Marque1

FERRARI MATES WITH RAMBLER, FINDS NEW HOME IN MUSEUM

What happens when you combine a Ferrari with a Rambler? The very thought of it might cause Enzo Ferrari to turn over in his grave but on the other hand it would leave George Romney smiling. However you may feel about such a combination the car actually exists and is one of two unusual vehicles just donated to the LeMay - America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

The Ferrambo, as it is known, is a one-off built by Mike Warn of Warn Industries. Warn said he wanted to create a car that combined American engineering and strength with European style and performance. It took him more than two years to construct but obviously was worth the effort, for his Ferrambo captured the prestigious Ridler Award at Detroit’s Autorama in 2008. That helped drive the estimated value to $750,000. And in fact the car is surprisingly attractive, though I've no idea how it drives.

The good news is that we can now see it at the LeMay, along with the second gift, a 1964 Buick Wildcat prototype donated by museum member Paul Ianuario. What makes this Wildcat so unusual is that the body is made from fibreglass. Apparently GM built it to complement the Impala SS as a high performance machine with the same then-exotic material as the Corvette.

Buick's unusual concept features a 401-cid "Nailhead" V-8 and, according to the owner, has a different cam and other performance upgrades. Ianuaro said that had it gone into production the Wildcat would have been offered with the two four-barrel, 425-hp-version. Unfortunately GM decided against producing it and as a result has only 3893 miles on the clock and, like the Ferrambo, is valued at $750,000.

Thanks to Old Cars Weekly for the lead to this story.

SMALL DRAWS SURPRISING BIG BUCKS AT MICROCAR AUCTION

I'm not sure whether I should smile or cry. As a student of post-war automobile history I've a natural affection for microcars, those mini-minis that for a few years were the first affordable vehicles for Europeans made destitute by the conflict. More fortunate North Americans driving cars wider than their own driveways may have laughed at these tiny machines but the rest of the world did not. That makes me smile.

What makes me cry is that, having created the world's finest and largest collection of rare microcars, the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Nashville, Mr. Weiner decided to retire. And in doing so, gave RM Auctions the opportunity to sell every one of his microcars at auction. Needless to say it was a huge success, generating more than $9.1 million with 100 percent of all lots sold. Top price went to a 1958 F.M.R. Tg 500 “Tiger”, the rarest Messerschmitt of all and the fastest microcar ever built with a top speed of 78 mph. It went for $322,000 – an all-time record for a microcar sold at auction (shown up top).

Indeed, the tandem seat Messerschmitt was a popular item among buyers. A 1955 Messerschmitt KR 200, formerly owned by American circus personality and entertainer Vic Hyde, went for a remarkable $115,000... a 1957 Messerschmitt KR 201 Roadster for a fantastic $103,500. These cars were very inexpensive when new yet faster than you might think. When I was racing modified sedans a competitor showed up with one, leading to a lot of laughs in the pits. He finished among the last five but was much quicker than anyone expected.

Small must surely be beautiful because the world’s smallest production car, a 1964 Peel P50, sold for an incredible $120,750 to applause from the crowd. Also breaking six-figures, a 1966 Peel Trident realized a remarkable $103,500 while a 1951 Reyonnah (a what?) drew $184,000.

So I'm happy for Bruce Weiner. I'm smiling for all those lucky buyers who put down big bucks for such small cars. Nevertheless I'm rather sad when such a rare and important collection is dispersed. Microcars were an important yet oft overlooked part of automobile history and I doubt we'll ever see another museum like this.

SENSUOUS AUTOS FEATURED IN UNIQUE MUSEUM EXHIBIT

Never admit you're a fan of Art Deco unless you plan to furnish your premises with the elegant 1930s design style. That's what happened to me when I was blessed with a gorgeous French-Canadian girlfriend, a great job in the ad agency business, and a tolerant ex-wife with a background in decorating. Girlfriend, ex-wife, and friends showered me (well, okay, a few raindrops) with art deco furnishings for my remodeled agency office.

Not that I didn't appreciate their generosity but while I liked Art Deco I wasn't planning to wrap my workspace in the stuff.

I was wrong, of course. The result, with some input from yrs truly, was so stunning that the agency president would bring visiting clients to have a look. I wish I had those furnishings today. I also wish that a genie would transport me to Nashville this summer when the Frist Center for the Visual Arts will present "Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles, an exhibition of unique and luxurious autos from the 1930s and '40s."

The 1929 L-29 Cord up top is a glorious example. The Burnt Orange paint job, ordered by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is stunning... but what else would you expect from an architect whose second home and school, Taliesen West, was in Arizona with its beautiful earth tones?

Art Deco influenced automobile design as much as it affected architecture and everything from radio cabinets to dishware to women's fashion. Indeed, some of the most beautiful automobiles of that period drew their inspiration from the unique style, including limited-production cars and custom prototypes like the Pierce-Arrow, above. Designed by Philip Wright, only three of the nine examples survive and one will grace the Sensuous Steel show, which will display 18 automobiles and three motorcycles drawn from some of the most renowned car collectors and collections in the automotive world. None could be more sensuous than the French cars of the period, as epitomised by the Delahaye.

It is entirely appropriate that this display should appear at Frist Center’s landmark historic Art Deco building, which was completed in 1934. Organized by Guest Curator Ken Gross, former Petersen Automotive Museum director, the exhibition will be on view in the Center’s Ingram Gallery from June 14 through September 15, 2013. Perhaps the Timeline Genie will transport me there.
[Photos: © 2012 Peter Harholdt]

FERRARI MATES WITH RAMBLER, FINDS NEW HOME IN MUSEUM

What happens when you combine a Ferrari with a Rambler? The very thought of it might cause Enzo Ferrari to turn over in his grave but on the other hand it would leave George Romney smiling. However you may feel about such a combination the car actually exists and is one of two unusual vehicles just donated to the LeMay - America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

The Ferrambo, as it is known, is a one-off built by Mike Warn of Warn Industries. Warn said he wanted to create a car that combined American engineering and strength with European style and performance. It took him more than two years to construct but obviously was worth the effort, for his Ferrambo captured the prestigious Ridler Award at Detroit’s Autorama in 2008. That helped drive the estimated value to $750,000. And in fact the car is surprisingly attractive, though I've no idea how it drives.

The good news is that we can now see it at the LeMay, along with the second gift, a 1964 Buick Wildcat prototype donated by museum member Paul Ianuario. What makes this Wildcat so unusual is that the body is made from fibreglass. Apparently GM built it to complement the Impala SS as a high performance machine with the same then-exotic material as the Corvette.

Buick's unusual concept features a 401-cid "Nailhead" V-8 and, according to the owner, has a different cam and other performance upgrades. Ianuaro said that had it gone into production the Wildcat would have been offered with the two four-barrel, 425-hp-version. Unfortunately GM decided against producing it and as a result has only 3893 miles on the clock and, like the Ferrambo, is valued at $750,000.

Thanks to Old Cars Weekly for the lead to this story.

CARS OF DREAMS AUCTION, MORE THAN GREAT AUTOMOBILES

Personal classic car collections can often be more interesting than what we find in normal museums, in part because they represent the owner's vision, but also because they include more than great automobiles. And that's why the upcoming "John Staluppi’s Cars of Dreams Museum" auction offers some wonderful buying opportunities. For example, when was the last time you saw a large-scale model railway in a classic car auction list?

The fantastic Lionel train layout represents the cooperative effort of numerous craftsmen and technicians, combining more than 2,500 man-hours of labor. Built largely by noted technician and engineer Rich Roman of East Coast Enterprises, it's an original design combining action displays, buildings, scenes, and individual dioramas. Impressive detailing includes the engine roundhouse, dual layers of track and trains, animated street scenes, a waterfall, mountain pass, and trestle track.

The layout measures approximately 30 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 9 feet tall to the top of the custom-made mountain. Surrounded by a metal platform and viewing area, it comes complete with custom-built attached plexiglass side panels for a near 360 degree view. All pieces are included in the sale, as are the electronic controls and related items. (Note: Special arrangements must be made for removal, packing, and transport. A room large enough to hold the assembled miniature railway would be handy, too.)

Perhap even more remarkable is the 1918 Herschell-Spillman 32’ Carousel. This outstanding collectible is fully operational, complete and accurately restored. The carousel’s enthusiastic reception by those who've seen it or had a colorful ride (oh, to be a kid again!) is only matched by those who also had the opportunity to enjoy an ice cream delight... served out of the fully functional freezer boxes of John Staluppi’s authentic, fully restored 1965 Ford Good Humor Truck.

But we're all car fans at heart and the Cars of Dreams Museum won't disappoint, with more than 120 outstanding vehicles going on the block. Among them is an extraordinary group of the dynamic Chrysler letter cars (Chrysler 300E shown). Mr. Staluppi has collected an example of every year of production from 1955 through 1963. Yet those desireable luxury machines merely hint at the quality of this sale. Far too many cars to describe here but if you click on this link you can view all the wonderful autos on offer plus the remarkable range of automobilia.

This is a virtual time capsule of Americana, where nostalgic collectibles from the 1950s and 1960s complement the magical street scenes that showcase some of the finest and most desirable American automobiles ever produced, with a strong emphasis on convertibles and performance cars. And if I haven't tempted you sufficiently here, be aware that all the cars are being offered at no reserve. So ride the carousel, watch the Lionel trains in action, and come home with the Car of Your Dreams.

The Cars of Dreams Museum auction by RM takes place December 1st at North Palm Beach, Florida.

NEVER HEARD OF VAUXHALL? HISTORIC BRAND CELEBRATES ITS 110TH!

Most of us who live in North America tend to forget the Vauxhall brand, understandable in the US as the brand was never sold there, less so in Canada where Vauxhalls were marketed in the 50s and 60s. With the company owned by GM, the cars often looked like scaled-down Detroit products. No longer the case though Vauxhall is now a subsidiary of Opel, which itself is owned by GM.

But as more and more car manufacturers mark their centeneries it's worth noting that Vauxhall is 110 years old, making it the oldest surviving car brand in the UK. Next week’s Footman James Classic Motor Show, Nov 15-16-17 in Birmingham, will bring together more than a century of innovation and sporting excellence, as the company prepares to celebrate both the 110th and the centenary of the 30-98 model in 2013. The vintage stars, all of which are taken from Vauxhall’s 60-car-strong Heritage Centre, include a 1904 6hp model, fresh from its appearance in the London to Brighton run.

The iconic 30-98 OE-type from 1926 will be there along with Vauxhall’s own 1926 Velox-bodied OE-type Tourer, which is regularly used in hillclimbs and rallies, and last year was driven across the French Alps from Cannes to Geneva. Rounding off the heritage display will be two iconic Astras: the GTE Mk 1 and Mk 2, both of which took their hot-hatch classes by storm when launched in 1983 and 1985 respectively.

The newest sports model is the 280PS Astra VXR, with adaptive damping, a mechanical limited slip differential and a 0-60mph acceleration time of just 5.9 seconds. Which goes to show that the venerable company is not standing still. Vauxhalls may be scarce on this side of the ocean but you might keep an eye for one in the 2013 concours year.

DESOTO CONVERTIBLE BRINGS BACK DREAMS OF THE FIFTIES

Ah, take me back to those wonderful, dream-filled 1950s when cars came with soaring tailfins, three-tone paint jobs, acres of chrome, and a jaunty air of self assurance that marked the mood of the decade. This beautiful 1957 DeSoto Fireflite Adventurer Convertible Coupe epitomises that period, and for one lucky buyer with an estimated $150,000-$200,000 in his or her wallet, it will turn back the clock every day. The Adventurer convertible will be sold in RM's "John Staluppi Collection" auction at the Cars of Dreams Museum in North Palm Beach, Florida, November 30-December 1. With no reserve, I should add.

Some might think of the Adventurer as a junior version of the Chrysler 300. Both were upscale performance coupes. The Chrysler weighed 115 pounds more than the Adventurer convertible, and Chrysler’s 392-cubic inch Hemi developed 375 horses while the DeSoto’s 345 produced 345 hp. Fewer ponies but at one-horsepower-per-cubic inch, the Adventurer was more efficient than the Chrysler 300. The new three-speed Torqueflite automatic was standard and torsion bars up front offered superior handling.

Color combinations followed the black-white-gold pattern of the hardtop Adventurer, with the convertible top displaying an attractive golden hue. When this glorious beauty was announced no one would have guessed that  the DeSoto marque would only last another three years. In 1960, Adventurer was the top-line DeSoto series but it comprised just two hardtops, a four-door sedan and... no convertible. As the 1961 model year opened, Adventurer was absent from the line. Three months later, so was DeSoto.

[Photo: Teddy Pieper, courtesy RM Auctions]

SMALLEST CARS GET A BIG, BIG AUCTION IN GEORGIA

I'm always happy to promote any classic car auction with worldwide interest but this one leaves me feeling saddened. RM Auctions has informed us that it will lift the gavel on the renowned Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum during a two-day sale, February 15–16, 2013 in Madison, Georgia. I'm sure Mr. Weiner has good reasons for selling his collection but it means the end of a truly unique museum, one that featured only microcars, making it a unique repository of automotive history.

These cars, mostly European in origin, would be laughingy called "tiny" in America, a land of seemingly endless highways and vast land yachts that consumed space and fuel as though there was no end to our resources. But in a Europe still recovering from WW2, where many families were struggling to move up from a motor scooter as transportation, the microcar was salvation. Small, yes, but perfectly suited to narrow roads and sipping fuel that was, even then, very expensive.

They came in all sorts of shapes and mechanical layouts, which is why Bruce Weiner's museum was so special. As RM puts it, "the spectacularly diverse collection comprises every imaginable microcar iteration, body style, engine displacement, color combination, and country of origin. Each is considered by industry experts to be the 'best of the very best,' and in many cases, the only examples made or surviving."

From the smallest car ever built, a 1964 Peel P-50, to the Italian iteration of the Messerschmitt, known as the Mivalino, the collection quite literally contains everything—every imaginable Biscuter, an assortment of four Goggomobil Transporters (of which few additional examples exist) and such rarities as a 1955 Kleinschnittger F-125 and two Voisin Biscooters, the extraordinary microcar built by legendary French aviation and automotive engineer Gabriel Voisin.

Headlining the offering is the world’s only complete Messerschmitt collection, spanning from a 1953 KR175 prototype to the second-to-last serial number known to exist. It also includes the only surviving 1961 Messerschmitt KR201 Sport, an incredibly rare 1957 Messerschmitt KR201 Roadster, and a highly desirable ‘Tiger,’ the rarest of all Messerschmitts. Deemed the fastest microcar ever built, the ‘Tiger’ is capable of a top speed exceeding 70 mph—a truly impressive feat considering its size.

The Isetta, with its "bubble car" shape, is also well-represented in the Bruce Weiner Museum. Aside from a pair of BMW 600s, the Isetta 300 is presented in every imaginable version, from an original German police car acquired directly from the police chief, to an original Jagdwagen (hunting car), the ultra-rare 1957 Isettacarro pickup truck, and the most desirable of all—an Isetta 300 bubble-window cabriolet.

The very rare Goggomobil sportster below proves that even microcars can be sexy!

I've promoted the Microcar Museum several times, beginning in the years when I was an About.com car guide and here in Marque1.com. But I've never seen it in person and now it looks as though I never will. In fact I've never even driven a microcar; the smallest car to date (not counting a go-kart) being the original Mini.

For further information and an updated list of entries, visit the RM catalog here. For a virtual tour of the Bruce Weiner Museum's collection click here.

[Photos: Courtesy Microcar Museum]

 

FAMED FRENCH AUTO ARTIST FEATURED AT PETERSEN MUSEUM

Once again the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles has come up with a show that uniquely displays the work of an artist specialising in the automobile. From August 2nd to November 4th it will be featuring 13 beautiful paintings by French visual artist François Bruére. The Museum describes his style thusly:

"Using watercolor, airbrush and pencil, Bruére's unique style features a brightly-colored vehicle in the foreground to catch the viewer's eye with a detailed sepia background to provide ambience. While one of Bruére's early influences was American painter Norman Rockwell, Bruére's subjects are predominantly automobiles, from concours award winners to Le Mans victors.  He has contributed poster art for important concours such as Meadow Brook and Villa d'Este and painted original artwork for numerous car manufacturers, including BMW, General Motors, Harley Davidson and Jaguar.  He is also a member of the 'Maison des Artistes', the largest association of visual artists in France."

Here's an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to see and admire original transportation art by an acknowledged master: On August 2nd the Petersen will hold a special "meet and greet" session from 1 to 3 PM and, of course, car enthusiasts are invited to attend. Prints will be available in the Museum store.

Bruére's work is worth spending a few extra hours of your travel time, friends. The car in the above painting is a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C at LeMans.

SPECTACULAR LEMAY CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM OPENS IN JUNE

It's going to be one of the world's finest auto museums and now we know the date when the LeMay Museum will officially open: June 2nd, 2012. For the many volunteers, sponsors, and enthusiasts this day seems like a long time coming but be assured the wait was worthwhile and the venue will be truly spectacular.

For those unfamiliar with the history behind the name, allow me to explain. Harold and Nancy LeMay amassed the largest privately owned collection of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, other vehicles and related memorabilia the world had ever seen. At its peak, the LeMay Collection numbered in excess of 3,000 vehicles and thousands of artifacts and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest privately owned collection; impressive if accomplished by a king, awesome when accomplished by a local businessman from Tacoma, Washington.

Spread ad hoc around the LeMay property the collection was, to say the least, not exactly in a museum-like format. Harold LeMay didn't really care; after all, it was his to enjoy. But being a decent man, once a year he held an open house where classic car lovers were invited to view the collection.

With age comes change, so in 1998 he and Nancy LeMay formed a charitable organization: The Harold E. LeMay Museum (now called LeMay - America's Car Museum) and committed themselves to donating the collection for the benefit of the public. With help from the city of Tacoma (wisely realising the tourist potential) a new location was chosen and plans developed to create a world-class museum that would relate the story of the American experience with the automobile. The museum is intended to provide a venue to explore history, design, technology and restoration and become a tourist destination in its own right.

Featuring a nine-acre campus with a four-story museum as the centerpiece, it is situated in Tacoma, Wash., 30 minutes south of Seattle, and an easy drive from Vancouver, BC. The museum will house up to 500 cars, trucks and motorcycles from private owners, corporations and the original LeMay collection. The architecture is stunning, the restaurant and other visitor facilities are sure to be recommended by travel sites. But most of all the LeMay - America's Car Museum will be a fun place to visit.

So put that date (June 2nd) in your calendar if you live anywhere in Washington, Oregon, or British Columbia. And be sure to say hello to Marque1's Nigel Matthews, who I'm certain will be there, and to your Marque1 host (me) who will also be on hand. It's sure to be the classic car event of the year.