FULL HOUSE: A collection with something for everyone will cross the block at Palm Beach

March 15, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

Leading the parade of vehicles from the South Florida Collection headed to the Palm Beach Auction is this 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT (Lot #722).

What makes a good car collection? Some collectors focus on a single marque, or a certain period, or maybe a particular category. Some people just like red convertibles. But there’s something to be said for a collection that just assembles an incredible variety of vehicles, like the South Florida Collection that will be offered for sale at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, April 12-15.

1979 Panther Lima Turbo (Lot #613)

These special cars, the majority of which will be offered at No Reserve, run the gamut – everything from 1950s American classics and Ferraris to a 1979 Panther Lima Turbo Convertible (Lot #613) that was built in the U.K. and has traveled less than 4,900 miles from new. Stock restorations share garage space with modified street cruisers, and cars from the U.S., Europe and Japan are represented.

Where to begin with such variety? For fans of traditional American muscle, there’s a black 1967 Oldsmobile 442 (Lot #95) with a red interior, 400ci V8 and automatic transmission. Chevy fans will be pulled to the 1969 Camaro Z/28 (Lot #413), while Pontiac partisans will be giving the 1976 Trans Am (Lot #90) and the 1963 Bonneville convertible (Lot #363) close looks.

1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible (Lot #414.2)

A collector with a discerning eye and looking to make an entrance at social functions might be drawn to the 1949 Cadillac Series 62 convertible (Lot #414.2) being offered. The post-war Series 62 Cadillacs are some of the most enduring designs of the era. In 1948, modest tailfins were incorporated into the Series 62’s profile, setting the table for GM styling for the next decade. The one at Palm Beach is painted Triumph Blue with a deluxe red interior, has a tan power convertible top, power windows, wide whitewalls and its original OHV 331ci V8 – the new modern engine for 1949 – teamed with a Hydramatic transmission. An older restoration, this car has been driven and enjoyed and will supply its new owner with plenty more top-down excursions.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible (Lot #412.1)

Although there are certainly show-quality vehicles in the South Florida Collection, there are also many that were built for driving, not merely basking on the show field. The Medium Blue 1963 custom Corvette convertible (Lot #412.1) offered at No Reserve is turned out in classic street-machine style. With flared fenders, a 350/350hp crate engine, automatic transmission, side exhaust pipes, Vintage Air and a Sony XVN-660BT audio/video navigation system, it’s the perfect companion for cruise night.

1966 Chevrolet Corvette 350/500 Convertible (Lot #412)

Another Corvette aching to be driven is the 1966 Corvette vintage racer convertible (Lot #412). Built to a very high standard, this SVRA Medallion Stingray is powered by a small-block 350 producing approximately 500 horsepower, with a 4-speed manual transmission. Since completion, it has racked up approximately five hours of run time. The car comes with a logbook dating back to the early 1980s, documenting its time in SCCA, SVRA and HSR competition, as well as work performed and troubleshooting. Along the way, the car has carved corners at Watkins Glen, Road America, Daytona and Elkhart Lake, among other famous racetracks. This car is ready to fill many more logbook pages, so interested buyers should dust off their helmets and check the calendar for available track days.

1983 Ferrari 512 BBi (Lot #723)

This collection includes many familiar faces, but some of the cars are the type that rarely show up for sale. One such is a 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi (Lot #723) (Berlinetta Boxer, injected) on offer. The BB series was a major evolutionary step for Ferrari. Rather than using a front-mounted V12, as had been the layout of the Daytona, the 365 GT4 BB and 512 BB variants were laid out with a mid-mounted flat-12 engine configuration. The fuel-injected BB 512i models were introduced in 1981 and continued until the car’s retirement in 1984. A little more than a thousand were built during that span. The car was never officially sold by Ferrari in the U.S., due to the specter of ever-increasing environmental and safety regulations, but enterprising dealers imported and legalized some for the American market.

This particular example being offered at Palm Beach is especially unique. White over cream with impeccable Red Zegna wool inserts, it cuts a striking profile. It has just over 20,000 miles on it, and comes with all books and tools, with the factory radio and equalizer still present.

1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT (Lot #722)

Ferrari was famous for its 12-cylinder supercars, but there was a time when the company made an effort to cultivate a wider audience with a more accessible, affordable – relatively speaking – sports car. That car was the Dino line, which arrived in 1968 in the form of the Dino 206 GT. The Dino was named in honor of Enzo Ferrari’s deceased son. With a compact Pininfarina-designed aluminum body, and a transverse-oriented, mid-mounted 2.0-liter DOHC V6 engine with three two-barrel carburetors, the 206 GT was a different type of animal. Even so, contemporary road tests of the car couldn’t help but note that its engine still sang a snarling Ferrari song.

The Dino 206 GT evolved into the 246 GT, with a more powerful 2.4-liter DOHC V6 behind the seats. The 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT (Lot #722) from the South Florida Collection that will be offered at Palm Beach is a fantastic example of the breed. Rosso (red) over black leather, this car hits all the right Ferrari notes. A documented two-owner California car with just under 42,000 miles, it has Dino Registry provenance. It has been given a high-quality nut-and-bolt restoration, including full engine-out service, and interior detailing down to the correct HVL mouse-hair dash and trim. It even has factory air conditioning and power windows.

These cars will go their own way after the final gavel comes down at Palm Beach, and many of them will help fill out other collections. But for pure variety’s sake, it would be difficult to gather another such diverse assemblage of classics as are found in this South Florida Collection.

For an up-to-date look at all the cars in the South Florida Collection, click HERE.