Posted by Steve White on May 29, 2009
A 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa was sold for a staggering $12 million at an Italian public auction on the 17th of May, 2009. The sale was an all-time record for a car sold at an auction, surpassing the previous record set by a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT last year by more than $2 million. Both the buyer and the seller did not want their identities to be revealed to the public.
Ferrari produced the Testa Rossa from 1957 to 1958, with a total of 22 units made. The Testa Rossa that was sold at the auction raced for the first time at the Buenos Aires 1000 km in 1958. By 1961, the car had taken part in 19 international championships, and it managed to record 10 victories altogether. Because of its great success on the racetrack, it soon became a legend in the racing world. With the passing of time, it became one of the most coveted cars in the world. The Testa Rossa has a special “pontoon fender” that was designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti.
Even though the classic car market has been affected by the current recession, prices of collectable Ferraris continue to rise, and buyers do not mind spending large sums of money on cars that have great historical significance. Bidders in the auction room, as well as those who called in through the phone, competed feverishly for ownership of the magnificent Testa Rossa.
A number of Ferraris had fetched higher prices than the Testa Rossa, but all of them were sold privately. This Ferrari Testa Rossa is the most expensive car sold at a public auction.
Posted by Steve White on May 27, 2009
By the late 1960s, the Pontiac GTO was facing stiff competition from Dodge, Ford, and Plymouth, as well as other GM manufacturers, which were all coming up with their own versions of muscle cars. One of the models that were enjoying great success at that time was the very affordable Plymouth Road Runner. To compete with the Road Runner, Pontiac launched the Judge in 1969.
Despite being a budget model, the GTO Judge was a respectable performer. It was given the 400 cid Ram Air III engine, which was capable of delivering 366 hp. A new engine option was made available for both the ordinary GTO and the Judge, and it came in the form of the 370-hp 400 cid Ram IV. In 1970, the GTO underwent major design changes. The front end featured four exposed headlights and a narrower grille, and the body was given new creases and more pronounced fender lines. A new 360-hp 455 cid engine joined the lineup of engine options, and the economy engine was discontinued.
1971 was the last year that the Pontiac GTO was offered as a model of its own. Sales were on the decline, and the engine was also compromised to meet new regulations imposed by the government. The following year, the GTO became an option package for the Pontiac LeMans. Its performance continued to plummet in the next couple of years, and when it reached its final year in 1974, the once high-and-mighty GTO was running along with a 200-hp 350 cid engine, which was the smallest engine ever put on a GTO.
Although the Pontiac GTO was revived in 2004, it was a pale shadow of its glorious past. Nonetheless, it will be remembered by classic car enthusiasts as the car that initiated the muscle car revolution.
Posted by Steve White on May 25, 2009
During the early part of the 1960s, high performance was a thing that was exclusive to full-size cars and sedans. Although these cars did not have a fast acceleration, they were capable of blistering performances once they picked up speed. General Motors realized that all-round performance could be achieved with the combination of small cars and big engines, and therefore, the Pontiac GTO (Grand Tourismo Omologato) was introduced in the year 1964. This legendary hotrod would go down in history as the first true muscle car.
The 1964 Pontiac GTO was not exactly a very small car. It was actually an intermediate car, somewhere between a compact and a full-size. But the main attraction was its amazing performance. The GTO featured a powerful 389 cid V8 engine that could produce 325 hp, as well as a Carter AFB 4-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust, and premium clutch, suspension, and tires. It became an instant sensation among teenagers and adults of that time, and it sold a total of 32,450 units at the end of the year.
Sales for the Pontiac GTO rose in the next two years, reaching 96,946 units in 1966. In 1967, the engine was enlarged to 400 cid, and the options that were available included the 255-hp 2-barrel engine, the 335-hp 4-barrel, the 360-hp High Output, and the 360-hp Ram Air. The GTO got a major restyling the following year, and it featured a sleeker body and the all new Endura bumper, which gave the car better crash-resistance. This new GTO was named the “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend.
Posted by Steve White on May 22, 2009
Most people won’t doubt you if you tell them that your classic car is worth a considerable fortune. If you are planning to sell your little treasure in the near future, it is a good idea to find out its exact market value.
Many classic car owners will take a look at classified ads or car value guides to get an idea of how much their cars are worth. While this is a good way to get an assessment of your car’s value, you should consider certain things when you look through the ads. Obviously, you will look for cars that are of the same year and model as your car, but the prices of these cars may not be good indications of how much your car is worth, because they may have special features and other specifications that can reduce or add to their market values. For example, things like custom wheels and paint, as well as modified engines can bring down the values of classic cars because they make the cars lose originality. On the other hand, AC and power steering are features that will make classic cars more valuable.
Rarity can make a big difference when it comes to the value of a classic car. Many Corvettes were produced in 1967, but only 20 of them featured the L88 engine, and these rare cars are much more valuable than the ordinary Corvettes of that year. You should also consider the condition rating of your car. If your car has a better condition rating, it will fetch a better price.
If you are still unsure how much your classic ride is worth after looking at classified ads and value guides, you can engage a professional appraiser to give you an accurate valuation.
Posted by Steve White on May 20, 2009
1965 was a big year for the Chevrolet Impala. It was no longer the boxy car it used to be. It was given a more streamlined body, with curved side windows and a more sharply angled windshield. This new design caught the fancy of many automobile enthusiasts, and it sold more than 1 million units, which is an all-time record for an American car model.
The Impala became the biggest full-size car that was ever sold by General Motors in 1971. It offered engines options that ranged from the 250 inline 6-cyclinder to the 454 engine. The following year, the overall sales of the Impala exceeded the 10-million mark, which further established its status as the best-selling American full-size car. Its closest full-size competitor, the Ford Galaxie, did not even sell half as many. However, the popularity of the Impala began to slip in 1973 with the coming of the energy crisis. It sold only 176, 376 units in 1975, which was the worst sales recorded since it was introduced in 1958.
In 1977, the Impala underwent major redesigning again, and it became shorter and narrower. Despite the downsizing, it offered better legroom and a more spacious trunk. This new Impala was named Car of the Year by Motor Trend. Little changes were done to the car in the years that followed, and it was discontinued in the year 1985. However, it was reintroduced in 1994.
The Chevrolet Impala remains the most successful car that was offered by General Motors, and it holds a special place in the hearts of American car enthusiasts. For classic car lovers, there are few cars in history that can match up to the appeal of the Impalas of 1958 to 1967.
1970 Chevrolet camaro Nantucket, MA
1955 Chevrolet Belair Sport Coupe Cheney, WA
1978 Ford ltd Creamridge, NJ
1968 Chevrolet corvette Middletown, NJ