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1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback in Candyapple Red 1

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback in Candyapple Red

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Update:  Or maybe THIS is the car? This is the car. The one. Perhaps the pinnacle of muscle-car design and culture… a forever car. 1969 BOSS 429.  Candyapple Red.   http://www.nvsaac.com/Details/1969_ford_mustang_paint_colors.htm Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons …

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R223_1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback 13

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 Fastback in Wimbledon White

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This is the car. The one. Perhaps the pinnacle of muscle-car design and culture… a forever car. BOSS 429.   Is it Wimbledon White or Polo White?  The Wimbledon shade was a bit creamier, and we think that is the color code of this rolling erotica. Update: yes, it is Wimbledon White.   Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But …

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1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 6

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30

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Olds 442 W-30! They might not seem like it, but all were very desirable codes in their day…   Cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of lots for sale, and info on how to bid online or in the flesh.   The event is a 9-day extravaganza starting January 15th, 2016. Each of the cars featured has their auction lot numbers in the header section, which may be helpful when tracking them down in advance or on their auction days. Mecum 2016 Auctions Kissimmee, January 15-24, 2016   F156_R235_1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Photos by John Hollansworth Jr., …

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1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe 5

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe

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The L88 Corvette is one of the rarest and meanest supercars ever produced by Detroit. It gives new meaning to the Big Block descriptor, and made all other Camaro’s or Mustang’s into distant specs in your Corvette’s rear-view mirrors.   Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons to showcase in a series of posts today.  Forgive the lack of writeups, please, and cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of lots for sale, and info on how to bid online or in the flesh.   The event is a 9-day extravaganza starting January …

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1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger RT Convertible 1

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger RT Convertible

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Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons to showcase in a series of posts today.  Forgive the lack of writeups, please, and cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of lots for sale, and info …

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1968 Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock 1

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1968 Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock

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The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons to showcase in a series of posts today.  Forgive the lack of writeups, please, and cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of lots for sale, and info on how to bid online or in the flesh.   The event is a …

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Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Tanker 10

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Tanker

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1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Tanker Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons to showcase in a series of posts today.  Forgive the lack of writeups, please, and cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of …

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1970 Ford Torino King Cobra 2

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1970 Ford Torino KING COBRA

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1970 Ford Torino KING COBRA Best name on this Torino King Cobra, as well as some of the most advanced aero sleekness for any musclecar of the era.  But wow.  Stings like real snakebite venom when viewed from the front…!   Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, …

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1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 11

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

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1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons to showcase in a series of posts today.  Forgive the lack of writeups, please, and cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of lots …

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1955/56 Mercedes-Benz 300SC and 300S Roadster Set To Stun RM NYC 2015

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The RM Sotheby’s auction this week is actually a pretty select group. The total list of items is barely 100 pieces, with actual cars about a third of that! But what a group of cars. Some trading carports locally, and some coming and going from abroad. This duo is most likely to head home to Germany. An exceptional 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Coupe, plus its roadster sister from 1956. The pre-sale estimates for these two could not be further apart.  Care to guess which will earn double?   $1.2M vs $600K? It is the roadster. De facto classic car auction rules definitely …

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RM NYC 2015 - 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto 30

RM NYC 2015 – 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto

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Many people cite the Mazda Miata’s inspirations from English roadsters. But the formula was really perfected well before the Lotus Elan, in Italy by a sports-car consortium names S.I.A.T.A. Swapping “S” for “M” and we get to the Miata name! Regardless, this 1954 Siata 208S Spider by Motto wears exclusive alloy engine components and even bodywork, ensuring an ultra-light and nimble application of the 125-horsepower. From a four-cylinder, you assume? So did we. But no! This last-ever Motto Siata 208S runs a 2.0-liter V8 engine with dual Weber carburettors. The formula would later inspire the Shelby Cobra and many a …

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1969 DeTomaso Mangusta by Ghia 18

RM NY 2015 Preview – 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta by Ghia Is Flawless in Sunburst Orange

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DeTomaso was one of a very talented group of ex-Ferrari men who broke out and founded their own dream supercar companies in the early 1960s. Like ISO, Siata, Bizzarrini and Lamborghini, the mid-1960s were sweet to all these new marques. Export markets to the US and elsewhere were all-new possibilities for the firms, and increases in sales were achieved for almost all the brands. Only a few really made it past the tumult of the early 1970s Arab Oil Embargo and new crash/emissions rules coming into force in America, by now dwarfing Europe in overall sales volumes for supercars. Lamborghini …

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1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe 5

1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe – RM Arizona 2016 Preview

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Smooth. Seductive. Tuscan? Look at this stunning 1962 Porsche heading for auction at the RM Arizona 2016 event. Rally-perfect bumper with sunken 901/911 proportions, this machine is a stunning bespoke prototype from APAL studio in 1962. No estimate or description is yet available for the1600 GT Coupe, but it will go without reserve. We’d bring at least $350,000, and perhaps significantly more. 1962 APAL-Porsche 1600 GT Coupe   Photo Credit: David Gooley ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sothebys

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Pebble Beach 2015 – Concours Best in Show Winners & Highlights in 77 Photos

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What a fantastic group of machines! Scrolling through the photos takes you to another place and time, with each more delightful than the last. We’ve gathered the full list of winners by category, as well as some gorgeous photos of many winners. And smartly, this year created a key with each photo’s details! You’ll be lost in pleasure seeing them all basking in classic-car nirvana. Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners   Isotta Fraschini Named Best of Show at 65th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance   2015 Charitable Donations Top $1.8 Million   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August …

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3.2s, 216MPH 1995 Bugatti EB110 SS in Famous Schumi Livery – RM London 2015 Preview

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Thought we had a real scoop here: Michael Schumacher famously bought one of these hypercar heroes in so-called ‘p***y magnet yellow’ in 1994, but this exact car is not his, nor was it ever. The EB110 registry confirms that his chassis number ends in 39020, while this car was built 18 units later as 39038. The performance stats of the EB110 SuperSport are still competitive today, which is a testament to its performance benchmark 20 years ago. This SS is far more than a production “unit” in terms of most vehicle factories. This car sunk more bucks into R&D that …

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1952 Jaguar XK120 SuperSonic by Ghia 33-horz

Jet-Age 1952 Jaguar XK120 SuperSonic by Ghia to Cross Block at RM Monterey 2015

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Here is a vehicle that would have fit right in to the Atlanta High Museum of Art’s ‘Dream Cars’ exhibit along with the Stratos HF Lancia, Ferrari 512 Modulo, GM rocket cars, and nearly a dozen others. The XK120 SuperSonic was Ghia’s special application of their design aesthetic atop a Jaguar. Freed from the limits of mass production, the panels of the SuperSonic could be as wild as imaginable. Just three were ever completed — and helped inform the eventual look of the E-Type by the end of the 1950s — where they apply some of these ideas in a …

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S114_1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback Calypso Coral 15

Mecum July 2015 – Four Flawless Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT500KR Fastbacks

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Humble Harrisburg, Pennslyvannia is ready to feel some Ford V8 rumble this July 30th! These four Mustangs are a highlight of the sale: a gorgeous black GT500KR, lovable red 1969 Mach 1, and a pair of 1970 Mach 1’s in eye-popping Calypso Coral paintwork. The orange twins are a highlight — but can be confusing to tell apart. They have different cabin colors — but adding the auction code prefix just for clarity among prospective owners. They’ll be Mustang experts, of course, and know that one is packing 335HP versus the other at 300HP. Which is which?  It is confusing… …

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1976 Porsche 930 Turbo Steve McQueen 73

1976 Porsche 930 Turbo – Steve McQueen Special on Video + 150 Photos

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    Here is a fantastic way to kick off LeMans weekend: with a fabulous inside look at Steve McQueen’s last special-order Porsche. This 1976 930 Turbo was one of the very first forced-air 911 Carrera’s ever made — and was at least partially put into series production at the urging of the acting and racing badboy. Like McQueen himself, the 911 Turbo would become far more than just a badge or a nameplate. It has come to represent the ultimate in man over nature; speed against all odds, and the joys of being a badass. How badass? McQueen had …

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Musclecar Origin Story – 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe

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There is some debate as to what was the first American Musclecar. The Mustang certainly takes most of the glory in launching this new segment, but a few important machines paved that road first with big, affordable power. The Bonneville launched in 1958 but really became unique and special in 1959 and 1960 – with a wide-track design that stood apart from similar cars from the GM R&D trenches. And though it looks huge today, this 1960 is actually a drastic lightweight-ing of the previous models, like this 1958 example below. In fact, the Bonneville became the blue-collar hero of …

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1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage 5

RM London 2015 Preview – 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage

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What to say about this extra-special DB2 Vantage — with its stunning primer whitewash and flat black spokes screaming 2015 loud and clear! 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage RM Sotheby’s London 7 September 2015 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Chassis no. LML/50/19 Engine no. LB6V/50/240 Photo Credit: Tim Scott ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s 125 bhp, 2,580 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine, twin SU HV6 carburettors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with trailing link, coil springs and Armstrong lever dampers, live Salisbury rear axle with coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 2,515 mm. The very first Aston …

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2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione 1

RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione

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Ferrari Challenge cars are brutal, hardcore and seriously extreme. If your senses have been dulled by supercars as daily drivers, these cars are a harsh wakeup call to the terror and glory of a true racecar. It is extremely rare to see one with the most current technology come up for sale, and this 458 Challenge Evo is basically brand new. It just returned to the US from Maranello, where it was upgraded to the quickest ‘Evo’ form with new mechanicals and aero updates via all-new nose and tail. Before that voyage, it only had a few hours of total …

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RM Monterey 2015 – Pinnacle Portfolio: Up Close With 21 Exotic-Car Icons

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Get ready to move some funds around! RM Sotheby’s just revealed a new entry into the 2015 Monterey classic auction: the Pinnacle Portfolio. 20 of the most desirable and collectible modern and classic supercars. Maserati MC12, McLaren F1 LM Road Car, Ferrari F40 LM and regular, 250GT’s, CCXR Koenigsegg…. the list really is drool-worthy. Each is likely to draw a unique type of buyer, despite them all coming from one very large home before. Check out the high-res preview photos of 21 Pinnacle cars below. RM Monterey 2015 – Pinnacle Portfolio 2015 – Monterey – The Pinnacle Portfolio 1994 Ferrari …

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1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi 1

RM Monterey 2015 – 1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi

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If there is one car that truly defies what we call the “Lambo GT curse,” it would be this stunning 400GT Islero S. Somehow escaping the frumpy style decisions of the earlier 350GT and too-large 1970s GT cars, the 400GT is a fantastic coupe style statement with V12 power up front and a leather-wrapped 2+2 cabin with real trunk out back. You can tell that the 400GT Islero S is a real timeless classic because its style almost directly previews the designs of 1980s sports coupes from around the world. The Ferrari 400i and 412i from the early 1980s would …

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1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1aa

Mecum Kissimmee Preview – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

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When it comes to Camaro’s from the 1960s, there are two things two know: — far fewer survive than their Mustang counterparts — the (authentic) high-performance models are even more exceptionally rare. They make Shelby GT350 and GT500 models look like a dime a dozen To find a near-flawless example like this 290-horsepower TurboFire V8 is quite special indeed. 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Photos by Jeremy Cliff Courtesy of Mecum Auctions Auction Schedule Seller’s Check-in: 8 AM – 6 PM Tuesday January 13 through Thursday January 15 Preview: Gates open 8 AM daily January 16 through January 25 Auction: VEHICLES: …

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gts

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1996 Dodge Viper GTS

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1973 charger rt

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger RT – Lot R216

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee - Lot R212

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee – Lot R212

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1970 Buick GSX

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Buick GSX

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Switching it up briefly — this fly-yellow Buick GSX stunner also lived in the Wellborn stables… A note here about “badge engineering.” Sure, badge engineering got a bad reputation and still has one in the auto business. But it was not always about shameless profit-seeking. It was about dealerships demanding a cool their-brand version of whatever popular car came out of these companies. This stemmed ultimately from buyer’s outcry for the same thing. In a time of fierce brand loyalties among whole families, they were much less likely to jump ship to a Dodge if they had traditionally owned Buicks. …

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1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda

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  The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection   If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better …

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1970-Dodge-Challenger-TA22

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Dodge Challenger TA

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The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

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1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

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The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

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1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

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The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered for …

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1984 Audi Sport Quattro

RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1984 Audi Sport Quattro

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  Why so many auction articles, I hear you asking. Auctions are one of the only appearances of extremely rare and coveted classics, and the photos and bios prepared as owners ready their beauties for sale are some of the best out there. Because whoever buys the car will absolutely adore it and think of it constantly, the pricest ones expecting above $100,000 are truly gussied up for the occassion. It is the equivalent of the Oscars for vintage automobiles — and this is the red carpet. Few rally cars have as much lasting impact as the Audi Sport Quattro …

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