Presented by Ferco Motors – It was back in 1984 for the Offshore Power Boat World Championship that the wind was howling, prompting the catamaran drivers to be wary of the 5 to 10-foot seas. There was one driver, however, that was happy about the conditions. That man was Bob Saccenti of Team Apache Racing who would be the throttles of Warpath, a 41-foot deep-vee offshore racing boat, while Ben Kramer was Driver and Tom Evans was Navigator. While the catamarans are best suited for flat water to skip across, they do not fare well in high seas. For Saacenti and the Warpath, these conditions gave him a one-up over the competition. Warpath would go on to dominate the 1984 World Championship, placing the boat in powerboat history.
Automotive Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
Automotive Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
Now, Warpath is heading to auction and is doing so in remarkable condition. Between 2007 and 2009, the boat was given a bow to stern restoration that was overseen by Tom Evans, the original crew chief of Team Apache Racing and navigator for the 1984 world championship season and Gail Paik, the original artist.
Automotive Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
Warpath came to Gail and Tom in already solid condition, with no structural repairs necessary. The sturdy Kevlar deep-vee hull was already built for heavy seas, allowing it to remain in fantastic condition. Still, the crew brought Warpath back to its original glory through the restoration of the graphics, mechanical, and cabin features. This includes the rebuild of the twin supercharged 572ci Chevrolet big-block V8 engines, as well as as going through all steering components, throttles, and instrumentation. Altogether, Warpath is currently in truly remarkable condition thanks to the restoration and is ready to be cherished by a new owner.
This is a truly rare opportunity for someone to own a piece of boating history. Coming along with the boat is a triple-axle All American trailer. Warpath will be sold via a week-long online auction beginning on September 10, 2021. For more information, be sure to click the button below.
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Presented by GAA Classic Cars – Heading to GAA Classic Cars’ July 2021 auction is a 1955 Chevrolet 210 that’s truly a “no expense spared build.” While its exterior may look true to the original 210, it features a long list of modern upgrades that are tasteful and functional. This includes the power windows, Bluetooth radio, Fatman chassis, 355 SBC engine, custom steel wheels wrapped in Nitto S55 tires and even air conditioning. A full custom leather interior greets the driver and passengers who will enjoy every second of time in the cabin. They will surely enjoy their time when the pedal hits the floor and power is sent to the 9-inch Ford rear end.
This 1955 Chevrolet 210 will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars’ July 2021 auction, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. For more information about the event, click here.
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The idea of building one’s own supercar to compete with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren would generally be considered ludicrous. How could one man’s vision compete with such established sporting pedigree and record-setting engineering?
From time to time, however, someone does indeed attempt such a feat and, on even rarer occasions, succeeds brilliantly. Christian von Koenigsegg created his eponymous supercar company in 1994, at age 22; his aspiration was to build nothing short of the greatest supercar in history. Over the next three years, his small team created a prototype constructed using a radical carbon fiber tub and a litany of automotive engineering firsts. This car, named the Koenigsegg CC (Competition Coupé), was first publicly displayed at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997, and the reaction from public and press alike was overwhelming. Confident his cars would find buyers, Christian left Cannes with nothing other than production on his mind.
By 2002, Koenigsegg had released the sportier and more refined CC8S. Meanwhile, development was well underway on the fledging company’s third model, the CCR. The two cars share many characteristics, though the CCR is clearly an evolution upon the specifications and equipment of its predecessor. The CCR was fitted with new suspension and braking systems developed by specialists, a titanium exhaust, larger alloy wheels, and far greater aero-work creating significantly more downforce. All these upgrades were made necessary because the car’s 4.6-liter, aluminum-block, twin-supercharged V-8 engine had been tuned to produce an astonishing 806 brake horsepower. In February 2005, a Koenigsegg CCR dethroned the McLaren F1 as the fastest production car ever built, with a top speed of 387 km/h. Only 14 examples would be built before production ceased in 2006.
CCR CHASSIS NUMBER 7011
This 2004 Koenigsegg CCR, chassis number 7011, is the third CCR example produced and is built upon the 11th carbon fiber chassis completed by the factory (hence its VIN designation). Finished in dramatic Lava Orange over a bespoke color-matched interior, 7011 is the exact CCR Koenigsegg unveiled to the public at the 2004 Geneva International Motor Show. 7011 was also heavily featured in period press photography released by Koenigsegg and is, quite possibly, the most well known CCR example of the scant 14 examples produced.
Following its time in the spotlight, this car’s German registration indicates that it was first registered on 23 May 2006. By 2009, 7011 had traveled just 1,150 kilometers while within the care of a collector in France. Since then, this alluring Koenigsegg CCR has seen regular servicing and enjoyment after time in several noted collections within Luxembourg and Germany. In preparation for sale, 7011 has just been serviced by marque specialists at Esser Automotive, the official Koenigsegg dealer in Aachen, Germany.
Now showing 2,347 kilometers at the time of cataloging, chassis # 7011 is a supremely rarified and alluring offering that would be well suited for acquisition by the most astute of collectors.
This vehicle will be offered in RM Sotheby’s new Milan Sale, taking place 15 June at Palazzo Serbelloni in Italy. The sale will be livestreamed and remote bidding options are available.
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Presented by Collector Car Productions – Plymouth developed the 1970 Superbird specifically for NASCAR racing and was a follow-up to the Charger Daytona fielded by Dodge the previous year. NASCAR’s homologation requirement stated that vehicles to be raced must be available to the general public and sold through dealerships in specific minimum numbers. For 1970, NASCAR’s minimum production number was 1,920 units that had to be produced and as it turned out, 1970 was the only production year for the Superbird. For nearly 30 years, the mathematic formula used to determine the exact height of the humongous rear wing was thought to be a highly guarded secret.
However, in the 1990s, a retired Chrysler project engineer loosely claimed that the height was designed to provide clearance for the trunk lid to open freely. Coincidently, the wing height was at the optimum level for maximum downforce. The example offered here, refinished in its original shade of Limelight Green, is powered by the original matching numbers 440-6 Pack engine coupled to the original matching numbers TorqueFlite automatic transmission. It is one of only 716 V-Code 6-Pack Superbirds built for 1970.
Two Other Superbirds Being Auctioned
Sold new at Twin City Chrysler in Bryan Texas, the car eventually migrated to Florida before landing in Canada and has traveled only 53,000 miles since new. The car is in excellent overall condition with minimal faults to be found, and we had to look hard to find the 3 pin-head-sized chips in the paint on top of the driver’s door ahead of the mirror. The vent window chrome is showing some age and the fender-mounted air scoops should be refinished as the paint finish has turned dull (on air scoops only). The paint quality on the rest of the car is outstanding and the interior and chrome condition is equally as impressive.
This 6-Pack Superbird is highly documented including TWO “original” Broadcast Sheets, “original” Window Sticker, and original title from the state of Florida.
This is just one of approximately 100 great hand-selected cars to be offered at the Toronto Spring Classic Car Online Auction to be held on June 12, 2021 by CCP Auctions. There will also be two other rare and high-quality Superbirds offered in the auction
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Presented by RM Sotheby’s – Images by Ryan Miller – The most famous design of Pasadena, California, coachbuilder Walter M. Murphy on the Duesenberg Model J chassis, the “Disappearing Top” Convertible Coupe saw production of about 25 examples, all with a distinctive convertible top that hid neatly within the smooth rear deck when lowered.
Yet there is a much rarer machine, the “Disappearing Top” Torpedo Convertible Coupe, which is considered by many to be the utter pinnacle of Murphy’s work on Duesenberg chassis. It combined the standard convertible coupe’s lines with the flowing, gracefully tapered deck of a “boattail” speedster, often finished in bare aluminum that extended forward through the beltline and down the center of the car’s cowl – providing an extra touch of sparkle in the California sun.
Few Duesenbergs so beautifully combined the marque’s performance ethos with the glamour of a status symbol.
CHASSIS NUMBER 2199
Six examples of the “Disappearing Top” Torpedo Convertible Coupe were produced, five on the short wheelbase and a single long-wheelbase example. Body no. 876, used on the car offered here, may have been the first, as this and body no. 898, used on J-198 / 2221, were both “800-number” bodies, indicating they were built on-spec for Duesenberg rather than for individual clients. These two cars featured an early prototype version of the Murphy Disappearing Top, which hid under a low leather tonneau rather than a full metal clamshell lid. Further, body no. 876 features a single-passenger rumble seat within a unique tail design, which, rather than forming a clean point as on other examples, flares out again at the bottom, extends out to the sides, and then curves to meet the rear fenders – an important identifying point in the surviving Murphy photos of the car.
This was one of two Torpedo Convertible Coupes delivered without the usual chrome “rub strips” on the rear fenders, and, most distinctively of all, with bare aluminum coachwork. The sides of the body and much of the hood were brush-finished, while the top of the rear deck, flowing through the caps of the doors and into the “sweep” of the hood, was polished to a mirror finish. The stunning result resembled the dazzling Rolls-Royces built for certain Maharajas. Only the fenders and valances were painted a rich dark blue.
According to the records of the late Duesenberg historian Ray Wolff, chassis number 2199 was sold new to David Gray of Santa Barbara, California. Mr. Gray’s father, John, had in 1903 made the wise decision to invest $10,500 in the fledgling automobile company founded by Henry Ford. In 1919, David Gray sold the family stock back to Mr. Ford for $26 million and lived quite happily for the remainder of his life.
The Gray Duesenberg was sold on in 1933 to William McDuffie of Los Angeles. Later in the 1930s, like so many Duesenbergs, it was modernized with the addition of skirted JN-style fenders and the smaller 17-inch wheels. In this form, it was apparently noticed by Hollywood, as it made an appearance on the silver screen in a memorable scene of the film She Had to Eat. The car continued to enjoy the care of a handful of Southern California caretakers through the late 1940s, including the Beverly Hills attorney and longtime Motor Trend columnist Robert J. Gottlieb.
In 1951, it was purchased by William Coverdale, an early and longtime Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club member from Waynesville, Ohio. A member of an old railroad family, Mr. Coverdale was an avid Duesenberg enthusiast who regularly hosted the faithful at his farm. This was notably his favorite Model J. By the time of his acquisition, it was missing the original engine, J-178, which had reportedly been used by the Los Angeles dealer Bob Roberts for parts. Coverdale was able to acquire another original Duesenberg engine, J-414, which he installed, and which remains under the hood to this day.
With the “boattail” returned to presentable running order, in addition to a light cosmetic refurbishment, Mr. Coverdale often enjoyed driving it. It appeared at an early ACD Club meeting in Avon, Pennsylvania, in the mid-1950s, and would occasionally reappear at Auburn over the years. It remained a prized possession of its owner until 1985, when he was finally convinced to part with it after 34 years. After being brokered through the hands of Bob Adams and Tom Barrett, and briefly owned by the late Rick Carroll, the Duesenberg was acquired by the Blackhawk Collection. Following a restoration, the car was then presented to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club and was certified Category One, recognizing that it retains all correct Duesenberg components, including the original chassis frame, firewall and bodywork.
In 2015 the car was acquired by the proud current owner, who submitted it to RM Auto Restoration for a complete, concours-quality restoration. Research allowed the remarkable original bare brushed aluminum finish to be carefully restored, while surviving Murphy factory and period photographs allowed the original trim, altered by prior owners, to be faithfully reproduced. RM was able to save the vast majority of the original aluminum sheet metal, preserving it at great cost wherever possible – a laborious but highly worthwhile process that is evident in the finished product. The dark blue interior and fenders are as-original.
The result drew much attention and favorable comment upon its debut at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where, amidst extraordinarily tough competition, it was judged Second in Class. It went on to appear at the 2020 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it achieved Best in Class. These remain the only two appearances of the car wearing its present restoration, and thus a world of both club and concours showings remains available to the successful bidder.
Through the years, the car has been featured on the cover of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Newsletter (Number 7, 2002, misidentified as J-476) and in most of the well-known Duesenberg tomes, including Josh B. Malks’s Illustrated Duesenberg Buyer’s Guide (p. 49), J.L. Elbert’s Duesenberg: The Mightiest American Motor Car (p. 49, plate 39), and Fred Roe’s Duesenberg: The Pursuit of Perfection (p. 236, center, misidentified as J-476). It is accompanied by copies of photographs taken in Tom Barrett’s possession.
With its unique details and fascinating history, this extraordinary Duesenberg is every bit the striking and showstopping machine that it was when delivered to David Gray in 1929. One of only four surviving “Disappearing Top” Torpedo Convertible Coupes remaining intact on their original chassis, and the only car still in its original bare aluminum livery, it is a truly remarkable automobile – one that stands alone even in the rarefied world of Model J Duesenbergs.
This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction, taking place 22 May during the world-renowned Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. In-person and remote bidding options are available; contact RM Sotheby’s to register to bid.
Even a mile away, anyone can make out the iconic profile of a 1969 Camaro RS. The Rally-Sport package was optional on the first Camaros, hiding the headlights for a menacing look. The 1967 and ’68 models were more modest, but nothing beats the style of 1969. For one year only, Chevrolet allowed stylists to accentuate every body line along with the interior. Unfortunately, the 1969 Camaro was one year only, as 1970 would see an all-new model.
Lately everyone has been in a frenzy to swap in the late-model LS engines. While they are less temperamental, they are physically smaller than the original small blocks. That’s why this forged 496 big block with make you smile. Inside are Mahle 10.5:1 pistons, h-beam rods, and a SCAT crank. The solid roller cam has .660 lift, and aluminum heads send exhaust to ceramic-coated Hooker headers. Behind them is a complete dual 3″ Flowmaster 50 series exhaust.
Thankfully the owner chose Vintage Air to keep the interior ice cold, as the black leather buckets will be warm in the summer. Other finishing touches include a Flaming River steering column, Omega gauges, and big Wilwood brakes. Nothing beats the sound and fury of a solid roller top end, especially when provoked. So not only does this Tangelo beast look amazing, it will rev fast enough to snap the tachometer needle.
This lot is one of the vehicles offered at GAA Classic Cars’ upcoming auction in Greensboro NC November 5-7, 2020. Register to bid online or in-person today!
Fiat’s most legendary, significant, and storied production model, the 8V, was aptly described by Road & Track in 1952 as being “the biggest surprise of the year.” Although Fiat traces its roots to 1899 and built competition cars both massive and magnificent in the early twentieth century, after World War II the company was known largely for its mass-produced automobiles for the common man, such cars like the tiny “Topolino” that put a nation on wheels and had become among the most popular in Europe.
Therefore, it came as a shock to the automotive world when Fiat suddenly introduced a powerful sports car with an advanced overhead-valve light alloy V-8 engine, Siata-fabricated chassis, and four-wheel independent suspension, which could be and was successfully raced by privateers all over the world.
Like most sophisticated chassis of the time, the 8V lent itself handsomely to custom coachwork, which Fiat encouraged. Carrozzeria Ghia of Torino accounted for approximately 30 to 40 of the 114 8V chassis built, of which the most striking were the 15 bodied to Giovanni Savonuzzi’s stunning Jet Age design, known, simply and appropriately as the “Supersonic.”
The Supersonic design had originally been proposed for an Alfa Romeo racing car, which Savonuzzi gave a steeply raked, long windshield; a curved nose that formed a straight-through beltline, ending at small tail fins flaring off lights intended to resemble jet afterburners; and a low, glassy greenhouse.
Similar styling on an 8V chassis was subsequently ordered by American designer Paul Farago, and 14 more examples followed, all of which had detail differences but remained largely true to Savonuzzi’s original and dramatic design. They are considered the most sought-after and desirable 8Vs, as they boast the best combination of avant-garde design from the Jet Age. Even today they are stunningly modern and dramatic and turn heads wherever they go. Few cars are so capable of stopping concours crowds in their tracks.
THE LAUVE SUPERSONIC
General Motors designer Henry de Segur Lauve, a concept artist behind the original Corvette prototype and other significant cars, attended the Supersonic design’s official debut at the 1953 Paris Auto Show. Mr. Lauve was struck by the styling of the new model and placed an order for his own, which, finished in white with a blue interior, was shipped from the Genoa docks aboard SS Constitution. Typical of the 8Vs, the car featured exquisite hardware throughout, including the interior with an elaborate Ghia-badged speedometer behind the wood-rimmed steering wheel.
Mr. Lauve contacted Fiat roughly a year later, complaining about difficulties with the engine of his car in everyday use. He received a rather amusing response from the Italian automaker, reproduced in Tony Adriaensens’s book Otto Vu, noting their surprise that he had tried to use the car as a “daily driver,” as it was intended for use by wealthy amateur racing drivers!
Nonetheless, Fiat agreed to supply a new engine, no. 000188, and its ancillary components, on the condition that Mr. Lauve return the original engine, no. 000039. Interestingly, that engine was never returned to Fiat and was subsequently fitted to another 8V Supersonic. At some point before the new engine was installed, Mr. Lauve ran the car with a Chevrolet 283 V-8 under the hood, as remembered by his fellow GM designer Robert Cumberford, who enjoyed many memorable high-speed rides in it through the Detroit suburbs. During this time, the treatment of the car’s flanks was appropriated for the new 1958 Chevrolet, reflecting the attention paid by Mr. Lauve and his fellow designers.
Apparently the 8V Supersonic, with whatever power plant, pleased Mr. Lauve, as he and his family maintained it faithfully longer than almost any other original 8V owner. During their tenure it was refinished in silver, as featured in Otto Vu. It was finally sold by the Lauves in 1991 and was later owned in 1994 by Eric Nielsen of California. The car was subsequently restored in this rich garnet-over-tan combination, with a correct 8V engine, no. 000060, tucked under the hood. The work was beautifully detailed, with the color showing off the elaborate curves of the body and fabulous touches such as smoked glass sun visors and Borrani chrome wire wheels.
Following long-term ownership in a prominent Swiss collection, the car was acquired for the current collection and has remained well maintained since, alongside two other superlative 8Vs. It would certainly be suitable for either enjoying on vintage rallies, such as the California Mille, Colorado Grand, or even the Mille Miglia, but could also be lightly freshened for happy exhibition at further shows and concours.
Few Supersonics have such a well-known, colorful, and fascinating history as the Henry Lauve car—preserved and maintained by a legendary Detroit designer, a man who appreciated the exquisite and advanced styling when he saw it. It is among the greatest treasures of this collection.
This vehicle will be offered without reserve in RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection, taking place 23-24 October as a live and online sale. View additional lots and register to bid online at RMSothebys.com.
For the model year 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible, only 99 examples were created with the 440 Magnum Six Pack. That statistic alone makes the 1970 Challenger R/T Convertible being auctioned by GAA Classic Cars a rare opportunity because it’s one of those 99 examples.
The Challenger R/T Convertible being auctioned comes in the famous Plum Crazy Purple metallic paint with a black interior and black leather bucket seats. Between those seats sits the pistol grip shifter that manages the four-speed manual transmission. Mated to the transmission is the 440 440 CID 3×2 Barrell “Six Pack” Magnum V8 with 390 horsepower on tap. If that isn’t the recipe for a good time in a muscle car, what is?
Other highlights include the Rallye wheels, Goodyear Polyglas tires, dual exhaust with chrome tips, AM radio with 8-track, power brakes, R/T hood with hood tie downs, Rallye instrument cluster, Rim Blow steering wheel and a space-saver tire. GAA Classic Cars note that this purple beast has just 61k actual miles on its odometer.
This lot is one of 650 vehicles offered at GAA Classic Cars’ upcoming auction in Greensboro NC July 23-25. Register to bid online or in-person today!
