1960 AUSTIN-HEALEY SPRITE
SHANNONS SYDNEY SUMMER CLASSIC
by Shannons
65 Reserve Road
St. Leonards, Sydney
Austraila
+61 (0) 13 46 46
photo credit: © 2017 Shannons
Tuesday
ENGLAND ON THE 5TH
1979 HONDA CB400/FOUR
CLASSIC AND VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
by Charterhouse
The Long Street Salesroom
Sherborne, Dorset
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1935 812 277
photo credit: © 2017 Charterhouse
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 3RD
BMW R69S
EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 3RD
1936 BMW 329
EXCLUSIVE CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo creditL © 2017 Catawiti
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 2ND
1972 INTERMECCANICA-INDRA SPIDER
ITALIAN CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
Monday
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 1ST
1993 JAGUAR XJS
MODERN CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
Sunday
VARIOUS LOCATION ON THE 31ST
1947 SALOLEA 47
CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
Thursday
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 27TH
1969 HONDA MONKEY Z50Z
MINI-BIKE AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 27TH
1974 FIAT 124
CLASSIC RACING CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
ENGLAND ON THE 27TH
1934 AUSTIN SEVEN
CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by SWVA
SWVA Auction House
61 Ringwood Road
Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1202 745 466
photo credit: © 2017 SWVA
Monday
NEVADA ON THE 26TH
1954 VINCENT COMET SERIES C
THE LAS VEGAS MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
featuring The Corbin Collection
The Larry Bowman Collection
The Larry Klein Collection
The Silverman Museum Racing Collection
featuring The Corbin Collection
The Larry Bowman Collection
The Larry Klein Collection
The Silverman Museum Racing Collection
by Bonhams
RIO Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
1-415-861-7500
photo credit: © 2017 Bonhams
NEVADA ON THE 25TH
LAS VEGAS
featuring The Milt Ferry Motorcycle Collection
The Jack "The Bear" Coonrod Collection
Guy Webster's Italian Masterpiece
A Major East Coast Collection
The Buddy Stubbs Collection
The LaQuay Motorcycle Collection
The Dr. J. Craig Venter Collection
The Dick Shappy Collection
The Steve McQueen Collection
The Gerrit Wolsink Collection
by Mecum
South Pointe Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
1-262-275-5050
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 23RD
1973 MOTO MORINI 350GT
MOTORCYCLES & MOPEDS
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
Thursday
I AM THRILLED
Everybody knows that Felipe Massa is one of my favorite drivers, currently anyway. Last year at the end of the season he retired from the Williams Formula One Team with 250 races under his belt. His teammate at Williams, Valtteri Bottas, has the chance of a lifetime to move to Mercedes. This move leaves another seat open at Williams. Their other new driver, Lance Stroll, is a rookie at 18 years old. Williams, in their wisdom, wanted an experienced driver and who better than to bring back Massa out of retirement. The team knows him, they know what to expect from each other. A win, win. A one year only deal. I am happy to see him back.
photo credit: © 2017 SkySportsNews.com
Tuesday
ARIZONA ON THE 20TH
THE SCOTTSDALE AUCTIONS
by Gooding and Company
Fashion Square Mall
Scottsdale, Arizona
1-310-899-1960
Sunday
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 19TH
1995 HONDA VF 750
MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
ARIZONA ON THE 19TH
1932 ROLLS-ROYCE
THE SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
by Bonham
Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
Scottsdale, Arizona
1-415-861-7500
photo credit: © 2017 Bonhams
ARIZONA ON THE 19TH
1967 JEEP CJ-5
ARIZONA IN JANUARY
by Silver
Fort McDowell Resort and Casino
Fort McDowell, Arizona
1-800-255-4485
photo credit: © 2017 Silver
Saturday
ARIZONA ON THE 18TH
1953 BANDINI 750
SCOTTSDALE 2017
featuring The Missoula Auto Museum Collection
featuring The Missoula Auto Museum Collection
by Russo and Steele
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
Scottsdale, Arizona
1-602-252-2697
photo credit: © 2017 Russo and Steele
ARIZONA ON THE 18TH
SCOTTSDALE AUCTION
by Worldwide
6460 East McDowell Road
Scottsdale, Arizona
1-260-925-6789
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 18TH
1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL
MODERN CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
Friday
R.I.P. - VICTORY MOTORCYCLES
VICTORY
Polaris
Industries announced that it plans to halt production of Victory
Motorcycles. The motorsports firm, which manufacturers vehicles as
diverse as ATVs, side-by-sides, snowmobiles, and the unique three-wheeled Slingshot,
will assist dealers in selling off current Victory inventories and will
continue to supply parts for ten years. Polaris says it will honor
service and warranty coverage for Victory owners and dealers, too.
It would appear that Polaris wants to redirect resources to the Indian Motorcycle brand,
which it acquired in 2011 and has experienced significant growth since.
In the announcement, Polaris also cited Slingshot as a brand that would
benefit from cutting loose Victory, which has "struggled to establish
the market share needed to succeed and be profitable.
The
Minnesota-based company started building Victory Motorcycles in 1997,
with the first sales in 1998, in an attempt to capitalize on the success
of Harley-Davidson and sell heavier, American-manufactured touring
bikes. Since purchasing Indian Motorcycles six years ago, however,
Polaris has had another outlet to build big, American baggers and
cruisers-ones that carry an iconic name that is more than a century old.
Polaris
apparently decided it doesn't make sense to have two brands producing
similar motorcycles, marketed at similar audiences.
photo credit: © 2017 Victory Motorcycles
edited text credit: © 2017 Popular Mechanics
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 17TH
1977 HONDA CB750K
CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 16TH
1967 MUSTANG
CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
Monday
THE NETHERLANDS ON THE 14TH
1964 PORSCHE 356 SC
GRANDES MARQUES
by COYS
MECC
Forum 100
Maastricht, The Netherlands
+44 (0) 208 614 7888
photo credit: © 2017 COYS
ENGLAND ON THE 14TH
1931 CADILLAC
AUTOSPORT
by COYS
NEC
Birmingham
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 208 614 7888
photo credit: © 2017 COYS
ARIZONA ON THE 14TH
1930 FORD
SCOTTSDALE
featuring The Salon Collection
The Charlie Thomas Collection
by Barrett-Jackson
Westworld of Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
1-480-421-6694
sphoto credit: © 2017 Barrett-Jackson
Sunday
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 13TH
1980 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 13TH
1969 CORVETTE STINGRAY
AMERICAN CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
NORTH CAROLINA ON THE 13TH
1932 FORD
CAROLINA IN JANUARY
by Tom Mack
Cabarrus County Arena & Events Center
Concord, North Carolina
1-888-TOM MACK
photo credit: © 2017 Tom Mack
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 12TH
1983 PORSCHE 911 SC 3.0
PORSCHE CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
ENGLAND ON THE 12TH
SPARTAN ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER
UNITED KINGDOM MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 UK Ministry of Defense
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 11TH
1981 BMW 320
MODERN CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
Friday
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 9TH
1961 AUSTIN-HEALEY MK II
CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE 6TH
1950 MG TD
EXCLUSIVE CLASSIC CARS
by Catawiki
ONLINE AUCTION
photo credit: © 2017 Catawiki
OH, OH!
A two-year-old European Union high court ruling became the center of controversy in the United Kingdom last month after racers there raised an alarm that the ruling’s unintended consequences could decimate motorsports there and across Europe.
Lambasted for potentially requiring owners and operators of every motorized vehicle from mobility scooters to bumper cars to race cars to obtain liability insurance for their vehicles, the European Court of Justice’s September 2014 ruling in the case of Vnuk v. Triglav (in which a farm worker, injured from a fall off a ladder caused by a tractor, initially found he could not collect an insurance payout from the tractor’s motor vehicle policy) found that the EU’s 2009 Motor Insurance Directive did not clearly distinguish between on-road and off-road use (partly as a result of inadequate translations) and therefore, any motor vehicle – regardless of its use on public or private property – must be insured.
The issue came to light last month after the UK’s Department for Transport initiated a process for merging the Vnuk ruling into UK law. That, in turn, set off a number of condemnations of the Vnuk ruling, including a widely distributed press release from the Motorcycle Industry Association and the Motorsport Industry Association, a petition asking the UK government to refuse to implement the ruling, and criticism from a number of UK officials.
It is important to realise that Vnuk is not an item of forthcoming legislation which can be lobbied against or amended, but an actual ruling of Europe’s highest court, with no further avenues for appeal possible. Vnuk is set in stone and cannot be changed. It requires third party damage and injury insurance to be in place for all mechanically propelled vehicles when used at any time, for any purpose and in any place. This includes motorsport vehicles.
The insurance industry has made it clear to government that third party risks for motorsport activities are uninsurable, not least because of the sheer number of potential vehicle damage claims that would arise. Therefore, if implemented, the Vnuk judgment would wipe out all legal motor and motorcycle sport activity.
Though the UK voted to leave the European Union last year, it remains subject to the EU’s laws until it officially separates from the EU.
The Department for Transport, in considering the Vnuk ruling, outlined three options: do nothing, require insurance for all on- and off-road motor vehicles according to the Vnuk ruling, or wait until the European Commission revises the Motor Insurance Directive. Department for Transport officials noted that they preferred the latter as it would mitigate the effects of the Vnuk judgment – most notably it would mean that use of vehicles on private land would not be in scope of the Directive.
Indeed, as motorcycle journalist David Emmett pointed out and as the Department for Transport noted in its assessment, the European Commission has already started to address the Vnuk ruling. Specifically, the EC began a review of the Motor Insurance Directive in August that contradicted the Vnuk ruling by claiming “the scope of the Motor Insurance Directive should be limited to the use of vehicles in the context of traffic.”
As the EC noted in the review, the Motor Insurance Directive does allow individual countries to exempt certain motor vehicles from the insurance requirement as long as payments from all other vehicles covers the exempted vehicles; individual countries could thus theoretically exempt all off-road vehicles from the insurance requirement, resulting in higher premiums for all on-road vehicles in that country.
However, the EC review also proposed amending the Motor Insurance Directive either to limit its definitions to include only the use of vehicles in traffic and on public roads or to specifically exclude certain vehicles – including race cars – from the directive and thus allow them to operate off public roads uninsured.
While the EC’s review was set to wrap up last fall, it remains under consideration. The UK’s consideration of the ruling, prompted in part by a lack of action on the EC review, will run through March. UK residents can comment on the Department for Transportation’s consideration at Gov.UK.
photo credit: © 2017 Goodwood Estate
edited text credit: © 2017 Daniel Strohl via Hemmings
CRYSTAL BALL FOR 2017
SOMEONE'S CRYSTAL BALL
Thankfully,
we’ve survived another trip around the sun, which means it’s time once
again for our annual gaze into the crystal ball, which smells
suspiciously of carb cleaner (reminding us to use a fresh shop rag to
wipe it down next year). For the year that was, Mr. Dickens summed it up
best by saying, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…”
As is tradition, we’ll begin with a look back at our accuracy rate for 2016 predictions:
- Eighties cars will continue to grow in demand – and price. We’ll score this in the “correct” column for demand, though prices certainly haven’t begun to appreciate in a significant manner, Ferrari and air-cooled Porsche models excepted. A new generation of collectors is entering the hobby, and to many of them, it’s the cars from the ’80s that bring back memories of youth. It isn’t likely that a Reagan-era Dodge Caravan will out-price a Volkswagen 21-window Samba bus any time soon, but we’ve learned to never say never.
- Look for Japanese family cars from the 1960s-’80s to climb in value. This falls into the “neither correct nor incorrect” category. Prices are certainly up on well-preserved examples, but the same can be said for cars of the period originating in just about any country. If a car evokes memories of childhood, there’s probably a market for it, and as demand outstrips supply, prices rise. In the case of Japanese family cars from the 1960s – ’80s, this rise was neither as sudden nor as dramatic as we expected.
- Demand for vintage hot rods will increase. Correct, with a caveat. Hot rods built to someone else’s taste with radical paint, modern drivetrains and updated suspension remain a mixed bag, selling for impressive numbers only when the right buyer is found. On the other hand, period-correct cars built with bangers or flatheads enhanced with vintage speed parts are becoming more sought-after, which also translates to more expensive.
- Expect an upswing in vintage motorcycle prices. Check. Not only have prices for prewar bikes risen, the number of auctions selling vintage iron have increased as well. Perhaps motorcycles, traditionally built in smaller numbers, are seen as a safer investment than collector cars, or perhaps buyers are simply yearning for a time when bikes were little more than two wheels, an engine, and a bit of chrome.
- The glory days of the American V-8 are winding down. Not even close to correct on this, although it’s hard to say what the future has in store. In 2016, at least, the V-8 was safe, and having spent time in both the new Shelby GT350 Mustang and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, better than it’s ever been. Armed with a big enough account balance, one can walk into a domestic car dealership and buy a V-8-powered pony car that puts down 707 horsepower, or one that revs to 8,200 RPM and still meets emissions numbers. If that’s not proof that this is a great time to be alive, we don’t know what is.
Housekeeping out of the way, let’s move on to our predictions for 2017
THE BARN FIND
Yes,
a car is only original once, but on the other hand, driving a classic
car should not come with a risk of tetanus or hantavirus. In the past
three years, “barn finds” have grown from an eccentric offshoot of the
auction business to an expected norm, with prices rising to
mind-boggling levels. As functional cars, such vehicles often need
extensive work to make them road-worthy, making an already expensive
purchase even more of a financial risk. As art, few will appreciate
thick dust (enhanced with authentic, period-correct bat guano),
mouse-eaten upholstery and dry-rotted rubber. We say 2017 is the year
that buyers begin to realize that a well-restored car may actually be
more desirable than one showing decades of neglect.
PEAK "GARAGE TELEVISION"
Each
year, it seems, brings with it another scripted “reality television”
show about a long-suffering shop owner, tormented by inept employees and
overbearing customers, forced to perform a ground-up restoration on a
one-of-one Hemi Superbird with the factory incense burner and the Coyote
Fur interior, with less than a week remaining before SEMA, MCACN, the
Pillsbury Bake-Off, or some such event. In case you didn’t already know
this, there is no “reality” in “reality television,” and the appeal of
such shows has worn as thin as the chrome finish from a rattle can.
Maybe this is little more than wishful thinking on our part, but we’d
really like to believe the days when every channel with a leaning-male
demographic shows endless reruns of this drivel are coming to an end.
TRANSAXLE PORSCHE
A
rising tide raises all boats, and skyrocketing values for air-cooled
Porsche 911s have driven up prices of 912s and, to a lesser degree,
914s. Though prices seem to have stabilized somewhat in the past year,
the days of the affordable 911 seem to be behind us. Fortunately for
driving enthusiasts yearning to own a car with the Porsche crest, the
Stuttgart automaker’s transaxle models (924, 944, 928 and 968) remain
relative bargains, though we don’t expect this to last forever. Buy one
in the next year or so, or be prepared to kick yourself five years down
the line.
DITTO FOR FIRST-GENERATION MIATA
Used
first-generation (NA, in Mazda-speak) Mazda Miatas, built from
1989-’97, used to be plentiful and cheap, as few enthusiasts understood
exactly how good these cars were, even in stock form. As more people
came to understand this (and as the SCCA’s Spec Miata series exploded in
popularity), the pool of available first-gen cars began to grow ever
smaller. Today, it seems, there are just two kinds of NA Miatas left:
the inexpensive ones, often heavily modified or suffering from terminal
rocker-panel rust, and the collector examples, remarkably well-preserved
and priced accordingly. Fortunately for those seeking an affordable
sports car, the second-generation (NB) Miatas remain somewhat more
abundant (and affordable), while the third-gen cars (the roomiest and
most powerful normally aspirated examples) are now dipping into the
realm of the affordable. If you’ve got your heart set on an NA, be aware
that prices won’t be coming down in the future – buy the best example
you can afford, as soon as you find it.
photo credit: © 2017 Mr. Muggles
edited text credit: © 2017 Kurt Ernst via Hemmings
Monday
FLORIDA ON THE 6TH
1949 CADILLAC
COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION
by Dave Rupp
War Memorial Auditorium
Holiday Park
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1-561-533-7945
photo credit: © 2017 Dave Rupp
FLORIDA ON THE 6TH
KISSIMMEE
featuring The Lifelong Collection of Don Fezzel
The Jackie and Gary Runyon Collection
The Dale Reed Collection
The Jonathan Krantz Collection
The Coltz Neck Collection
The Bobby Williams Collection
The Tom Lembeck Collection
Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection
The Don Garlits Collection
The Cal Gray Collection
by Mecum
Osceola Heritage Park
Kissimmee, Florida
1-262-275-5050
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