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Select Saturdays throughout 2024

The Simeone Museum announced the Simeone Museum’s 2024 Demo Day calendar! This year, they’ve revved up their schedule to bring an even more exciting lineup of events that celebrate the art, history, and engineering of classic automobiles. Each Demo Day will offer an immersive experience with expert talks, live demonstrations, and opportunities to get up close and personal with these automotive treasures.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ONLINE

Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
6825 Norwitch Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19153
215-365-7233
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 10AM -6PM Saturday – Sunday 10AM-4PM
Closed Mondays and Major Holidays
https://simeonemuseum.org/

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Bonhams|Cars – Bonhams|Cars will kick off its auction calendar with The Scottsdale Auction in Arizona on January 25, 2024. This event coincides with the world-renowned Arizona Concours d’Elegance, a celebration of automotive design and is part of the auction season which has been established in the desert for more than 50 years. Complementing the Concours, the annual Bonhams|Cars auction will feature an array of classic cars, headlined by a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan, formerly owned by Her Majesty Queen Maria of Yugoslavia .

The storied legacy of Duesenberg in American automotive history is illustrious, particularly highlighted when the Duesenberg Model J made its grand debut at the 1931 Paris Salon, captivating its European audience precisely as intended. The allure of this model reached Her Majesty Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, who acquired this particular car off the show stand and expressed satisfaction with her new purchase, calling it “supreme elegance.” Over the years, this vehicle spent time in the US before reaching its current custodian who took ownership in 2002 and entered the car in Italy’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where it took second in class in 2005. Stunningly presented in black over red interior, it features chrome wire wheels, and is minimally adorned, allowing the elegant Franay design to shine. Offered in superb order after more than twenty years of single ownership and retaining its original body, engine, and chassis, this Model J represents a one-off opportunity to acquire a spectacular motorcar fit for a queen.

Embodying the pinnacle of American classic-era automobiles, an important 1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster, will also be offered in the sale. This vehicle, boasting a well-documented history from its initial delivery, was first acquired by Tag Whittall, then became a cherished part of John Moir’s family collection for an impressive 90 years. It has been restored in its original colors.

Another icon of history offered from the same collection, is a 1936 Packard Model 1407 Twelve Coupe Roadster. A premier luxury automobile of the US from the early 20th century, this Packard is a limited edition Twelve series that is highly sought after, especially as a Coupe Roadster. The flowing and elegant Coupe Roadster is not short on style, with one of the most desirable body styles offered in 1936 and finished in a stunning livery of black over a red leather cabin. 

A special section of the sale comes from the Maine Classic Car Collection, which is known for their finest collection of rare and vintage motorcars. Among the 27-car collection, all of which are being offered without reserve, is a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Cabriolet. 

The Scottsdale Sale will see a variety of offerings beyond the classics. Last year’s sale saw success with modern supercars as well as vehicles over 100 years old. From the 2006 Maserati MC12 selling for $3.8 million to the 1912 Simplex 50hp which sold for $4.8 million, making it the most expensive pre-war American car ever sold.

The Scottsdale Auction
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Date: January 25

About Bonhams|Cars – Bonhams|Cars uniquely offers a choice of live, online and private platforms for buying and selling collector cars—platforms characterized by levels of trust, reliability, and transparency born of over three decades of experience as the premier automotive auction house. Through prestigious live auctions around the world, 24/7 online auctions, and our recently introduced Private Sales service, Bonhams|Cars makes it simple for buyers and sellers to find the platform that best meets their needs.

For more information, please visit https://cars.bonhams.com/

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GROSSE POINTE, Michigan  –Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty company, announced the consignment of the historic 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder “Lucybelle III”, chassis 718-024 to its Amelia Island Auction, being held this March 1-2 at the stunning Amelia Island Ritz Carlton. The Porsche 718 RSK Spyder has an impressive period history having been sold new to American race car driver and former Le Mans winner Ed Hugus. Hugus raced 718-024 in the instantly recognizable “Lucybelle III” livery at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the subsequent years, the Porsche was raced in both USAC and SCCA events as well as at the grueling Pikes Peak Hillclimb in 1962 where it finished Fourth in Class.

Jakob Greisen, Senior Car Specialist, Broad Arrow Auctions, states, “The 1959 Porsche 718 RSK is a hugely significant example of a purebred Porsche Le Mans race car, and we are truly honored to be offering it at the official auction of The Amelia on behalf of its gentleman owner. Chassis 024 is an impressively restored example with outstanding provenance and certainly one of the most genuine and best-documented examples of the few 718 RSK examples remaining worldwide.”

The 718 RSK has recently benefitted from a meticulous and award-winning restoration by renowned restorer Mark Allin and his team at Rare Drive, Inc. That restoration painstakingly returned the Porsche back to the exact and original specification and presented in the period correct “Lucybelle III” livery as raced in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, while preserving major components of the car. The attention to detail and factory correct accuracy throughout the restoration is breathtaking, down to the white exterior paint, finished on top of German Racing Silver, as correct when the car first raced at “la Sarthe”. Since then, the RSK has been shown extensively having starred at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it won a class award and the Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance where it won a First in Class and was exercised on the Colorado Grand.

Now in its second year of being the official auction company of The Amelia, Broad Arrow Auctions continues to assemble a stellar lineup of consignments for the auction across all decades of motoring, with the Porsche joining other highlights such as the 2020 McLaren Speedtail and 1947 Delahaye 135 M Abbott Roadster.

Broad Arrow will kickstart its 2024 calendar with the company’s inaugural Amelia Auction and debut as the official auction of The Amelia. Set for March 1-2 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, the Amelia Auction will feature exceptional collector cars ranging from pre-war classics to modern supercars. Collectors interested in consigning their car(s) to this world-class event are invited to contact a Broad Arrow specialist via broadarrowauctions.com.

About Broad Arrow, a Hagerty Company – Broad Arrow, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, is an advisor, market maker, and financier for car collectors with a commitment to integrity, trust, and innovation. Broad Arrow operates Broad Arrow Auctions, Broad Arrow Capital, and Broad Arrow Private Sales (formerly Collectors Garage) and is headquartered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. For more information, please visit connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.  www.broadarrowauctions.com

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Back when I was a radio disc jockey on a progressive rock format station, I was required to play everything from folk to fusion jazz and everything between, including heavy metal, glitter and electronic music. Perhaps as a carryover from my DJ days, I try to write about all variations of light-duty trucks, from primitives to work horses to muscle pickups.

While I have featured in this column the 1940s Dodge Power Wagon that was discontinued in 1968, I was asleep at the wheel regarding the Dodge W150 Power Wagon that brought back the hallowed “Power Wagon” name. Fortunately for readers, I woke up and found a rare example of the latter owned by Power Wagon lover Alex Fanelli, who located and landed a 1978 version near her home.

Alex and her husband, Frank, regularly scan KSL.com, a Utah website similar to CraigsList.com, so they don’t miss out on a worthy project vehicle. It was on this website that Alex found this rare 1978 Power Wagon W-150 with both the Macho and True Spirit packages.

Frank, who’s known for his work at Kindig-it Design and as a TV personality on “Bitchin’ Rides,” mentioned that Alex loves Power Wagons, and is particularly obsessed with shortbed versions of Dodge’s rugged four-wheel-drive truck.

“Alex knew it was a rare truck just by the appearance and package,” Frank said. “The photos also proved it was really clean and rust free. She spoke to the seller and found out it was a big-block four-wheel drive and told me about it. We went to look at it and fell in love with it.”

Dodge’s bold and beautiful trucks

For 1972, Dodge’s pickup received a styling overhaul with an extensive appearance change. The new look was inspired by MoPar’s fuselage styling that came and went on all of the Chrysler Corp.’s brands — Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler and Imperial — starting as early as 1969 and ending as late as 1974, depending on the model. With the fuselage style, the vehicle’s body sides were curved, as on a plane. The side glass curved in at the top of the greenhouse, while the lower body sides bowed inward at the rocker panels. The fuselage car’s beltline was very high so that the side windows were diminutive. Fortunately, this gun-sight vision did not occur on the Dodge pickup. In fact, windshield and back window areas significantly increased with the 1972 redesign. Like the cars, the Dodge pickup had a starched, slab-sided look with the A and B pillars smoothly melded with the lower body. This envelope, rectangular style stayed around for 20 years until the “big rig”-designed Dodge Ram came along in 1994.

From 1977 to 1980, Dodge rewrote the truck rule book for the in-crowd by building far-out trucks with bright and bold graphic packages and mag wheels that were holdovers from its Super Bee- and Challenger R/T-building muscle car days. Dodge’s “adult toy” trucks of the late 1970s began with the Street Van that was often further tricked out by “van hippies;” the Warlock stepside pickup with wood bed trim and gold spike wheels and accent striping; and Macho versions of the Ramcharger sport-utility and Power Wagon. In 1978, the Dodge Li’l Red Express pickup with bed-side exhaust stacks, gold graphics and wood trim was introduced. By 1981, all were history.

A Macho with True Spirit

Alex and Frank’s Power Wagon comes from the peak of Dodge’s graphic-happy truck period. These colorful and striped trucks are getting hotter by the day, but the couple thinks their truck remained available upon their discovery because it needed work.

“The truck likely appeared to be a headache to other buyers, as the seller was halfway between finishing the axle swap he started, and the brake and fuel system were not present,” Frank said. “We saw a diamond in the rough. Alex and I restore classic muscle cars and trucks at Fanelli Restorations in Murray, Utah, so we were ready for the challenge. I once worked on custom cars at Kindig-it Design and formerly did metal fabrication bodywork on the show ‘Bitchin’ Rides.’ I left both venues to go on an active Army tour. Alex has a background in upholstery and general mechanics.”

The Fanellis are saving this rare Power Wagon from going to the great interstate in the sky. So far, they have rebuilt the Dana 60 rear axle and are completing a rebuild of the front Dana 44 axle. The driveshaft has been refurbished and the chassis has been painted. When Alex and Frank purchased the pickup, it came with a burly 335-hp 383-cid V-8 engine transplanted from a 1970 Dodge Challenger. A MoPar A-727 automatic currently transfers those horses to the pavement. However, the seller gave Frank and Alex the truck’s original 440-cid V-8 engine block as well as a four-speed transmission.

After buying the pickup, Alex and Frank fitted it with new wheels and meaty tires. When we last checked in with them, they were preparing to plumb the fuel system and rebuild the brake system.

“The exterior is the original Sunburst Orange paint while the interior is black and tan,” Frank said. The instrument cluster and steering wheel are black, while the door panels are tan. At some point, the original bench seat was replaced with a seat from an ’80s Dodge truck. Alex installed an orange, black and white cover over it.”

“We refreshed the interior, gathered parts to complete the dash and gauges to proper factory appearance,” Alex said. The interior typifies the simplicity of an earlier time; this is typified by the painted metal panel on the inside of the cab roof. As a plus, there’s no fabric headliner that might sag.”

“The truck presents a bit of a conundrum, as it has a white stripe kit on the sides of the exterior similar to the California dealer-only True Spirit package, yet bears front bumper bars, side steps and stainless rollbar in the bed like a Macho Power Wagon, another rare dealer option of the era,” Frank said. “This truck came from Arizona, and we believe the dealer or original owner chose to dress it up as so. It’s a hybrid of the True Spirit and Macho packages, so I have joked it is the ‘True Macho’ Power Wagon.”

“The truck has an interesting history,” Frank added. “It came from Burge Motor Company in Kingman, Arizona. The original dealer sticker is still on the driver side of the tailgate showing this. It was owned by a woman who got into trouble with her life choices and had to relinquish the truck as collateral for the debts to her drug dealer. Then the dealer sold the truck to the man we purchased the truck from. Amazingly, the truck only bears a dent along the driver’s rocker panel for being owned by such a tumultuous original owner.”

The Fanellis recently welcomed their first child, so the Power Wagon project has been slightly delayed. We’re sure they’ll have it back on the road soon enough to drive their child to preschool in true macho style. 

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Auburn, Indiana. – After a focused run of expanded sales at its dedicated auction headquarters in Auburn, Indiana, Worldwide Auctioneers is gearing up for a return to Arizona in January with another curated offering of world-class cars and a new date to kick off the weekend. The catalogue for the company’s boutique sale, the Scottsdale Auction, is now online. The live auction is scheduled for 11am on Friday, January 26, with an iconic, fastidiously restored 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster headlining the catalogue cover. Selling at no reserve and presented in stunning factory black over factory red interior, the car is extensively documented and offered for sale from enthusiast ownership.

 “Timeless in design and capable of exceptional performance, the 300SL Roadster ranks among the most influential sports cars ever produced, and this is a spectacular, brilliantly presented example”, said Rod Egan, Principal and Chief Auctioneer. “We’re excited to be back in Arizona in January, launching the auction year with a very diverse collection of great cars, over half of which are offered at no reserve.”

The Scottsdale Auction will once again be staged on the beautiful, expansive grounds of Singh Meadows, just outside Scottsdale in Tempe, Arizona.

Other significant European sports cars slated for the sale include a Ferrari Classiche Certified

2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta, number 13 of just 448 special edition open-top cars produced after its original unveiling at the Paris Show in 2000, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Pininfarina. Notable pre-war consignments include an impeccably documented Pebble Beach award-winning

1940 Packard Darrin 1807 Convertible Sedan with a fascinating history. One of only eleven built, it was delivered new to Earl C. Anthony Packard in Los Angeles, immediately used as a show car, and is today restored to its as-new, factory documented specifications. Also crossing the block is a well-documented 1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet, one of just a handful of examples bodied in Chapron’s “long-nose” style, authenticated by President of Club Delahaye, Jean-Paul Tissot.

Supercars are well-represented at the Scottsdale Auction, among them an exceptional 2005 Ford GT with just 2,517 miles from new, desirably equipped with all four factory options and 1 of just 756 manufactured in Mark IV Red Clearcoat for 2005. Lamborghini enthusiasts can look forward to a menacing triple-black 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, offered at no reserve with just two owners and 4,300 miles from new, and a very desirable 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago ‘Six-Speed’ Coupe with factory sport exhaust and factory two-tone yellow interior. Other important consignments include a well-documented 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster with just three owners from new and 55 years of single ownership, and an expertly restored, numbers-matching 1971 Plymouth Cuda 440-6 Coupe in factory Plum Crazy over black interior. Also slated for the sale is an outstanding 1968 Shelby GT350 Convertible Coupe, with factory Shelby Paxton Supercharger, signed by Carroll Shelby himself, and an impeccably documented 1964 Sunbeam Tiger MKI Roadster, Serial # 1, offered with an extensive four-year photo documented body-off-the-frame-restoration. Extensively restored and upgraded, a stately 1989 Daimler DS420 Limousine used to chauffeur Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II while on tour in New Zealand in 2002 is also set to go under the hammer. Consignments can be browsed in detail online and discussed with a Worldwide specialist at 1.260.925.6789 or sales@worldwideauctioneers.com.

SCOTTSDALE AUCTION DETAILS

The Scottsdale Auction is scheduled for 11am on Friday, January 26, 2024, with preview days on Wednesday, January 24 and Thursday, January 25 from 9am to 6pm. For details on bidder registration, general admission, and the full schedule, visit worldwideauctioneers.com or call 1.260.925.6789.

About Worldwide Auctioneers – Worldwide Auctioneers is a U.S.-based, boutique catalogue auction company that is unique in having principals who are owner auctioneers, wholly invested in seamlessly delivering the optimal result for every client. In addition to the acquisition and sale of classic automobiles at auction, it offers an extensive range of personalized services to the serious collector, including appraisal, collection direction and consultancy, estate planning and asset management. For those seeking to sell a car or collection privately, the company’s private sales division incorporates The Gallery showroom, housed within a 200,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility at its Auburn headquarters, along with a dedicated memorabilia division. Worldwide’s annual schedule includes the Scottsdale Auction in January, the Enthusiast Auction in April in Auburn, Indiana, the Auburn Auction, held over Labor Day Weekend in Indiana, and stand-alone auctions of significant private collections.

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