Mecum Monthly - September 2013 by Mecum Auctions

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 13

PHOTO BY Steve Havelock

TO CONTACT MECUM AUCTION

Via Mail, E-mail, Phone or Fax: Mecum Collector Car Auctioneers 445 South Main Street Walworth, Wisconsin 53184 Website: www.MECUM.com Office: (262) 275-5050 Fax: (262) 275-3424 E-mail: info@mecum.com

SELL A VEHICLE

AT A MECUM AUCTION

SEPTEMBER 2013

CONTENTS

Download a “Request for Position” form today. Visit www.MECUM.com. Click on the Seller info tab at the top of the home page to fill out or download all forms. Be sure to fill out separate forms for each vehicle when requesting positions.

BUY A VEHICLE

FEATURES

6 NEW STANDARD AT MONTEREY

AT A MECUM AUCTION

PAGE

$35Million+ Sales Results

10 GONE Farmin’ SUCCESS

Tractor Auction Results

14 WHEELS UP IN CHICAGO

The Hurst Hemi Under Glass Collection

20 MARVELOUS MUSCLE

Mecum provides two ways to become a registered bidder and purchase vehicles at our auctions. In addition to conventional onsite bidding (recommended), we also offer absentee services to bid via the telephone. For complete bidder registration information, visit www. MECUM.com, click on the Bidder info tab at the top of the home page. For any questions contact the bidder department at 262-275-5050.

From Mike Guarise’s Stage 1 Collection

30 DEDICATED TO DAD

53 Car Collection at Chicago

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C OLUMNS

1 5 THE DEALMAKER Greetings from Dallas

13 INSIDERS SCOOP Clean Equals Money

25 THE REAL BARN The Tradition Begins

FINDS

27 AT THE REDLINE

Nobody Sells More Than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wisconsin.

Porsche Primer

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The Dealmaker

DANA MECUM

GREETINGS FROM DALLAS Just wrapping up our 1,400-plus car auction at the Dallas Convention Center here in the first week of September with a 70% sell-through and totals approaching $38 million. For all those that made it for the event, thank you for attending and we hope you enjoyed the auction. Complete results will be highlighted in next month’s issue, but if you happened to catch a glimpse of the sale live in-person, streaming online or in High-Def on Velocity, you most certainly witnessed a monumental moment with the selling of our dear friend Buddy Herin’s 1967 Corvette L88 Convertible. Buddy’s collection as anticipated was the highlight of the four-day event, and his record-setting L88 made history once again selling for $3.2 million, the highest price ever achieved for a Corvette at auction. A Monterey auction update for those of you that followed the action a few short weeks ago: the 1961 Gulf Oil Corvette Racer and 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza both sold at the Bid Goes On for impressive figures shortly after the conclusion of the sale. The back-to-back national champion Corvette sold for $1.4 million while the 750 Monza exchanged hands for $3.7 million for the second highest sale of the auction bringing the new total to more than $35 million for the three-day event. Next is Chicago and we couldn’t be more excited to debut our new venue – the Schaumburg Convention Center. Still nearly new, the center is ideal for a Mecum Auction. Centrally located, easy to access and of course, the famous Hemi Under Glass Wheelstanders will be making their highly anticipated appearance, all four crossing the block as one lot! Get ready for Mecum in Chicagoland. We’ll see you there!

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MONTEREY SETS NEW DAYTIME STANDARD

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auction headliner, a 1955 Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder (Lot S134), gaveling at $3.75 million. As Chassis No. 550-0077, the 550 proved its headline worthiness emerging as the auction’s top seller. Subsequent to a climactic series of aggressive bidding, the welldocumented racer earned the title of most expensive 550 ever sold at auction. The second seat in the top

The 2013 Mecum Daytime Auction held August 15-17 in Monterey, California, set a new standard for some of the most desirable cars in the world with the exceptional docket that crossed the block throughout the three-day event. With more than 50 Porsches in the lineup and a host of nearly 700 other investment-grade autos, the auction brought a total of $35,320,748 in sales with the

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10 list was claimed off the block by a 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti (Lot S132) which sold for $3.7 million. This Monza is among the first built as serial number 0462MD, Chassis: Tipo 501, and boasts a significant and complete known racing and ownership history. The 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Race Car (Lot S156) – a back-toback SCCA B-Production National

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Champion and the first formally sponsored Corvette champ – came in the third seat at a sale price of $1.4 million. Fourth on the list to break the million-dollar mark was a one-owner, 500 original-mile 1990 Ferrari F40 (Lot S141), which drew a hefty hammer price of $1,325,000. An additional, truly noteworthy exchange was that of a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible

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(Lot S158) that gaveled at a heavy $800,000. Mecum and high performance go hand-in-hand and the auction house proved it again in Monterey. Perhaps two of the most significant sales of the auction were pure powerhouse cars. A 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition (Lot F151), driven less than six miles since new, sold for a whopping $377,500 while another

low-mileage car with a few more years under its belt saw a similar result; an original and unrestored, 902 actual-mile 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot F118) sold for $550,000 – more than twice what comparable 429s have sold for at other auctions. Both cars raised the bar for these high-performance autos and stole the spotlight among the auctions’ top sales. M

MONTEREY 2013 AUCTION RESULTS TOP 11 SALES

VEHICLE

1. 1955 Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder 2. 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti 3. 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Race Car 4. 1990 Ferrari F40 5. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton 6. 1964 Shelby 289 Independent Competition Cobra 7. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible 8. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback 9. 1913 Packard Runabout Model I-38 10. 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 Coupe 11. 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition

DESCRIPTION

SOLD FOR*

Chassis No. 550-0077 S/N 0462MD, Known Ownership History From New SCCA B-Production National Champion One Owner with Only 473 Original Miles Upgraded Coachwork by Fran Roxas of Chicago CSX2487 Bloomington Gold Certified, Well Documented Original and Unrestored with 902 Actual Miles 1 of 5 Known Remaining Examples Matching Numbers 4-Cam Engine, Rare Sunroof Driven Less Than 6 Miles Since New

$3,750,000 $3,700,000 $1,400,000 $1,325,000 $950,000 $925,000 $800,000 $550,000 $625,000 $385,000 $377,500

LOT NO.

S134 S132 S156 S141 S154 S145 S158 F118 S120.1 S137 F151

* All Sales Reflect Hammer Prices.

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Successful Sales FOR Gone Farmin’

GONE FARMIN’ RESULTS TOP 10 SALES

TRACTOR

SOLD FOR*

LOT NO.

1. 1958 John Deere 620 H $61,000 S68 2. Otto HP Engine $50,000 T36 3. 1970 International 826 Gold Demo $44,000 S23 4. 1966 International 1206 $40,000 S90 5. 1967 International 1206 $38,000 S24 6. 1927 Rumely Oilpull M 20-35 $35,000 S67 7. 1944 John Deere BW $22,000 S124 8. 1955 John Deere 60 Orchard $20,500 S65 9. John Deere 4240 $20,500 S101 10. Minneapolis Moline R with Cab $20,000 S72 * All Sales Reflect Hammer Prices. 10

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Mecum’s fourth annual Gone Farmin’ Wisconsin vintage tractor auction held August 8-10 saw aggressive bidding and achieved a 90 percent sell-through rate with more than 820 tractors, engines and vintage signs and farm relics crossing the block during the threeday event. Totaling a strong $1.7 million in sales, the auction was the largest one ever hosted by the Mecum Gone Farmin’ division. Of the 311 tractors that went under the hammer Friday and Saturday, 258 sold to the highest bidders, and Thursday’s lineup saw 95 percent sell-through of the total 104 engines on the auction roster.

Top sales were impressive with the high 10 bringing in $351,000 of total sales. A 1958 John Deere 620 H (Lot S68) proved to be the most desirable tractor in the lineup

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garnering the number one seat in the top 10 list selling for a whopping $61,000. Shipped new to Ottawa, Illinois, on April 9, 1958, the 620 gas Hi-Crop is one of only 22 ever built as serial number 6219360. The second highest sale of the auction was a truly museum-worthy, alloriginal and matching part numbers Otto 10 HP Engine (Lot T36). The entire Gone Farmin’ Wisconsin auction was filmed by RFD TV and portions will be broadcast weekly starting this September. Mecum’s next vintage tractor auction will be held November 1 & 2 at the Mississippi Valley Fair Center in Davenport, Iowa. M

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Schaumburg Convention Center - Schaumburg, Illinois

OCTOBER 10-12, 2013

S114 - 1968 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro Known as ‘The Desert Rat’ YS 8011, COPO 9737

BR O A D C A S T L IV E O N

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Insider’s Scoop DAVID NEWHARDT

CLEAN EQUALS MONEY

At www.Mecum.com, we try our hardest to show every vehicle that we are going to roll across the block in advance of the auction itself. This gives potential bidders the chance to easily pick what lots they might take a closer look at come auction time and subsequently bid on. In past issues of the Mecum Monthly, I’ve written about techniques that you can use to create photographs of your car or truck that will catch people’s interest. From lighting, camera position, to time of day – we have presented information that can really glam up your ride.

But one of the most important things that anyone can do before photographing their car, or prior to a Mecum photographer showing up to shoot that special vehicle, is to thoroughly clean it. A bit of time with some soap and water can make any car look far more attractive. When auction day comes and you roll that ride across the block, you’re going to have it detailed beforehand, so why wait until auction time to clean it up? A gleaming exterior, a grease-free engine compartment, a french-fry-free interior; these tell any bidder that the car was well cared for.

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Don’t want to uncoil the hose in the driveway? Quality automotive detail firms can, for a modest price, transform that dusty driver into a jaw-dropping head-turner. These companies have the special products, and procedures, that most of us lack. If you’re handy with soap and water, then visit the local auto parts store and get engine compartment cleaner, as well as upholstery cleaner. Spending a bit of money or time up front on a deep cleaning will result in more money downstream. And it makes the photography much more eye-catching! M

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WHEELS UP

THE HURST HEMI UNDER

In 1964 George Hurst was looking for a car for the 1965 drag racing season that would serve as a test bed and promote the Hurst brand and his aftermarket shifters and wheels. Hot Rod Magazine Tech Editor Ray Brock liked the new-for-1965 A/FX class, and explained to Hurst how putting a Hemi in the back of a Barracuda would give excellent weight transfer and be very quick off the line. Brock even had a name for the creation: the Hurst Hemi Under Glass. He sketched the idea onto a napkin over dinner, which Hurst took back to his shop with the question, “Can we build this?” The answer was

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typical of any self-respecting bunch of hot rodders: “Sure, we can build whatever you want.” The finished car, however, was not what Hurst wanted - at least not at first. The Hemi’s mid-engine location and vast power reserves made it all but impossible to launch the car hard without instantly lifting the nose skyward in quite dramatic fashion. What looked like a major problem, however, turned out to be a huge hit with the fans, and so was born the most popular series of crowd-pleasing wheelstanders in drag racing history. The original 1965 Hurst Hemi Under Glass set the pattern for a

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succession of cars that appeared at major events across North America until 1975 and then again from 1992 until 2009. Bob Riggle was there every step of the way, first as a Hurst mechanic and fabricator and then as one of only two men ever to pilot the Hurst Hemi Under Glass. Hurst decided not to build a brand new Hemi Under Glass in 1965, which by then was nationally famous for its wild trips down the quarter mile. Instead he had Riggle update the original Barracuda with all the new sheetmetal and trim pieces for the ‘66 season. At season end it was parked outside Riggle’s shop and eventually destroyed.

IN CHICAGO

PHOTOS BY

Steve Havelock David Newhardt Tim Scott

GLASS WHEELSTANDERS

At the urging of his friend and Hurst’s famous “Shifter Girl” Linda Vaughn, Riggle resurrected the 1966 machine in the early ‘90s in this faithful replica, which he has exhibited all over the country and even at the world famous Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. In ‘05 Riggle sold it to collector Bill Sefton, who a year earlier had bought the 1968 car also built by Riggle. When Plymouth restyled the Barracuda for 1967, Hurst was prompted to build a brand new car for the ‘67 season. While the 4-speed manual transmission was still part of the setup, other aspects were changed. As Bob recounted in a recent interview

with Mecum, “Each time out we tried to improve the car, Paul Phelps and I, working in what we called ‘The Aquarium’ up there in Madison Heights (Hurst headquarters in Michigan). We switched to fuel injection and then from gasoline to alcohol to make it run cooler, and with that and the 4-speed it ran great all through ’67.” At the end of the season Hurst decided to again build a new car, dedicating the 1967 car to the show circuit. It eventually disappeared, but in the mid‘90s a young man approached Riggle claiming to know its whereabouts. Two months later the man showed up with photos

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of the car in Montreal, clearly neglected, but undoubtedly authentic. Riggle made an offer and was soon towing the old wheelstander back across the border to his shop in Arizona. Eight years later he began the restoration for collector Sefton, and both men claim it was worth the wait. Says Riggle, “I put new quarters in, a new floor… built a new firewall, did everything new to make it like it is now. There is a lot of work in this car. Everything that was bad was replaced. I’m real proud of the work we did on that and how we got it done.” Sefton is equally pleased: “That car is beautiful, probably

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THE HURST HEMI UNDER GLASS WHEELSTANDERS

better looking than when Bob drove it new. I own all four cars, but I bought them one at a time. Bob and I met at the Spring Fling in Van Nuys, California, in 2004, I think; he had both the ’66 and the ’68 with him, and we started talking about it and I bought the ’68 car. Then about a year later I bought the ’66 car from him, and when he did the ’67 it seemed a good place for the cars to go because I show them, the public gets to see them in action. Bob and I have done a lot of shows where he drives the car. It’s nice we’ve kept the brand together the entire time.” In addition to its many public exhibitions with Riggle at the controls, the 1967 Hemi Under Glass was also on public display at the NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California, from 2011 to 2013.

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continued

The 1968 Hemi Under Glass car embodied all the experience gained by Bob in his first 10 years at the wheel while also capitalizing on ensuing technological advances. “The earlier cars all had a separate subframe designed to ‘walk out’ from underneath the car to make it go higher, but at the top end it can get scary sometimes because the whole thing is moving around,” Bob explained. “So both the ‘68 and the ‘69 cars have all the driveline solidly mounted in their frames, which I built myself. Also in 1968 I went looking for a new rear end that would take the beating without breaking, and I ended up with the rear end out of a ¾ ton and 1 ton Chevrolet or GMC pickup; they’re both the same. They have an 11¾ inch ring gear and

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they are absolutely bulletproof. We also began using a blower in 1968, which you can tell right away by the zoomies in front of the rear wheels. The ’68 and the ’69 are both supercharged.” The 1969 Hurst Hemi Under Glass is the newest of the four cars being offered from the Bill Sefton Collection. Riggle describes the project: “I built the car in 2010. We were actually going to put a late model 6.1 Hemi in it... The Hemi Under Glass has always been known for that big Hemi motor under the rear window, and that 6.1 is just a dinky little thing sitting in there, so if we’re going to do this thing, let’s put the real, big Hemi in there like the other cars. That’s the way they belong; that’s the way the ’69 car was – it didn’t have a 6.1 in it. And that’s what

How does one control a car at over 100 MPH while the front wheels are six feet off the pavement and the driver’s forward vision completely blocked?

we’ve done. I brought it back here, made new motor mounts and an engine plate, and I built a 468 CI Hemi for it. It has a BDS blower, Enderle fuel injection, an Art Carr transmission, Cassell V-drive and zoomie headers like the ’68 car.” Bill Sefton explains that the 1969 car is set up to enable someone without Riggle’s vast experience to drive it in full wheels-up mode. “There’s a lot

of new technology in the’ 69 car, in the shifting and steering systems and other areas that Bob used for that specific purpose so that I could drive it.” The sensational Hemi Under Glass Collection will cross the block Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the Mecum Chicago Auction, Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 Thoreau Drive North, Schaumburg, Illinois. M

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That was the question faced by the barnstorming wheelstanders of the 1960s and ‘70s. In 1967, Bob Riggle’s partial answer was to install handoperated brake controls for either rear wheel. Before that Riggle would control the direction by staggering the rear tire inflation to counteract the torque steer from the driveline. The setup would cause the car to steer left after launching, and then to the right with each gear change, reactions harnessed by Riggle during each pass to keep the car running straight: “I was able to work it”, he says, “so I could make it through the quarter mile by zigzagging down the track at a hundred-and-some miles an hour.” Incredibly, he would look out the driver’s side window to keep the car on track and in its lane: “If I was in the left lane I’d watch the wall; if I was in the right lane I’d watch the center line. When I used a firewall window for the first time in 1972 and I could see where I was going, I thought ‘boy, have I been missing something!’”

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MARVELOUS

MUSCLE

When Dana Mecum visited the Guarise car barn to help put together a select offering from Mike’s extensive collection of Stage 1 Buicks, four cars were chosen to create a collection that offers a variety of options and value. Seeing even one of these rare muscle cars at a cruise night or car show is unusual, but to have four offered at the same auction - Mecum Chicago - this October 10-12 at the Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, Illinois is a truly unique opportunity. A pinnacle year for muscle cars was 1970, and the ‘70 Stage 1 Buicks were the fastest regularproduction, non-sports cars of the time. These cars were so expensive compared to Chevelles and GTOs that not many were

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sold to the young muscle carloving crowd. They were known as being the “doctor’s son” type of cars. Despite the ramped up marketing efforts with slogans of “Let it Light Your Fire,” and “Going Fast With Class,” sales never took off for the Stage 1-equipped cars. The resulting low production numbers is what makes these great cars so rare and desirable to collectors today. A Stage 1 Buick offers the best combination of 1970 classic muscle car styling and neck-snapping performance. Underrated at 360 horsepower by GM for various reasons, the Stage 1 GS was actually drag tested as the third fastest muscle car in 1970, outperformed

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only by a 427 Cobra and a 427 Corvette. It could be argued that the Stage 1 GS should have been ranked number one, since the other two with better times were actually sports cars by definition. Many Chevelles, GTOs and Mustangs were surprised when meeting up on the street with the not so often seen Stage 1. “What the heck was THAT?” was probably the oft uttered phrase after being spanked in a duel during a stoplight encounter. Those who are used to the much more common GM A-body cars will marvel at the incredible performance of the Stage 1 and be pleasantly surprised with the smoothest, most luxurious ride and handling package ever

developed for a mid-size car of the era. It is a commonly known fact among collectors that no muscle car collection can be considered complete until it contains at least one Buick Stage 1 GS. All four of these great cars offered from the Mike Guarise

Collection can be treated as works of art, but they are all well sorted and fully capable of turning heads at local cruise nights, national shows, or even at one more stoplight duel on a hot summer night. M

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MECUM’S GOT YOU

COVERED.

With over 50 new items, plus some of your favorites, you’re sure to find that stylish piece just right for you. From comfortable apparel to great novelty items, we’ve expanded every category, and all are decorated with the trusted Mecum name. TM

mecumGear.com

NOVEMBER 21-23, 2013

Anaheim Convention Center - Anaheim, California

S112 - 1970 Plymouth Superbird 440 Six Pack, Automatic

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TIME TO CONSIGN* *Consign and Submit Photos by September 25 at 5 PM CST to be included in the Anaheim 2013 brochure.

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The Real Barn Finds DAN MECUM

THE TRADITION BEGINS The 1951 John Deere AR featured in this column in the July issue of the Monthly was sold for $15,000 at the Gone Farminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wisconsin auction August 10th, and if you recall, all that money was donated directly to the Curing Kids Cancer Foundation. Even more importantly than the amount raised initially, is the fact that the new owner is going to honor my humble request that the tractor continue to give back to the Curing Kids organization each

time it changes hands. He has already consigned the AR for the Iowa Premier, this November 1-2, and has made a commitment to donate the proceeds, raising even more money for Curing Kids Cancer and carrying on what could be the start of a great tradition. The purchaser of the tractor has been a longtime volunteer for Curing Kids Cancer and has MECUM.COM

never owned a tractor. Through buying the AR, he can now check off having his own tractor on his bucket list and implement a true start to a tradition by reselling it for this very deserving cause. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his and my hope that the next owner can enjoy the tractor for however long they wish, maybe entering it in a parade or two, and then eventually bring the tractor back again to do even more good by continuing this tradition that we hope will carry on strong. M MECUMMONTHLY

S42 - 1972 John Deere 4020 High Crop Powershift 1 of 16

F34 - 1939 Ford Ferguson 9N

F20 - 1941 McCormick Deering 0-4

Orchard

S50 - 1937 John Deere A

F49 - John Deere D

Two of a Kind

Friday November 1 the 52 tractor George Kerckhove Collection Offered at No Reserve

Consecutive Serial Numbers

November 1-2, 2013 Davenport, Iowa

Mississippi Valley Fair Center

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1 HOUR EPISODES OF AUGUST WISCONSIN AUCTION BROADCAST TUESDAYS AT 5:30 PM CST

At The Redline JOHN KRAMAN

PORSCHE PRIMER

It’s really gratifying to be a part of identifying and studying emerging market trends as Mecum Auctions continues to grow in leaps and bounds! Perhaps the best-known and highest-volume seller of post war European sports car marques is Porsche. And the vintage market has really heated up in the past several years! In fact, our Monterey auction in August had well over 50 Porsches consigned and the bulk of the inventory consisted of the 356 and 911 models. While the Monterey 2012 sale of the 917 racer at $5.5 million and this year’s 550 racer at $3.75 million grabbed all the headlines, it’s the affordable street

Porsches that comprised that majority of entries and sales. The first Porsches began arriving in the U.S. in the early ‘50s with VW based 4-cylinder engines, and by the end of the decade, were well established with several 356 models with coupe, convertible and roadster bodies. All three of these models were available with the hot 4-cam Carrera engine that doubles the values! The all-new 6-cylinder 911 model was introduced here in 1965 and pristine examples from that debut year are highly sought after and considered a modern classic. The 911 series is still with us MECUM.COM

today, having outlived potential replacements such as the front engine, rear drive 928. Probably best known for the flat opposed cylinders and rear engine configuration, this now-exclusive arrangement has evolved into some of the best performing sports cars on the planet. With 50 years of continuous 911 production in Porsche’s sales docket, it will remain a world class legend, as well as an innovator, always operating outside the box. Visit www.mecum.com and sign up as an InfoNet member to check the sale prices using the search feature and see the range of values for these remarkable cars! M MECUMMONTHLY

DECEMBER 5-7, 2013

Kansas City Convention Center at Bartle Hall • Kansas City, Missouri FEATURING THE CLASSIC CARS OF

THE CHARLES GABUS ESTATE COLLECTION

BROADCAST LIVE ON

TIME TO CONSIGN

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Road Art

Bob Sain

PUMPED FOR CHICAGO Some of the most popular Road Art items sold at our auctions are the nostalgic and enduring vintage gas pumps. The collectability of these pumps comes a lot from the labels and brands they are affixed with, as most collectors have a personal fondness for a specific one. Developing this fondness and brand recognition is exactly what inspired the early designs. In the 1920s, tall and colorful, branded pumps became popular often sporting flashy words like “superior” and “deluxe.” Companies even used dyes in their fuels to try and convince consumers their product was a higher quality or grade of gasoline. The translucent glass portion atop the pumps that would

fill with the desired amount of gas before emptying into the vehicle is what allowed consumers to actually see what they were buying. This visibility also instilled a certain amount of trust in buyers. The ‘30s brought about the end of the visible tank but the pumps kept a similar appearance overall with the porcelain lighted globes fixed to their tops, which have themselves become a popular item to collect. Gas stations would often stock goodies for children and other novelty items to try and impart a brand association, and ultimately a brand loyalty in youth and adults alike. Over the next several decades fuel dispensers slowly became more MECUM.COM

blocky and gas read-out changed from a “clock-face” style display, to a rolling numbers style, and eventually to digital. It is not only in the successful branding of these companies that has turned vintage gas pumps into such a valued collectible; above all else, the biggest reason is their direct connection with automobiles. The love for classic cars often extends to things associated with them making vintage gas pumps a natural fit. With some excellent vintage gas pumps already consigned, both classic cars and vintage road art will be crossing Mecum’s block in Chicagoland this October 1012; register to bid now at www. Mecum.com. M MECUMMONTHLY

DEDICATED TO DAD

An impressive lineup of more than 50 cars from the collection of Patrick Hurst is set to cross the block at the Mecum Chicago auction this October 10-12, most of which will sell at no reserve. The selection comes from Hurst’s personal collection of 175 cars, and each one was carefully chosen to be dedicated in the name of his father, Bud Hurst, with a portion of the proceeds set aside to benefit the Bud Hurst Foundation. “I tried to separate out the cars from my collection that I thought he

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[my father] would like,” Hurst said of the more than 50 cars he chose. “I bought my first car at a Mecum Auction three years ago and I’ve bought probably about 200 since, most of them from Mecum.” Hurst said that at first he set out to purchase every make and model of American cars produced from 1955-72. He also pointed out that he tends to gravitate toward three variations: “I have the ones that are the way God intended – the way they rolled out of the factory – and I have some that have that retro look but

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a modern drive and feel. And then I have some that I’ve kept retro but turned into high performance drivers. My favorite car is probably my ’57 Chevy; it’s got about 500 HP.” Hurst’s collection has served to help charities in the past, as he has lent some of them freely to support various causes. The Bud Hurst Foundation and most of the other charities that Hurst and his cars have been involved with are focused on helping people with disabilities to live independently. Hurst and his personal mechanics

53 CAR COLLECTION at CHICAGO

have even set out to build cars for people in wheelchairs and with other disabilities. “If you are in a wheelchair it shouldn’t mean you have to drive a van. We try to give people more choices than that,” Hurst explained. Hurst’s 1967 Shelby GT500SE (Lot S120) could possibly be considered one of his most coveted drivers. A Continuation Shelby Fastback, the car is powered by an aluminum supercharged 427 FE engine by Keith Craft mated to a Tremec TKO 5-speed. Dressed in

Black-on-Black with blue stripe detailing and bearing the signature of Carroll Shelby on its dash, this car screams muscle. To suit the tastes of those seeking a more classic-style car, Hurst’s 1949 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible (Lot S122) might fit the bill perfectly. Sporting an older, but still fresh restoration, the car has remained true to its era with a push button AM radio and its factory clock still in place. With Maroon paint and that iconic wood-body exterior, the car retains its mid-

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century charm, especially when one takes a peek inside at the blue, green and red plaid bench seats. Whitewall tires and a cream-colored soft top take this classy driver’s look to the nines. For a chance to see the incredible variety and immensity of the Bud Hurst Collection offering, and an opportunity to purchase a beautiful collector with charitable benefits, head toward Chicagoland for the 2013 Mecum Chicago Auction this Oct. 10-12 at the Schaumburg Convention Center. M

MECUMMONTHLY

445 South Main,Walworth,WI 53184

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OCTOBER 10-12, 2013

Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, Illinois

NOVEMBER 21-23, 2013 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California

DECEMBER 5-7, 2013

Kansas City Convention Center Kansas City, Missouri

JANUARY 17-26, 2014 Osceola Heritage Park Kissimmee, Florida

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CHICAGO AUCTION LOT S110 - 1963 Harley J. Earl Corvette The custom built Sting Ray given to GM designer Harley J. Earl. by General Motors.