Conservatively speaking, a classic car is not always a custom car. Also, the definition of “custom” used here has no connection with “customizing” in the street-rod sense. For decades, classics have been defined as cars of exceptional standing, high in price, notable in features, well powered with milestone power plants, very low in production, and honored as exceptional vehicles when new in the pre-1950 era. This is also essentially the definition of a classic as defined by the Classic Car Club of America for cars it considers Full Classics, its copyrighted label. As time progressed in the late 1930s and into the early 1940s, some classics (such as the 1940 Packard senior models and many 1941 high-end Cadillacs) were made by the hundreds, even the thousands. But only a few of these classics were customs.

Define the word “classic” as the cars that, even when new, turned heads while motoring along boulevards, bystanders straining to see what person of note was in the car. Above the classics were the custom cars, the crème de la crème in design, tastes, fit and finish, with quality extras and superb workmanship as close to perfection as possible. That work was sanctioned by expert artisans whose job was to turn out masterpieces of rolling artistic expression via custom-design houses and/or car manufacturers. Many classic customs were ordered with special features inside or out that reflected the personal whims of the well-moneyed buyer.

The most obvious custom element was distinguished by the body design of the car. It was not a mass-produced body, but hand-built. Bodies could be lower, higher or sectioned upon the discretion of the buyer. Fenders, tops and interiors were, at times, redesigned or appointed — sometimes radically so. Most cars of this caliber were one-of-a-kind or one-of-a-few and even perhaps a limited production run of dozens, as was the case for Darrin-designed Packards. What also set those apart from contemporaries was the series of options and features that were special ordered as extras.

As time progressed, luxury car makers decided to sweeten the pie by using the term “custom” as a model designation, particularly in later years. Packard was among those when it issued its Custom Super Eight versions of the early 1940s. The cars in that range sold for a set high price, which meant buyers could check the “custom” options from a list — all included in the price. That made the car special in the way in which it was finished in exterior trim and interior appointments. Consider the idea to be an early venture into mass-produced customs, a notion removed from the original concept of years earlier. The concept morphed into what became a wealth of options to set one car apart from another in the 1950s and thereafter.

As the initial classic era of cars edged toward its peak, Pierce-Arrow in Buffalo, N.Y., faced a puzzling future as the 1920s trudged onward. As the makers of superb high-priced cars with custom touches, Pierce officials chose not to cater to even the middle class but aimed at the rising uppers and stratospherically wealthy. But the 1920s were troubling years for many car makers. First came survival following a jumbled road to normalization following the First World War’s sudden conclusion. In the early 1920s, that tumultuous period saw the demise of the Lafayette, which was a top-notch car brand in the upper class. Lincoln nearly folded had it not been for Henry and Edsel Ford sweeping in to buy it at a bargain. Both the Lafayette and Lincoln brands were notable for custom design in the strictest sense: their bodies were all handbuilt by custom coachbuilders.

Lincoln was graced with a respite under Ford control while Pierce-Arrow struggled in an up-and-down market through the 1920s. Had it not been for the Pierce-Arrow Series 80 of 1925, the Pierce nameplate may have perished sooner as did other highly reputable brands, such as the Cole Aero-Eight with its magnificent bursts of power and its pre-ordered body designs with touches of special propriety.

Although the straight-eight engine was popularized by such greats as Duesenberg and Packard, the V-8 was fast rising as a motor of choice. Not so for the twelves and eventually the sixteen-cylinder models which had a tendency for a fast rise and slow decline in public preference. Those were not easily kept at peak operable condition unless well-trained, hired drivers kept those in balance. As the era progressed, more owners preferred to take the helm and lessen the need for a chauffeur. Amid this blend was Pierce with its strong and notable six power plants that were not totally in vogue to most young and well-fixed buyers.

To remedy the matter, Pierce offered two lines: the Dual-Valve Six in the high-priced range and the Series 80 for the rising bright lights among the wealthy. Working against the notion of being lesser priced, officials noted in late 1924 that “it is a Pierce-Arrow. It could not be otherwise for it is the handiwork of men whose habits have become firmly fixed through nearly a quarter century of devotion to Pierce-Arrow methods.” Their designs were developed by genius which “has gained the universal respect of the engineering world.”

Wide usage of aluminum in the engine compartment and throughout the body gave this lighter Pierce-Arrow the ability to scoot quicker than most people might imagine a large car could achieve, especially since it was powered by a six. Not many other car companies were attuned to the massive use of aluminum as was the Pierce operation.

In late 1924 and early 1925, Pierce-Arrow Series 80s were trickling from the assembly line with enhanced rapidity, yet each engine was tested, then disassembled for inspection before final re-assembly and sale. It was very discriminating work that had become part of the Pierce-Arrow mystique. While high-end Pierces sold around $7,000 or more, the Series 80 could be obtained for less than $3,000 and up to slightly more than $4,000. On occasion, special attention was spent on a particular car if the buyer wished to fashion the vehicle to specific whims.

Image was important then as now, and Pierce-Arrow officials groomed it carefully. Their Series 80 was hardly cheap, but it was lesser priced than the factory’s highest offering. Yet, custom touches were allowed, perhaps even offered at time of sale.

The Series 80 pictured with this article was one such car. Sold to an Autocar executive when new, he requested a Deluxe seven-passenger sedan to be adapted by removal of the rear auxiliary seats, thus rendering it a five-passenger model with a longer interior compartment. The reason? Its buyer was a disabled veteran from the war. He needed the extra space for entry and comfort as he instructed his chauffeur to guide him to work each day in New York and Long Island. With its Deluxe rounded roofline, the car was one of no more than 500 made, but with its adaptation, it may likely have been much rarer — perhaps even one of a kind.

A small change overall for a custom-ordered conversion. But a sign of a car company’s desire to provide a special custom feature for the buyer.

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Family Cruising

By Alan Eickhoff

Even before there was the film American Graffiti there was cruising on York Road in Hatboro, Pennsylvania.  In the early 1960s I did it with a friend in his mother’s 1955 Chevy convertible.  Who cared if it was an automatic six banger? The top was down.

In those days of the 1960s merchants didn’t take kindly to the summertime ritual that generally disrupted the flow of business in town. The flow of traffic was also disrupted as it moved very slowly. Isn’t that what cruising is all about? Seeing and being seen?

In recent years the Chamber of Commerce actually revived the long-ago tradition. From May to September on the 3^rd Friday of the month folks turn out to again see and be seen. Participants are encouraged to bring a food item to donate to the local food pantries. Some people even park their car and set up chairs to see and be seen.

My family now has 3 generations of car aficionados. It has long been a goal to gather all of them for a single occasion.  That bucket list item got “checked” off on the August 2023 cruise night in Hatboro.

Looking at the photo, the first vehicle seen is a Chevy Silverado and it belongs to our daughter in law, Ashley Williams Eickhoff. It has been in her possession for 8 years. Her dad bought it new in 1990 with the special-ordered paint job of Caramel Brown and Adobe Gold. It has a 5.7 liter engine. Ashley drove this truck to high school. Her husband, our son, proposed to her in this truck after a rattlesnake scared them from their hike on the mountain.

Next in line is our 1948 Dodge Custom. My wife and I have owned this for 20 years. Following a 26 month restoration effort we earned our First Junior Award from the Antiique Automobile Club of America at the 2020 Gettysburg version of the Fall Hershey Meet. When we dated in high school, I drove a black 1947 Dodge which explains why I didn’t use it to cruise Hatboro in the 1960s.

Next in the picture is the 1969 Mustang owned by our son, Jeff. Even as a youngster he loved Mustangs so this car fulfilled a dream for him. It is the first car he ever bought and he has owned it for 28 years. It is an all-original car with optional air conditioning. He and Ashley drove it on their honeymoon. In 2005 he disassembled the entire front end for rebuilding and then it sat for 17 years. In July 2023 he and his cousin and their sons put it back together. This cruise was his first real showing of the car. Jeff is a new AACA member

Next in line is the 1992 Camaro owned by our grandson, Evan, who is also an AACA member. This car too fulfills a childhood dream. It is the 25^th anniversary Heritage Edition Z28 model.  Evan has owned it for 4 years and loves caring for it and driving it. It will be hard for him to leave it home as he heads off to college. At some point we hope he can join us at an AACA event.

Then there is the 1992 Dodge Shadow convertible that we bought new. My wife, Linda, used it as a daily driver, especially driving out to our daughter’s college in Williamsport, PA. Then when our daughter graduated, we gave her the car as a gift. Despite being a convertible, it was an outside car when she lived in her apartment. She was about to trade it in when I did some research to find that it is one of 3,185 convertibles produced that year. I gave her the Kelly Blue Book price and put it back in our garage. We earned our AACA Original Historic Preservation Original Features award at the 2023 Hershey meet.

The second part of the line up are vehicles from my brother, Roger’s family. Unfortunately, he was not able to attend the cruise. However, his 1982 Chevy diesel pick up was there. My nephew did much of the work in restoring this truck and it too is recently on the road after a long period of being idle. It is a Custom Deluxe K-20 with the original engine in it. This is the first year that Detroit Diesel supplied engines for Chevy trucks. Roger has owned it for 32 years. Roger’s son, Greg drove the truck for the cruise.

Shown next is my nephew, Greg’s 1979 Pontiac Trans Am that he has owned for 27 years. It is the 2^nd car he ever bought. Originally an automatic, he has converted it to a 4 speed. The rebuilt engine is now a 408 and one of just many engines that have been in the car over the years. Greg’s good friend, Dan, drove the Trans Am in the cruise. Greg actually bought the car from Dan’s brother plus Dan has done a lot of mechanical work on various Eickhoff vehicles so he might as well be a family member.

Greg’s son, Josh, owns the 1986 Firebird that is the next to last car in the line-up. Josh has owned it for 3.5 years.  It is a 355 engine with a manual transmission. Josh loves to cruise with the T tops off. Currently Josh is a student at Automotive Training Center in Warminster.

The final car in the line up belongs to Matt Eickhoff, also a son of Greg and older brother to Josh. It is a 1981 Pontiac Firebird which he has owned for 4 years. He has a custom dash with a 350 engine and 4 speed manual transmission. This is his daily driver as he also attends the Automotive Training Center in Warminster.

For a long-time Matt and I have advocated getting the family collector cars together in one place. Friday, August 18, 2023 the stars aligned and 9 Eickhoff owned cars lined up to drive south and then north on York Rd in Hatboro. Posing for pictures was almost as much fun as driving the cruise to see and be seen.  Isn’t that what it is about?

If you would like your car featured in Reader Wheels click on the link below and tell us a little bit about your ride.

CLICK HERE

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COME TO OUR 2021 VIRTUAL CAR SHOW

While it’s a big disappointment that so many shows have cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been looking for ways to show off reader’s vehicles. One such effort is our “2021 OLD CARS VIRTUAL CAR SHOW” on Facebook

Let’s see those sweet rides! People can “vote” on their favorites by “liking” the photos. We are still gathering prizes for the winners, but right, now, we are just inviting folks to show off their rides and enjoy viewing all of the entrants.

To enter, vote, or just enjoy looking around “the show,” log onto Facebook and type “OLD CARS 2021 VIRTUAL CAR SHOW” in the search bar. That will get you “to the show!”

To participate, here’s all you have to do:

OLD CARS 2021 VIRTUAL CAR SHOW

We want to give everyone the opportunity to show off their vehicle … and maybe even win a nice prize, and bragging rights.

HOW CAN YOU ENTER YOUR VEHICLE?

*Join the Facebook Group, “OLD CARS 2021 VIRTUAL CAR SHOW.”

*Create a post with up to four photos of your vehicle

*Write a brief description highlighting what makes your vehicle special to YOU

*SHARE that post with your friends and ask them to VOTE for your vehicle by “LIKING” it.

*At the end of the show, we will tabulate the results. The “TOP TEN” will receive our prize package (to be determined)

Winners will be announced in early January 2022.

So enter your vehicle and vote! Show is open now for entries!

Log onto the Old Cars Facebook page and watch for details. Or, sign up to receive our FREE E-Newsletter for announcements as well as the latest in hobby news.

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When out exploring parts yards in Texas, I have learned to expect the unexpected.

Traveling on Highway 87 south of Shamrock, Texas — home of the famous restored art deco Conoco station on Historic Route 66 — we pulled into Wellington and found Owens Salvage Co. Inc. Greeting us was “Flat-top” Bob Owens, who basically grew up on this property. In 1964, two years before Bob was born, his father opened a combination automotive and light commercial repair station and parts yard. As a kid, Bob learned the ins and outs of the industry and really took a liking to all things mechanical. By the early 1990s, his father had spawned another successful business dealing with the sales and salvage of major industrial vehicles ranging from bulldozers and road graders to large pieces of farm equipment. As that end of the business grew, the day-to-day operation of the original yard was turned over to the son.

More than just a parts yard kid, Bob is a genuine enthusiast and on the side, he does a bit of building and some restoration work for which he has won nation-wide acclaim. He still loves vintage cars and enjoys meeting and talking with like-minded enthusiasts. After checking in and finding out the history of his business, Bob handed us the keys to the yard truck, a very tired but dependable Chevrolet Tahoe. We needed it. Spread out across 40 acres are about 1500 vehicles. Many of these cars and trucks were here when his father started the yard more than 55 years ago. Bob doesn’t believe in crushing cars, even when the price of scrap iron goes sky high, so there’s plenty of vintage iron.

“Back when the yard was just starting and into the 1970s, we did have a crusher come to the yard,” Bob said. “That is how that one car got parked out front, the blue-and-white ‘cube!’”

Bob explained that car had could not be fitted onto a load of other cars taken to the “mill,” so it has been kept around as a souvenir ever since. There are other memories from Bob’s past in the yard. We drove past a twisted and mangled wad of sheet metal and iron encased in the remains of an old oak tree. On my third pass of this wreck, I finally recognized a part: a 1958 Edsel dashboard! Getting out, I looked in amazement at how this heap of steel had gotten that way.

“The Edsel was parked in front of our house in 1969,” Bob explained. “Over the years, the oak tree kind of grew up next to the car and over the years it kind of expanded into the Edsel. I thought it was a work of nature’s art and was going to leave it like that until about 10 years ago when a tornado came to visit, hit the tree and took it and the Edsel with it! At that point I just loaded it all up and brought it to the yard where it will probably remain for decades to come.”

A few years back, Bob and his wife relocated to custom living quarters right at the parts yard. Behind the façade of junked cars they have a beautiful home, and his attached workshop is decorated and stocked with what Bob really loves: custom-built rods and a fantastic display of memorabilia. The best part for Bob is that his commute to work is just steps away.

The variety of vehicles at Owens Auto Salvage is pretty complete with a few 1940s, a good number of 1950s, plenty from the 1960s and a growing population from the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the cars come from the dry climates of the Texas Panhandle where surface rust is about the worst corrosion you might find. Over the years, many of the vehicles have been stripped clean, but as “Flat-top” Bob estimates, for every car in his yard, there are four to five others with parts from his yard that are still on the road. However, there are plenty of good parts still to be found and yes, our tools did come out of the box. And yes, we did buy a few parts for our own projects.

In addition to the cars in the field, there is rack upon rack filled with complete engines and transmissions and other sub-assemblies. “Flat-top” Bob has also acquired a large amount of NOS parts and you never know what treasures you might find here. We also checked the outdoor racks that held complete front clips (hoods, fenders, grilles, etc.) as well as complete vehicles destined for project cars.

Prices were reasonable, especially considering they are becoming harder to find, and Bob is fun to deal with. His customer base comes from around the world with daily shipments going all over the United States as well as to patrons in Europe and many of the Pacific Rim countries such as Australia, New Zealand and even Japan.

Now, about the unexpected. Sharing the field with the vintage cars are several head of cattle. At one point we spotted a mama cow making a lot of commotion. Her young calf had become entangled in a chain-link fence. My friend and I are city slickers and the only way we like our beef is medium rare. But knowing this little guy was in trouble, we set about freeing the calf. (He was a bit too rare for our taste.) Mama wasn’t too sure of our motives, but once her baby was free and able to join her, the two wandered off and we are sure she was scolding her baby about going into strange places.

Owens Salvage Co. Inc. is open six days a week. From Monday to Friday, the hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Time. On Saturday, “Flat-top” Bob likes to sleep in, so the doors are open from 9 a.m. and usually close around 1 p.m. He likes his evenings free so he can hang with some of his friends, a rather notorious group known in the Wellington area as the Road Rockets. This is kind of a throwback group that really loves their cars and loves driving them on Texas’ wide-open highways.

When he’s not enjoying time behind the wheel with his fellow Road Rockets, “Flat-top” Bob is active on Facebook and maintains the yard’s website at www.owenssalvage.com.

Owens Salvage Co. Inc.
3725 U.S. Hwy 83
Wellington, TX 79095
800-798-2581
flattopbob32@gmail.com 

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TRAVERSE CITY, /PRNewswire/ — Despite Great Recession predictions that the American love affair with cars and driving was waning, millennials and Gen Zers now report they are more likely – not less – to want to own a classic or collectible car than their parents and grandparents, according to the 2020 “Why Driving Matters” survey of 10,000 U.S. drivers.

Key findings include:

• Gen Z and millennials are most likely to report currently owning a classic or collectible vehicle. Classic car ownership by generation:
  • Gen Z: 22%
  • Millennial: 25%
  • Gen X: 19%
  • Boomers: 13%
  • Silent: 11%
• Younger generations of vehicle owners who do not yet own a classic or collectible vehicle are more interested in owning one than older generations, indicating a strong future for the hobby:
  • Gen Z: 53%
  • Millennials: 57%
  • Gen X: 49%
  • Baby Boomers: 33%
  • Silent: 19%

That finding is consistent with Hagerty data indicating that, since 2018, millennials and Gen Zers have sought classic vehicle insurance quotes and vehicle values via Hagerty’s Valuation Tools more often than older generations. Given current trends, Millennials, the nation’s largest, will become the hobby’s single largest group in the near future.

Hagerty commissioned TRUE Global Intelligence, the research practice of the communications firm FleishmanHillard, to survey 10,000+ Americans ages 18+, and data were weighted based on the United States Census Bureau’s Continuing Population Survey’s figures for gender, age, region, education and race/ethnicity. The “Why Driving Matters” survey also found ample evidence that the nation’s longstanding love of cars and driving remains strong.

• Nearly three of every four Americans (73%) enjoy driving, regardless of generation.
• 38% describe themselves as active “driving enthusiasts,” defined as belonging to a vehicle club, taking part in off-road or race track driving and attending cars shows and auctions.
• Every generation ranked freedom as the top reason they enjoy driving.

An analysis of the collected data by TRUE Global Intelligence found: “Much of the ‘death of driving’ handwringing from the media in the wake of the Great Recession was based on data showing younger generations were getting their license later, buying their first vehicle later, and buying fewer vehicles compared to previous generations at the same age. This conflated buying power with demand. The recession hit younger generations harder and delayed a host of major purchases and life milestones. As millennials aged into greater buying power and started families, their purchase behavior looked more and more like other generations. The lag was due to the disproportionate blow the generation took in the recession and the unique burden of student debt. It took them longer to recover their buying power, but not as long as it has taken the myth of car-hating young people to die.”

About Hagerty
Hagerty is an automotive lifestyle brand. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, Hagerty DriveShare,Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, Hagerty Media, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social and more. Hagerty is the world’s largest provider of specialty insurance for enthusiast vehicles and supports keeping car culture alive through youth programs, the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA), the RPM Foundation and more. For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit www.hagerty.com.

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By Mark Misercola

You probably didn’t realize it when you closed the deal, but the moment you took delivery on your classic you automatically qualified for membership in the Traumatic Roadside Experience (TRE) Club. The good news is there’s no entry fee. All you have to do is endure a UASB (an unexpected and sudden breakdown) and live to talk a lot about it. Every classic owner has had them. Long-time veterans of the “Classic Car Wars” will tell you it comes with the territory.

Truth be told, half the fun of going to weekend cruises and car shows is swapping tales of how your pride and joy left you left high and dry late at night on a dark road in the middle of a five-lane highway, or on the top-level of the George Washington Bridge in the middle of a traffic jam.

A good friend who has logged a lot more miles on his classic than me likes to say: “That’s what AAA is for. You pull over to the side of the road, call for assistance and bite the bullet.” I remember his advice whenever I start hyperventilating about life in the breakdown lane. I’m the kind of owner who sweats the details. I have reoccurring nightmares about a car I don’t own anymore breaking down in a scary neighborhood I’ve never been to. There’s no happy ending because I literally can’t drive off into the sunset.

I’d like to think I’m getting better about over-reacting to breakdowns, if only because I’ve been through more than a few traumatic roadside experiences over the past decade with all of my cars. But I still don’t sleep well the night before an extended drive because of what might be lurking out there on a road far, far away from the safety and comfort of my garage.

Fearing the Unknown

What is it I fear most? Star Trek’s Captain Kirk nailed it best when he said, “The greatest danger facing us is ourselves, an irrational fear of the unknown. But there’s no such thing as the unknown – only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.” And he was exactly right. My biggest fear is the unknown; that hidden part lurking under the hood or chassis waiting to fail when I least expect it. Of course, Kirk had Scotty on board the Enterprise for repairs. I don’t. So fear of the unknown is a constant companion on my cruises.

The flip side to that is I do have more than a few war stories to tell and some are real head-scratchers! Here, in abbreviated form, is a highlight reel of my best-of-the-worst Classic Car War stories, compiled first-hand, directly from the front.

• Tranny Overboard: On the way home from the biggest car show in the state, the transmission on my convertible decided to give way in the middle of Interstate 84. I stepped on the gas, the engine roared, and the car slowed to a crawl. Fortunately, I was able to coast from the middle of the highway to the breakdown lane without hitting anyone. Then for the next 45 minutes my daughter and I waited for the flatbed in what felt like a ring-side seat at the Indy 500. I went home, kicked myself for not anticipating that the transmission might need an overhaul, bit the bullet and had it rebuilt. The embarrassment lingered only until I got the bill.

• Smoking Steering Column: In a futile-yet-determined effort to undo the damage of 30 years of sitting in a garage, I listened to my soon-to-be former mechanic who encouraged me to put some mileage on my ‘66 Toronado and free up what I later learned were two bent push rods. “Do it,” he said. “That’s the only way to free up stuck valves or lifters and it’s a lot better than cracking open the engine and rebuilding it.”
• The car was actually running pretty well at highway speeds that day, but about 25 miles from home white smoke started billowing up through the steering column and directly into my face on an older highway with no breakdown lane. What’s worse, it smelled like an electrical fire. I freaked. This turned out to be a good thing because without realizing it I eased up on the accelerator and the cabin smoke backed off enough that I could limp home without a gas mask. Fortunately, there was no fire, just blow-by coming in from the engine bay and up through the steering column. So I bit the bullet and decided then and there to rebuild the engine. No more smoking steering columns, but it was a classic Twilight Zone experience nonetheless.

• Parade Rest: Just before Memorial Day and only a few short weeks after taking delivery on my convertible, the first in a long line of faulty fuel pumps gave way. My kids were disappointed because a call went out at school the week before for convertibles to ferry local dignitaries in the town parade. I told the kids the car wasn’t ready. But a friend came by the day before and helped me replace the leaky fuel pump. “Now you’re all set,” he said. “You can take the car in the parade tomorrow and the kids will be happy.”

  I still don’t know why I agreed to do it. The weather was hot, the top was down, and I wasn’t convinced the car was reliable. But the kids really want to be in the parade, and I couldn’t say no. Thirty minutes into the route the “hot” warning light on the dashboard lit up. Then the radiator started overheating and I wasn’t far behind. Fortunately, I was able to pull the car onto a side street. We waited for the parade to end and (you guessed it) I called AAA to bring the car home. The radiator has since been re-cored and performed flawlessly. But since that day, the only parades I consider watching are on TV.

• Generator X’d: On a trip to Stowe, Vermont, (the first extended journey in my convertible) to a regional Antique Automobile Club of America show, the generator on my convertible died. I was shocked when the red “generator” light flashed on the dashboard because just a few months earlier it had been overhauled and the electrical system was performing just fine. As with the parade, I had the whole family with me, and this time they were convinced the car was cursed. Since we were too far from home to turn back, we forged ahead, running on battery power and clenched fists. When we arrived in Stowe the battery died.

  Repairing the generator on short notice in a resort town wasn’t an option. So I bought a charger and nursed it through the show. The convertible earned its first Junior badge from AACA that weekend, so the trip was worth it. But there was the 270 mile trek back with the “generator” warning light still on and the battery draining by the mile. I never turned the car off because I was afraid it wouldn’t re-start.

• Then after more than four hours on the road the engine shut down at a stop light less than a mile from the house. I was barely able to re-start the car and made it back to the driveway before the engine gasped again and the battery died for good. To this day, I travel with a backup generator in the trunk.
• A Really Bad Leak: My all-time favorite war story involved my first Cadillac – a 1978 Eldorado Biarritz. It was the last of the big Cadillacs that I picked up at the height of the ’79 gas crisis because I was convinced it had “future classic” written all over it. With less than 25,000 miles on the odometer, the radiator started leaking. I took it to a local radiator shop that had a decent reputation and a very catchy slogan – “the best place in town to take a leak” (honest!).

  A few days and $300 later, I was back on the New York State Thruway heading for home. But then the car became possessed. The interior lights started flashing on and off, the power door locks jumped up and down, and the engine finally shuddered and died. I coasted down the nearest off-ramp to a dead standstill, locked in my car with the windows shut and no power. What I didn’t know at the time was the main electrical harness under the hood was on fire. Fortunately, the flames burned through one of the heater hoses and the radiator fluid extinguished the fire.

  As it turned out, the mechanic who worked on the car left his wrench on top of my starter. It shorted out the Caddy’s electrical system and touched off the fire. The radiator shop to its credit paid for the repair. But it took more than a month to get a replacement harness from GM’s Midwest warehouse to my local Cadillac dealer in Buffalo, and when it was over I was fried in more ways than one.

  It’s been awhile since my latest UASB and, to be honest, I haven’t missed them. But no matter how well my cars are running now, I’m always wary that the next one is just lurking around the corner. I take solace in knowing that someday when I am sitting by the fireside with my grandson on my knee and he asks, “What did you do during the great Classic Car Wars?” I won’t be at a loss for words.

Mark Misercola is a writer, author and classic car enthusiast from Trumbull, CT. He started his career as a journalist covering the automobile industry for the Buffalo, N.Y. Courier-Express. He grew up in an Oldsmobile family and today owns two 1960 Oldsmobiles and a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. He is the co-author of “Great Grilles of the ‘50s,” a coffee table book from M.T. Publishing. And his bucket list includes a 1955 Oldsmobile.

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Throughout many years of road tripping through western Arkansas, I would pass a body shop/used car lot with an old car or two out front. The business is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of State Highway 22 and State Highway 109, which is also the location of the Arkansas Champion Western Soapberry tree. Designated by a plaque at its base, the Soapberry tree provides much-needed shade on the lot during hot Arkansas summers. More often than not, I would stop at the shop and further explore, usually finding a couple more salvage cars, parts cars or builders behind the body shop. In the last year or so, the old car inventory has increased by about tenfold and most of the old vehicles are now parked across the highway in a previously vacant lot.

Mark Varnell says he’s been in business for 31 years at this location. He used to work on customer cars in the body shop, but has retired from those duties. Varnell now uses the shop to work on some of his own projects that include a 1947 Ford sedan, a ’66 Ford truck and an ’86 Chevy pickup that he’s turning into a hot rod. During my visit last year, Varnell said he would like to slow down, sell everything and completely retire in the near future.

Even though some of the collection of old cars appear to be salvage cars, Varnell says no parts can be removed from any of them. He will sell the complete vehicle either as a parts car or a project car. If you need your purchase shipped, you will need to make the shipping arrangements.

When asked how and where he acquired the old vehicles, Varnell says several of them came from local people who just wanted to get rid of them. They would load them up and bring them by and Varnell would make an offer to buy them. Others came in a package deal. A few of the vehicles are failed projects because the previous owner ran out of money or interest. Some of those failed projects appear to have needed work that far exceeded the skills possessed by the owner.

The old vehicle inventory does not lean towards any certain make or model, but does include a wide variety of cars and a few trucks. There are about ten imports available; the oldest vehicle is a 1920 American LaFrance fire truck. Some of the vehicles were driven in and parked, but they haven’t been started since. Others will run and drive, and among these projects is a straight 1956 Lincoln Capri that is loaded with options including factory air conditioning.

The business is located at 13201 State Highway 22 in the small community of Midway, which is six miles west of New Blaine and six miles east of Subiaco (hence the name Midway). Business hours are 8 to 5, Monday through Friday. Note that Varnell’s mailing address is different.

Mark Varnell’s Auto Sales

Physical address:
13201 State Highway 22
Midway, AR 72651

Mail address:
11057 Old Military Road
Subiaco, AR 72865
Phone: 479-970-3690

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Sunset-Carlisle Auction – November 8-9

Sarasota, FL – As October quickly speeds forward, Carlisle Auctions and the team at the Sunset Automotive Group are rapidly planning a NEW two-day classic and collector car auction hosted at the 6061 Sawyer Loop, Rd. facility in Sarasota, Florida. Over 400 consignments are planned to cross the block in Florida.

Carlisle Auctions will offer up 400+ classics with some of them crossing the block at no reserve, while others are high-end restorations. Low mileage, single owner cars will be part of the lots as well. Highlights of note include a 1949 Chevrolet Suburban restomod, a rare color combo 1957 Corvette, a single family owned 1967 Mercury Cougar Dan Gurney, a single owner 1970 Ford F250, a 1972 Buick GS Stage 1 and a 2010 Aston Martin Rapide with under 10,000 miles on it.

A partnership with Corsa 7 Motorsports from Sarasota will bring a pair of high-end exotics to be on display. Anyone hoping to see first-hand a race prepared 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO as well as a Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG 003CS; one of just 5 in existence, can do so with their admission to the auction. Each car carries an impressive performance pedigree, having won races domestically as well as internationally.

Carlisle Auctions also makes it easier than ever to bid and buy with total confidence via FREE online bidding. Visit www.CarlisleAuctions.com to register for online bidding, review consignments, bid and more.

In addition, spectators are welcome, with tickets costing $10 daily. Kids 12 and under are free, while all registered buyers or sellers have access included with their credentials.

To learn about Sunset – Carlisle and this all-new event in Sarasota, visit www.CarlisleAuctions.com or call 717-960-6400.

Carlisle Events is a partner or producer of 11 annual collector car and truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA), Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA), the Sunset Auction Facility (Sarasota, FL) and the SUN ‘n FUN Complex (Lakeland, FL). The season schedule includes four automotive swap meets of varying size, four auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports, tuners and performance sport compacts. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract more than half a million enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available via www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

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Story and Photos by Ron Kowalke

Golden Sands Salvage, a long-standing and popular vintage vehicle and parts source in Boscobel, Wis., closed on July 27. Keith Swenson, who has operated the southwestern Wisconsin salvage yard for approximately 30 years, is seeking a buyer for the business. What will happen to the yard’s inventory of more than 400 vehicles, most ranging from the 1930s to ’80s, if a buyer isn’t found, has yet to be determined.

The yard hosted a “last chance” sale on Friday and Saturday, July 26-27, during which several vintage cars and trucks were purchased for restoration projects. Buyers also snapped up donor parts and shop tools/supplies from the on-site mechanic’s garage. What remains on the 18-acre property in addition to vehicles are several dilapidated mobile homes and old cargo truck boxes filled with loose items such as drivetrain parts, trim, wheels and interior parts from cars and trucks going back several decades. The yard also contains a large selection of vintage boats and snowmobiles as well as farm implements.

In summer months, the yard gets overwhelmed with brush and trees in full bloom. Many vehicles on the property’s outer edges are either partially or totally obscured by foliage. Interesting vehicles that remain visible in the tangle of growth include a 1962 Pontiac Amblewagon station wagon, a trio of Edsel sedans, “bullet nose” Studebaker, ’58 Chevrolet Apache 38 minibus that served the Boscobel Area Public School system, ’54 Chevy 5700 COE tanker, ’56 Lincoln Capri hardtop and ’77 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon with porthole rear-quarter windows.

With word relayed on social media of the yard’s closing, it brought buyers from near and far for a chance to acquire needed vehicles or parts. Andy and Gail Howard of Fond du Lac, Wis., scored interior parts for their Pontiac Firebird. Raymon Alt of Ironton, Wis., purchased a 1936 Nash 400 Deluxe sedan that long ago had been converted to a hot rod with a modern Chevy drivetrain and aftermarket wheels. Alt said he plans to keep the Nash as a period hot rod, but will definitely change its modified interior. The previous owner installed orange-and-white shag carpet on the floor, inner door panels and headliner. It was an “unusual” choice when installed decades ago, and that’s using a polite “u” word!

Traveling from out of state were Luke Goedert and his girlfriend Holly Hayes of Cherry Valley Auto in Millville, Iowa. They rescued a 1948 Oldsmobile Dynamic sedan that Hayes said will be used for a rat rod build. It was a struggle to get the Olds on Goedert’s trailer as the car’s transmission brace was rotted away and the low-hanging tranny was catching on the end of the hauler as the car was being pulled aboard via a chain.

Todd Sletten of Ferryville, Wis., said he’s been a longtime customer of Golden Sands Salvage and has frequented the yard to obtain parts to maintain his collection of vintage Fords. He and his brother Loren wrestled a weathered 1928 Ford Model A Tudor from the brush and stated he’ll use most of the car’s bodywork for a hot rod build. He added that the yard’s closing was a sad occasion. “There’s not much else in this area for the old stuff.”

Updates on the status of Golden Sands Salvage inventory can be obtained by calling Keith Swenson at 608-375-0625 (no morning calls), or Al at 608-391-1069.

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WILLOUGHBY, Ohio /PRNewswire/ — Milestone Auctions in suburban Cleveland will open the doors to their brand new, purpose-built gallery on Saturday, July 27 with an 800-lot sale of breweriana and advertising; coin-ops, and classic-era muscle cars offered with no reserve.

“In only a few short years, our auction business has grown exponentially,” explained Miles King, who co-owns Milestone Auctions along with business partner Chris Sammet. “Because of that growth, we really needed a larger gallery, more storage space, and a dedicated area for shipping. Our new building gives us everything we’ll need for the future.”

To launch the new venue, Milestone’s team scoured the country for first-class consignments, focusing on categories that are popular with their bidders, starting with antique advertising. The centerpiece of the sale is a private collection of breweriana containing many 19th/20th-century rarities. There are signs of all types (including illuminating), brewery prints, back bar advertising items, serving and tip trays, advertising figures, novelty bottles, tap knobs and more.

Gas and oil advertising always attracts an enthusiastic legion of bidders to Milestone’s sales. Included in the sale is a Texaco Marine Motor Oil double-sided porcelain sign has a busy nautical image of ships and boats beneath a flock of seagulls.

Additional advertising categories include automobilia, food, dairy and ice cream; insurance, paint, hotels, soap, medicine, soda pop and many others. There are porcelain, tin and cardboard signs, serving trays, thermometers, store displays and more.

Classic-era muscle cars are ready show off their best assets. “Each and every one of the cars will be auctioned with no reserve,” King said. The group includes a 1974 Chevrolet Corvette, 1971 Corvette Convertible, 1968 Ford Mustang GT, and 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

The set of wheels grabbing the most pre-sale attention, however, is 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2 V8 ‘Bullitt Clone’ in Dark Highland Green. The car underwent a fastidious three-year restoration in the late 1990s. “The owner wanted a Mustang like the one Steve McQueen drove in the film ‘Bullitt’ and spared no expense to achieve his goal,” King said. “It’s a fast car and is a blast to drive. I can’t say enough about how clean and sharp this Mustang looks.” Accompanied by photos, videos, research papers and receipts to document its restoration, the pampered American classic will cross the auction block on July 27th.

The Saturday, July 27 auction will take place at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby, Ohio 44094. Start time: 10 a.m. ET. All forms of remote bidding available, including live via the Internet. Tel. 440-527-8060; info@milestoneauctions.com. Online: www.milestoneauctions.com

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