Classic Cars

Profiles in History announced that Natalie Wood's Mercedes 250SL Roadster/Coupé Automatic will be on the block at their July Hollywood mega auction.

This Mercedes was purchased new in 1967 and owned by the late Hollywood legend Natalie Wood. Ms. Wood bought the car at Simonson-Schactmeyer Mercedes-Benz - Studebaker in Santa Monica, California and the vehicle comes with its original metal Protect-O-Plate "Certicard" issued from Mercedes-Benz reading (in part): "Natalie Wood, 191 N. Bentley Ave., Los Angeles, California, 5/9/67, 250SL, 113043-12-000551." The odometer reads "06511" indicating the gauge has rolled over (106,511 total miles on the car). Painted white and upholstered in black vinyl, the car has been restored to near perfect factory condition.

This celebrity 250SL has a very desirable option package that includes ZF four-speed automatic transmission with floor shift, air conditioning, power steering, removable hardtop and a hidden soft top. Also comes with copies of Natalie Wood's 1968 California Registration and window sticker. The car is quite advanced for its era, having four-wheel disc brakes, all-independent suspension, and a 2.5-liter sohc, mechanically fuel injected, six-cylinder engine. The 250SL is the rarest of the W113-bodied cars, having been built only in 1967 and 1968. Its predecessor, the 230SL, was vastly improved upon in this model, while the last of the W113 cars, the 280SL, had a slightly larger engine and improved steering. This was one of the most popular cars that Mercedes-Benz ever built, and is extremely popular with collectors. The fantastic Natalie Wood lineage makes this 250SL all the more desirable. It is expected to fetch $30,000 - $50,000.

For more information visit www.profilesinhistory.com/

A 'labor of love' carefully amassed over many years by prominent collector Michael Dingman, a former Ford Motor Company director for over 21 years, will be going on the block at RM's eagerly awaited Dingman Collection sale scheduled June 9 - 10, 2012, in Hampton, New Hampshire. The distinguished collection features a remarkable series of automobiles along with one of the world's most impressive automotive sign collections. In total, the upcoming sale will feature nearly 50 vehicles and more than 1,400 signs from the Collection, all offered 'without reserve'.

"Michael Dingman is one of the most dedicated and passionate collectors I've ever known," says Mike Fairbairn, Director and Co-founder, RM Auctions. "In addition, his incredibly high standards have resulted in the finest Ford restorations ever seen!"

Some of the featured cars in the sale include a 1936 Ford Model 48 Gläser Cabriolet, a Dearborn award-winning 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible, and a limited production 1986 AC Autokraft MkIV Cobra, one of a select few specially hand built by Roush Racing's top technicians for a handful of top Ford Motor Company automotive executives.

As Mr. Dingman prepares to share his collection at auction, he recently recounted his 'love affair' with the automobile, specifically the Ford marque, and the 'thrill of the hunt' in a short video, online here.

A preview reception for the Dingman Collection 2012 sale will be held on June 8, followed by the auction on June 9 and 10. Additional event details, including a frequently updated lot list, is available online at www.rmauctions.com.

The Velocity Channel on HD Theater will honor the passing of Carroll Shelby with a three part mini-series, King of the Road: Carroll Shelby and the world premier will debut on Sunday May 20th at 8:00 PM (ET/PT).

The series will follow Shelby's exploits as a hard-working Texas farmer all the way to the victory lane at Lemans, where he became the first American to take home the cup. After his racing career came to an abrupt halt, Shelby would partner with Ford to create two of the most iconic muscle cars to date. Velocity takes you on an exclusive journey, unveiling Shelby's irreplaceable legacy on car culture.

Part I -  Sunday May 20^th at 8:00 PM
The exploits of the hard charging Texas farmer turned racer are explored. From his humble early stages, Carroll Shelby takes on and conquers the world of international sports car racing at Le Mans and builds the most iconic American sports car, the Cobra.

Part II -  Sunday May 20^th at 9:00 PM
Carroll Shelby teams with Ford Motor Company in 1965 and transforms the Mustang into a true race car; the GT 350. Four decades after the original GT 350, Shelby builds a new GT 350 with Ford's latest Mustang.

Part III -  Sunday May 20^th at 10:00 PM
Borrowing the concept from his original Shelby Mustang GT 500 of the 1960's, Shelby and Ford build a boulevard brute with Ford's new big block Mustang. Shelby American transforms the new Shelby Mustang GT 500 into the world's fastest production Mustang.

Other hit series currently on Velocity include Inside West Coast Customs, Mecum Auto Auctions, and ChasingClassic Cars.

For more information go to www.velocitu.discovery.com

Carroll Shelby International announced on May 11, 2012, that Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89. Mr. Shelby passed away at Baylor Hospital in Dallas and the cause of death was not disclosed.

The legendary auto racer and car designer who built the fabled Shelby Cobra sports car and injected testosterone into Ford's Mustang and Chrysler's Viper, will not only leave behind family and friends, but a multitude of grateful enthusiasts who lives he touched, and will continue to touch for many generations to come.

One Shelby fan in particular sent us this note shortly after Carroll's passing and we would like to share it as he pretty much sums up what most us are feeling. He writes: What Carroll Shelby Meant to Me - by Rick Yates

Photo - Michele Hamer

More Carroll Shelby Tributes:
Carroll Shelby Remembered
The Iconic Man: Carroll Hall Shelby, 1923-2012
Automotive Legend Carroll Shelby Dies at the Age of 89
Carroll Shelby (1923-2012)

At a car show last week we noticed two optional factory accessories on a car that you don't see that often, if fact we needed to do some extensive internet research to make sure they were factory options for that make/model.

So now we're going to put you to the test to see if you know what these are.  Here's accessory number one located on the dash:

Here's Accessory number two located on the grill:

Need a hint?  You'll find the answers hidden here.

The excitement and buzz continues to build as Dana Mecum's 25^th Original Spring Classic Auction is fast approaching.  More than 2,000 vehicles and over 1,200 pieces of Road Art will take over the Indiana State Fairgrounds May 15-20, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Come Friday, some of the featured cars will hit the block that include the first 1969 Camaro ZL1 built, and the record setting 1968 "Speed Spectacular" AMC Javelin.  Saturday will see more racecars, especially significant drag vehicles offered.  Don "The Snake" Prudhomme himself will offer, from his private collection, the historic 1982 Pepsi Challenger Funny Car that he drove to a record breaking 250 mph. Then the famous rail that "TV" Tommy Ivo rode to flaming glory will be fired up and the bidding will start.  Fans and spectators will have a chance to meet both Don Prudhomme and Tommy Ivo, as they will be onsite signing autographs.

A handful of significant Yenko's will be auctioned, including a 1967 Yenko Camaro, and a 1969 Yenko Nova. Two L88 Corvettes will fall under the hammer, including a 1968 Convertible and the last L88 ever built, a 1969 Coupe.

Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction is open to the general public with tickets available at the gate for only $15.  For more information go to www.MECUM.com.

Photo - Mecum Auctions

Profiles in History just announced that the Porsche from Risky Business will be up for sale at their mega Hollywood auction in July.  Didn't it just sell for $49K in February by the Volo Auto Museum?

This is the screen-used 1979 Porsche 928 used by Tom Cruise as "Joel Goodsen" in Risky Business. The Porsche features a 5-speed manual transmission, 16-inch offset 5-hole aluminum alloy wheels, a three-spoke steering wheel and a cork on cork leather interior. The car's exterior was originally painted green when it arrived to the set and was then painted gold by the production and pressed into use.

There were three driving cars used in the making of the film:

1. A 1981 automatic transmission car fitted with 15-inch "flat-face" 5-hole wheels, cork and brown interior and 4-spoke steering wheel.
2. A 1978 5-speed, with cork, brown and crème interior, rented only for one interior shot when the car was knocked out of gear by Rebecca DeMornay's character
3. The 1979 5-speed car going up for sale, again, which was shot primarily in driving scenes with wide shots where the whole car was in view.

Risky Business went on to become one of the biggest cult classics of the 1980s and helped launch the career of superstar Tom Cruise. In addition, the film exposed the Porsche brand to a whole new generation of future buyers. The car's odometer reads 102,755 miles, is reported to be in operating condition and estimated to fetch $40,000 - 60,000....again.

It was March 1969, and Bunkie Knudsen and Larry Shinoda's "killer" fastback was ready and out to even the score with anything Mustang's pony car competition could offer, at least on the street. They were going to call it "Trans-Am" until Pontiac grabbed the name for its hottest '69 Firebird, so they settled on Boss 302. Trans-Am rules required 1000 copies be built for sale to qualify as "production," but Ford ended up turning out 1934 of the '69s. Despite even that low number, the Boss brought people into Ford showrooms like no Mustang since the original.

When Mecum Auctions celebrates its Silver anniversary at Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction on May 15-20, 2012, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, one of its "Star Cars" will be the only 1969 Boss 302 ever awarded the coveted Authenticity Award from the Mustang Club of America.

With only 13,000 miles on the odometer, this Mustang has won 5 Thoroughbred Gold awards along with numerous best of the best awards both in indoor and outdoor shows including the ISCA.  Bottom line - this Boss 302 is the most award winning Mustang in the Country.  It has appeared in magazines since 1981 and was also used as the prototype for the first Fat Head produced.  It may even be the most sought after Mustangs in the world.

Discovery's Velocity Network will broadcast 32 hours of live coverage of the auction from the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Presented as Lot S234, this Ford is scheduled to cross the block on national television at 5:00PM on Saturday, May 19.

For more information go to http://www.mecum.com

Photo - Mecum

A 1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon, believed to be the oldest surviving unrestored Mini, sold for an impressive £40,250 (about $65,000 USD) this week at Bonhams Sale of Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia at the RAF Museum, near Cambridge, UK. Having attracted the attention of press worldwide, this amazing survivor sold for over three times its estimate of £12,000 - 15,000.

Accompanying the Mini is correspondence from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust states that it is the 8th of its type to come off the production line at Longbridge in May 1959, some three months before the launch of this legendary model on 26th August...read more.

Photo - Bonhams

While taking the 1936 Ford Phaeton out for a joy ride on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Prescott, Arizona, it failed to stop when approaching a red light no matter how much I pumped the brakes. Thankfully we were close to home and the hand brake got us home safely.

Upon inspection, we determined that it was the right rear wheel cylinder seal that blew, and since the old Ford has a single pass system, it caused a total system braking failure. As I was ordering new wheel cylinders for the Ford online, I noticed a link to One Man Brake, Clutch, or any Hydraulic Fluid Bleeder Kit for under $10.00 including shipping. So for ten bucks we thought we would give the One Man Fluid Bleeder Kit a try and see if it could indeed make this a one person job and here's how the job went: One Man Brake, Clutch, or any Hydraulic Fluid Bleeder Kit Product Review.