Classic Cars Blog

According to one of the leading collector car auction houses, Barrett-Jackson, collector cars have proven to be one of the soundest investment vehicles in the global marketplace over the past 10 years. They go on to say that many of the top cars sold have performed better in value than the stock market and gold.

The auction company came to this conclusion with the data from the “Barrett-Jackson mini-index” which they created in 2003, and consists of representative cars that reflect the diversity seen in the collector car market. These cars span from 1957 to 1970 and are primarily European and American sports cars and U.S. muscle cars. The cars used in the index are the 1957 Thunderbird, 1967 Jaguar XKE, 1967 Shelby GT500, 1970 Camaro Z/28, 1970 AAR ‘Cuda, 1965 Austin Healy MK III and a 1967 Corvette 427/435.

According to Barrett-Jackson, the value of the cars in the mini-index grew by a compounded annual growth rate of 16 percent from Q1 1998 to Q1 2008, which included economic and political upheaval stemming from major events ranging from the Invasion of Iraq, the Dot Com bubble crash, and 9/11. During that same period, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) grew a compounded 5 percent annually while the S&P 500 Index grew 4 percent. The price of gold grew a compounded 11 percent in the same period.

This is very comforting information to know that even though the value of our portfolio has declined, the value of what’s sitting in the garage is still strong.

Barrette-Jackson must also be pleased with their mini-index findings coming out just prior to their inaugural Las Vegas event on October 16th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson said in a press release,

“With all the turbulence in the current capital markets, we are pleased with our key economic indicators for this event. Tickets sales have been strong, our Las Vegas consignment slots were sold out a month ago, and bidder registration has exceeded our expectations. Bidder interest and registration have not waned despite the negative news coming from Wall Street.”

You can watch the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas event live on SPEED October 16-18.

Last weekend in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the RM Auction event ‘Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey’ illustrated the continuing strength of the classic car market.

The single-day event, held October 10th at the famous Hershey Lodge, captured the attention of collector car enthusiasts eager to see the impact of the shaky week on Wall Street and the current economic climate on the collector car market.

The solid sales results surpassing $6.9 million for the 84 cars offered, some of which exceeded expectations, were a good indication that the market remains strong. Headlining the single day sale was the 1933 Duesenberg La Grande Phaeton, considered one of the rarest and most desirable of the open bodied Duesenbergs, which brought an impressive $1,688,500.

Other notable sales highlights included a rare and highly desirable 1917 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Touring Car for $385,000, and an iconic, beautifully restored 1913 Locomobile Model M-48-3 Four Passenger Baby Tonneau for $357,500.

Not all of the cars met their estimates unfortunatley, namely a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk that sold for $4950, well under the $15,000 expected, a 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am for $9900, and a 1941 Buick Roadmaster Convertible Phaeton selling for $30,000 below estimate.

You can view the full sale results at RM Auctions’ Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey event on their website.

Please welcome the newest member of the About.com auto guide family, Kristen Hall-Geisler. Kristen will help us get up close and personal with the cars that most of us only dream about - the Exotics.

She will take you on a guided tour of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, the Maserati GranTurismo, and Aston Martin V8 Vantage, plus keep you in formed on any upcoming “exotic” events.

And after you look through Kristen’s exotics, don’t forget to check out all the membera of thde About.com motoring family:

Aaron Gold - Cars
Jason Fogelson - SUV’s
Dale Wickell – Trucks
Keith Griffin – Used Cars
Matthew Wright – Auto Repair
Christine & Scott Gable – Hybrid and Alternative Fuels
Jonathan Lamas – Mustangs
Basem Wasef - Motorcycles

Did you know we have Cadillac to thank for the birth of Pontiac? Be still my heart if the sexy 1969 GTO was never part of my past. Actually, we have many people to thank for the birth of Pontiac, but the story begins with two gentlemen – Edward Murphy and Alanson Brush.

Murphy was the founder of Pontiac Buggy Company in Pontiac, Michigan which produced horse-drawn carriages, and was looking to evolve into the automotive age. Brush, who was responsible for the design of early Cadillacs, later became an engineering consultant in Detroit. When the two met in 1906, Brush showed Murphy his design for a small two-cylinder car that Cadillac had rejected. Murphy bought Brush’s automotive idea, and decided it should carry the name “Oakland” as did his horse-drawn vehicles.

During the summer of 1907, Murphy organized the Oakland Motor Car Co. His lack of sales with the Oakland, a two cylinder vertical engine that rotated counterclockwise, convinced him that Cadillac might have been right in rejecting the Brush design. In 1909, a line of 40-hp four-cylinder cars with sliding-gear transmissions was introduced, and more successful. Unfortunately, Edward Murphy didn’t see the increased sales due to his sudden death in 1908.

Shortly before his passing, Murphy had met with another former buggy man named William C. Durant. Soon afterwards, Oakland became part of Durant’s General Motors Empire and its design would evolve under his rule. Oaklands most recognized model was produced in 1924, the “True Blue Oakland Six” which came with a new L-head engine, four-wheel brakes, centralized controls and an automatic spark advance, and painted with a Blue Duco nitro-cellulose lacquer.

In 1926, Alfred R. Glancy, Oakland’s assistant general manager introduced the Pontiac - a quality six cylinder engine car designed to sell for the price of a four. This new “companion car” to the Oakland was an instant success and Pontiac had been born!

The Royal Automobile Club's annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is celebrating its 112th anniversary this November 1st and 2nd which makes it the world's longest running motoring event. It attracts highly valuable Antique pre-1905 cars from all over the globe. For the spectators, it’s a rare opportunity see these extraordinary automobiles on the 60 mile run from Hyde Park in central London to the seafront on the Sussex resort of Brighton.

The Emancipation Run, as it was called at its initiation on November 14th, 1896, celebrated the passing into law of the "Locomotives on the Highway Act" which raised the speed limit for "Light Locomotives" from 4 miles per hour to 14 mph. The event was considered to be a red-letter day in the history of British motoring, demonstrating that the automobile was here to stay -- even though only 14 of the 33 starters reached Brighton. Since then - with the exception of the war years, when gas rationing was in force - the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run has been an annual event.

Today, royalty and personalities from the worlds of television, stage, music and sport often participate in the annual run, which takes place on the first Sunday in November. Few events on the international motoring calendar can claim the individuality, personality and character of the 500 fine examples of early automotive engineering that now participate in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Spectator Information

Photo: 1902 Murray Runabout

Bonhams & Butterfields auctioneers announced that their California Classic Event, A Sale of Important Motorcars, Motorcycles and Memorabilia, will be held at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California on October 25th 2008.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture. So it comes as no surprise to us that Bruce Willis, a mega star who has also made an impact on American life and culture, is offering his American muscle car collection for sale at this venue. Also there was no surprise in the line up of cars in the Bruce Willis collection; they are just what you would expect the Die Hard persona to own. Check them out and you’ll see what we mean.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
A gift from his then wife Demi Moore, it received a thorough restoration and retains its original 283cu-in engine delivering 220hp, has Powerglide transmission, front disc brakes, power booster, power steering, and comes with both soft and hard tops. (Est. $70,000/$90,000)

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Considered the most desirable year-model Corvette in history, this 427cu-in big block offers 435hp and takes off like it’s turbocharged when the second set of Holley 2-barrel carbs comes on line. Like all of Willis’ cars, it has extras like power brakes, power steering, Cragar S/S alloy wheels, and an Alpine 5-CD changer in the glove box with an infrared remote so it doesn’t detract from the otherwise stock appearance or require removal of the original AM-FM radio. (Est. $110,000/$150,000)

1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible
This gorgeous, essentially stock car with 400cu-in V8 engine and 330hp is fully equipped with factory A/C, front disc brakes with power assist, power steering, 4-speed manual transmission (recently rebuilt), dual exhausts, Power Flex fan, twin hood scoops, and its original radio which has been augmented by an Alpine stereo system whose custom speakers are tucked into the back of the car. (Est. $30,000/$50,000)

1968 Shelby Mustang GT 500 Convertible
The perfect, updated convertible version of the iconic car that launched Steve McQueen through the streets of San Francisco in the classic movie Bullitt. Willis had leading professionals exhaustively rework the engine to 468cu-in delivering 570hp! A full mechanical restoration included drivetrain, suspension, body and cosmetics to the utmost degree. The list of add-ons is staggering but what’s most interesting about this sexy powerhouse is that there are only two visual hints that this car isn’t stock: the polished Cragar S/S alloy wheels and, when seen in motion, a controlled suspension that informs onlookers that this is a serious driver’s car. (Est. $150,000/$175,000)

1969 Dodge Charger
Having a Bullitt-style Mustang that McQueen’s character drove meant that Willis needed a Bullitt Charger that the bad guys drove. This 2-door hardtop has a 440 engine bored and stroked to 502cu-in offering 700hp, along with all the extras like Aries pistons, Edelbrock heads and intake manifold, Holley carbs, Flowmaster exhaust, Mopar 4-wheel disc brakes, Hydroboost assist, power steering, Perfect Fit A/C, Alpine stereo, and much, much more. (Est. $50,000/$70,000)

You can find out more about the Bonhams & Butterfields event on their website.

This week Greg Kinnear hit the talk show circuit promoting his new movie "Flash of Genius" were he plays Robert Kearns, a professor who invented the intermittent windshield wipers.

The movie is based on a true story of Kearn’s claims that Detroit automakers stole his idea and sued them in a long, drawn-out battle. So we started wondering who invented the first windshield wiper and were very surprised where our research lead us.

During the winter of 1903, before Henry Ford's Model A was being manufactured, a woman named Mary Anderson was touring New York in a streetcar. She watched how the shivering driver had to get out constantly and wipe the snow and sleet from his windshield. It is reported that later that day, Mary Anderson scribbled a drawing of what would become the first successful windshield wiper system.

Her device let the driver stay inside the streetcar to clean the windshield by using a lever from the inside to manually activate "a swinging arm that mechanically swept off the ice and snow," according to the Inventors Museum (www.inventorsmuseum.com). Mary never sold her idea, but the mechanical wipers became standard features on American cars, including Ford's Model T, by 1913.

Another female automotive pioneer, Charlotte Bridgwood, president of the Bridgwood Manufacturing Company of New York, patented her electric roller-based windshield wiper called the "Storm Windshield Cleaner" in 1917. However, her product was not a commercial success.

According to our colleagues who write about inventors at About.com, the automobile gave women ample opportunity for invention:

“In 1923, of the 345 inventions listed under "Transportation" in the Women's Bureau Bulletin No.28, about half were related to automobiles and another 25 concerned traffic signals and turn indicators. Among these inventions - a carburetor, a clutch mechanism, an electric engine starter, and a starting mechanism.”

Now that’s what we call girl power!

For those of you who have childhood memoirs appear at the site of a 1950’s automobile, will admit to wearing a polyester pant suit once or protested the Viet Nam conflict, the news of Paul Newman’s death brings great sadness. He was as much a part of our lives as Tom Cruise is to a younger generation.

Paul Newman got it right and was the kind of role model we could really use today. On screen he was a tough guy without being violent, and a sex symbol without explicit sex scenes. He was just you’re average guy who could be or do anything if you just tried.

Off screen Paul Newman engaged in humanitarian and political issues without telling people what to think, he just made people think. He has been labeled a true philanthropist for his social responsibility and charitable donations which have totaled more than $200 million over the last 25 years, and did it with great humility.

Paul Newman entered our lives through the silver screen, but his daughter Melissa, speaking outside the family home in Connecticut, asked the world to remember her father for his extensive charity work rather than his film career. As car enthusiasts, we have one more thing to remember the man by – his love of cars.

When it was rumored last June that Paul Newman may be battling cancer, we did an article highlighting his racing career and included a link to a video of the Annual Ontario Motor Speedway’s Celebrity Pro Am Race for Charity narrated by Newman. We would like to share that with you again in our remembrance of a great man.

Paul Newman the Race Car Driver and Enthusiast

We never need a reason to visit beautiful Sedona, Arizona; it’s one of those magnificent places that draws you to it.

Often called "Red Rock Country", Sedona is a four seasons playground withsome of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop for everything from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails, and even car shows.

Last weekend we took the E-Type for a road trip and checked out the 2008 Sedona Car Show in conjuction with the Community Fair. Even the majestic red-rock monoliths named Coffeepot, Cathedral and Thunder Mountain couldn't distract us from some of the fabulous cars that were put on display.

Check out our Photo Gallery of the show and you'll see why.

Photo - Michele Hamer

The Telegraph.co.uk is the website for the United Kingdom’s first national newspaper that went online, and includes the articles from the printed additions of Britain’s The Daily Telegraph. Recently the online publication announced what cars their readers voted to be the 100 ugliest of all time.

In reviewing the top 20 automobiles on the list, it came as no surprise to see the AMC Gremlin and Pacer. And if you have ever visited England and seen the Fiat Multipla on the road, you would have no contest to it’s being in second place. But there were some cars we didn't expect to make the ugly list.

The Ranger Rover made the top twenty ugliest cars and the PT Cruiser was number 10. The Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1, although it was number 100, the car shouldn’t have made it on the list at all - it's down right adorable! And how could a Fiat Doblo with its big boxy transporter shape on tiny tires rank 95 when the VW Beetle’s gets put in number 35 spot.

The Telegraph.co.uk does point out that this article was an amusing counterpoint to their recent feature on the motor industry's most beautiful designs, which earned them several jibes about their questionable taste. We’re not surprised when they posted a Lotus Esprit in the top ten and a Citroën DS as number two. Naturally, being an owner of a Jaguar E-Type, we paused our criticism when seeing the cat take first place.

So what would you vote to be some of the ugliest autos? The VW Thing would definitely make our top ten.