Lot No. 2069 – 1959 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
No Reserve. Auction estimate: $20,000 – $25,000; moto+match estimate: $24,000
Offered here is a beautifully restored 1959 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible finished in delightful colors and accented with chrome bumpers and trim. The beige interior seats, carpets and door panels are very nicely presented, along with an underdash parcel package tray and an AM radio. The highly-detailed engine is a flat four-cylinder backed with a manual transmission. The car is riding on bias-ply wide whitewall tires with painted steel wheels and stainless hubcaps. The front suspension has kingpins with traverse torsion bars, rear swing axles with trailing arms and torsion bars and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. This beautiful Volkswagen convertible has a fun and tidy look that is sure to bring many miles of enjoyment.
Lot No. 3011 – 1985 Bitter SC 3.9 Coupé
No Reserve. Auction estimate: $8,000 – $15,000; moto+match estimate: $18,000
The 1985 Bitter SC offered here is fitted with a 3.9-liter inline six-cylinder that is rated at 207-hp and connected to an automatic transmission. The car has alloy wheels, power steering, brakes, windows, radio and air conditioning. The outside of the car is painted in grey with a nicely accenting red interior. It is 1 of 462 ever built.
Lot No. 3029 – 1959 Hillman Minx Three-Way Convertible
Auction estimate: $12,000 – $16,000; moto+match estimate: $10,000
Hillman performance was greatly increased for 1959 with the adoption of a then new, modern engine design, in which the inline four-cylinder engine had a greater power output for higher cruising speeds without sacrificing economy. The car also had a higher rear end gear ratio, plus changes to make the car more quiet and smooth. The ultra-smart radiator grille design added a new distinction to the long, low and graceful lines of the Hillman’s styling. The interior was also touted as being found with elegance and period luxury. This seldom-seen model has a three-speed manual transmission to go along with the four-cylinder powerplant. The Hillman also has a unique three-position convertible top and new radial tires. The car is reported to be a good running machine and also nice to drive.
Lot No. 3040 – 1960 Chevrolet El Camino
Auction estimate: $40,000 – $50,000; moto+match estimate: $40,000
On the automotive scene, 1960 saw Ford boasting an all-new body style, while the best their arch-rival, Chevrolet, could do (besides launching the revolutionary Corvair) was to offer refined versions of their new-for-‘59 models. One of which was the full-size El Camino car/truck hybrid, available in its second and last year. The idea of a car body and chassis integrated with a pickup bed was not new, and it was not very popular, either, with only 14,163 units finding buyers. Still, they were attractively styled and did offer the comfort of a car with the practicality of a light-duty pickup.
This sharp blazing red example has been extensively restored to a high standard and exhibits only a few very minor paint chips. Its contrasting white top, whitewall tires and chrome bed rails combine to make it even more distinctive. The chrome and stainless trim pieces have been refinished or restored to match the quality of the rest of the vehicle. Inside, more evidence of a top-notch restoration, with exceptional red and white houndstooth upholstery, as-new carpeting and a gleaming body-colored dash that features both radio and clock. A tried-and-true Chevy 283-cid V-8 with a Powerglinde automatic provides the go, and these too have been completely restored and detailed. The chassis and undercarriage are of the same high standards, showing only very minor signs of wear. All in all, this is an outstanding fully restored example of Chevy’s unique 1960 El Camino and is as distinctive and eye-catching today as it was when it rolled out of the dealer’s showroom.
Lot No. 3131 – 1968 Fiat Dino Spider
Auction estimate: $70,000 – $80,000; moto+match estimate: $100,000
Named after Enzo Ferrari’s Son, Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, the Fiat Dino has a very close relationship to the ever popular 246 Dino (or Ferrari Dino). While the entire goal was to be able to homologate the potent 2.0-liter V-6 developed by Alfredo Ferrari, it ended up a very large success on the road, just as much on the track. While Formula 2 cars sported an intense version of the 2.0-liter and later 2.4-liter version’s of the Dino V-6, it was the vast production of road cars and the masses that benefited from what was truly excellent engine technology of the time. Offered from 1966-1973 in two different series in both Coupe’ and Spider format the Fiat Dino was indeed bang for the buck amongst Italian car enthusiasts. It performed nearly the same as the 246 Ferrari Variant, but for far less and far more usable.
The example on offer here, a 1968 Fiat Dino Spider, Chassis # 135AS0000602 is the 602nd example produced and is considered a Series 1 2.0-liter version. Precise history is not known however we know from a few photos and various documentation in the trunk that by the 1980’s it was with a collector in Texas who was an avid Fiat Dino Club Member. By the early 1990’s the car received a total restoration as seen in a few accompanying photos. The nut and bolt restoration was carried out by World Motors Inc. of Austin, TX, reportedly to very high standards at the time. By 2004 it had migrated to an Italian Car Collector in Sellersville, PA where it was regularly enjoyed, shown, and cared for. Today the car has aged nicely to that of a driver quality example that reportedly runs and drives well, sounds fantastic and makes wonderful power thanks to its four cams and three Weber carburetors. Power to the wheels is by way of a five-speed gearbox that has a very nice feel and well defined gear selection. Cosmetically the car is very presentable as an example that could easily be shown, driven, and equally enjoyed during either. The Pininfarina designed body offers proportionate lines and a very comparable styling to any of Ferrari’s offerings of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
This Dino is a solid and complete example that has had the benefit of a restoration which has been proven by being driven and enjoyed. Complete with a tool kit, jack, spare, and various accompanying documentation this is an opportunity in the collector car world to acquire a famous name and lineage to a comparable car that is now rapidly approaching the $500,000 marque, the Ferrari 246 Dino. Comparable performance, styling, and all of the right attributes these little Dino’s will surely prove to be a wise addition to any collection.
