THREE EXTRAORDINARY CONVERTIBLES: A sampling of the many great drop-tops heading to this week’s Palm Beach Auction
April 12, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
There’s quite possibly no other type of car more suited to the balmy climes of the Sunshine State than the convertible, and there are some prime examples on offer at this year’s Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction. Here are just a few.
1961 Chevrolet Corvette (Lot #376)
The 1961 Corvette looked a lot more than just one year newer than the 1960 model it replaced. Gone was much of the excessive chrome for which 1958 through 1960 ’Vettes seemed more famous than the Golden Fleece of performance itself. The new ’61 lost the chrome trim rings around the headlights, which left them looking far more integrated and modern on the fenders. The grille insert was no longer filled with chrome teeth and now appeared more functional, even sleeker. But perhaps the best part was the influence on the car’s aero back end, thanks to the not-yet-introduced 1963 Stingray.
This means the 1961 Corvette should be considered an extraordinary collectable. Of course, it would demand just the right options and color, and be in perfect condition for that to be true. In other words, it would have to be just like this one. According to the consignor, this example has matching numbers with correct date codes.
A build date of November 18, 1960, means you instantly become Tod or Buz from the iconic ’60s TV series “Route 66” the moment you buy this Corvette and point it anywhere towards the Mother Road (or drive it over the A1A Bridge to Palm Beach). A dual-quad 283 is an iconic experience and sensation when it comes to early ’60s Corvettes. This induction system was a reasonably inexpensive and practical method to noticeably bump up horsepower. There was also no better way to gain instant credibility on the streets than by packing a pair of quadsunder the hood.
If that wasn’t enough, inline dual quads looked absolutely stunning on top of any V8 engine. Their intake noise at full throttle sounded like the hammers of Thor and his seven brothers. That’s what we called an “audio system” back then. Raising and lowering the engine volume comes about as a result of a four-speed Muncie transmission. It’s an added touch of personality to the machine that would someday be king.
By 1961, sports car enthusiasts everywhere were beginning to realize the Corvette was no longer what some called a weak attempt by Chevrolet to match European performance standards. After all, world-class competitors are not produced overnight. They are developed over time. For car lovers on this side of the Atlantic, living with the evolution of the Corvette to its present-day juggernaut status is a source of great delight and pride. Owning a piece of living history like this particular car makes you an intricate part of that history for as long as you like.
1957 Ford Thunderbird “E” (Lot #391)
Almost 60 years after it was produced, the 1957 Thunderbird still stirs the souls of everyone who comes in contact with one. There is not a single event where this particular T-Bird wouldn’t make you the star of the evening just by arriving in it. The car is historic, futuristic and beautiful all at the same time.
What better color combination for such a respected automotive icon? The flashes of red and chrome say performance, while the white interior drips of elegance and style. This car’s chrome wire wheels by Kelsey Hayes, along with wide whitewalls, beautifully support the idea that the ’57 T-Bird was conceived to be noticed by everyone.
The red ’57 T-Bird that practically starred in the private eye series called “Vega$” in the late ’70s, along with the white ’57 everyone remembers from “American Graffiti,” have shown how ingrained these cars have become into the DNA of our automotive culture.
Most people assume the mid-1950s Thunderbird was more relaxed and civilized than the Corvette from the same period. But despite its style and apparent good upbringing, the 1957 Thunderbird was also a very bad boy at the same time. It often hung out with those hooligans who caused so much commotion on the Bonneville Salt Flats and Daytona Beach – strutting around looking for trouble with its bullet-shaped headlight covers and aerodynamic driver’s side head rest fairing.
In the mid to late ’50s, twin four-barrel carburetors were commonly used by the factories to boost any V8’s horsepower numbers. This ’Bird is equipped with Ford’s E-code version of this performance option. They were often referred to as “teapot” carbs because of their appearance. Be that as it may, only 1,499 Thunderbirds were bestowed with these badges of courage and honor.
The factory-option 312ci Y-block in this particular car was given the standard performance upgrade by raising the compression ratio slightly, which increases the horsepower output from 270 to 285. These Y-block engines just plain looked good, like they could make even more power without breaking a sweat. And, by the way, they could.
It may be a coincidence, but when a 1957 Thunderbird ran the flying mile during Daytona Speedweeks that year and clocked 146.282 mph, almost immediately the Automobile Manufacturers Association declared their infamous ban on racing and performance development. But that didn’t really change anything on the streets, because the ’57 Bird was still a tough competitor. Its striking design made it the perfect hot rod candidate. T-Birds raced on the drag strips and road courses of the day, and some are still doing so.
This fantastic example of an original Ford Thunderbird comes with both convertible soft-top and the classic porthole hardtop. Power steering, power brakes and air conditioning combine with a three-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission to make this car the ideal driver for a blast down the A1A and back again. An upgraded AM/FM radio with cassette player will set the proper mood for any decade you care to cruise through.
Inside and out, from underneath or above, this Flame Red 1957 Thunderbird is making its case for the finest example of America’s most popular two-place sports cars of the era. This is the very car that ends your search for the best.
1954 Buick Skylark (Lot #7001)
Perhaps the most exciting period of automotive design came about in the early ’50s. It was after the industrial and intellectual demands of WWII finally began to subside. At last, imaginations and ambitions were free to reach for the outer limits, all in the name of personal satisfaction. For the automotive engineer and designer, anything in the universe seemed possible. So it should be no surprise a quantum leap was taken in car design.
By 1953 and ’54, Buick took the future by the horns and created the timeless Skylark. Certainly the Corvette was a trendsetter back then, but the Buick was conceived for a much broader market segment. You can almost see how Buck Rogers himself could have influenced the design of this machine. Only 834 copies of this otherworldly example were produced, but they are still thrilling people to this very day.
This car’s present owner, James Hadley, bought the Skylark for the express purpose of transporting himself back in time. It seems his father had the foresight and daring to buy ’54 Skylark convertible of his own back in 1956. Dad and son then hopped in and took the car on an epic road trip from Cincinnati to Las Vegas and back again. Traveling the Mother Road (Route 66) in a Buick convertible only slightly removed from the futuristic XP-300 prototype was an experience that would stay with them both forever. Now that Hadley had the chance to relive the excitement of that period in a hands-on kind of way, it’s time for a new owner to create fresh memories of their own with this car.
This exquisite Skylark is the result of a methodical nut-and-bolt restoration, where results and perfection were the only criteria directing the project. Glossy black exterior paint and a blood-red leather interior is a color combination that has pleased the most discriminating eyes throughout time immemorial.
Powered by the highly touted Buick nail head V8, its 322ci engines were known by all ‒ hot rodders included ‒ as torque monsters and therefore were coveted for their performance potential. After all, a car design that flirts with the future like this Skylark must have the performance to back up its ambition.
Rarely driven since its restoration, this car was judged “Best of Show” at the 2007 Buick Nationals.
Not often can a collector capture such an influential and beautiful example of postwar automotive history. Whether your preferences lean towards performance cars or traditional ’50s-era classics, this 1954 Buick Skylark convertible will automatically put you in the spotlight any time you feel like cruising Worth Avenue, the beach itself, or the road to any other paradise your heart desires.
This article by Roger C. Johnson appears in the Spring 2015 issue of The Barrett-Jackson Experience magazine. To order your copy or subscribe, click here or visit www.shopbarrettjackson.com.