Tag Archives: classic car

Scottsdale Auto Auctions 2014 Calendar

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January is the busy season for classic car auctions in Phoenix. For 2014, there are six different auctions coming up and two concours shows! This will be an exciting winter if you are looking to buy or sell your classic car, muscle car, hot rod, or other custom vehicle. Check out this list of upcoming Arizona car auctions for 2014:

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2014 Auction
Dates: Jan 12-19, 2014
Location: Westworld
Address: 16601 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Catalog: 1,600+ vehicles for sale
Gate Price: $15-$60 (varies by day)
Week Pass: $175
Website: barrett-jackson.com

Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2014 Auction
Dates: Jan 15-19, 2014
Location: Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road
Address: 18601 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ
Catalog: 700+ Vehicles for sale
Tickets: $20 per adult/single day
Five-Day Pass: $80
Website: russoandsteele.com

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1966 Mercury Monterey Sedan: Ford’s Middle Child

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Back in the 1900s, an Austrian psychotherapist by the name of Alfred Adler came up with an interesting idea. Adler believe that one’s birth order was a major influence on the personality of a person.

For example, Adler believed that in a family with three children, the oldest and youngest children received the most attention from the parents with the middle child often being “forgotten.” Although Adler didn’t have any scientific research to support his theory, the idea of birth order is still well-known today.

So what does all this have to do with cars? Well for a long time, the Ford Motor Company was a family of 3 brands: Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury. Ford was the original and the oldest brand with the largest offering of cars, including entry-level vehicles. Lincoln was positioned as the luxury brand, maker of the finest vehicles that Ford had to offer. Then there was Mercury, the brand caught in the middle. Continue reading →

Copper Queen: 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport Custom

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When the Ford Motor Company introduced the Thunderbird in 1955, they created a market for a brand new type of vehicle: the personal luxury car. From the very beginning, the Thunderbird was a big hit that broke sales records and earned high praise from customers.

Over at General Motors, VP of Styling Bill Mitchell wasn’t about to let Ford hog the spotlight. He decided that General Motors needed a personal luxury car of their own. Mitchell asked designer Ned Nickles to come up with a rival to Ford’s 2-door, 4-seater Thunderbird. Continue reading →

1973 Ford Mustang: Last of the Original Pony Cars

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First introduced in 1964, the Ford Mustang was an instant success that combined style and performance into a compact and affordable package. The car’s long hood, short trunk, and V8 engine captured America’s hearts and launched Ford to the top of the sales charts like a Saturn V rocket. Ford was unstoppable, selling a staggering 600,000 Mustangs in 1966.

As time went on, the initial excitement over the new car began to wear off. By 1972, demand for the Mustang was down to 125,000 cars per year. Then in 1973 the oil crisis hit hard, sending gas prices soaring. It seemed as though the Mustang was going to be a tough sell.

Ford responded by introducing the downsized Mustang II in 1974, an ugly little thing that was based on the Pinto. Although it shared the Mustang name, it didn’t share anything else with the first generation cars. That’s what makes this 1973 Ford Mustang so special – it’s the last year of the original pony cars.

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1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

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When I visit a classic car show, there is never a shortage of Fords, Chevrolets, Chryslers, and other American muscle cars. However, it’s rare to see a Studebaker at the local cruise-in night. Why is that? The simple answer is that Studebaker just didn’t build a whole lot of cars.

Take this 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk for example. It is one of just 4,009 produced in 1963. In that same year, Ford sold 63,313 Thunerbirds and Pontiac sold 72,959 Grand Prixs. As you can tell, this car was definitely not a big seller, which makes it all the more special to have spotted this GT Hawk at the Scottsdale Pavilions.

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1955 DeSoto FireFlite Sportsman 2 Door Hardtop

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One of the forgotten names of the American car business is DeSoto. First launched by Chrysler in 1928, DeSoto was an all-new brand that would compete with Buick and Studebaker in the mid-market segment.

Due to their affordable price, DeSotos were popular right from the start. The 1929 models set a first-year sales record that stood for 31 years! DeSoto hit the peak of their popularity in 1956, when they had grown to become the 11th largest US automaker.

One of the cars that propelled DeSoto up the sales charts was this 1955 DeSoto Fireflite. It caught my eye on a recent visit to the Martin Auto Museum in Phoenix.

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