The Guyton Collection, comprising 60 early to pre-war classic vehicles and hundreds of pieces of automobilia will be offered at no reserve May 4-5 at an RM Sotheby’s auction in St. Louis.
In announcing the sale, RM Sotheby’s noted that Guyton’s is a “superbly curated collection” of the “rarest of veteran, brass, and classic era American and European motor cars.”
Calling the late Fred Guyton “a beloved fixture of the car collecting hobby,” the auction house said the architect collected for more than four decades.
Following his graduation from the University of Illinois and service in the Peace Corps and U.S. Army, Guyton moved to St. Louis, co-founding Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc., which he led as chairman for 35 years. The firm’s work included Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Tampa, Florida; the Anheuser-Busch world headquarters; and Universal Studios theme parks.
1930 Packard Speedster Eight Phaeton1930 Ruxton Model C roadster by Baker-Raulang
“Fred Guyton was a treasured name in the collector car hobby, and we’re honored to present his fascinating collection at auction,” RM Sotheby’s car specialist Donnie Gould is quoted in the auction announcement.
“With an encyclopedic knowledge of history himself, Fred’s collection tells the story of a significant period in automotive advancement, one that we’re thrilled to share with the hobby this spring. Fred rarely if ever sold a part of his beloved collection, and, apart from a handful of cars, did not show his collection often, so this truly is a very rare opportunity.”
RM Sotheby’s said at least three of the Guyton Collection truly stand out — a 1930 Packard 735 Speedster Eight Phaeton, one of only five created; a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy convertible sedan originally driven by Indianapolis 500 racer Leon Duray; and a 1930 Ruxton Model C Baker-Raulang roadster, an early front-whdel-drive vehicle that won best-preserved pre-war honors at Pebble Beach. Only seven of the roadsters were built.
1938 Rolls-Royce Phaeton III ‘parallel door’ saloon1906 Mason Touring
Among other “significant” vehicles in the collection are a 1906 Mason Touring, the earliest car designed by the Duesenberg brothers and formerly part of the Harrah’s Collection; a 1927 Duesenberg Model X dual-cowl phaeton displayed at the Chicago and Los Angeles motor shows; a 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III ‘Parallel Door’ saloon; and a 1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges.
Also on the docket are items of World War I and II aviation and naval ephemera, more than 3,000 model and toy cars, and other collectibles.
You might not yet be used to saying 2019 rather than 2018, but the new year brings with it a fresh batch of cars that are now 25 years old, That’s right, the Class of 1994 is now considered “antique” or “classic” by many jurisdictions.
Here are the notable vehicles that were redesigned or debuted in 1994.
1994 Acura Integra GS-R Sedan.
Acura Integra: Still beloved a quarter century later by Honda fans, the 1994 Integra was changed in appearance but not in size or mission. Returning as a three-door hatchback or four-door sedan, it was powered by 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 142 horsepower on most models. But the Integra to look for is the sporty GS-R, which had 170 horses and a five-speed manual transmission.
Audi Cabriolet: After seeing sales evaporate in the wake of unproven accusations of unintended acceleration shamelessly spread by CBS’s 60 Minutes, Audi attempted to win back customers with its first convertible, the Cabriolet. Based on the smaller 90 Series, a forerunner to today’s A4, the front-wheel drive Cabriolet was powered by 172-horsepower V6 and four-speed automatic transmission.
E36 3 Series highly regarded 25 years ago, and still today
BMW 3 Series: The fifth generation of BMW’s compact sports sedan was one of the best cars of the 1990s, and one of the best 3 Series models ever. Known internally as the E36, it was initially offered in 318 and 325 trim, joined later by the 335 and its 300-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 that provided the performance needed to prevent competitors from gaining an upper hand.
Cadillac De Ville: Substantially better than the model it replaced, the restyled De Ville offered a new performance-oriented Concours model with a 290-horsepower Northstar V8 and electronic Road Sensing Suspension that delivered far better performance than the old 200-horsepower 4.9-liter V8 used in most De Villes. Overlooked when new, the Concours is forgotten today.
LHS was large and front driven
Chrysler New Yorker/LHS: More stylish than the Chrysler Concorde and five inches longer, this duo briefly restored Chrysler’s reputation before the automaker was consumed in a misguided merger with Daimler. The Concorde’s largest engine, a 214-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, powered these large front-wheel-drive sedans which provided limousine-like rear seat accommodations.
Dodge Ram: In many ways, the 1994 Ram changed the full-size pickup segment. Ram 1500s had always carefully followed the styling lead of Ford and General Motors, and placed a distant third in sales. But now larger than its competitors and bold wearing styling inspired by big rigs, it proved that attitude mattered as much as capability with pickup buyers, inspiring the gargantuan full-size pickups being sold today.
Instead of rumored front-driver, Ford revived the Mustang with this 1994 version
Ford Mustang: It’s amazing to think that Ford was stupid enough to consider replacing its pony car with the Mazda-engineered Ford Probe, an unremarkable front-wheel-drive sport coupe. Thankfully, the Mustang survived, wearing its first redesign in 15 years, although the revised platform carried over sporting a 145-horsepower V6 or 215-horsepower V8. Anti-lock brakes were a new option.
Honda Accord: In an era when consumers prefer SUVs and trucks to cars, it’s easy to forget that cars like the Accord were once offered as a front-wheel-drive sedan, coupe or wagon. The Accord debuted with four-cylinder engines, while most competitors offered a V6. Nevertheless, the Accord proved popular, thanks to its nimble handling, fuel-efficient performance and roomy cabin.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Replacing the Lilliputian 190 Series, the new C-Class was longer and wider and offered as the 147-horsepower 220C and 194-horsepower 280C. Performance was stately off the line but powerful once underway. Handling was impeccable. Nevertheless, it would take the Mercedes-Benz C-Class decades to seriously challenge the BMW 3 Series.
Saab 900: Although few realized it at the time, this was the beginning of a long, slow decline for Saab. Still, the 900 managed to retain its characteristic quirkiness despite GM’s takeover. As before, the hatchback was offered with three or five doors, in addition to a convertible. A 150-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a 170-horsepower V6 powered the front wheels.
Back in the day, you could get a 2-door Camry
Toyota Camry coupe: While somewhat stodgy in appearance, the addition of the Coupe in 1994 added a sporting flair to what is arguably the most over-engineered generation of Camry ever built. Powered by a 130-horsepower four or 188-horsepower V6, its refinement far outweighed its price, thanks to a development team that had previously engineered the first Lexus LS sedan.
’94 Celica looked fast, but it wasn’t
Toyota Celica: Whatever performance credibility the Celica gained with such high-performance models as the GT-S and All-Trac Turbo vanished when the redesigned model appeared, powered solely by a mundane 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine producing 110 or 135 horsepower depending on model. Now very much a secretary’s sports coupe, it looked good; it just wasn’t fast.
Other notable auto news: In an era when any Japanese automaker could be assured of good sales, even Mitsubishi found success with a new version of its fairly unremarkable front-wheel-drive Galant midsize sedan, which was new for 1994. Volkswagen also introduced a new Golf and Jetta, but the new models were modestly upgraded from previous versions. Other updates seemed more noteworthy, such as the addition of the Corvette’s 260-horsepower LT1 V8 to the Cadillac Fleetwood, or the arrival of the BMW 540i, with a 282-horsepower V8 from the BMW 7 Series. Ford also offered a new V8. The new overhead-cam engine produced 205 horsepower on the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar, 190 horsepower on the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis, and 210 horsepower on the Lincoln Town Car. And Infiniti’s flagship sedan, the Q45, was restyled with a grille for the first time; sales remained lackluster. Finally, most cars gained standard driver’s side airbags and anti-lock brakes for the first time.
On January 18, 1960, Stuart W. Fitzgerald drove away from Hays Chevrolet on Central Avenue in Staunton, Virginia, with a brand new 1960 Chevrolet Impala four-door sedan. He owned and drove the car until 2013, when he traded it in on a new model.
The dealership was so impressed with the car that it kept Mr. Fitzgerald’s ’60 Impala on display in its showroom until the dealership closed a few years later, around the time that Mr. Fitzgerald died at age 95.
The Hays inventory was sold to Weimer Chevrolet of Moorefield, West Virginia, and thus Mr. Fitzgerald’s Impala went to a new owner, who is offering the car for sale in an advertisement on ClassicCars.com.
“The interior of the car is original and the 57,000 miles are original,” the private seller reports.
“The car was garage kept,” the seller notes, adding that because of the car’s use in parades and with lots of low-speed driving, “a modern power steering unit was added to the car.”
“All items on the car are in working order,” the seller adds. “The car is capable of highway speeds and in great shape mechanically. This vehicle is a great driver and perfect for family outings to the drive-in.”
The engine is a 283cid V8 linked to an automatic transmission.
“Some of the panels on the outside are original and some are repainted,” the seller notes.
The car is located in Winchester, Virginia, just north of Staunton, and is offered for $28,500.
The Concours in the Hills is held annually in Fountain Hills, Arizona, just outside Phoenix. We’ll get to the classic cars in a moment, but it’s important I set the scene: The vehicles are organized primarily by marque and are spread out on grassy hills. But if that sounds like a relatively standard car show, consider that this one wraps around a lake with a 300-foot fountain in the middle.
Considering the overcast weather and the proximity to a lake, this Amphicar 770 wasn’t a bad choice to bring to the concours. | Carter Nacke photo
It’s difficult to track down an exact number, but organizer Peter Volny estimated more than 20,000 people attended the free event.
“While it is a lot of yearlong work to put this show on, we are a bunch of car lovers and are proud to showcase just how much we have here in Arizona,” he said. “When it comes to car culture, we are in the driver’s seat.”
Volny said the event broke its own charitable record this year as more than $155,000 was raised for Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Also, the record number of cars — 941 — offered something for just about everyone.
A string of racers by the lake greeted attendees. | Bob Golfen photo
Walking in, I first came across a row of vintage racers. Though there were some great ones, what caught my eye was a 1966 Indy car once driven by Mario Andretti. The British-built racer was equipped with a Ford V8 capable of 475 horsepower and a top speed of 200 mph. It looked fast just standing still.
As I my wanderings continued, I strolled past the Ferraris and Lamborghinis and made my way to a small cluster of Citroens. I struck up a conversation with Mickey Saperstein about his hand-built MotoGuzzi three-wheeler that was loaded with custom riveting.
“I got a carp in my tunnel,” he joked when asked about how much work went into the display.
A slightly restored 1961 Citroen DS19 sat nearby. Owner Erik Torrey said the car was given to him by his father after it sat in the garage for 15 years. He had been working on it for about a year and a half and enjoyed showing off the signature hydraulic suspension, of which former French President Charles de Gaulle was a fan (he swore to only ride in the DS after one helped him survive an assassination attempt).
Mickey Saperstein leaves the concours in his hand-built beauty. | Bob Golfen photo
Strolling further around the lake brought me to the American-made sections of the show. There were plenty of vintage Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Dodges and Fords on display. A Studebaker Golden Hawk with a supercharger under the hood received a fair amount of attention.
Given their rise in popularity, I was a little surprised to only see one example each of a Ford Bronco and Chevrolet Blazer. It was on my hunt for these that I came across Ed Boblitt.
He is the owner of a 1981 DeLorean made famous by the 1985 film Back to the Future. Though a few were on display, he was the only owner dressed as Dr. Emmett Brown — wild white hair included.
He said he’s a fairly regular fixture at local shows and, when he can, he offers children rides in the car. After, they’re each given a special DeLorean Hot Wheels car, compliments of the good doctor. He said he’s given out about 4,000 of the car to date.
Cellphones weren’t invented in 1985, but Doc had access to a time machine… | Carter Nacke photo
Like any concours, awards were handed out. A 1957 Jaguar D-type owned by Terry Larson was named Best of Show while a 1970 Maserati Ghibli and a 1968 Shelby American Lonestar Cobra were named best import and domestic.
Editor’s note: TheClassicCars.com Journal is your source for Amelia Island news – from collector car auctions and shows to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Read more of our coverage on ourdedicated page.
RM Sotheby’s has released its catalog of the 141 automobiles, automobilia and a motorcycle that will be offered March 8-9 at the annual Amelia Island collector car auction, including “a roster of incredible performance automobiles from the 1930s through today.”
Stars of the auction are two pieces of high-powered exclusivity from very different times and places: a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer, its engine boosted to 200 horsepower by a Roots-type supercharger, and a rare 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra, one of just 19 produced by the factory, and with significant racing history.
The Amelia Island auction typically attracts a crowed of spectators
The official auction of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the RM Sotheby’s sale is held at the Ritz-Carlton Resort where the concours takes place Sunday, March 10, on the fairways of the resort’s golf course.
The sale also will feature the continuing offerings from the Youngtimers Collection of future classic cars from the modern era, as well as a specially painted Fender Stratocaster electric guitar that honors the “Cars of the Rock Stars” concours class, and which will be sold to benefit the charities of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation.
Only a handful of Type 57s were bodied by Corsica
Just over 40 Bugatti Type 57S cars were built, adding power and performance to the standard Type 57, with 16 made with open coachwork like this dramatic-looking 4-seat tourer designed by Corsica. The added supercharger raised the Bugatti 57SC’s top speed to 12o miles per hour, making it the fastest French production car of the time.
“The Bugatti comes to Amelia Island having formerly been a centerpiece in the Judge North, General Lyons and Blackhawk Collections,” RM Sotheby’s says in a news release. “While in the hands of the Blackhawk Collection, a full restoration was performed, and the car was displayed on the lawn at Pebble Beach in 2003 to much fanfare.”
The Type 57SC, which retains its original body, chassis, engine and gearbox, has a pre-auction estimated value of $6 million to $7 million.
The competition Cobra still has its original body
The Shelby, chassis CSX 3006, has the distinction of being the only 427 Cobra to win a major European race outright.
“Equipped from the factory with a potent competition 427 side-oiler aluminum-head engine, the Cobra on offer was delivered new to William G. Freeman of Muncie, Indiana,” the release says. “Freeman campaigned the car in two SCCA races before he was offered a contract in Europe and had to put to put it up for sale.
“It eventually landed with The Chequered Flag in England, where its debut was in the 1966 Brands Hatch Ilford 500 at the hands of former Shelby American Team driver Bob Bondurant, paired with unparalleled long-distance racer David Piper. With wet conditions looming, the Cobra left two Ford GT40s, a lightweight Jaguar E-Type, and a Ferrari 250 LM in its trail spray, taking the overall win after six grueling hours.”
The Shelby is right-hand drive, as raced at Brands Hatch
The Cobra was owned by a number of noted Shelby collectors, finally arriving in the hands of Larry Bowman, who in 2003 “sent the car to Legendary Motorcar Company for a no-expense-spared restoration to its Brands Hatch-winning configuration, even finding the original lightweight custom seats that Piper and Bondurant used in 1966 – which are included with the sale.”
“The car would then land with Gary Bartlett of Muncie, Indiana, the same town the car was delivered to nearly five decades earlier,” the release notes. “Under Bartlett’s ownership, it was presented at such important events as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Goodwood Revival and the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.”
The Cobra, which the auction says is ready to drive on the road, in a rally or on the track, has an estimated value of $3 million to $4 million.
Other high-performance sports cars, GTs and racers that will be offered (with descriptions by RM Sotheby’s) include:
• 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis 06899, retaining its original, matching-numbers engine, meticulously restored by Motion Products, Inc. in 2017 to its original Argento color over Nero seats with grey cloth inserts, and wearing its original sunburst wheels (Est. $2,200,000-$2,400,000).
• 2005 Maserati MC12 Corsa, the incredible 755-bhp, track-only version of Maserati’s iconic 21st century supercar, one of just 13 examples built, and the ultimate private racing car (Est. $1.6 million to $2 million).
• 2015 McLaren P1, one of 375 examples built, finished in optional Volcano Red, showing less than 750 miles and recently serviced by McLaren Tampa (Est. $1.4 million to $1.6 million).
• 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, exceptionally well-optioned, showing less than 1,300 miles and finished in dark blue metallic over black interior (Est. $1.250 million to $1,5 million).
• 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II, chassis 1805 GT, the 19th Series II Cabriolet built, fully restored by marque specialists in Modena and accompanied by a factory-correct hardtop (Est. $1.15 million to $1.3 million).
• 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster “McLaren Edition,” the only example like it ever built, showing less than 4,900 miles and coming to Amelia Island with full McLaren upgrades, including unique engine (Est. $800,000 to $1 million, offered without reserve).
• 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package, one of just 50 Nürburgring Package cars, offered from single ownership, showing just 1,615 km and accompanied by a factory luggage set (Est. $825,000 to $925,000).
For more information about RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale, and to view the newly released digital catalog, visit the auction website.
Most law enforcement auctions feature rather dull vehicles, but a 1991 Ferrari F40 seized from a California millionaire hammered sold this week at a U.S. Marshals auction for $760,000.
The Ferrari first emerged in a very different spotlight: It appeared on the television show Fast N’ Loud in 2013. At the time, it was totaled, but Richard Rawlings and his partner Dennis Collins brought it back to life.
Can’t believe it’s been 4+ years since we sold our F40. Never would have imagined it would be up for auction at an impound lot! Seeing it in person today made me realize it belongs at Gas Monkey. Time to bid and hope we get lucky, wish us luck! @FastNLoudTV#gasmonkeygaragepic.twitter.com/kISUEQiiDZ
The car had a couple owners after its TV debut and eventually made its way to Richard Scott, who made millions operating parking lots in Santa Monica, theLos Angeles Times reported. Scottpleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and wire fraud charges after stealing more than $11 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs by skimming parking revenues.
After the plea, the Federal Bureau of Investigations seized Scott’s collection of high-end vehicles, including the F40. It’s standard practice for the FBI to turn over seized assets to the U.S. Marshals during litigation for safekeeping.
The sale of the F40 — and several other of Scott’s Ferraris and Corvettes — was done to pay millions in restitution that was reportedly part of his plea deal.
The Ferrari was sold by Apple Auctioneering, a Houston-based company that contracts with the federal government to sell seized assets. Proceeds are sent back to law enforcement or used for victim compensation.
Ten people who allegedly operated an “elaborate” international classic car scam were arrested this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has announced.
“As alleged, the defendants used an elaborate network of fictitious classic car dealers and collectors to take their victims for a ride financially,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in anews release.
The scam, which ran from January 2016 to December 2018, worked like this: People posing as classic car dealers or collectors claimed to be selling vehicles on well-known auction or trading websites. They would strike a deal with victims for a sale price, including a down payment and shipping costs. Victims were told to wire payment to a transportation company, which was a shell organization.
After the money was wired, the suspects would withdraw the money in varying amounts in an attempt to avoid detection by financial institutions and would send the funds to Eastern Europe.
“Victims of this fraud not only believed they were getting what they paid for, they were often stuck paying for the classic automobiles they never received,” FBI assistant director William F. Sweeney Jr. said in the release.
Arrests were made in the United States, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia.
Anyone who feels they may have been a victim of this scam were asked to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at 866-874-8900.
Can’t make up your mind whether to get a classic woody wagon or a rugged off-road truck? Well, now you don’t have to decide because the Pick of the Day is a unique combination of both.
The 1974 Ford Bronco woody is a custom hardtop the likes of which few could ever imagine, much less have the temerity to actually create. While it’s basically a Bronco 4X4, someone has skillfully and artistically grafted onto it a replicated wooden body that looks like it came straight off a 1940s Ford wagon, but scaled to fit the short-wheelbase SUV.
The SUV looks to be in excellent condition
“This unique 1974 woody-style Bronco is an extremely unorthodox build,” notes the Biloxi, Mississippi, dealer advertising the vehicle on ClassicCars.com. “We can almost assure you that you have not seen anything like it.
“The deep green really catches the eye along with marine-grade wood for a hardened retro aesthetic… The exterior isn’t the only thing with beautiful marine-grade wood. The headliner, window frames, door trim, surfboard-style rearview mirror, and steering wheel are all wood as well. The seats are vintage-style leather.”
The wood trim extends to the interior as well
The gallery of photos shows a most-interesting Bronco, beautifully finished and done in such a way that you could almost believe it came like this. The woodwork looks authentic and tastefully applied, and the paint looks fresh. The interior is equally impressive, especially the plank-style wooden headliner that looks straight out of a vintage wood wagon.
The Bronco is powered by a 302cid V8 and 4-speed automatic transmission, and has such modern features as power steering, power brakes and air-conditioning.
Off-road creds are affirmed with a 3.5-inch lift and all-terrain tires
As well as being a cruise-ready woody wagon, the Bronco is set up for full-on off-roading, with a 3.5-inch lift and 31-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires. Personally, I would think twice before subjecting this unusual and immaculate Bronco woody to a trek into wild country, and risk scratching or dinging its strangely wonderful body.
First-gen 4-wheel-drive Broncos have risen precipitously in value during the past few years, especially when presented in pristine condition, as this one seems to be. Add in the nicely done wooden bodywork, and it’s hard to fault the dealer for asking a stout $69,900.
Whether toting your boards to the beach or cruising downtown, the unique custom is guaranteed to get you plenty of attention.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Artist Vasco Costa created colorful art on the vehicle’s frame
Here’s a twist on the concept of the art car: Instead of painting the vehicle’s exterior, Portuguese Land Rover restoration shop CoolNVintage and Lisbon artist Vasco Costa painted only the frame, undercarriage and just a few other parts of a 1983 Land Rover 110.
“Which, of course, raises the question: Why? And why paint a car where no one can see it?” CoolNVintage asks itself in its news release.
“Our cars eschew flash for the design mandate ‘form follows function,’ built for people who understand ‘journey’ the way we do,” adds Ricardo Pessona, CoolNVintage founder.
CoolNVintage customers are “People who understand that art is a profoundly personal thing, and, like ‘place,’ doesn’t need to be worn on one’s sleeve, on a baseball cap, or on the side of a car blaring that it is special. People who understand that in any event, art is not only a thing but an experience.”
CoolNVintage was founded to bring Land Rovers back to life. It calls the iconic mid-century vehicles “simple, honest, utilitarian, timeless.”
In restoring vintage Land Rovers, CoolNVintage also updates them with powertrains, suspension components, air conditioning, Connolly leather, power steering, integrated wireless speakers, etc.
Take a peek under the wheel wells
“When you drive a vintage Land Rover – even one spec’d beyond factory original as are all of ours — you have to separate what’s important from what’s not, an ability to live the signal and lose the noise,” Pessona said, suggesting that when you drive, you leave your iPhone at home, or at least turn it off while driving.
“Whatever you need to take care of, you do it before you hop in, because now everything – everything – is about the journey.”
CoolNVintage’s latest Land Rover build is the art-car version, which is for sale, though the asking price is not published.
On the tailgate we find…
a custom bag and blanket
Sometimes you have to hunt to find the art
Rear view mirror as a piece of art
However, the company notes that “the one fortunate owner of this vehicle will always have the opportunity to put it up on a lift or crawl underneath it to reveal the artistry of the artist and engineers who brought this car back to life and share it with whomever he or she wishes.”
“At the start of this project, some people said, ‘this is a stupid idea’,” Pessoa noted.
Such comments, he added, “only cemented our resolve to do it.”
The worst thing that might have happened to the National Corvette Museum took place early in the morning of February 12, 2014, when a sink hole opened beneath the Skydome in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and swallowed eight vehicles from the museum’s collection.
But in what should be a Harvard Business School documentation of how to handle a crisis, the museum responded with a public relations effort that shared video of the rescue of the vehicles, and the repairs and restorations that followed.
Museum supporters responded with donations and a 67 percent increase in visitation.Each year, the museum celebrates what others might have considered an insurmountable disaster.
Cars were removed, most of the cave was filled, the floor was repaired, and the visitors came to see it all
“While many visitors and enthusiasts encouraged us to leave the sinkhole as-is, it was not feasible to do so,” Katie Ellison, the museum’s marketing and communications manager, said in announcing the new video feed, which went live on February 14.
“All eight of the Corvettes are on display in approximately the same spots they were prior to the sinkhole, with five of them looking exactly like they did after being pulled from the depths of the hole.
“We also offer an interactive exhibition, allowing guests to learn about what happened, the cars affected, caves and karst landscapes, how the building was repaired including a time lapse video, and even a live web cam in the cave.
“A lot of people are curious about what it looks like inside the cave, beyond what the webcam shows, so we decided to add a 360-tour allowing them to take a look.”
Vintage roadster on the Brickyard oval | Museum photo
Vintage Indy racers return to the Brickyard oval
The IMS Museum presents the 21st annual Indianapolis Historic Racing Exhibition on May 23-25 when around 70 Indianapolis 500 racing cars are expected to return to the track for exhibition laps and to be displayed in the museum parking lot inside Turn 2.
The event is open to cars that raced at Indy between 1911 and 1994.
Fiat 500 F at the MoMA
MoMA showcases ‘good design’ | Fiat photosFiat at the MoMA
Through mid-June, a Fiat 500 F series is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City as part of its “The Value of Good Design” exhibition. Styled by Dante Giacosa, the Nuova 500 was unveiled in 1957 as an affordable car for post-war Europe, but also under the concept that high-quality design should be accessible to all, Fiat notes as it shares some photos of the car on display.
“In spite of its small size, Giacosa’s design maximized the space inside, creating a surprisingly roomy interior able to accommodate four passengers,” the automaker notes. “The standard folding soft top gave this budget car a touch of luxury, while reducing the use of steel, which was very expensive at that time.”
SEAT car collection reported safe
Spanish and English language automotive websites report that a fire earlier this week in a warehouse adjacent to el Museo SEAT, the historical car collection of Spanish automaker SEAT in Barcelona, damaged the building but neither the 200 vehicles nor the company archives inside were harmed. Despite thick smoke, employees removed many of the cars from the building before the adjacent fire was extinguished.
Special events this weekend
The McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, opens its “Classic Cars and Post War Paintings” exhibit this weekend. The exhibit pairs classic vehicles and post-war paintings and runs through May 19.
The Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin, Italy, hosts the Italian Association for the History of the Automobile seminar Saturday morning, February 16, on British racing driver Jim Clark.
Cars on display at the North East Motor Sports Museum | Museum photo
The North East Motor Sports Museum in Loudon, New Hampshire, hosts a Daytona Party on February 16 from noon until the end of the NASCAR 300-mile race, which will be viewed on television during the event. Also during the event, the museum will unveil its four-lane, 1/24-scale slot-car track as well as the museum’s newest vehicle addition, a 1960s-era Gavin Cooper cut-down supermodified racing car.
Muscle Car City in Punta Gorda, Florida, hosts its monthly car show February 16 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The Newport Car Museum in Rhode Island stages a “hoods up weekend” February 16-17 to show off the engines of the vehicles in its collection.
“Best of Britain” is the theme of an annual exhibit at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, where this year the exhibit that opens Saturday and runs through March 3 features 16 Bentley vehicles as part of the British automaker’s centennial celebration.
“Pint with the Past” is a beer-tasting fundraiser February 16 at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan. On February 17, the museum’s speaker series features “Profiles in Citizenship: A Portrait of Henry Knox and Rosa Parks,” by former state senator Cameron Brown.
In conjunction with the February 16-24 school holiday in England, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu will host a Hands-on Half-Term event featuring its Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 Years exhibit with students invited to make like Caractacus Potts and create their own balloon cars and then see how fast they’ll go.
During the same dates in February, the British Motor Museum at Beaulieu will offer special children’s programs on jet-powered cars daily from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., with children building third own “jet powered” (OK, it’s the air emerging from a balloon) cars.
After its recent Sunday Drives program was rained out, the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento has rescheduled the event for February 17.
Mark your calendar
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles will stage a parade of movie and television cars through the streets of LA on February 18, starting at 10 a.m. near Santa Monica and ending around 1 p.m. at the museum. The parade route will pass several LA landmarks.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, hosts a “create your own Kissmobile” event February 18 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event is designed for children ages 4 and older.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum hosts its Bootleggers Blowout party from 8 to 11 p.m. on February 22.
February 23 is Trivia Night at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, where the first of 100 questions will be asked at 7 p.m. Teams are asked to register in advance by calling the museum.
“Winning Numbers: The First, The Fastest, The Famous” is the title of a new exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where board member Bruce Meyer will display 10 race cars from his collection through January 19, 2020. The exhibit opens February 23.
The British Motor Museum’s annual Mini Motorists program for those 5 years of age or younger starts February 25 and includes crafts, story-telling and playtime from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Registration closes March 1 for the Museum In Motion trip to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The dates for the trip are June 6-17 and the tour includes four nights in London, three in Angers for the race and then another in Paris before flying home.
The Brooklands Museum in England offers a presentation March 7 by author Matt James on the 60-year history of the British Touring Car Championship
The Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine hots its Brass Club speakeasy gala on March 9 from 7 until 9 p.m.
The 31st induction ceremony at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Florida, takes place March 11-12. Inductees will be Augie Duesenberg, Dario Franchitti, Phil Remington, Don Schumacher, Kevin Schwantz, Tony Stewart and Linda Vaughn.
The National Corvette Museum’s Motorsports Park will be the site of BingeTokyo on March 16-17. Though it may sound as though only Japanese vehicles are welcome, organizers say all makes and models are welcome in what they believe to be “hands down the cheapest seat time you will get,” seven hours of track time over two days for $500.
LeMay Collections at Marymount participates in the Almost Spring swap meet and car show at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, Washington, on March 16-17.
The Miles Through Time Automotive Museum in Toccoa, Georgia, stages a car club cruise-in on March 23.
“RADwood: Cleveland Goes Rad” is the title for an exhibit/experience running through March 24 at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland. Staged in partnership with RADwood car shows, the exhibit will celebrate 1980s and ‘90s car culture and will showcase vehicles, clothing, music “and everything in between.”
LeMay Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington, hosts the LeMay Tea Party on March 30.
The Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild will stage a reunion and model car exposition April 4-7 at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, where more than 100 of the cars will remain on exhibit through October.
“USAC Stars: From Dirt Tracks to the Brickyard” is the theme of a panel discussion at 6 p.m. April 9 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum featuring U.S. Auto Club racing champions Brady Bacon, Tyler Courtney, Dave Darland, Justin Grant and Kody Swanson.
Britain’s National Motor Museum at Beaulieu hosts its annual “Simply Audi” car show on April 21.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is organizing a bus trip to the New York International Auto Show on April 27.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, opens a special “RCR 50: Only in America” exhibit featuring 50 years of Richard Childress Racing in May.
The Simply Ford gathering May 5 at Britain’s National Motor Museum at Beaulieu will feature the 60th anniversary of the Ford Anglia 105E and the 50th birthday celebration for the Ford Capri.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, opens two new summer exhibits on May 18 — Studebaker Cool: 114 Years of Innovation, and Harley-Davidson: History, Mythology and Perceptions of America’s Motorcycle. Both exhibits run through October 20.
Britain’s National Motor Museum at Beaulieu hosts both its silver-anniversary spring autojumble (swap meet) May 18-19 and a 60th anniversary celebration of the Mini.
LeMay Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington, offers Model T drivers education classes May 18, June 8, July 7, August 4 and September 8.
LeMay Collections stages LeMay Motorcycle Days from June 13-23 with 200 motorcycles on exhibit and with rounds of motorcycle soccer.
“The Car. The Future. Me” is the title of an exhibit scheduled to open July 13 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, UK, to explore “futuristic car design and (to) challenge your idea of how we will interact with the cars for the future,” the museum said.
The Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, inducts new members Sergio Marchionne, the late chief executive of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; Janet Guthrie, the first woman to qualify as a driver in the Indianapolis 500; Richard “Dick” Dauch, co-founder of American Axle Manufacturing; and Patrick Ryan, creator of the first auto dealership finance and insurance department, on July 18 in Detroit.
On August 3, the British Motor Museum will be the site of the Classic Mini Mosaic world-record attempt that is expected to draw more than 600 classic Minis. The following day the museum will be the site of the National Metro & Mini Show.
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, inducts racer Briggs Cunningham, Corvette designer Tom Peters, and Dollie Cole, Corvette enthusiast and widow of former GM president Ed Cole, into its hall of fame on August 30.
“Legends of Speed,” a showcase of nearly two dozen historic racing cars, opens November 2 at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Does your local car museum have special events or exhibitions planned? Let us know. Email [email protected].
On January 18, 1960, Stuart W. Fitzgerald drove away from Hays Chevrolet on Central Avenue in Staunton, Virginia, with a brand new 
