Each year, Iola features dozens of finned MoPars in its annual show. Featured several years ago in Old Cars as a barn find, this 1957 Chrysler 300-C owned by George Collar and Bob Brown made its post-restoration debut at IOLA ‘23.
By all accounts, the 2023 Iola Car Show in Iola, Wis., was a barn burner. Attendance at the July 6-8 event reportedly squeaked past the 134,000-person mark to land at 134,008 in total, according to show officials. The show car areas were, indeed, bursting at the seams, with vehicles displayed in the traffic rows between the regular show car spaces as officials looked for places to park owners’ vehicles on Friday. According to Iola Car Show Executive Director Joe Opperman, this year’s show was unique for more than its attendance record.
“Honestly, I think this show had a very different feeling to it, and I really don’t expect to ever feel this good about how a show went ever again for a bunch of reasons,” he said. “The weather was perfect so the crowds were huge, word really got out about the show and the theme with the ’50s was good.”
“During the absolute busiest time on Friday, I had a chance to walk through the grounds and observe the show. I have never seen that many people at so many places. Volunteers were offering great service with a smile, and there was a sense of peace and calm and happiness, and I think that has to do with the current state of the world. Everything is so politically polarized, and this was almost like a vacation or reprieve from all of that. People were just very happy to be together and were patient and kind. It really was magic. The attitude that the participants and spectators brought was an overwhelming experience.”
Who says you can’t drive old cars in the snow? Steve King’s 1931 Ford Model A truck has been fitted with a period Super Snow Bird snowmobile conversion.
Opperman credited the show’s 2,000 volunteers for adding to that magic, and to the many celebrities who met with participants during the show.
“The (‘50s) theme, the Vice Grip Garage feature was really, really good — that was super well received,” Opperman said. “Jerry Mathers was another slam dunk for the core older crowd. Little things, like the Festival (grocery store) Big Cart, and the monster trucks gave families and kid something to be entertained with. We had a little something for every category and age group, so there were a lot of things to be happy about.”
Here’s a new one on us —a 1957 Buick turned into a gasser. The well-patina’d Riviera was blown with headers to ensure it had snarl to match its looks.
For 2023, the Iola Car Show boasted 2,257 show cars, about 3,900 swap meet spaces, 1,265 campsite reservations and a sold-out car corral. Past numbers have indicated that the swap meet and car corral were trending downward, but Opperman said this year saw a “big rebound of both the car corral and swap meet.
“The swap meet is something that, if you would have asked me five years ago what our numbers would be this year, I would have said 3,500, because of the overall trajectory and falling vendor inventory, and this year was a sold-out swap meet,” Opperman said. “They ended up reselling some swap space for no shows or sell-outs. It was a kind of testament to the group that manages that area.”
“The car corral we restricted and changed the layout, because that has been holding on really well considering you can go on Facebook Marketplace and list things for free — that had 120 more cars than we had last year.”
For the ambitious LaSalle restorer, one swap meet vendor offered this 1938 LaSalle coupe for $2,500, or best offer, as well as front fenders for Series 50 and Series 60 front fenders for $2,000 each.
Opperman said the Iola Car Show staff anticipated the car corral would be smaller than in past years and this year it widened the aisles to create “luxury lanes” to decongest the pedestrian traffic, and it also enlarged each car corral space. However, the influx of car corral entries for 2023 required the grounds crew to add temporary fencing to create more space for more vehicles, because the car corral was oversold by the time the drive-ins arrived.
Opperman said “it was a great shock to me” and the car show staff will reevaluate the car corral layout for next year.”
The Iola Car Show campground is almost an event within itself, with many dedicated campers who annually return for the unique “event within an event” experience. Opperman said one particular hurdle at a past show turned away some campers, but this year the campground made a big comeback.
“The campground was probably at an all-time high — probably about 100 more spaces than the previous year — and again, we have been investing in improvements out there to make that a really good environment.”
“Several years ago, we had problems with the showers — people were getting cold showers and we just couldn’t get them fixed before the show. That really cost us some people. Some people left because of a bad experience, and now we have a new group of people discovering the show and enjoying the show and we’re seeing new families starting this as a new tradition.”
A treasure hiding toward the rear of the car corral was this rare 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport equipped with the Super Wildcat 465 V-8 engine (360 hp, 425 cid) sporting dual four-barrel carburetors. The seller stated it had 35,000 miles, yet despite the low miles, this GS deserved a full-blown restoration. The asking price was $25,000. A quality restoration could bring its value into six figures.
The staff of the Iola Car Show is already gearing up for next year’s event, which will be the 52nd annual. While the staff is still working out the specific details, the general theme for the 2024 event will be muscle cars. Watch for show updates at www.iolaoldcarshow.com.
Until then, the Iola Car Show is hosting The Rally, a cruise on Sept. 16 from the Iola Car Show grounds to the Menominee Casino Resort. Learn more at the car show’s website or call 715-445-4000.
The Old Cars staff was at the 2023 Iola Car Show photographing many show cars and trucks for upcoming articles, so keep your eyes on these pages for highlighted feature vehicles.
One swap meet vendor offered most of the main body parts to build a Model T truck (obviously some assembly required).A pair of blue ’40s coupes were offered by a swap meet vendor. The 1947 Chevrolet coupe was marked sold by Friday, but the 1941 Ford coupe in the background and priced at $26,500 remained available. Rarely seen today are full-size 1970 Chevrolet station wagons, yet we spotted two for sale at Iola. This green Kingswood with a two-barrel 400-cid V-8 was the more presentable of the two, but it appeared to have some body filler in the rear fenders. The asking price was $24,000, but the seller was willing to negotiate.This swap meet vendor spoke MoPar, as evident by the 1969 Dodge Super hood with the Ramcharger “ram air” air cleaner setup priced at $3,500.New at IOLA ‘23 was “The Yard,” an assembly of parts in the swap meet that were scoured from the now-closed salvage yard adjacent to the Iola Car Show grounds. It opened on Saturday morning for shoppers to peruse.Among the offerings at “The Yard” was this Old Cars 1972 Chevrolet Suburban bought new by the publication’s parent company and driven to car shows until it spun a bearing around 250,000 miles. It was then junked at the adjacent salvage yard, only to be retrieved from it in 2023 and offered by the Iola Car Show. The Suburban and several other vintage vehicles from the Iola salvage yard were offered for sale during IOLA ‘23 in a silent bidding process. The purchaser of this severely rusty Suburban had family ties to previous Old Cars staff and saved the painted “Old Cars” panels as garage art.Real steel, Henry Ford fenders for a 1932 Ford “Deuce” were offered for $1,850 each. The hard-to-find fenders appeared straight, solid and without cracks.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
Many automobile companies used elegant or flashy ads to sell new cars, but there’s nothing quite so eloquent and persuasive as the “Pierce-Arrow Proclamation.”
While Packard said, “Ask the man who owns one,” and Cadillac claimed to be the “Standard of the World,” Pierce-Arrow skipped slogans and catchy gimmicks to promote its Classic hand-built automobiles. In selling its cars during 1930, Pierce-Arrow, of Buffalo, N.Y., chose advertising prose to be read as literature:
“In extending its Straight Eight line to meet every latest demand of the fine car market, Pierce-Arrow opens the 1930 season with an array of motor cars which again easily qualify as America’s finest,” boasted one of its ads following the stock market crash of 1929.
By 1930, the archer hood ornament was a hallmark of the Pierce-Arrow.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
“There are four new wheelbases in the 1930 group… all cars of increased inner spaciousness… all slender, low-swung, graceful creations in the finest Pierce-Arrow tradition,” continued the ad.
“The 1930 colorings and upholsterings and appointments are new elements of beauty, freshly expressed….
“More important, there are elements of vital consideration… all present in every car of the 1930 line….
“Silent gearshifts… non-shatterable glass… super-safety brakes… low-swung gravity centers… hydraulic shock absorbers, etc., etc. All Pierce-Arrow features… each having been added as it proved itself… and without mention or especial acclaim.
“Nor is there any excess of modesty in this attitude. It is simply that no new feature, or any group of new features, could conceivably be so important as that which is Pierce-Arrow. Greater is that than the sum of all its parts.”
Pierce-Arrow claimed that reaching these Olympian standards was a burden borne under what it called the “tyranny of tradition.”
Fortunately, it was all true. The 1930 Pierce-Arrow remains a truly beautiful and technologically advanced automobile for its time. It debuted its most famous feature in 1914. That year, Pierce-Arrow adopted its enduring styling hallmark when its headlamps were moved from the traditional free-standing place flanking the radiator and into flared housings molded into the front fenders of the car. This gave the car an immediately visible distinction in front or side views. At night, the car appeared to have a wider stance due to the headlamp placement. Pierce patented this placement, which continued until the final model of 1938, although Pierce also offered customers the option of conventional freestanding headlamps. However, only a minority of Pierces were ordered with the option of conventional headlamps.
The straight-eight engine displaces 366 cubic inches and produces 125 hp.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
The engine is tidy on the 1930 Pierce-Arrow, with the spark plug wires neatly loomed.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
To see in-person a Pierce-Arrow’s design features, cutting-edge styling and technological advancements enlightens and delights. One opportunity for the public to experience a 1930 Pierce-Arrow phaeton in-person came during the annual Father’s Day Eyes on Design car show at the Edsel and Eleanor Manor (Ford House) in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., several years ago. Standing next to this Pierce-Arrow were its then-owners Terry and Rita Ernest, of Port Huron, Mich., who greeted onlookers in period-correct attire, making them look very much the part with the Classic American automobile. It was there that they shared this regal Pierce-Arrow’s story.
1930 Pierce-Arrow B Phaeton
The Ernests said the 1930 Pierce-Arrow Group B phaeton featured here survived the winter weather of the Upper Midwest and crossed the Atlantic twice, only to become neglected and fall into disrepair. It eventually came back to life through a meticulous world-class restoration that has received acclaim by winning the highest awards in the automobile motoring community. Today, the car is a centerpiece in any exceptional automobile collection.
“When my wife and I were married 36 years ago, we discussed hobbies we could mutually enjoy,” Terry recalled. “To my surprise and pleasure, she said she really liked antique cars! After many discussions of different types of antique cars we both liked, we decided we wanted an early Auburn boattail Speedster.”
Soon after the Ernests married, a 1930 Pierce-Arrow restoration was being completed in California, immediately winning top honors at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It then captured the highest award that the Pierce-Arrow Society bestows — the VanDerveer Trophy, which is now called the Weis Trophy. However, it would be many years before that Pierce-Arrow joined the Ernests’ budding collection, as the Auburn Speedster they initially hoped to land became their first collector car.
Pierce-Arrow sometimes used a unique beltline treatment on in-house bodies, including this dual-cowl phaeton, that fanned out as the beltline reached the rear of the car.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
The Auburn Speedster was eventually joined by a 1934 Packard victoria, a 1936 Packard convertible coupe, a 1933 Cadillac town sedan and two pre-war fire trucks. The couple also added a 1912 Havers to fill their brass-era needs.
The car bug extends far beyond the Ernests’ garage. Terry also happens to be the director of the Wills Sainte Claire Automobile Museum in Marysville, Mich., and has a 1926 Wills Sainte Claire himself.
A Pierce-Arrow hits the bulls-eye
Terry had admired a friend’s 1932 Pierce-Arrow. and while searching for a ’32 for themselves, Rita discovered this 1930 dual-cowl sport phaeton. The ’32 was at the top of Terry’s list, and he had his heart set on owning one, but he decided to give the ’30 a look. He was immediately captivated by the car. A prior owner had gone to great lengths to restore the car to concours standards, and the finished product gushed absolute perfection.
The Ernests mainly used the Pierce-Arrow for concours-type car shows and touring with the Pierce-Arrow Society and, until they sold it a couple years ago, their excursions with it were the latest in the car’s long road of travels.
A panel hinged into the rear cowl of this dual-cowl phaeton allowed better access to the rear seat.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
“This automobile was [originally] purchased by the Meyer family,” Terry said. “They owned and operated a mill in St. Paul, Minn. A younger Meyer family member took the car to England with him in 1938 where, sometime prior to World War II, it was converted to right-hand drive. After the war, an American G.I. purchased the ’30 Pierce-Arrow, returned it to the U.S. in 1947, and had it converted back to left-hand drive.”
The car needed a full restoration when Lee Garoyan bought it in 1970, but it was mechanically sound enough to make the 300-mile drive to his home in Davis, Calif.
Garoyan hand-fabricated new top bows and hardware and replaced the front seat and windshield pillars. Garoyan had to remove several non-factory items, such as vacuum brakes and a 1936 Buick trunk someone had integrated into the body using lead. A prior owner replaced the original Clark four-speed transmission with a Muncie three-speed. Garoyan installed a factory-correct Clark four-speed transmission.
The Pierce-Arrow came with artillery wheels, and Garoyan sought out and located a set of the originally optional chrome-plated wire wheels.
As with many premium automobiles of its time, the 1930 Pierce-Arrow was not restricted to a narrow set of factory colors. Buyers could order custom one-of-kind colors and combinations for their automobile. The idea of giving the customer an opportunity to personalize their automobile was an attractive feature to those with the means to afford such a luxury. The flexibility with paint color choices back in the ’30s allows today’s restorers of these works of automotive art the freedom to get creative with the final paint finish.
“The cutting-edge contours of the Pierce-Arrow suggest that two or three colors would enhance its appearance,” Ernest said. “We acquired old pictures of the car. It was painted yellow butterscotch, several shades of gray, combinations of greens, but nothing looked good or really stood out. Garoyan reached out to Ron Dreyer, a classic automobile and wood boat artist from northern California. After a couple days, Dreyer came up with three-color combinations and hand-painted images of the Pierce-Arrow, then hung them on a wall for Garoyan and his customers to review. Each visitor was asked to vote on their favorite, and the current color combination was the overwhelming choice.”
Controls were split between the steering wheel hub and instrument panel.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
This Pierce-Arrow is the Group B mid-level entry from the 1930 factory lineup. This Group B cost about $3,300 new when the average American earned a yearly income of about $2,000, and a home cost $7,200. Even the lower-entry Group C cost $2,600, while the upper-line Group A models cost between $4,000 and $6,000 with factory bodies during 1930.
Group B was available in one of two wheelbases — a standard 134-inch platform and a 139-inch version seven-passenger model. The Group B has Pierce-Arrow’s mid-sized, 366-cid flathead straight-eight engine, and the features are quite advanced for the era: a crankshaft-driven fuel pump instead a vacuum tank, fully pressurized oiling, a factory oil filter and a Stromberg Duplex carburetor with each barrel feeding four cylinders.
The 366-cid engine is factory rated at 125 hp, but with their long strokes and lots of overlap, big straight-eights from the ’30s, such as the powerplant in this Pierce, achieve their power at very low revolutions, and it’s one of Terry’s favorite characteristics of big, prewar Classic automobiles, such as this Pierce.
“It’s not what you would classify or refer to as noisy, but you can hear it pull,” Terry says. “The drivetrain has a good, firm feel to it when you start off in first gear and go into second. It’s a car of substance. It sounds like a big car, and it’s powerful like the big Classics of that time. Our ’33 Cadillac feels heavier and doesn’t accelerate like the Pierce-Arrow. I also have a 12-cylinder Packard that is a heavier-steering car, but the Pierce-Arrow has a lighter body and engine, so it has a much smoother motion to it. It’s very comfortable to drive and easier than some of the big cars from those days,”
Terry says the car’s mechanical brakes are impressive compared to the economy-car mechanical brakes from the early ’30s. “We don’t need to reinvent what the engineers designed. We just need to make sure that what the engineers designed is working properly and to their maximum potential.”
Four-door open cars have long been the most desirable Classics, with those fitted with rear windscreens being the raciest and most wanted.
Freeze Frame Image LLC
A Pierce-Arrow in flight
Rarely, if ever, does one get the opportunity to photograph a Pierce-Arrow being driven on an airport runway by its owner. When Terry agreed to bring the car up to speed for motion shots, the entire photoshoot rose to another level. We made a few passes on the runway and the Pierce-Arrow performed flawlessly, and I could tell Terry was comfortable being behind the wheel, shifting the gears and quickly bringing the car up to a steady 45 mph. I’ve done many car-to-car motion-shot sessions over the years, and this was perfection. The owner, my camera-car driver and I were in sync. Images of Classic automobiles being driven are far and few between. In some ways, we really fortified the history of this automobile and its legacy of being driven. This Pierce-Arrow has traveled the world, but this documented trip up and down the airport runway was one to remember.
Words, however fine, and pictures, no matter how true in life, are incapable of conveying the rare charm that belongs to the 1930 Pierce-Arrow.
As for the flowery prose Pierce-Arrow expended to promote its product line, Terry and Rita Ernest agreed with the company when it claimed, “All are pardonable boasts.”
As much as they enjoyed the 1930 Pierce-Arrow, it wasn’t quite the 1932 model that Terry hoped to find. They sold the car a couple years ago to a lovely home in Arizona where it could be driven — and enjoyed — year-round.
SHOW US YOUR WHEELS!
If you’ve got an old car you love, we want to hear about it. Email us at oldcars@aimmedia.com
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
Ringbrothers will have an unprecedented unveiling of four separate custom builds at the 2022 SEMA show on November 1st.
SPRING GREEN, Wis. – Ringbrothers, the world-renowned custom car builder and parts manufacturer, is set to unveil four custom builds for the first time ever at the 2022 SEMA Show.
Representing nearly 35,000 combined build hours, each vehicle has been extensively modified to showcase the full breadth of automotive design, production and craftsmanship Ringbrothers is known for. The highlight of the show is expected to be the 1948 Chevy pickup. Codenamed “Super Truck,” the ’48 represents more than 10,000 build hours and promises to be like nothing else on the road.
A sneak peak at the chassis of “Bully”
Ringbrothers
“BULLY” 1972 K5 Blazer: The 1,200-horsepower, big-tired and purpose-built Blazer is meant to dominate on or off the road. BULLY is equipped with a supercharged Wegner Motorsports-built LS3, a triangulated four-link suspension with off-road racing coilovers and a fully custom bespoke interior.
BULLY will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at the HRIA booth #23295
A glimpse of “Strode”
Ringbrothers
“STRODE” 1969 Chevy Camaro: With a widened, fully carbon-clad body and extended wheelbase, the Camaro exemplifies stance and the remarkable work of digital design. Under the hood is a Wegner Motorsports-built LS3 topped with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger producing 1,000 horsepower, while the Ghost White paint pays homage to STRODE’s origins.
STRODE will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 11 a.m. at the Keystone booth #21249
A snippet of “Patriarc”
Ringbrothers
“PATRIARC” 1969 Ford Mustang: The high-revving Mustang is built to play in the wind, minimizing rear-end drag with groundbreaking aerodynamic innovation. Power from a Ford Performance Aluminator 5.2 XS engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a fully bespoke interior makes this one unique Pony. PATRIARC will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 11:30 a.m. at the Centerforce booth #23813
“Enyo”
Ringbrothers
“ENYO” 1948 Chevrolet Pickup: With the original steel cab narrowed, lengthened, chopped and wedge cut, ENYO’s body was crafted with extensive use of carbon-fiber components, including a single-piece carbon-fiber belly pan. The design incorporates cantilevered independent suspension at all four corners and is powered by a 1,000-horsepower big-block marine racing engine. It’s a ’40s work truck meets Formula 1 racer for Ringbrothers’ most extreme build yet. ENYO will be unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Mothers booth #22357
Ringbrothers LLC – (www.ringbrothers.com) – Based in Spring Green, Wisconsin, Ringbrothers has established itself in the automotive aftermarket as a premium parts builder and world-class car designer. Among its many accolades are several Chevrolet Best in Show awards, Goodguys Street Machine of the Year awards, Mothers’ Shine awards and a SEMA Battle of the Builders win in 2019. Ringbrothers has also been featured in some of the world’s largest automotive and mainstream news outlets. Ringbrothers proudly designs, fabricates, packages and ships its products from its headquarters in the United States, focusing on quality materials, craftsmanship and customer service. Revolutionizing the way resto-mods are done, Ringbrothers continues to innovate its products and builds every year with the goal of unveiling at least one new car at each SEMA Show. Learn more about Ringbrothers products and builds at Ringbrothers.com.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
An in-depth look of what’s to come at the October 28-30 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance to be held at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Car Enthusiast Jay Leno Will Serve as Grand Marshal and Appear at the Event Hosted at the Only Resort Golf Course on the Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance
LAS VEGAS – The third annual Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance™, one of the world’s most prestigious automotive events, debuts at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Oct. 30. The luxury automotive experience pays homage to remarkable cars of the past, present and future at Wynn Golf Club, the 129-acre championship golf course at Wynn Las Vegas.
“The Concours d’Elegance and its legendary display of design, craftmanship and grandeur is precisely the type of elevated experience that our guests will thoroughly enjoy for years to come,” said Brian Gullbrants, President of Wynn Las Vegas. “Rare and priceless automobiles displayed upon the fairways of our Wynn Golf Club is a perfect match for this annual Wynn Las Vegas event.”
Hypercars add to the excitement in 2022
A Superior Set of Supercars Join the Event’s Lineup, Some Debuting at the Resort Prior to October 28. photo – Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance
More than 60 ultra-elite hypercars join the previously-announced 2022 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance™ lineup at Wynn Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas will display a small selection of the 200 antique and contemporary vehicles being showcased during Concours weekend leading up to the event.
Many of the appearing hypercars are limited-edition, showcasing sleek and seductive design from the world’s most sought-after manufacturers – such as McLaren’s open-rooftop Elva, the Bugatti Chiron Pur R6.002, the Bugatti Divo, and the four-seater Koenigsegg Gemera, among others. Some of the featured vehicles are also traveling to Las Vegas from prestigious museum collections, including The Nethercutt Collection, Petersen Automotive Museum, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, Mullin Museum, and the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection). In addition, the event will feature four McLaren Speedtails, a must-see for any automotive enthusiast.
Now through Oct. 28, a variety of vehicles – some modern hypercars and other vintage classics – will be on display at the resort, including:
2020 McLaren Elva, named after the lightweight open-top race cars developed by Bruce McLaren. The 2020 model celebrates vintage speedsters, features an open-cockpit design and can go from 0-62 mph in under three seconds. The McLaren Elva is currently on display at Wynn’s main entrance.
2018 Bugatti Chiron, the fastest, most powerful, and exclusive production super sports car in Bugatti’s history. Each produced is one-of-a-kind. The Bugatti Chiron is currently on display outside of Jardin, in the Encore Esplanade.
1960 Maserati Tipo 61, commonly referred to as the “Birdcage” because of its then-unique light spaceframe construction when it premiered in 1959. This model is one of the most original Birdcages in existence. It will be on display in front of Terrace Pointe Café, near Wynn Golf Club, starting Oct. 19.
The Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance will also pay homage to remarkable cars of the past, present and future at Wynn Golf Club, with hypercars joining the previously-announced classes of Sports Racing, Race Cars, and more. The 2022 event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 28 with its annual gala at XS, followed by the weekend’s centerpiece exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 29. Renowned car enthusiast Jay Leno will serve as the grand marshal of the Tour d’Elegance, the grand parade of automobiles on the Las Vegas Strip that closes out the weekend on Sunday, Oct. 30.
As part of the Concours weekend experience, guests may choose from a variety of food-and-beverage experiences such as the Chairman’s VIP Tasting at the Grand Rotunda to the lively Concours Cookout. Room packages that showcase the resort’s newly re-designed accommodations are also available. For additional event information, please visit www.lasvegasconcours.com.
The lineup of weekend events will include:
The Gala Concours Dinner, kicks off festivities on Friday evening and offers live entertainment, tasting stations and curated cocktails at Wynn Las Vegas’ premier nightclub, XS. The exclusive evening will showcase the Helene Awards™, a ceremony signature to the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance that honors visionaries in the automotive industry.
The centerpiece of the weekend, the Concours d’Elegance exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 29 will display a collection of rare and unique automobiles from around the world. The event is expected to showcase more than 100 exceptional collector cars from both pre- and post-war periods. Each year, Concours d’Elegance highlights a different Marque, which is a distinctive automobile model or brand. The 2022 Marque is the Ferrari F40. The event also consists of nearly 20 judged, non-judged and contemporary classes, such as British Post-War Sports and Sports Racing, American Luxury (1925-1942), European Luxury (1925-1942), Antiques (pre-1924), Race Cars, and more. Starting at 2 p.m., an esteemed panel of judges will present Best of Show winners and standouts with the coveted Helene Award statuette.
The Chairman’s VIP Tasting on Oct. 29 is a premium lunchtime tasting experience underneath the grand rotunda on Wynn’s event lawn, and features select hosted bars alongside a range of tasting stations designed by executive chef Kelly Bianchi. Assorted tasting stations include: a sushi station with sashimi and assorted rolls; a beef tenderloin carving station; a slider station featuring Maine lobster and surf and turf, among others; a made-to-order pizza and pasta station; and a whimsical donut station.
The Concours Cookout will feature a variety of grab-and-go options and select hosted bars amid the beautiful greenery of Wynn’s event lawn, also on Oct. 29. Grab-and-go offerings include a salad and sandwich station, a kebab station, a taco bar, backyard-inspired barbecue such as wagyu beef hotdogs and a spicy fried chicken sandwich, as well as desserts like custom ice cream sandwiches and caramel corn.
Guests may also purchase a VIP experience that combines Concours d’Elegance exhibition viewing with entry to the fairway tasting tents. The Concours d’Elegance + Hosted Bar includes a selection of the fine- and casual-dining options Wynn Las Vegas is known for, as well as select beverages.
The weekend of festivities conclude on Sunday, Oct. 30 with the Tour d’Elegance, a motorcade down the famous Las Vegas Strip where Jay Leno will serve as grand marshal.
For additional event information, to buy tickets, or to apply for entry, please visit www.lasvegasconcours.com.
About Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Resorts is the recipient of more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world and in 2022 was once again honored on FORTUNE Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies list. Wynn and Encore Las Vegas consist of two luxury hotel towers with a total of 4,748 spacious hotel rooms, suites and villas. The resort features approximately 194,000 square feet of casino space, 21 signature dining experiences, 11 bars, two award-winning spas, approximately 513,000 rentable square feet of meeting and convention space, approximately 155,000 square feet of retail space as well as two showrooms, two nightclubs, a beach club, and recreation and leisure facilities, including Wynn Golf Club, an 18-hole, 129-acre championship golf course. For more information on Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, visit press.wynnlasvegas.com.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
Fourteen prized vehicles from the John White/Ramshead Collection will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ January 26th Scottsdale auction.
Rear L-R 1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4; 1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400; Front: 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé
Bonhams
Bonhams – A trans-Atlantic trio of rare mid-century Chrysler Ghia show cars, offered from the prestigious Ramshead Collection, will bring a touch of La Dolce Vita to Bonhams in the New Year as highlights of the Scottsdale Auction on January 26, 2023.
Leading the glamorous group is the unique 1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400 concept car which was displayed at that year’s Torino and New York Motor Shows and most recently won a class award at the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This striking, futuristic one-off showcased what was to come in automotive design and was equipped with Chrysler’s powerful 400hp Hemi V8 powerplant.
1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400
Bonhams
This highly original and preserved example has covered just 49,000 miles with three owners from new.
Also displayed at the New York Auto Show was the 1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4, which in later life was a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance entrant. Largely hand built in Italy at Ghia’s Carrozeria, the L6.4 had a limited production run of just 26, with owners including Frank Sinatra. Stunningly preserved, this treasured collector car – one of just 17 surviving – is another low mileage example with just 33,000 miles recorded.
1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4
Bonhams
Completing the automotive triptych is the 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé, its striking turquoise over tan livery complementing its lines, inspired by Virgil Exner, the Chrysler designer known for creating the marque’s ‘Forward Look’. The elegant show car was one of nine examples produced, of which only five remain. The subject of an exceptional restoration, the GS-1 is a three-times class winner at Pebble Beach.
1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé
Bonhams
The three showstoppers are the headliners of the Ramshead Collection of 14 cars, curated by the late John White of California, a renowned and respected collector and frequent exhibitor at Pebble Beach and other prominent events.
CARS OF THE JOHN WHITE/RAMSHEAD COLLECTION
1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400
1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupé
1962 Chrysler Ghia L6.4
1961 Chrysler 300-G Convertible
1948 Dodge D24 Custom Coupé
1953 Buick Skylark Convertible
1941 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1992 Wayne Davis Custom Trailer
1962 Lincoln Continental Sedan
1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix Convertible
1955 Chrysler Imperial Newport Hard Top
1953 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon
1949 Dodge Wayfarer Two-Door Roadster
The son of a Dodge automobile dealer, Mr. White was a ‘petrolhead’ from an early age. His childhood collection of model cars developed into the curated Ramshead collection of mid-century Americana which was kept in a private museum that resembled a showroom of the era.
The impressive collection offers 13 collector cars, representing the great names of the American automobile industry, from Buick and Cadillac to Lincoln and Ford, mostly offered at No Reserve.
The 2023 Bonhams Scottsdale Auction will be the eleventh sale hosted at the prestigious Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Arizona. Further important collector cars are being invited through December 1. Contact motors.us@bonhams.com for more details.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewelry, watches, wine and whisky. The main salesrooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
A rare and private look at Kansas’ Nobody Else’s Auto salvage yard.
One of several complete cars at Nobody Else’s Auto is this 1950 Studebaker Champion Regal Deluxe Starlight coupe. It sports the first-year “bullet nose” styling.
Having had a father who dragged home Pontiac and Buick parts cars when he was a kid, it’s not surprising Old Cars reader Chad Ehrlich eventually made the parts business a career. Always being around cars while working with his dad eventually led Ehrlich to start a yard in Great Bend, Kan., in 2011, which goes by the unique name Nobody Else’s Auto. Until she recently left for college, Ehrlich’s daughter, Addie, was also a big part of Nobody Else’s Auto, making it a three-generation hobby.
The inventory of Nobody Else’s Auto contains nearly 2,000 vehicles, mostly vintage and mostly ranging from the 1940s to the 1980s, but there are many vehicles from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as 1990s and 2000s. Cars and trucks are neatly arranged in rows spread over 20 acres. The yard is not open to browsing, but much of the inventory can be seen on Ehrlich’s YouTube channels (Nobody’s Show) and Facebook page (Nobody Else’s Auto). If a customer sees a part they need, they must call him by phone to complete their purchase and verify their part need.
“There are so many variables with these old vehicles that a short phone call is the only way I can ensure you are looking for the right part you need,” Ehrlich says.
Customers calling with a part request must identify their car’s year, make, model and body style, and the specific name of the part they need. In addition to parts sales, Ehrlich also sells whole cars and trucks.
A desirable 1970 Dodge Challenger has been picked of some components, but retains many additional donor-quality parts.
Besides his phone sales, Ehrlich sells many parts on eBay with as many as 1,400 items listed at one time. As a result, he’s well equipped to ship parts to customers all over the world.
Ehrlich also hosts a popular weekly YouTube video program that provides further insight into his business, as well as the hobby in general.
Even the 1934 Ford truck is famous among the hot rod crowd, but this Model BB V-8-powered tanker truck is near complete and deserves a restoration to its original form.Suffering glass damage, there’s enough remaining of this 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer four-door hardtop to see it made road-worthy again.The much-maligned Chevrolet Vega is represented in the yard by this near-complete 1976 two-door station wagon partially hidden by tall grass. It sports the $53 optional roof rack.Finned late-’50s and early-’60s Cadillacs of all body styles are hot, and this 1960 Cadillac Series 62 six-window sedan deserves to return to the road.At the time of our visit, yard owner Chad Ehrlich said he had three of these original Dodge Red Ram Hemi V-8s in inventory.This 1959 Ford Custom Ranchero pickup has suffered rust-through around its lower rear body panels, but retains donor-quality unique parts, such as its doors, tailgate and rear window.Another near-complete car is this 1958 Rambler Custom Cross Country station wagon that would be a fitting restoration project for a young family to undertake and then use on vacations.Another prime restoration candidate in inventory is this 1955 Buick Special Riviera two-door hardtop. It lacks only minor trim items.The Nash Metropolitan has a devoted following among car collectors, and this 1960 coupe example is complete, but needs a cosmetic overhaul.Complete down to its hubcaps is this 1959 Plymouth Belvedere four-door sedan that appears as if it could be driven out of the yard.Vintage trucks are abundant in Nobody Else’s Auto inventory, including this 1946 Chevrolet Model DP pickup that’s seen hard use.One of several old-timers in the yard is what’s left of this wood-spoke, late-1920s International truck.Representing the 50th anniversary year of Willys, this 1953 Aero Falcon Super Deluxe four-door sedan is near complete and rare. Just 3,116 were produced.Still sporting lots of donor-quality parts, including its grille, is this 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Club Sedan four-door.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Have you ever wondered what your classic ride is worth? Old Cars has you covered with the Old Cars Report Price Guide. We are your source for unbiased and real-world pricing. Subscribe today and find out what your car is really worth! CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Without Packard the automotive world would not be what it is today. Packard had a history of innovation.
In 1948, fancy top-priced Packard Custom Eight convertibles were the cars of choice for popular band leader Spike Jones and singer Dorothy Shay
What if there had never been a Packard Motor Car Co.?
Let’s say that, if Packard had never existed to innovate certain features and improvements in its new cars year after year for more than half a century, perhaps no other car company may have offered the same advancements. Granted, this is a real stretch, and, logically, most of the advancements pioneered by Packard were likely to have eventually been introduced by other car companies. But simply for the sake of fun on what might not have been, let’s take a jaunt through the list of Packard improvements for the industry.
No Packard? No steering wheel. The advancement was popularized and added to production Packards for 1901. Imagine if no other company had come up with the idea. What would have been the substitute? Levers? Individual hand grips? Imagine driving a car today using levers!
Automatic spark advance was another introduction. Today, with the rise of electric cars, and even in the steam-car era before World War II, spark advancement seemed beside the point, unless you had an internal combustion engine. No Packard, no spark advance? Perhaps.
Packard was a master builder of straight-eight motors and pioneered the first successful production Twelve. The year was 1915 for the latter. When that massive engine block bowed, it was a “zippity-doo-dah day” for the industry. In some respects, it marked the advent of a horsepower craze that continued to recent years. Imagine, no Packard, then perhaps no horsepower race as we knew it.
Air conditioning. Yes, another Packard first. The company was first to introduce air-conditioned comfort to production cars in 1940, and motoring has been a cooler experience since. The innovation caught on and by the end of the 1960s, half of all new automobiles sold were equipped with air conditioning.
The H-shift pattern was a choice Packard promoted. It took some time before it became widely used. A simple invention? Yes, but logical and handy, and it caught on.
Hydraulic shocks. Yes, if there was no Packard, who knows what cars would have used to cushion road shock.
Torsion-Level ride graced many fine Packards in 1955 and 1956. No one seems to have stepped forward to say Packard was not the perfecter and promoter, even though the idea arose from a Hudson man who offered the idea to that company before sliding it to Packard. Still, it was Packard and select Clipper models that “wowed” the public with the slick-ride principles of smoothness. Chrysler went with partial torsion bars, General Motors liked its air suspension motif. But it remained to be realized if any other car company in the New World ever greased the track with this Torsion-Level invention.
Firsts are not readily proven, and some are substantiated over time. Someone may have invented a feature or technical advantage, but kept back from realizing it in production. So Packard’s firsts can be seen in this light. In simple words, the Torsion-Level invention existed some years prior to Packard’s redesign and application, but the fact of the matter is that Packard was the first domestic car maker to make it happen in production.
This leads to more inventiveness, such as the revisions to Rolls-Royce motors for military use, thus avoiding slowdowns in hand-finishing parts and assembly. Tens of thousands of those power plants were mass produced, thanks to Packard advances. Imagine being in the South Pacific or the European Theater of War in the early 1940s and one of those necessary motors conked out. Who could fix it beyond a handful of artisans and master technicians in England? No time to fly them overseas just to fix one unit. Multiply that notion time and again, and the necessity for mass production and exchange of parts for speedy repair and you get the point.
Also, Packard’s involvement in marine motor production scooted numerous Patrol-Torpedo (PT) boats around coastal waters as the Axis Powers were on the defensive. So, was World War II won thanks to Packard? Not totally, but Packard did provide a crucial element toward victory. Think of the lives that were likely spared as a result!
Beyond firsts, Packard made its mark on society. Significant numbers of specialty cars were offered in conjunction with the Henney company of northern Illinois. Generally, Packard produced the majority of parts, and Henney completed lucrative numbers of funeral cars and ambulances. More than 1,900 were made in the late 1940s, which was a truly high mark. Rushing people for medical attention and honoring the dearly departed were services provided by Packard vehicles. Even presidents and other heads of state liked the Packard brand in open and limousine forms. Imagine if these aspects had not been available. For a good number of car hobbyists, watching historical news clips or old movies and seeing a Packard seems to make the whole story seem special and more enjoyable.
Packard also brought a feeling of good self-worth to its employees. Some plant employees felt they had made it to the top of their mechanical or assembly-line jobs by being hired by Packard. The same for designers and technicians. A high number stayed many years with Packard. Much more can be said of the sales force across the land. Selling other good brands of cars was proud work, but selling Packards was a step even higher, according to what dozens of workers told this writer.
Ultimately, Packard more than pulled its weight in the business. And even as some of its firsts were launched, there were feelings that those advancements were steps on the path toward greater success for the entire industry.
Packard played its part well.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
Was it a coincidence or a “sign?” An unexpected find at the Hershey swap meet reconnects one man with family history.
What once was lost now is found! Deb and I stumbled upon tangible family history at the 2021 AACA Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey, Pa. To our amazement and delight, the neon “B GAS” sign that hadn’t been seen by family members since the early 1990s was on display in Chocolate Field North.
Long before old-car hobbyists connected on the internet and social media to buy and sell cars, parts, and automobilia, they met in person at swap meets and flea markets. Certainly, online commerce is popular and efficient, but nothing beats the in-person experience of swap meets. And the largest automotive flea market, the annual AACA Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey, Pa., is a yearly family reunion of vintage-automobile fans. The vehicles brought them together initially, but it is the lasting friendships that keep them coming back to reconnect.
“Family” is what makes Hershey so great, and it’s why I keep attending, but of all my trips, the 2021 visit ranks as the most personally moving Chocolate-town experience. To convey this Hershey moment properly, I first need to relate a little of my family history.
A close-up view of the double-sided neon “WEBB CUT PRICE GAS” sign as it appeared at Mathiowetz Body Shop in 1960. In this original configuration, the sign was approximately 12-13 feet long and had a flashing neon arrow on each end pointing to the word “GAS.” “WEBB” and “CUT PRICE” were painted and not illuminated.
Webb Oil Co. and Mathiowetz Body Shop
In 1930, my grandfather, Wendelin Mathiowetz, known to family and friends as “Stutz,” built and operated a small gas station in Sleepy Eye, Minn. The little wooden station was a part of the fledgling Webb Oil Co., an independent chain created in 1923, based in Minnesota, that offered “Cut Price” fuel and lubricants. Unfortunately, a fire in 1932 leveled Stutz’s building, but the site was quickly redeveloped as a bigger, better Webb Cut Price service center. Soon thereafter, Stutz provided body and fender work, wheel alignment, headlamp alignment, and tire mounting and balancing in the building, thus expanding his business to better serve local motorists.
Stutz ran his Mathiowetz Body Shop for many years, and was well known for his neatness, perfection, and business acumen. He continually upgraded the building with the latest Bennett gas pumps, painted-metal and neon signage, and new body-shop equipment. In the early years, the station used several visible gas pumps, a large double-sided neon “WEBB GAS” sign on the canopy covering the pump island, and other homemade signs pointing out various promotions. By the 1950s, modern, short electric pumps replaced the tall visibles, and a new, longer, double-sided neon “WEBB CUT PRICE GAS” sign replaced the first sign.
Family Tradition
Tragedy struck the Mathiowetz family and business in 1960. In October, Stutz was killed in a single-car accident east of Sleepy Eye. He was survived by his wife (Rose, my grandmother, who passed away in 2009) and two sons (Bob, my uncle, now 89, and Charles, my father, who passed away in 2020). Bob assumed ownership of the business, and, for the next 25-plus years, he operated the gas station/body shop with great success. Two of Bob’s sons, Lowell and Marv, became owners of the business in the early 1990s after Bob stepped away from daily duties. Today, Lowell, Marv, and Lowell’s son, Jeff, continue the family tradition of providing excellent body repair in the same brick building Stutz erected in the 1930s.
As for Webb Oil Co., time wasn’t kind. In the early 1980s, the small Midwestern chain was purchased by a larger corporation, and Webb became an oil industry footnote. Because of this business change, Bob discontinued offering any gasoline in the late 1980s/early 1990s and focused exclusively on collision work. Soon, the underground tanks were unearthed, the gas pumps were taken away, the concrete pump island was razed, and the neon sign removed.
I photographed the body shop in July of 1988 during a visit. The modified, weathered “B GAS” sign hangs over the Webb gas pumps. Note that the supporting poles and pump-island light fixtures are the same ones pictured in the 1960 image.
The “B GAS” Neon Sign
A few of the Webb items from the station remain in the personal collections of Bob and Marv, but other pieces were sold or scrapped. One of the items, the double-sided neon “WEBB CUT PRICE GAS” sign, was sold to a local antique dealer in the early 1990s.
The sign, which Stutz put into service around 1950, was originally about 12-13 feet long with red neon tubing for the word “GAS” and a flashing arrow on each end pointing inward. At some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s, the sign was shortened, which eliminated the ends and flashing neon arrows. The alteration left an unusual and distinctive appearance, which, for many years, had me perplexed.
Because the sign wasn’t repainted after its modification, on each side one could read the letter “B,” the word “GAS,” and a portion of the letters “C” and “P.” In all of my visits to the station when I was young, I often wondered why the sign read “B GAS.” Later, of course, I could see that the “B” was the last remaining letter of the word “WEBB,” and the faint “C” and “P” were leftovers from the words “CUT PRICE.” After the sign left the building, we never saw it again, and I often wondered what had happened to it.
A close up shows the truncated sign that read “B Gas”
Unbelievable Discovery
In 2021, my girlfriend, Deb, and I traveled from our home in central Wisconsin to Hershey to take in all of the AACA action and display our 1964 Amphicar in Saturday’s car show. As we were walking through Chocolate Field North of the flea market, a large Firestone neon sign on a trailer caught our attention. As Deb was examining it, I walked around the trailer to look at the other signs that the vendor had for sale. Immediately, I recognized a sign that I had seen so many times before. When Deb joined me, I exclaimed, “This is the sign from the body shop!” Its distinctive appearance was a dead giveaway. It was almost too unreal to comprehend. How could our family sign from Minnesota be at Hershey? It was 1,200 miles away from home, and about 30 years after I had last seen it.
The vendor walked toward me and said, “I think the sign was cut down at one time.” I replied, “Yeah, my uncle did it. This sign is from my grandfather’s gas station.” I quickly followed with, “Where are you from?” His response? “Minnesota.”
The vendor, Mike Wegleitner, was closing up his space for the night, but we quickly made a handshake deal. I was certain that the sign was, indeed, the sign, but because the item was rather expensive, I asked if the sale could be contingent upon confirmation from my cousin, Marv, back home. Mike, fascinated by the whole story, was extremely cooperative and agreed, and we met the following morning, my 60th birthday, to close the deal.
We e-mailed pictures of the sign to Marv at the body shop. He quickly called me and said, “Keith, that’s the sign!” I had to ask, “Are you sure, Marv?” Without hesitation, he proclaimed, “I’d bet my life on it! Unbelievable! Congratulations!”
Mike explained that he had recently “picked” the sign from a warehouse in Duluth, Minn. The warehouse was full of signs collected over many years; the signs were destined to decorate a bar/restaurant in the Canal Park area of the city. The business never materialized, and the signs sat untouched. Except for broken neon tubing, the extremely weathered “B GAS” sign looked exactly the same as it did at the body shop in the 1980s.
After careful repair and conservation, the “B GAS” sign now hangs proudly over the collector cars in our garage. The sign retains the identical weathering patterns that it had in 1988.
Conservation and Display
Because Deb and I were tight on space in our tow vehicle and trailer, Mike graciously transported the 7-foot sign back to Minnesota, where Deb and I retrieved it a few weeks after Hershey. A difficult decision had to be made. Do I restore the sign as originally configured, or do I just replace the broken letters and let it be? In the end, I decided to just replace the letters, as the unusual appearance is how I always remembered the sign and was the clue to its discovery.
A short while later, we delivered the sign to Gail Schroepfer of Northern Advertising, Inc. in Antigo, Wis. A seasoned neon craftsperson, Gail crafted the replacement neon letters based on vintage photos that I had. She also replaced the non-working transformer and brittle wiring to make it a safe and reliable unit. In the process, we located the flasher device that once controlled the neon arrows, and we learned that the old transformer dated to 1950.
The sign now hangs proudly over the collector cars in our garage, and it is literally the center of attention. Interestingly, three of the five cars in the garage had been beneath the sign before, when they were being fueled with Webb Cut Price gasoline back in the 1970s and 1980s.
Don’t let anyone tell you that swap meets are only about rusty parts and tools. They are family reunions, and, at Hershey, I was uniquely reunited with family members past and present.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
Barrett-Jackson to auction 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition donated by renowned philanthropist George Shinn to support Hurricane Ian relief efforts.
Barrett-Jackson will auction a highly-desirable, limited-production Heritage Edition Mustang Shelby GT500 with 100 percent of the hammer price benefiting two nonprofits supporting those tragically affected by Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida.
Barrett-Jackson
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ‒ Barrett-Jackson will auction a highly-desirable, limited-production Heritage Edition Mustang Shelby GT500 with 100 percent of the hammer price benefiting two nonprofits supporting those tragically affected by Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida. American businessman and philanthropist George Shinn has generously donated this high-performance vehicle to support relief efforts from both Samaritan’s Purse and the Florida Disaster Fund. The GT500 Heritage Edition will cross the auction block during Barrett-Jackson’s Houston Auction, Saturday, October 22, at approximately 4 p.m. CDT.
“We’re proud to once again team up with George Shinn to support those currently suffering from unspeakable tragedies,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Earlier this year during our Palm Beach Auction, we auctioned one of George’s vehicles to support humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine, helping raise over $1.7 million for the cause, and we look forward to answering the call once again alongside George next week as we support those in need here at home.”
The 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition (Lot #3001) offered will be driven onto the Barrett-Jackson auction block by Shawn Shelby, grandson of Carroll Shelby and an American racer and entrepreneur. Carroll Shelby and Ford developed the first-generation Shelby GT500 based on the second-generation pony car for the 1967 model year. The car utilized a modified 428ci V8 engine inspired by his team’s 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966.
Paying homage to the original 1967 Shelby GT500, this limited-production 2022 GT500 Heritage Edition fastback is finished in Brittany Blue with Wimbledon White racing stripes. Ford Performance designed and engineered the 2022 GT500 as the most powerful street-legal Ford ever built, utilizing a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine known as the “Predator,” rated with 760 horsepower and 625 ft/lbs of torque. It’s paired with a TREMEC 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with race-bred control strategies and advanced drive modes.
The sale of the Heritage Edition GT500 will benefit Samaritan’s Purse and the Florida Disaster Fund with their ongoing hurricane relief efforts. Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine. Currently, Samaritan’s Purse has three Disaster Relief Units in Florida – Fort Myers, Englewood and Punta Gorda – where volunteers are helping thousands of families. Samaritan’s Purse Vice President of Operations, Edward Graham, the youngest son of Franklin and Jane Graham and grandson of Billy Graham, will join the car on the block for this charitable auction.
The Florida Disaster Fund is Florida’s official private fund established to assist the state’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the Florida Disaster Fund distributes its donations to service organizations serving individuals within their communities with disaster response and recovery.
Collector car enthusiasts interested in registering to bid for this 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition charity vehicle and the entire 2022 Houston Auction may do so here.
To purchase tickets and VIP packages to the event, click here. Join Barrett-Jackson’s online conversation with #BarrettJackson and #BJAC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson is a leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events, which include authentic automobilia auctions and the sale of private collections. Welcoming over 500,000 attendees per year, Barrett-Jackson produces live collector car auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Houston, Texas, where thousands of the most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience. With broadcast partner A+E Networks, Barrett-Jackson features live television coverage of its events on FYI and The HISTORY Channel, as well as all the cars, all the time via its produced livestream on Barrett-Jackson.com. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com, or call 480-421-6694.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
Big names, excellent racing and impressive cars delighted attendees at the 2022 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The third annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival sponsored by Millennium Bank excelled in The Scenic City this weekend as it celebrated Oktoberfest with dynamic and exciting events for families and racing and car aficionados alike.
With a backdrop of pumpkins and hay bales on the drive-up podium in front of the Westin Hotel Chattanooga, the 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton, owned by Laura and Jack Boyd Smith Jr., won Best of Show in Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance. Approximately 125 judged (21 classes) and exhibition cars were on display in West Village, including a number of the world’s most significant cars.
Best of Show went to this stunning 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton owned by Laura and Jack Boyd Smith Jr.
At the second annual Pace Grand Prix at The Bend on Friday and Saturday, approximately 89 cars in seven groups of vintage, historic and some contemporary race cars competed on a purpose-built 2.75-mile race track that stretches along the Tennessee River. This year’s Grand Prix, named for Jim Pace, the former COO of the Festival who died in 2019, debuted the Alley of the Greats, a loop through a skeleton of an old manufacturing building draped with banners commemorating racing legends.
Race results for the two sprint feature races per class held on Saturday may be found at: RACE 1 and RACE 2
Other events over the three-day weekend which boasted near-perfect weather included V8s in the Village, Gathering of the Greats–Ferrari Edition, Mecum Auction Chattanooga, RADwood, Concours d’Lemons, light shows, evening street parties, panel discussions, the winged cars of NASCAR, plus an array of racing and car collector celebrities that may never be seen together again in one place.
Car Clubs were strongly represented, including some uniquely named ones such as Choo Choo Bimmers, Choo Choo Corvairs, Cruisin to End Alzheimer’s, Drive Electric Scenic City and the Soddy Daisy Mustang Club.
Familiar names from auto racing and car collecting, such as Donnie Allison, Justin Bell, Wayne Carini, Corky Coker, Tom Cotter, Ray Evernham, Chip Foose, Ken Gross, Jeff Hammond, Tommy Kendall, Keith Martin, Brian Redman, Bill Rothermel, Lyn St. James, Mike Tillson and Linda Vaughn participated in panel discussions, interviews and presentations.
Lyn St. James, the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year served as Grand Marshal, racing champion Brian Redman was the Grand Ambassador, and local hero Corky Coker was Grand Marshal Emeritus.
Former NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham curated a collection of NASCAR winged cars, and hosted a panel discussion with famed NASCAR racer Donnie Allison and another former crew chief and TV commentator, Jeff Hammond.
NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek competed at the Pace Grand Prix in a NASCAR 2006 Toyota Camry, winning each of his group’s two feature races on Saturday.
The Torque Show live-streamed more than 30 hours of coverage during the three-day weekend, which included the Canossa Rally Chattanooga, the racing action at the Grand Prix, the Concours d’Elegance awards presentation, and the Torque Show each day with Justin Bell and Tommy Kendall.
WATCH DAY ONE COVERAGE
WATCH DAY TWO COVERAGE
WATCH DAY THREE COVERAGE
About Chattanooga Motorcar Festival: Proceeds from the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival support neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc. Approaching 12 years of supporting Alzheimer’s and neuroscience research, Fifty Plus Foundation created the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival to bring both local and global support to back research that is already making a difference in saving lives. Learn more at chattanoogamotorcar.com.
If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.
