Nostalgia Highway

Groundbreaking 1930s Stout Scarab was 'the first minivan'


Flickr/Wade Brooks

By Jeff Peek
Hagerty Automotive History   

(September 29, 2021) “The world’s first minivan.” Few automotive honors are less sexy than that dubious title. Unless, of course, you look like the 1930s Stout Scarab. The Art Deco, aerodynamic, head-turning multi-passenger vehicle created a stir eight decades ago. Its powers have not waned. Designed and built by engineer William B. Stout, the Scarab’s shape not only resembled the beetle for which it was named, but it also aptly represented what Egyptians believe about the winged insect — that it symbolizes rebirth and renewal. Appropriately enough, Bill Stout did a whole lot of rebirthing and renewing in his day, both before and after the Scarab.

Tags:

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost re-enacts London-Edinburgh run 110 years later

(September 23, 2021) History literally repeated itself recently, as Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1701 re-enacted its astonishing run in the 1911 London-Edinburgh Trial. The car, designed as an "Experimental Speed Car," won the original event locked in top gear for the entire 799-mile return trip between the two capitals. Given the primitive state of Britain's Edwardian roads, its average speed of 19.59 mph was highly impressive — and its then unheard‑of fuel efficiency of over 24 mpg even more so.

Tags:

Barrett-Jackson Houston auction hits $37.5 million led by Cruise car


1979 Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise in "Risky Business"

(September 19, 2021) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.  —  Barrett-Jackson continued at full throttle during the Inaugural Houston Auction at NRG Center in Houston, Texas, this past weekend, with $37.5 million in total sales. Strong prices for collectible vehicles combined with tremendous turnout led to many world auction records and a rising demand for American-made Resto-Mods, quality customs and vehicles with celebrity provenance.

Tags:

Mecum Dallas Collector Car Auction achieves $36.8 million in overall sales


1968 Ford Mustang GT500CR

(September 16, 2021) Mecum Auctions achieved continued success in Dallas this past weekend, with the annual auction event at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas featuring 1,101 cars on offer throughout four days of heated auction action. The Sept. 8-11 event saw overall sales reach $36.8 million as 946 vehicles hammered sold for a strong 86% sell-through rate.

Tags:

Mullin Automotive Museum’s 1934 Voisin C27 Aerosport Coupe wins award

(September 11, 2021) MOLESEY, United Kingdom — The 1934 Avions Voisin Type C27 Aerosport Coupe owned by Peter and Merle Mullin took home the prestigious “Best of Show” award at the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance, which was held at the Hampton Court Palace on Sept. 5.

Tags:

Mecum returns to Las Vegas with 1,000 muscle, collector cars


1959 Chevrolet Impala

(September 10, 2021) Mecum Auctions will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center for its fifth annual collector car auction at the venue this Oct. 7-9 with an estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, exotics, trucks, Hot Rods, customs and more to cross the auction block. The auction is the first of three to be held by Mecum on back-to-back weekends throughout October in what’s been dubbed the October Takeover.  The two auctions to follow will be held in Chattanooga, Tenn., and the Chicago region.

Tags:

American muscle to be featured at Dallas auction


1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429

(August 30, 2021) WALWORTH, Wis. — Mecum Auctions will return to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas Sept. 8-11 with an estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, trucks, exotics, customs and more set to cross the auction block. With an annual auction held in Dallas dating back to 2011, Mecum has consistently found the Texas market to be a strong and welcoming one year after year.

Tags:

Meet the Volkswagen Basis-Transporter, the spartan VW utility truck

(August 25, 2021) Over the years, Volkswagen has produced some recognizable vehicles that have earned their iconic places in the automotive industry. The Volkswagen Basis-Transporter lives at the opposite end of the spectrum as perhaps one of the rarest Volkswagen models ever produced.

Tags:

Crosley Hotshot — Serious contender too few took seriously


1950 Crosley Hotshot

By Robert D. Cunningham
The Old Motor

(August 22, 2021) Powel Crosley, Jr. introduced his two-cylinder roller skate of a car in 1939, followed by slightly larger postwar offerings in 1946. All body styles were strictly practical until he unveiled his exciting new Hotshot on July 13, 1949. “America’s first true postwar sports car” was a bare-bones street racer. Being equipped with few frills allowed dealers to deliver the roadster for as little as $316 down and $7.64 per week, and at only $849, the Hotshot was the least expensive production car in America that year.

Tags:

Mecum Monterey Daytime Auction overall sales reach $57.4 million


1929 Duesenberg Model J

(August 18, 2021)  Mecum Auctions has been holding its annual Daytime Auction in Monterey during the famed Car Week since 2009, and this year’s return to the Del Monte Golf Course on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa marked the company’s most successful Monterey auction to date. As a total of 519 vehicles crossed the block throughout three auction days, Aug. 12-14, 411 cars hammered sold for an exceptional sell-through rate of 80% and total overall sales of $57.4 million.

Tags:

Pages