more exciting to be part of this influential wave of talented car ladies.
You are given $100,000 to buy a classic car, a bucket-list dream ride, produced between 1953 and 1971, and cars only, no motorcycles. What do you buy?
Did you have to add “no motorcycles” because you know me all too well, or is that a staple for this questionnaire? Unfortunately for my bank account, I have several “dream rides” well above the 100K price point, but if that’s my number, here are a few I’d consider. Sorry, can’t settle for one choice, a girl’s gotta have options:
* 1969 Mustang Boss 302 in Wimbledon White or a nicely restored numbers-matching Mach 1.
* 1969 Camaro Z/28 in Hugger Orange w/ its original 302.
* 1970 AAR ‘Cuda with 340 Six Pack (duh!) in a high-impact color (double duh!).
Why these?Because they’re awesome, their look, their performance, the era. The domestic muscle car horsepower wars of the late ’60’ brought out some of the greatest.
Cristy Lee and her motorcycle in front of the historic Detroit railway station | Cristy Lee photo
You are allowed to ask one famous “car person” to ride with you on a cruise in your new dream car.Your passenger may be alive or not. (Hey, I’m asking the questions here.)Who do you ask and what do you chat about?
I moved to Michigan 15 years ago, and although my zip code was inside the Detroit city limits for several years and more recently in the surrounding suburbs, I’ve been fascinated ever since I arrived with the history of the iconic Motor City.I’d probably invite Henry Ford himself for cruise since he revolutionized the American automotive industry, putting Detroit on the map as the “Motor City,, pumping out cars to the masses, and partnering with many other notable Detroit auto legends like the Dodge Brothers.I’d probably take him out in the Mustang, you know, as a courtesy (guess that would be kinda like a Back to the Future Part III thing).
Why did you choose a 1967 Grand Prix to restore?
I didn’t really choose it, it chose me, It’s a family car and grandpa didn’t have any place to properly store this monster so it ended up in my garage.He has many great family memories with this car.I’m hoping to get him back out on the road in it soon.
Any other classic cars you have on your bucket list?
’69 Boss 429, ’70 or ’71 Challenger, ’68 – ’72 Chevy C10 Shortbed Fleetside, ’63 – ’66 C10, ’58 Chevy Apache, BMW 2002tii, E36 M3 (I know that’s kind of random, just happens to be a car a really love), ‘60’s Porsche 911 (a real one, not a re-creation), ’71 Chevelle SS, and I could probably add a couple dozen more. But I need to invest in a larger garage first.
Let’s talk Barrett Jackson.So many cars.How do you keep them straight?Do you study the docket before the show? Do you get nervous?
I’ve been on-camera over a decade and worked for a dozen or so different TV networks in my career thus far. My role during the Barrett-Jackson auctions is honestly one of the most challenging jobs I’ve ever had.I started out my TV career as a pit-reporter on live broadcasts, but the BJA broadcast is so unique. I’m acting as a co-host but also as a field reporter at the same time.
Scottsdale takes the cake of course, with 37+ hours of live TV coverage over a six-day span.We are provided with the docket list well in advance of the broadcast for our review, note taking, and research purposes.My role is mostly about being ready-to-go on the fly in the field. That be the staging lanes, tents, auction block, pre-staging, auction floor, skybox, anywhere a cool story is breaking. I’m pretty sure I did a live TV hit from behind the turkey leg smoker stand one year, so anything is possible!I keep a docket list, tent location list, and some notes for each broadcast with me so I’m ready to hustle.
What do you feel is the next big trend in the auction world?
Early 2000s cars. They’re really gonna reinvent the collector car market. Those ’04 Corollas are hot… Kidding. We’ve seen a recent swing in popularity over the past few years with trucks, late ’70s era rides and JDM cars.I do think the resto-mod scene is gaining ground with classic lovers. That’s my personal preference for a collector car; original look with modern conveniences. You can’t go wrong with that.
The obligatory glamor shot, though we imagine she’s rather be driving that Boss 302 than sitting on the garage floor next to it | Robert Bruce photo
Bonus round:Do you think red cars sell for more money on the auction block? I mean, two identical cars, but one is painted bright red.
Is that like how red cars are more likely to get pulled over for speeding too?? Not really sure there’s any adequate evidence to support either claim, but, ok, I’ll bite – yes, red cars definitely sell for more money on the block.Red is an emotionally intense number that signifies a spiritual awakening, raising blood pressure in the bidders and igniting their desire to win that bid. Personally, I always put my chips on black.
You can learn a lot by reading ClassicCars.com, as everybody knows. I just learned two pieces of Mopar lore of which I previously had no notion. Although I’m sure many of you Dodge people out there already knew all about them and will mock my ignorance.
First off, I did not know that for three years, from 1961-63, a limited number of the ubiquitous 225 cid slant-6 engines were produced with cast-aluminum blocks.
I’m well familiar with the durable iron-block slant-6, having owned a 1963 Dodge Dart convertible. These were strong and reliable engines that powered everything from compact cars to dump trucks. They ran forever. But aluminum? Who knew?
The Pick of the Day is a 1964 Dodge Dart convertiblepowered by a performance-enhanced aluminum-block slant-6 from a 1962 model – it’s not often that you find a resto-mod with an engine transplant that’s older than the car.
“Popping the hood, we are met with polished aluminum heaven,” according to the Morgantown, Pennsylvania, dealer advertising the Dart on ClassicCars.com. “225 cubes in slant 6-cylinder form, and the aforementioned 1962 cast-aluminum block.
“Inside there is an Erson cam, a polished aluminum intake, and an Edelbrock 500 CFM 4-barrel carb to feed the slanter. Also, of note the large intake valves and the head have been ported and smoothed. An A833 4-speed with overdrive manual transmission is bolted to the back.
“Polished Jack Clifford headers wind their way past the intakes and form a neat bundle before exiting out to the 2-1/2″ pipes and hi flow mufflers.”
The Dodge does look spectacular under the hood, especially with those two beefy headers gathering the front three cylinders and the rear three, and flowing into a dual exhaust. The seller says it runs great.
The Dodge Dart convertible in dark red with black trim appears to be in nice overall condition. The seller advises that there are “a few faults throughout,” but the paint and chrome appear shiny and show well.
The top and interior look to be in great shape, as the seller notes.
“Simply elegantly done, this interior is pristine,” the ad says. “Front buckets in black vinyl have inner horizontal ribbing with smooth outer bolsters. White piping and a perfectly preserved Fratzog also in white is seen in the middle of each seat back.”
Fratzogs on the seat backs
Fratzog. That’s the other thing I did not know about. Sure, I’ve seen the emblem many times, but never knew it had such a funky name.
“A fractured deltoid shape commonly compared to a rocket or triangle, was named the Fratzog,” the seller relates. “If you’re wondering what that word means (it sounds German, doesn’t it?), it’s totally meaningless. The designer made up the gibberish term due to being obligated to come up with a name. There are still many conspiracy theories about it …”
The seller goes on about the interior:
“Between the buckets is a wood-topped Mopar pistol-grip shifter, which sits proudly in a sea of very clean black carpeting. A look to the dash and we see the true-to-1964 restored dash, in beautiful black steel and horizontal ribbed aluminum front. A vintage Sun Tach is mounted to the column right behind the original steering wheel.
“Lest I forget, the trunk deserves a word, with perfect interior red paint, and the checked vinyl liner straight and flat.”
This Dodge Dart with its tuned aluminum slant-6 and 4-speed manual is an unusual find, especially is this condition, so the asking price of $19,900 seems modest.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
A 1927 Duesenberg Model Y Phaeton prototype believed to be the only such surviving example will be displayed at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in northeast Indiana under a 2-year loan. The rare vehicle is owned by Bob Becker of Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada.
“Having this prototype in the showroom next to the Duesenberg Model X and J will allow visitors to visualize the full evolution in design of Duesenberg automobiles leading up to the Model J,” said museum curator Sam Grate.
Already successful in auto racing, the Duesenberg brothers launched their road car company with the Model A and followed with the Model X. They built Model Y prototypes in 1927 as they prepared to produce the famed Model J, which was unveiled at the New York auto show in December 1928.
“During the prototype design process several different engine configurations were built, but it’s believed that only one car was finished,” the museum said. “The body that survives is believed to have been built as an in-house prototype, and because they were prototypes, the Duesenberg brothers were tasked with destroying all the engines and chassis.
However, “The youngest of the Duesenberg brothers, August, decided to keep the in-house body that was built and had it mounted on a current Model A chassis along with a set of Stutz wheels creating the automobile that survives today.”
‘Sinkhole’ Corvette joins car show on aircraft carrier
U.S.S. Lexington’s flight deck will be site of car show October 5-6 | Museum photo
The 1962 Chevrolet Corvette restored after being swallowed by the sinkhole that opened beneath the Skydome at the National Corvette Museum will be displayed October 5-6 on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier on Corpus Christi Bay near the Texas State Aquarium.
“This is an opportunity to not only share the sinkhole story outside of the museum, but an opportunity to showcase and educate people on how the museum is able to preserve and care for the collections of the museum,” said Derek Moore, director of collections and curator.
“Participation in this final car show on the U.S.S. Lexington adds yet another piece of history to our 1962 Corvette.”
The show will be the 11th and final such event on the carrier. The museum’s Corvette will be given the honor of being the final car driven onto the flight deck for the show.
The car and, in fact, the entire show are being staged in honor of Bill Thomas, a museum member who has been involved in the show on the flight deck since its start. Thomas, who has been diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer, was offered a spot at the show and asked the museum about displaying the sinkhole car.
The Lexington is a World War II-vintage Essex Class carrier commissioned in 1943. It was decommissioned in 1991. Its flight deck has room for 350 cars.
One of the last of the new Ford GTs will be offered at Petersen auction | Ford photo
Petersen to auction Ford GT
The Petersen Automotive Museum’s 25th anniversary gala on October 5 in Los Angeles will have a theme of “Celebrating Silver, Going for Gold” but that doesn’t mean the winning bidder has to select either silver or gold as the color on a new Ford GT that will be auctioned to benefit the museum foundation.
One of the last public allocations for a new Ford GT will be up for auction at the gala, and the winning bidder not only gets a car but can specify its trim and paint.
The car is being donated by Ford Motor Company, which along with the Ford family is being honored at the gala for its contributions to the auto industry and American culture.
RM Sotheby’s will handle the Ford GT sale and bidding will be open to those attending the event as well as via telephone, online and absentee offers.
Petersen extends Jessi Combs exhibit
Jessi Combs tribute exhibit | Museum photo
With support from BFGoodrich, the Petersen also announced that it will extend its tribute exhibition to the late Jessi Combs through October 3.
“Thanks to her many fans, ‘Jessi Combs: Life at Full Speed’ has been an incredible success for both the museum and The Jessi Combs Foundation,” said the museum’s executive director Terry Karges. “Jessi inspired many people in our community, and her influence is evident in the overwhelming response that this exhibit has received so far.”
The exhibit is located “Jessi Combs: Life at Full Speed” is free to the general public. Visitors are still required to pay standard general admission prices if they would like to view other Petersen Automotive Museum exhibitions.
The exhibit is located in the museum’s William Connor Penthouse and is open for viewing without having to pay the museum’s usual admission fee, although visitors are asked to make a donation to the Combs Foundation.
Indy museum offers special showing
Marmon Wasp will be among cars featured in ‘Over the Ropes’ event at Indy museum | Larry Edsall photo
The first 75 people to register will get a special “Over the Ropes/Under the Hood” tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 15.
Museum experts — including Louis “Sonny” Meyer Jr., Wilbur Shaw’s son Bill, and longtime Indy racing chief mechanic Mike Devin — will host up-close visits with the Marmon Wasp, 1928 Miller, 1939/40 Boyle Special, a Chip Ganassi Racing cutaway car, a modern Indy car and a few others.
Inside the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, England | Museum photo
Beaulieu seeks trustees as 50th anniversary approaches
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, England, was founded in 1972 by Edward, Lord Montagu and has become known for its innovative events and its 250-vehicle collection.
But like many car museums, “We are at an interesting point in our history, as we approach our 50th year and look to the future,” said chief executive Russell Bowman. “We would like to recruit new trustees and advisors who will bring fresh enthusiasm and expertise to take us from strength to strength.”
And thus the museum has put out the call for potential trustees and advisors to help take it forward. Interested parties should email Anna-Marie.O’[email protected].
Special events this weekend
“Nuvolari — The Flying Mantuan” will be the theme of Demo Day onSeptember 28 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, where a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, 1926 Bugatti Type 35, 1934 MG K3 Magnette and 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS will be exercised in the museum parking lot.
September 29 is “Batman Day and Lamborghini Cruise-In” at the Petersen Automotive Museum beginning at 8 a.m. in Los Angeles. As part of the event, the museum will feature the Lego Batcycle usually stored in its Vault.
The LeMay Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington, has added one more Model T Experience event to its schedule for September 29. The program includes driving a Model T on the Marymount grounds. For details, visit the Lane Collections website.
Muscle Car City in Punta Gorda, Florida, stages its monthly auto flea market from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. on September 29.
Mark your calendar
The Audrain Auto Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, will host the inaugural Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week from October 3-6 with car collector and new Newport resident Jay Leno as chairman of the inaugural motor week and with his TV show partner and well-known vehicle valuation expert Donald Osborne as chairman for the concours. Also during “motor week,” the Newport Car Museum will have extended hours, open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily from October 2-6.
The Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine hosts Arcadia National Park artist-in-residence Rob Pollen to stage a “Sketch A Ride: Drawing Class” on October 5.
The Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, California, resumes its “Muscles & Mojo” morning car shows on October 6.
Bonhams will stage its eighth annual collector motorcars and automobilia auction on October 7 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. For details, visit the auction website.
The AACA Library in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is holding a yard sale from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 8 in conjunction with its move to a new building. All book prices will be reduced 20 percent during the sale, and several special bundles focusing on a particular make or model year have been created for the sale.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, will present its Automotive Heritage Award to Carlisle Events founders Bill Miller Jr. and the late Elliot “Chip” Miller at the Night at the Museum gala October 9.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum will feature Bobby Rahal in its Distinguished Speaker Series for Fall 2019 on October 9. Michael Andretti will be the speaker on November 6.
The Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine hosts a two- and three-wheeler Cars & Coffee event from 9 a.m. until noon on October 12.
The Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California, stages its Night at the Museum gala on October 13. The theme is “Diamonds in Danville.”
It’s the “Tractors & Brews” party night at 6 p.m. on October 18 at the California Agriculture Museum in Woodland.
Book cover
Autobooks-Aerobooks in Burbank, California, hosts author Patrick Kelley and his Imagine! Automobile Concept Art from the 1930s to the 1980sfrom 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on October 19.
An All-British Motor Show will be staged October 20 at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California.
The Revs Institute and Collier Collection in Naples, Florida, will host its inaugural Cars & Coffee at Revs from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. on October 26.
October 27 is the third annual Legends Day at the North East Motor Sports Museum in Loudon, New Hampshire, where Ollie Silva, Bentley Warren and Ed West will be honored in a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m.
The British Motor Museum at Gaydon hosts the 11th “Large Model Aircraft Show” on October 27 with more than 100 large radio-controlled model aircraft on display in the annual indoor showcase. Modeling workshops also will be offered.
The Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine closes for the winter season on October 31.
“Legends of Speed,” a showcase of nearly two dozen historic racing cars, opens November 2 at the Phoenix Art Museum.
The California Automobile Museum in Sacramento joins with the Sacramento Area Miata Owners Association to offer “An Evening with Tom Matano, The Father of the Miata” at 7 p.m. on November 2.
The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, will offer free admission to veterans from November 7-11.
The LeMay Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington, stages its annual benefit dinner and sock hop dance from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on November 16.
Does your local car museum have special events or exhibitions planned? Let us know. Email [email protected].
Gooding & Company has signed on as a founding sponsor of the inaugural Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week, a four-day multi-faceted event that takes place October 3-6, hosted by the Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island.
As part of its presence at Newport, Gooding will display four collector cars available for private sale, which will be shown throughout the event at the Concours Village at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The cars are a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Three-Position Drophead Coupe, 1972 Porsche 911 2.4 T Targa, 1973 Alpine A110 1600S and a 1992 Porsche 964 Carrera RS.
1972 Porsche 911 2.4 T Targa
The high-end festival, which focuses on motorsport and driving history from the early days to the present, is chaired by comedian car guy Jay Leno, while the Sunday, October 6, concours d’elegance will be headed by well-known classic car expert and author Donald Osborne. Among the shows, tours and gatherings is a concert by music superstar John Legend.
The rare and exceptional vintage and modern vehicles on display will include 12 cars from the General Motors Heritage Division, including such famed show cars as the 1938 Buick Y-Job, the 1954 Corsair Concept and the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen.
For more information about the Audrain’s Newport Concours & Motor Week, and the full list of events, visit the festival website.
A rare alloy-body 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/2 “long-nose” berlinetta, one of the greatest road and race track thoroughbreds of its era, will be offered during Bonhams’ Zoute, Belgium, sale on October 11.
The V12-powered coupe with styling by Pininfarina leads off a group of exceptional Ferraris that have been consigned to the auction, according to a Bonhams news release.
The Ferrari’s V12 Colombo engine is fed by six Weber carburetors
“One of only 60 ‘long-nosed’ examples produced with an alloy body, this car, chassis No. 08061, finished in Rosso Chiaro with blue interior, was previously owned for some 10 years by Gregory Noblet, son of Ferrari works driver and gentleman racer Pierre Noblet who, together with Jean Guichet, was on the podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1962 (3rd) and 1963 (2nd) in a 250 GTO.”
The GTB had a €250,000 ($273,000) restoration completed in 2014, Bonhams says.
“The 275 GTB is Ferrari Classiche certified and comes with its ‘Ferrari Red Book’ and FIA historic passport, as well as two boxes of spares and original parts,” the release notes.
The alloy-body coupe on the track
The estimated value of the GTB will be provided “upon request,” Bonhams says. Current value guides peg its worth at more than $3 million.
Other special Ferraris on the Zoute docket include:
• 1960 250 GT Pininfarina Series II Cabriolet, valued at $1.2 million to $1.6 million.
• 2004 Enzo, valued at $1.3 million to $1.6 million.
• 1960 250 GT Series II Coupé, valued at $550,000 to $750,000.
The October 11 auction takes place at the Place Albert in Knokke Le Zoute. For more information, visit the auction website.
A 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT won best in show honors at the second edition of the Lamborghini & Design Concorso d’Eleganza, an alternative-years road tour, hill climb and car show that started in Venice and ended in Trieste and staged by Lamborghini Polo Storico.
The event featured 36 Lamborghinis produced between 1964 and 1991 along with several contemporary models and this time was staged as a tribute to Italian architect Gae Aulenti, a native of Trieste.
Aulenti’s granddaughter, Nina Artioli, who also is the curator of the architect’s archive, was featured guest at the event.
In addition to the cars, the event included eight Ducati motorcycles representing the history and evolution of racing and road machines produced in Bologna Borgo Panigale since 1946.
“My 1928 Chrysler Model 72 is offered for sale due to my age, not the age of my car!” the car’s private seller points out in the advertisement on ClassicCars.com for the Pick of the Day, a 1928 Chrysler classic.
“Within four months, I’ll begin my 85th year of life, and cannot any longer continue to preserve and maintain this remarkable car,” the seller adds.
“This Chrysler was a body-off restoration done before I bought it eleven years ago,” the seller continues. “It has been driven very little except in a couple of parades and showings. It has always been covered in my garage, and never been exposed to either rain or inclement weather by me.
“I started the car a few days ago and it runs perfectly, as it should, due to the care and maintenance it has received these past eleven years. This 1928 Chrysler received an outstanding body-off restoration several years ago, and I have maintained its preservation since.
Dashboard
“This car is a stunning and rare example of a beautiful original Model 72 1928 Chrysler.”
Chrysler began production in 1926 and by 1928 was equipping its cars with a 5.1-liter straight 6 rated at 100 horsepower.
According to the seller, only one major modification has been done to the car, the replacement of the mechanical fuel pump with a modern electric pump and fuel filter.
“This change has vastly improved starting the car, but it could easily be removed to make the car absolutely original. In my opinion this would be a mistake since the car starts perfectly with the electric pump and fuel filter installed. This is the only visible modification to this original 1928 Chrysler.”
The car also has a modern radiator core “installed by a classic car specialist using the original radiator housing with a new replica front radiator screen. New radiator hoses and the original water pump were also serviced, resulting in the cooling system running cooler.
“The gear box was overhauled which repaired its leak.”
At least one issue remains.
Engine
“The no-pressure cooling system does not have installed a collection reservoir for its overflow coolant, and without a cooling system reservoir after shut down, the coolant will sometimes backflow onto the ground through the radiator’s overflow line. Therefore, it’s essential to always check the radiator coolant level before driving the car.
“This above issue is what led to the other problem before I bought the car. A low coolant level in the radiator caused a small overheating crack in the engine water block. A local machine shop helped me repair the leak ten years ago which has never been an issue thereafter because I always checked the radiator coolant level before driving the car.”
The seller also notes that while he believes the trunk is original, that has not been professional confirmed, and that while the headlights are original, “the chrome on them may have been an aftermarket feature.”
The car is on offer for $19,000 and is located in Sheridan, Wyoming.
“I’m too old to continue to preserve or continue to maintain my car any longer, or take it to an auction. Whomever buys this car is going to get a great bargain.”
You have to admit that muscle cars are not what they used to be. Nope. They’re much better, even in the case of the much-admired Chevy Camaro ZL1 that started out in 1969 as a dealer-ordered COPO race car and now reigns as a hotly desired (and very expensive) collector car.
The latest Camaro ZL1 is a real piece of work, filled with sound and fury signifying a massive amount of performance. The main attraction is the towering power of the supercharged LT4 6.2-liter V8, which peaks at a thunderous 650 horsepower – the most ever for any production Camaro– and 650 pound-feet of torque that cranks on at 3,400 rpm.
That magic comes across instantly with a stomp on the throttle as all hell breaks loose. The back end also breaks loose a bit before traction control steps in and the Camaro rockets forward as you’re slammed back in the Recaro seat.
So, yeah, make sure you are in a secure and unencumbered location before hitting the gas because this car will run away with the unwary. For me, it was on a long, broad freeway entrance ramp in Seaside, California, with nobody else around. Loud, smoky and thrilling, almost immediately into ticket-bait speed.
There are all kinds of electronic settings on the ZL1 for gaining either the most performance or the most comfort, from Touring to full Track, which includes some additional settings of its own. For my rush of acceleration, I flipped over to Track but with some of the electronic nannies left on, just in case I ran out of talent at a critical moment with all this hot torque under foot.
For most of my time driving around in the Camaro convertible, I kept it in the Sport setting, which provides a firm suspension, strong throttle response and a preferred shift pattern from the new 10-speed automatic transmission.
That’s right, 10 speeds, just like on your old Schwinn Varsity. The trans handles the complex business of shifting in quick staccato bursts from gear to gear, with or without driver input from the paddle shifters. As with many performance-honed automatics these days, the 10-speed thrusts the car to 60 mph in less time than it takes with a pro driver rowing through the 6-speed manual.
That zero-60 time, by the way, is 3.5 seconds, according to the manufacturer, which puts the ZL1 solidly in supercar territory. The Camaro will do the quarter mile in 11.7 seconds at a top speed of 127 mph, Chevy says,
“This transmission is optimized for speed,” Camaro chief engineer Mark Dickens says in Camaro’s PR material. “With unique Track Mode calibrations and 10 gears, you are always in the perfect gear when rolling on or off the throttle. You may not be a professional race car driver, but now you can shift like one.”
Hit the gas while cruising at, say, 60 mph, and the multi-gear downshift happens very fast, quickly hooking up and pulling ahead.
Modern technology has made it all seem easy to bring big power to the table, from Camaros, Mustangs and Challenger Hellcats to Ferraris, Lamborghinis and the McLaren P1.
Just being fast is not enough, though. The Camaro ZL1 also has a surprisingly comfortable ride and marvelous handling, another nod to technology with the Magnetic Ride suspension that continuously monitors driving and road conditions, adjusting for both comfort and control. While the Sport mode stiffened things up a bit, the ride was firm but totally acceptable even on rough surfaces.
Handling was right up there, with a major assist from the wide, 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 tires constructed specifically for the Camaro, according to the spec sheet. Weighing just north of 2 tons, the convertible that I drove still felt crisply agile. Chevy reports a ZL1 skidpad result of 1.02 g.
Naturally, the brakes need to be up to the task of corralling all this kinetic force, and the ZL1 is fitted with mighty Brembo binders – the front calipers are 6-piston monobloc design with 15.35-inch 2-piece rotors. They are highly effective.
Gas mileage is, well, you don’t buy a Camaro ZL1 for its frugality. The EPA says it gets 13 mpg city and 21 highway for an average of 16 – a very tall overdrive gear takes advantage of the prodigious torque of the big V8 and allows it to lug along at low rpm at highway speeds, thus improving mileage.
Whatever the case, the EPA sees fit to levy a $2,100 fast-guzzler tax on the ZL1.
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.| Chevrolet
Still, if the ZL1 is not aggressive enough for you, there is a track-tuned 1LE version of the coupe with handling performance that’s considerably edgier, from what I’ve read. I’ve also read complaints that the 1LE rides too hard for regular driving.
The ZL1 leaves no doubt about its performance goals, with wings, scoops, diffusers and aerodynamic extensions that appear ready to keep things tight right up to the ZL1’s reputed top speed of 195 mph. While I was sorely tempted to try that out on Highway 1, I somehow resisted.
The styling of the 6th-generation Camaro is more sharply honed compared with that of the previous model, and the ZL1 add-ons look strategic and purposeful. For instance, the bold hood extractor adds down force, according to Chevy.
Hunkered down in the Camaro’s snug interior, one quickly becomes aware of the poor outward visibility that has bedeviled these cars since they came back from the dead in 2010 with a retro look that charmed longtime fans. High door sills with a low roof might look cool, but it doesn’t do much for seeing out.
Add to that large C-pillar blind spots and limited rear view through the narrow rear window, and you have a coupe or convertible that winds up feeling claustrophobic. Dropping the top on the convertible improves things, of course, but you still feel like you’re sitting too low in a big car, even for a tall guy like me.
The rear seat is also something of an afterthought, suitable only for children or pets, especially in the convertible where the top mechanism steals some space. At least the front Recaro seats are roomy and supportive.
The dashboard seems awfully busy with various and sundry contours and chrome pieces, as if the designers threw into it everything they could think of. The ZL1 is well-equipped with features, including fingertip controls for the various driving modes, which show up on the driver’s screen between the speedo and the tach.
Among the functions are an optional performance-data recorder. An 8-inch video screen handles infotainment functions.
The Camaro is most certainly a car with serious performance capability and content, so the $67,500 list price for the convertible is not surprising (I drove a 2019 model, with the ZL1 essentially identical for 2020). The 10-speed automatic is a $1,595 option, and the Garnet Red paint is an extra $395. With $995 shipping and that $2,100 gas-guzzler tax, the bottom line came out to $72,585.
Media reports say Chevrolet is considering doing away with the Camaro brand after this generation, probably around 2023. They did it before and they might do it again. But however you might feel about the Camaro, the demise of any enthusiast car diminishes all of us.
“China’s growing love of historic vehicles is good news for us all,” theFédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens says as it announces that the Asian country’s only private classic car museum has joined FIVA.
“The Sanhe Classic Car Museum, in Chengdu, boasts a collection of some 230 historic cars, with more than 30 marques dating from the early 1900s to the 1990s,” FIVA said in its announcement.
“It’s hard to overstate the importance of welcoming a Chinese museum to the international community of classic vehicle enthusiasts,” added Mario Theissen, FIVA senior vice president. “A passion for historic vehicles, and for the culture that lies behind automotive history, is a relatively new phenomenon in China. This makes it a particular pleasure to share our mutual interests with the Chinese, and we look forward to exchanging valuable ideas.”
“While we already have Chinese members of FIVA, such as the Classic Vehicle Union of China, the addition of the SCCM is a huge step forward,” said FIVA president Patrick Rollet.
“Given the country’s size, population and enormous global influence, establishing a closer relationship with China is likely to be very good news for the future of historic vehicle preservation. This is right at the heart of why FIVA exists.”
Hongqi CA72 leads parade
While the Sanhe museum is privately owned, there also are two state-owned classic vehicle museums in China, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai, FIVA said.
The international historic vehicle association noted that Chengdu is home to 8 million people, with another 22 million in the region. The city traces to 300 BC.
The Sanhe museum “is lavishly constructed and beautifully illuminated, and features a ‘retro street,’ children’s entertainment area, art gallery, theatre, library, plus a coffee shop and souvenir center,” FIVA said.
It is owned and curated by Huang ZongMin (or Jason Huang, as he prefers to be known), and its collection includes a Benz Patent Motorwagen replica, 1906 Cadillac M, 1910 Napier 15HP, Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Auburn 851, Packard Super 8, Maserati 3500 GT and Aston Martin DB4.
“Even more interestingly, however, the museum houses a good collection of Chinese-built Hongqis, the car used by senior members of the Communist Party and government officials. In 2008, SCCM exchanged a 1965 Hongqi CA770 with Blackhawk Museum’s Benz Patent Motorwagen.
“In 2015, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Chinese carmaker FAW, which owns the Hongqi brand today, and SCCM donated a CA770 to Cité de l’Automobile – Collection Schlumpf, at Mulhouse, France.”
Huang is considered to be China’s leading classic car collector and is chairman of the Sanhe Group which has dealerships selling Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Lotus, Morgan, Audi, Volvo, Infiniti, Toyota and Honda vehicles. In 2016 he became the first Chinese collector to display a vehicle at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, his 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. In 2018, his Hongqi CA72 won the Chairman’s Award at Pebble Beach.
Earlier this month, the Sanhe musuem gained permission to stage a road tour, a caravan of 22 historic vehicles opening the Chengdu Motor Show. Five of the vehicles remained at the show, giving rides to show visitors.
