As an auto appraisal company, many of the damaged cars in Scottsdale were previously appraised by us and Insured by their owners. We have received lots of feedback from those customers who are now receiving payment on their claims. All have been positive and our customers have express great gratitude for the comprehensive appraisal reports we supplied.
Unfortunately, the area of contention seems to be those vehicles which had inadequate appraisals or no appraisals at all. Because these claims are mostly third party claims determining the prior to loss value will be left up to the insurance companies paying the claims.
A collector-car insurance executive estimated damages to the vehicles could exceed $1.5 million.
As a car guy, he said, it was very sad to see what had happened at the Russo and Steel auction site.
Protect Your Investment. Have it appraised
Unfortunately, the area of contention seems to be those vehicles which had inadequate appraisals or no appraisals at all. Because these claims are mostly third party claims determining the prior to loss value will be left up to the insurance companies paying the claims.
A collector-car insurance executive estimated damages to the vehicles could exceed $1.5 million.
As a car guy, he said, it was very sad to see what had happened at the Russo and Steel auction site.
Protect Your Investment. Have it appraised
02/08/10: What Happened in Scottsdale 2010
Old Cars Weekly Live Online Seminar
Date: February 9, 2010*
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Duration: 1 hour
*You will also have access to the archived version of this seminar for one year!
The Scottsdale, AZ auctions are often considered the "barometer" for the old car hobby and can predict the direction for the hobby in the coming year. So what happened this year? What trends did we see?
Old Cars Weekly's auction gurus, led by Auction Editor Ron Kowalke, were there, crawling under cars, sniffing exhaust fumes and recording the numbers. Register for this live online seminar and get the experts' opinions and find out what really happened. You can also interact with the auction reports and offer your opinions or even ask questions.
Topics include:
• What vehicles were hot? What was not?
• Who is buying?
• Who was selling?
• What will happen in the hobby for 2010?
• What were the steals?
More information
Date: February 9, 2010*
Time: 8:00 pm ET
Duration: 1 hour
*You will also have access to the archived version of this seminar for one year!
The Scottsdale, AZ auctions are often considered the "barometer" for the old car hobby and can predict the direction for the hobby in the coming year. So what happened this year? What trends did we see?
Old Cars Weekly's auction gurus, led by Auction Editor Ron Kowalke, were there, crawling under cars, sniffing exhaust fumes and recording the numbers. Register for this live online seminar and get the experts' opinions and find out what really happened. You can also interact with the auction reports and offer your opinions or even ask questions.
Topics include:
• What vehicles were hot? What was not?
• Who is buying?
• Who was selling?
• What will happen in the hobby for 2010?
• What were the steals?
More information
02/07/10: Super Bowl Special
The football-friendly folks who run the Northeast Classic Car museum in Norwich, New York, are offering a great deal to entice car lovers to view their incredible display of truly rare and very interesting collector cars before the Big Game begins. So on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, when you buy one ticket, you’ll be able to get your car buddy in for free!
Currently there’s a tractor exhibit, featuring Avery, Allis Chalmers and Porsche tractors, in addition to all the more popular brands. Besides being able to view rare Franklins, Packards and Brass Era cars such as Pullmans and a Firestone-Columbus up close, there’s also a fantastic display of vintage aircraft engines. For more details, call 607-334-2886, or check out their website: www.classiccarmuseum.org.
- By Richard Lentinello for Hemmings eWeekly
Hemmings Article
Currently there’s a tractor exhibit, featuring Avery, Allis Chalmers and Porsche tractors, in addition to all the more popular brands. Besides being able to view rare Franklins, Packards and Brass Era cars such as Pullmans and a Firestone-Columbus up close, there’s also a fantastic display of vintage aircraft engines. For more details, call 607-334-2886, or check out their website: www.classiccarmuseum.org.
- By Richard Lentinello for Hemmings eWeekly
Hemmings Article
02/06/10: But How Big Is the Garage?
PHOENIX – So you raised your hand a few more times than you anticipated during the Arizona classic car auction week and you’re going home with more cars than your garage can hold. Maybe it’s time to move.
But how do you find a new place that can accommodate your collection?
I found out while waiting for the RM auction to begin.
“The real estate system for tracking properties ignores garages,” said Bob Cross, who about three years ago established the Car Property Group and the CarProperty.com Web site.
Mr. Cross’s father was a car collector. So were his father’s friends. “Space for their cars was always an issue,” Mr. Cross said.
After establishing his own computer software company, then spending a decade as a consultant, Mr. Cross got a real estate license. In addition to general home sales, he focused on finding properties for car collectors in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area of Northern California. He started his Web site as a resource for those selling or seeking car-oriented homes anywhere in the country, one of the few sites that offer such a service.
He said he found that car enthusiasts with extensive garage space want their homes sold to others with automotive passions. Often, Mr. Cross added, it’s the property owner who pays to advertise on his site.
He said there are about 1,000 properties, vehicles and even some real estate agents who are part of a car property network advertised on his site.
We made a quick visit and saw:
• A 15-car garage and 4-bedroom home for $575,000 in Georgia;
• An 8-car garage and 6-bedroom home for $1.89 million in Colorado;
• A 5 ½-car garage and 6-bedroom house for $2.29 million between Los Angeles and San Diego;
• A vintage café, two gas stations and other buildings on more than 17 acres along old Route 66 for $659,000 in northern Arizona.
As for Mr. Cross, he sold his collector car – a 1968 Jaguar XK-E — about a year ago. Since then, he’s started collecting motorcycles, which don’t demand nearly so much space in the garage.
But How Big Is the Garage?
But how do you find a new place that can accommodate your collection?
I found out while waiting for the RM auction to begin.
“The real estate system for tracking properties ignores garages,” said Bob Cross, who about three years ago established the Car Property Group and the CarProperty.com Web site.
Mr. Cross’s father was a car collector. So were his father’s friends. “Space for their cars was always an issue,” Mr. Cross said.
After establishing his own computer software company, then spending a decade as a consultant, Mr. Cross got a real estate license. In addition to general home sales, he focused on finding properties for car collectors in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area of Northern California. He started his Web site as a resource for those selling or seeking car-oriented homes anywhere in the country, one of the few sites that offer such a service.
He said he found that car enthusiasts with extensive garage space want their homes sold to others with automotive passions. Often, Mr. Cross added, it’s the property owner who pays to advertise on his site.
He said there are about 1,000 properties, vehicles and even some real estate agents who are part of a car property network advertised on his site.
We made a quick visit and saw:
• A 15-car garage and 4-bedroom home for $575,000 in Georgia;
• An 8-car garage and 6-bedroom home for $1.89 million in Colorado;
• A 5 ½-car garage and 6-bedroom house for $2.29 million between Los Angeles and San Diego;
• A vintage café, two gas stations and other buildings on more than 17 acres along old Route 66 for $659,000 in northern Arizona.
As for Mr. Cross, he sold his collector car – a 1968 Jaguar XK-E — about a year ago. Since then, he’s started collecting motorcycles, which don’t demand nearly so much space in the garage.
But How Big Is the Garage?
02/05/10: Giant Drives Classic Fiat 500 – Video
Our office giant drives an original Cinquecento the only way he can: with his head sticking out of the roof.
View the video here:
WHAT IS IT?
It’s a sort-of-convertible version of Fiat’s hot-selling and ever-so-cute small car. We say “sort of” because the cloth top electrically folds back between fixed roof rails, rather than forming the roof structure. It’s just like the fold-back sunroof on the original Cinquecento or a Citroën 2CV. In Europe, the 500C is sold with three engines: a 74-hp, 1.2-liter turbo-diesel; and 1.2- and 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines making 68 and 99 hp, respectively. Manual and automated manual transmissions are available, driving through the front wheels.
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
Pretty nicely, if you’re not aiming to go anywhere in a hurry. We drove an upscale “Lounge” model fitted with the 1.4-liter engine, which is willing but not very powerful, as evidenced by a claimed 0-to-62-mph time of 11.0 seconds. At least the five-speed manual is slick, which is important because you’ll be using it a lot. We also liked the fruity exhaust rasp. If Fiat brings the car to the U.S., we’d advise that the 1.2 be left behind, because it must be about as fleet of foot as Homer Simpson.
WHERE CAN I GET ONE?
Currently, all over Western Europe, priced at the equivalent of about $20,000 when stripped of sales tax for the 1.4 Lounge. The more basic Pop model saves roughly $2000. Of course, one can option a 500C up to the nines, with items such as a full-leather interior, stability control, and an upscale stereo.
It’s very likely to end up on sale in the U.S. in a couple of years, delighting teenage girls (and their moms) everywhere.
-By Mark Gillies
Read the full article here:
View the video here:
WHAT IS IT?
It’s a sort-of-convertible version of Fiat’s hot-selling and ever-so-cute small car. We say “sort of” because the cloth top electrically folds back between fixed roof rails, rather than forming the roof structure. It’s just like the fold-back sunroof on the original Cinquecento or a Citroën 2CV. In Europe, the 500C is sold with three engines: a 74-hp, 1.2-liter turbo-diesel; and 1.2- and 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines making 68 and 99 hp, respectively. Manual and automated manual transmissions are available, driving through the front wheels.
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
Pretty nicely, if you’re not aiming to go anywhere in a hurry. We drove an upscale “Lounge” model fitted with the 1.4-liter engine, which is willing but not very powerful, as evidenced by a claimed 0-to-62-mph time of 11.0 seconds. At least the five-speed manual is slick, which is important because you’ll be using it a lot. We also liked the fruity exhaust rasp. If Fiat brings the car to the U.S., we’d advise that the 1.2 be left behind, because it must be about as fleet of foot as Homer Simpson.
WHERE CAN I GET ONE?
Currently, all over Western Europe, priced at the equivalent of about $20,000 when stripped of sales tax for the 1.4 Lounge. The more basic Pop model saves roughly $2000. Of course, one can option a 500C up to the nines, with items such as a full-leather interior, stability control, and an upscale stereo.
It’s very likely to end up on sale in the U.S. in a couple of years, delighting teenage girls (and their moms) everywhere.
-By Mark Gillies
Read the full article here:
02/04/10: Retromobile: A Little Bit of Everything
PARIS — Retromobile may be Europe’s best old car show. Housed in a hall here at the Porte de Versailles, Retromobile officially celebrates the bicentennial of Peugeot and urban transportation. But the eclectic nature of the exhibits means there’s a little bit of everything spread around the immense pavilion.
The highlight was Saturday’s sale of 99 classic cars by Bonhams. And the star of the stand was a 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia that was salvaged from a Lake Maggiore in Switzerland. The car ended up in the lake in 1936 and was recently recovered. It sold for around $370,000 — nearly three times its high estimate.
Then there was David Townend of Yorkshire, England, who makes and sells clothes for classic-car buffs. “They get the car, and we supply them with the clothes,” he explained. “People come and say, ‘This is the car, what should I wear?’ Bentley guys wear simple clothes, corduroy trousers and Harris tweed. Rolls-Royce owners wear suits.”
-By WILLIAM DIEM for the New York Times
To read more, click here:
The highlight was Saturday’s sale of 99 classic cars by Bonhams. And the star of the stand was a 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia that was salvaged from a Lake Maggiore in Switzerland. The car ended up in the lake in 1936 and was recently recovered. It sold for around $370,000 — nearly three times its high estimate.
Then there was David Townend of Yorkshire, England, who makes and sells clothes for classic-car buffs. “They get the car, and we supply them with the clothes,” he explained. “People come and say, ‘This is the car, what should I wear?’ Bentley guys wear simple clothes, corduroy trousers and Harris tweed. Rolls-Royce owners wear suits.”
-By WILLIAM DIEM for the New York Times
To read more, click here:
The times, they are a changin', and even Ferrari is being dragged into the hybrid scene. We brought you news yesterday that, during the debut of Ferrari's 2010 F10 Formula 1 car, CEO Luca de Montezemolo revealed that a production-ready hybrid version of the 599 would be coming to Geneva. Today we have a preview image of the car leaked to the Web.
The 599 Hybrid is still cloaked in mystery, but previous rumors of the car's Geneva Motor Show debut broke last December, following confirmation last June that a hybrid was in testing. The details dropped then indicate the 599 will keep its V-12 engine, and add a road-going version of the KERS system Ferrari developed--and has now dropped--for F1. It's not clear if the 599 will employ the all-wheel-drive system leaked last summer, but it seems likely.
The benefit is expected to be a 30-percent improvement in fuel economy, from a miserable (but understandable, given the 612-horsepower output) 8.7 mpg to a slightly more tolerable 13.8 mpg. Considering the average Ferrari only sees a few thousand miles per year, however, this is more an exercise in high-tech engineering than in fuel savings.
-By Nelson Ireson for The Car Connection
The Car Connection Article
The 599 Hybrid is still cloaked in mystery, but previous rumors of the car's Geneva Motor Show debut broke last December, following confirmation last June that a hybrid was in testing. The details dropped then indicate the 599 will keep its V-12 engine, and add a road-going version of the KERS system Ferrari developed--and has now dropped--for F1. It's not clear if the 599 will employ the all-wheel-drive system leaked last summer, but it seems likely.
The benefit is expected to be a 30-percent improvement in fuel economy, from a miserable (but understandable, given the 612-horsepower output) 8.7 mpg to a slightly more tolerable 13.8 mpg. Considering the average Ferrari only sees a few thousand miles per year, however, this is more an exercise in high-tech engineering than in fuel savings.
-By Nelson Ireson for The Car Connection
The Car Connection Article
02/02/10: GS Nationals
The annual GS Nationals, held each May in Bowling Green, Kentucky, are more than just drag racing, turbocharged GNs and 455-powered Gran Sports. They’re about Buicks of all types, including Centurys, Electras, Le Sabres, Roadmasters, Skylarks and Apollos, too. This five-day-long Buick love fest, which runs from May 11-15, also hosts a large all-Buick car show on Friday the 14th; there's even a weeklong swap meet.
So whether you own a four-cylinder Skyhawk or a pre-war Super convertible, bring your Buick to the GS Nationals and join the fun. For more information, visit their website: www.gsnationals.com.
- By Richard Lentinello for Hemmings eWeekly
Hemmings Article
So whether you own a four-cylinder Skyhawk or a pre-war Super convertible, bring your Buick to the GS Nationals and join the fun. For more information, visit their website: www.gsnationals.com.
- By Richard Lentinello for Hemmings eWeekly
Hemmings Article
The final numbers are coming in from the top three auto auctions that took place in Scottsdale last week and despite a wave of storms that included winds of more than 60 miles per hour, nearly 4 inches of rain, flash flooding and reports of a tornado...sales dollars were up from last year!
Barrett-Jackson finished with an auction total of $68 million, up from last year's $63 million, with the help of a 1929 Hamilton Metalplane bringing in $671,000, a 1964 Shelby Cobra Roadster at $478,500, and a 1963 Shelby Cobra Roadster at $401,500 being their top sellers.
Gooding & Company hammered out a total of $33.9 million, up from last year's $32.4 million. Its auction broke two price records for specific models, with the sale of the 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer for $1.1 million and the 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport for $1.54 million. But their top seller was a 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer that went for an amazing bid of $3.74 million.
RM Auctions announced that their sale at Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa netted $19.6 million with an 89% sell-through rate which was up compared to 2009 sales of 18 million. Their top sellers included a 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT at $1,001,000, a 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra at $632,500 and a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Tourster for $550,000.00
Russo and Steele was hit hardest by the Thursday nights storms which blew one of the main tents covering the cars off its moorings and made a second tent collapse. It has been estimated that out of the six hundred cars consigned to Russo and Steele, up to 50% of them have some type of damage. So far their highest selling car appears to be $797,500 for a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Series II with the highest bid of $1.4 million coming in for the controversial 1948 Convertible Tucker, not reaching its reserve.
-By Tony and Michele Hamer, About.com Guides to Classic Cars
Full Article
Barrett-Jackson finished with an auction total of $68 million, up from last year's $63 million, with the help of a 1929 Hamilton Metalplane bringing in $671,000, a 1964 Shelby Cobra Roadster at $478,500, and a 1963 Shelby Cobra Roadster at $401,500 being their top sellers.
Gooding & Company hammered out a total of $33.9 million, up from last year's $32.4 million. Its auction broke two price records for specific models, with the sale of the 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer for $1.1 million and the 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport for $1.54 million. But their top seller was a 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer that went for an amazing bid of $3.74 million.
RM Auctions announced that their sale at Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa netted $19.6 million with an 89% sell-through rate which was up compared to 2009 sales of 18 million. Their top sellers included a 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT at $1,001,000, a 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra at $632,500 and a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Tourster for $550,000.00
Russo and Steele was hit hardest by the Thursday nights storms which blew one of the main tents covering the cars off its moorings and made a second tent collapse. It has been estimated that out of the six hundred cars consigned to Russo and Steele, up to 50% of them have some type of damage. So far their highest selling car appears to be $797,500 for a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Series II with the highest bid of $1.4 million coming in for the controversial 1948 Convertible Tucker, not reaching its reserve.
-By Tony and Michele Hamer, About.com Guides to Classic Cars
Full Article
01/31/10: 1952 Waton Roadster by Blastolene
Barrett-Jackson Lot: 1292
When Street Rod builders Randy Grubb and Michael Leeds came across two M47 Patton Tank engines, they immediately bought them and began sketching ideas for cars to build around the massive engines. The 1792cid SOHC aluminum V-12 engine is air-cooled and fed by dual 2-barrel carburetors. Power output is estimated at 910hp and 1500lb-ft of torque. The massive powerplant is mated to an Allison 4-speed automatic transmission that was originally designed to handle the workload of a Greyhound bus. The first Blastolene Special was finished in 2002 and then quickly sold to Jay Leno. This is the second and only other tank powered car built by the artists at Blastolene. The hand-built aluminum body was formed in the spirit of the shark-nosed Watson Roadsters that were very successful at Indy in the '50s and '60s, but nearly twice the size. With a 160" wheelbase and an overall length of 270", it's no wonder that this creation weighs in at 8,400lbs. This wonderful piece of automotive art is very capable on the open road and is a thrill to drive.
This Blastolene was hand built around a 29L 12 cyl Patton tank engine that produces 910hp. The aluminum body was formed in the spirit of a '50s Indy special. Titled as a 1952 UUU Watson Roadster.
When Street Rod builders Randy Grubb and Michael Leeds came across two M47 Patton Tank engines, they immediately bought them and began sketching ideas for cars to build around the massive engines. The 1792cid SOHC aluminum V-12 engine is air-cooled and fed by dual 2-barrel carburetors. Power output is estimated at 910hp and 1500lb-ft of torque. The massive powerplant is mated to an Allison 4-speed automatic transmission that was originally designed to handle the workload of a Greyhound bus. The first Blastolene Special was finished in 2002 and then quickly sold to Jay Leno. This is the second and only other tank powered car built by the artists at Blastolene. The hand-built aluminum body was formed in the spirit of the shark-nosed Watson Roadsters that were very successful at Indy in the '50s and '60s, but nearly twice the size. With a 160" wheelbase and an overall length of 270", it's no wonder that this creation weighs in at 8,400lbs. This wonderful piece of automotive art is very capable on the open road and is a thrill to drive.
This Blastolene was hand built around a 29L 12 cyl Patton tank engine that produces 910hp. The aluminum body was formed in the spirit of a '50s Indy special. Titled as a 1952 UUU Watson Roadster.
