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Automotive Lifestyle
VINTAGE: ’60s Swing At Barrett-Jackson
From mighty muscle cars to some of the quirkiest vehicles on wheels, they’ll all be crossing the block at the Orange County auction.
The 1968 Shelby GT500 fastback has been rotisserie restored to its original condition. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson)
(This story was originally written for the Barrett-Jackson Orange County auction catalog.)
Coming out of the Jet Age style of the 1950s, the ’60s turned into the Space Age with styling more restrained and purposeful, and reflecting more of a high-tech frame of reference.
Most memorably, this was the era when muscle cars reigned supreme, when there seemed to be no limit to engine size or power. The horsepower wars between the Detroit automakers are legendary, while newly minted sports cars and pony cars also vied for supremacy.
Barrett-Jackson auctions are customarily packed with examples of the 1960s style and performance of mighty muscle cars — Corvettes, Mustangs, ‘Cudas and other vehicles of unrestrained automotive euphoria. But also crossing the block are many examples of the sheer quirkiness of the era, featuring some real oddballs with their own strange appeal.
The 2012 Orange County auction continues that trend, offering plenty of choices for the serious muscle car fanatic as well as those with a taste for ’60s style. Southern California is a hotbed of performance-car collectors, and the third annual Orange County auction includes some significant examples of the right stuff.
Take Lot #366, for instance. Here’s a cool ride from the late ‘60s muscle car wars, a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 fastback, a 375-horsepower ground pounder that was treated to an extensive restoration to original. Considered to be the ultimate big-block Mustang, fewer than 900 were built in 1969, and this one with just over 28,000 original miles is about as good as it gets.
The Boss 429 was the result of Ford’s need to qualify 500 examples of its new racing engine for NASCAR competition, and this powerful car was more about running at sustained high speeds on super-speedways than drag-strip performance. It was the most expensive non-Shelby Mustang during its production in 1969 and 1970; now it’s one of the most desirable models for Mustang collectors.
The Boss boasts the extensive performance credentials of its original build, including a four barrel Holley carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, power steering, power brakes and the special wide-track front suspension that’s unique to this model. This restored beauty is painted a gleaming dark red and fitted with Magnum 500 chrome wheels with a black interior that includes bucket seats, console, wood-rimmed steering wheel and an original AM radio.
Another very special example of raw ’60s muscle can be found in Lot #379.1, a 1966 Plymouth Hemi Satellite two-door hardtop fitted with a 426 Hemi V8 and four-speed stick shift. This big beauty with the evocative roofline has undergone a lavish restoration, and it still wears its original California license plates.
Hemi was and still is a magical word for Mopar muscle fans, an all-conquering V8 so named because of its hemispherical combustion chambers. First developed in the 1950s, it ruled race tracks from quarter-mile strips to the big ovals with a mix of exceptional power and reliable durability, setting the mark for later Ford and GM performance engines. A new generation of Hemi-powered muscle machines can be found today in Dodge showrooms.
The street Hemi V8 found under the hood of the Satellite was rated in its day at 425 horsepower, though its real output was really higher than that. The Hemi option for the Satellite was fairly expensive, about $1,000 on top of the car’s $3,000 price tag. As a competitive muscle car, the Satellite Hemi was known not only for its ability to go fast in a straight line but also for its decent brakes and handling that allowed it to go around turns, too.
In addition to 1960s collector cars restored to original condition, Barrett-Jackson also offers a selection of Resto-Mods, which are becoming increasingly popular among collectors for their modern drivability combined with original vintage appearance. A perfect example of this buyer-friendly trend is Lot #357.1, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro custom convertible with less than 100 miles on a full restoration that includes modern performance and convenience.
The Camaro convertible comes with a fresh Chevy 350cid V8 hooked up to a Turbo Hydramatic transmission, power disc brakes, power steering, billet aluminum engine accessories, custom ceramic-coated headers, custom Flowmaster exhaust, tilt steering column, center console and floor shift. There’s a new white convertible top on this Cortez Silver car, along with new upholstery in the classic Chevy houndstooth pattern, all new chrome and trim, plus front and rear spoilers. It stands on 18-inch front and 20-inch rear American five-spoke alloys.
Coming out of the Jet Age style of the 1950s, the ’60s turned into the Space Age with styling more restrained and purposeful, and reflecting more of a high-tech frame of reference.
Most memorably, this was the era when muscle cars reigned supreme, when there seemed to be no limit to engine size or power. The horsepower wars between the Detroit automakers are legendary, while newly minted sports cars and pony cars also vied for supremacy.
Barrett-Jackson auctions are customarily packed with examples of the 1960s style and performance of mighty muscle cars — Corvettes, Mustangs, ‘Cudas and other vehicles of unrestrained automotive euphoria. But also crossing the block are many examples of the sheer quirkiness of the era, featuring some real oddballs with their own strange appeal.
The 2012 Orange County auction continues that trend, offering plenty of choices for the serious muscle car fanatic as well as those with a taste for ’60s style. Southern California is a hotbed of performance-car collectors, and the third annual Orange County auction includes some significant examples of the right stuff.
Take Lot #366, for instance. Here’s a cool ride from the late ‘60s muscle car wars, a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 fastback, a 375-horsepower ground pounder that was treated to an extensive restoration to original. Considered to be the ultimate big-block Mustang, fewer than 900 were built in 1969, and this one with just over 28,000 original miles is about as good as it gets.
The Boss 429 was the result of Ford’s need to qualify 500 examples of its new racing engine for NASCAR competition, and this powerful car was more about running at sustained high speeds on super-speedways than drag-strip performance. It was the most expensive non-Shelby Mustang during its production in 1969 and 1970; now it’s one of the most desirable models for Mustang collectors.
The Boss boasts the extensive performance credentials of its original build, including a four barrel Holley carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, power steering, power brakes and the special wide-track front suspension that’s unique to this model. This restored beauty is painted a gleaming dark red and fitted with Magnum 500 chrome wheels with a black interior that includes bucket seats, console, wood-rimmed steering wheel and an original AM radio.
Another very special example of raw ’60s muscle can be found in Lot #379.1, a 1966 Plymouth Hemi Satellite two-door hardtop fitted with a 426 Hemi V8 and four-speed stick shift. This big beauty with the evocative roofline has undergone a lavish restoration, and it still wears its original California license plates.
Hemi was and still is a magical word for Mopar muscle fans, an all-conquering V8 so named because of its hemispherical combustion chambers. First developed in the 1950s, it ruled race tracks from quarter-mile strips to the big ovals with a mix of exceptional power and reliable durability, setting the mark for later Ford and GM performance engines. A new generation of Hemi-powered muscle machines can be found today in Dodge showrooms.
The street Hemi V8 found under the hood of the Satellite was rated in its day at 425 horsepower, though its real output was really higher than that. The Hemi option for the Satellite was fairly expensive, about $1,000 on top of the car’s $3,000 price tag. As a competitive muscle car, the Satellite Hemi was known not only for its ability to go fast in a straight line but also for its decent brakes and handling that allowed it to go around turns, too.
In addition to 1960s collector cars restored to original condition, Barrett-Jackson also offers a selection of Resto-Mods, which are becoming increasingly popular among collectors for their modern drivability combined with original vintage appearance. A perfect example of this buyer-friendly trend is Lot #357.1, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro custom convertible with less than 100 miles on a full restoration that includes modern performance and convenience.
The Camaro convertible comes with a fresh Chevy 350cid V8 hooked up to a Turbo Hydramatic transmission, power disc brakes, power steering, billet aluminum engine accessories, custom ceramic-coated headers, custom Flowmaster exhaust, tilt steering column, center console and floor shift. There’s a new white convertible top on this Cortez Silver car, along with new upholstery in the classic Chevy houndstooth pattern, all new chrome and trim, plus front and rear spoilers. It stands on 18-inch front and 20-inch rear American five-spoke alloys.
Goodwood Festival Of Speed
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