Arizona Concours d’Elegance – More Classic Winners

As promised here are some more award winners, focused on Detroit born, from the Arizona Concours d’Elegance. This event was held last month on the grounds of the Biltmore Hotel and helped kick off an eventful week of car auctions in the Phoenix, Arizona region. Glad to see this event helps raise money for a great cause as well.

At this show was an entry from Gordon Apker, a noted classic car collector, who unfortunately died recently and was mentioned here. We’ll miss this class act and a knowledgeable classic car enthusiast.

1933 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster – Arizona Concours d’Elegance Winner1933 Auburn Boat Tail

I just love this marquee and the boat tail is instantly recognizable among classic car fans. The paint scheme on this is just eye catching. This Auburn won a Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture Award. The car is a 12-165 Salon Model. Even back then, cars came with over drive like this beauty!

1957 Chevy Bel Air – Arizona Concours d’Elegance Winner1957 Chevy Front View

I wasn’t expecting to see this classic at the Concours, let alone win second for the Post -War American class. It is a traditional convertible and it was freshly restored. Popular paint choice and neat power plant motored this baby along.

1963 Chrysler 3001963 Chrysler 300 Close Up

I was surprised that this didn’t win an award, especially with the focus on the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. But nevertheless it was brought out from the Martin Museum and was originally offered by Chrysler to commemorate the 62 Indy Pace Car honors. Our friends at Old Cars Weekly recently featured a similar car as their car of the week.

1937 Cord – Arizona Concours d’Elegance Winner1937 Cord Front View

Speaking of Auburns, it makes it hard to ignore this Cord. This Westchester is a rare, low production model and was one of the last made before the Auburn Automobile Company closed down in late 1937.

Hope you enjoyed this review. Which was your favorite?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Gordon Apker – RIP to a classy car collector

Gordon Apker

It was announced by Sports Car Market that Gordon Apker died yesterday, February 3, 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ. Apker was a classic car collector and had developed quite a collection. Ironically this past month, the Barrett-Jackson Auction had helped sell some of his automobilia. Gordon Apker, in Barrett-Jackson’s press release was quoted that he wasn’t getting out of the collections and only selling a portion of his collection.

Gordon Apker and Shakey’s

You might not have known Gordon Apker by name but he was the former owner of the Shakey’s Pizza chain. In fact he was so proud of his business that some of his classic cars bore the secondary license plate with Shakey’s logo.Shakeys and Gordon Apker

Gordon Apker’s Classic Cars

Apker’s cars focused on mid 50’s Detroit steel and he exhibited cars at the Arizona Concours d’Elegance

It would seem fitting to recognize Gordon by highlighting the cars he brought out there for the last two years.

Just last month, he brought out his 1957 Oldsmobile, Ninety Eight convertible. This black beauty had the famed Rocket V-8 engine, a 371 cubic inch with three carburetors. I loved the red accent line on this convertible.Gordon Apker 57 Oldsmobile

Last year Gordon Apker showed this green 1952 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight two door hardtop. Not surprisingly both cars took home awards each year from the show.Gordon Apker 52 Oldsmobile Side View

Safe journeys, Gordon Apker.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

Shart Cat 67 Dart by Gas Monkey Garage

Shart Cat Passenger SideShart Cat is the name of Gas Monkey Garage’s 1967 Dodge Dart that was sent out to compete on a modified parking lot in Detroit, Michigan for an eighth mile drag race against Roadkill’s General Mayhem, a Dodge Charger. If you follow the Fast N’ Loud “Reality TV” show on Discovery, you know after some minor technical difficulties, the Dart driven by Aaron Kaufman beat Roadkill by over half a second. That’s time to make a cup of coffee in drag racing time speak.

Shart Cat Tensions

Shart Cat Hellcat Engine
Shart Cat Hellcat engine

In true reality television tension, after rushing to meet the impossible deadline, the Gas Monkey Garage crew made it up for the grudge match against the maker’s of General Mayhem. Naturally there were some technical, last minute problems to create even more drama. But when the lights came on, Kaufman’s foot went down and so did Roadkill’s hope. Roadkill used a 1968 Dodge Charger, also with a Hellcat engine, but without the drag racing standard two-speed Powerglide or trans brake. That lack of engineering and the lighter weight of a Dart probably doomed the Roadkill crew from the starting lights.

Richard Rawlings didn’t waste any time deciding to sell the Shart Cat at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in January, 2016. The TV episodes made it very clear that NOBODY has slapped a new Hellcat engine into anything without transplanting the entire electronic controllers and brains with it. Check out the typed instructions the auction drivers needed to follow to make the Shart Cat play nice.Shart Cat Driving Instructions

Shart Cat Gas Monkey Logo
Logo of Gas Monkey Garage

To be kind the body was rough, but I suspect that the bidders didn’t care about the exterior as much as being able to tout the car as coming from the Gas Monkey Garage stable. Heck Richard didn’t even pop for any expensive vinyl decals or wraps!

Shart Cat Sells

The buyer shelled out a final price with commissions of $74,800 to be able to place this Dodge in their garage. Would you have spent that much?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.