Pick of the Day – GTSteeringWheels.net

Pick of the Day: 1962 Lancia Flaminia GT, an Italian masterpiece

Lancia, the Italian car manufacturer founded by Vincenzo Lancia in 1906, is known for producing some of the most stylish and well-engineered vehicles, including the Pick of the Day, a 1962 Lancia Flaminia GT coupe.

This Flaminia is a “highly desirable 2.5 model with option triple Weber carburetors and gorgeous coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, distinguished by its quad headlamps and crisp, elegant lines,” says the Saint Louis, Missouri, dealer advertising the luxury car on ClassicCars.com.

“In practice, Lancia combined the best of both worlds – building automobiles that combined sophisticated engineering and brisk performance wrapped in gorgeous, unmistakably Italian bodywork,” the dealer continues.

“Aside from their quality, Lancia has always been known as a great innovator, responsible for many important firsts such as independent front suspension, the now ubiquitous V6 engine, and the first production car designed to use radial tires; the latter two debuting with the brilliant Aurelia.”

The Flaminia replaced Lancia’s Aurelia models in 1957 but carried forward Aurelia’s performance and stylish reputation with its “four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes mounting inboard at the rear, rear-mounted transaxle, and that gorgeous all-alloy V6 up front,” the dealer adds.

This apparently well-kept 1962 Lancia Flaminia example is finished in white with a contrasting gray roof and features chrome bumpers, alloy body moldings, and unique triangle-shaped taillights.

“Paint condition is very good, with straight panels and excellent gaps all around; a clear sign that this Superleggera Touring-bodied car has been well cared for during its life,” the dealer notes.

“Opening the door reveals a recently restored interior in fine condition. The tan hides on the seats and door panels provide a subtle contrast to the white body color, adding a rich and inviting appeal.”

The interior also houses a gray dash with the original Jaeger dials and switchgear, a three-spoke wooden steering wheel and factory-correct light gray rubber mats.

Under the hood is the original 2.5-liter V6, which the dealer notes “runs beautifully, producing a healthy 150 horsepower.”

The engine is paired with a 4-speed manual transaxle with overdrive.

“This rare and elegant Flaminia Touring Superleggera delivers not only a wonderful driving experience, but it also offers the opportunity for enjoyment on any number of exclusive tours and events,” the dealer says.

Included in the sale is a set of original Lancia-branded tools and a binder full of paperwork documenting the car’s history and extensive restoration work.

The vehicle is being offered for $134,500.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 GS Cabriolet for 7 figures

Everybody knows that prices for vintage Porsches have soared, but here’s one that – at least for the uninitiated – will make your eyes water and a smoky question mark rise above your head.

What looks at first blush to be an ad for a rather nice 1963 Porsche 356B Cabriolet, which normally would have a value of around $175k, has a nearly unfathomable asking price of just under $1.3 million.

How crazy is that? Well, apparently, not at all.

That’s because the Pick of the Day is a rare and massively desirable 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 GS Cabriolet. What all that means is that this 356 is powered by Porsche’s legendary 4-cam 4-cylinder engine, called the type 547, the revolutionary design that powered Porsche 550 Spyders to class wins at the Mille Miglia and Le Mans a decade earlier.

Pick of the Day: Great grandson recreates a 1930 Chris-Craft Model 103

The Pick of the Day is a collectible vehicle, though it is designed for cruising on water, not pavement. And while it is a reproduction of a 1930 Chris-Craft Model 103, it was produced in 1990 by Grand-Craft and a member of the Chris Craft family, according to the Grand Rapids, Michigan, dealer listing the wooden boat on ClassicCars.com.

Christopher Columbus Smith built his first wooden boat in 1874 when he was just 13 years old. Eventually he and his brother, Hank, founded the Smith Ryan Boat Company, which changed its name to Chris-Craft in 1924.

Great grandson recreates a 1930 Chris-Craft Model 103

Chris-Craft boats were among the finest in the world, and Henry Ford and William Randolph Hearst were among the company’s customers. The Smith family sold the boat-building company in 1960.

Grand-Craft was established in 1979 by Steve Northuis with help from Chris Smith, a descendent of Christopher Columbus Smith. Grand-Craft has built boats for the likes of Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez and Kid Rock, according to its website.

“Back in 1990, Chris Smith, great grandson of Christopher Columbus Smith, the founder of Chris Craft, created the reproduction 1930s era Model 103 sport runabout offered here as the Heather J,” the dealer reports.

“Originally, 24 such boats were commissioned, but only 16 were built. This is number 8 of 16 created in the Holland, Michigan factory.

“Based on the 1930 Model 103, this newer version boat is stronger than the original,” the dealer assures. “Its inner lath runs diagonally instead of vertically, and are epoxy-coated.

“The Heather J has lived her entire fresh-water life in Spring Lake, about 15 miles north of Holland. The triple-cockpit runabout has just 60 hours running time on it. The boat’s excellent condition owes to special care given it by its owner. “

The dealer says the boat was “always properly stored in climate-controlled building since new, it has never endured any freezing temperatures to protect the integrity of the wood, and it has never been allowed to remain for any extended length of time in the water.”

The boat is 24 feet long and 6.4 feet at the beam. It draws power from an OMC/Ford Windsor 351cid V8 linked to an automatic transmission. The engine reportedly has run for only 27 hours.

“The faithfulness to the original Model 103 design and the quality of the workmanship in this build are evident in every component, in every detail and on every surface. It is a fully documented mint-condition execution in Honduran mahogany.

“From the chrome on the operating controls; to the deep-green hull paint; to the period-design instruments perfectly located in an engraved-metal surround; to its Art Deco steering wheel; to the stunning deep-red leather upholstery, this is as perfect an execution of the Model 103 as exists anywhere.”

The sales price of $69,900 includes a custom trailer.”

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: 1972 VW camper bus equipped with Porsche power

The Volkswagen Type 2 was and forever will be the quintessential camper bus, beloved by hippies and other counter-culture types, veterans of a zillion Grateful Dead festivals and honored guests at any VW collector car gathering.

The Pick of the Day is something of an oddball, a 1972 VW Type 2 camper bus that has been enhanced with such things as a 2.0-liter Porsche 914 flat-4 engine, a large solar panel on top, and a tall composite roof to boost interior space.

“This is a truly awesome VW Bus that is powered by a Porsche engine, rides on Porsche wheels which are wrapped in new tires,” says the Kentwood, Michigan, dealer advertising the VW on ClassicCars.com. “It has a full-size bed and plenty of other cool features.”

Vintage campers and other such outdoors vehicles have become enormously popular among younger collectors because of their fun usability, either for getting away from it all or joining in at Burning Man-style gatherings of the clan.

This bus is of the second-generation of VW microbuses known as “bay windows” because of their broad, curved, one-piece windshields, compared with the two-piece split glass of the iconic first-gen buses, which are more desirable and thus more valuable.

But this camper would be more practical for cross-country travel than the originals. The air-cooled Porsche engine was factory rated at 99 horsepower, still not a whole lot but certainly beefier than the 60 horsepower of the 1.6-liter VW original, making it more viable for modern highway driving and such things as climbing steep grades.

The engine was rebuilt five years ago, the seller says, and it runs strong.

The dealer describes the VW as an “adventure bus,” and while the title of the ad refers to it as a Westfalia, I’m not too certain that it was actually built by the German company, which was retained by Volkswagen for camper conversions and generally uses pop-up roof designs among its signature features rather than a lofty roof addition like this one.

Still, this camper looks like a great way to hit the open road and get back to nature in style and comfort. It’s also quite attractive in its unique repaint and graphic treatment, and the bright chrome VW emblem on its nose.

“Originally coming from Utah, this bus is painted in a sweet turquoise color which is complemented by a white extended height top,” the seller says in the ad. “The increased height of the roof makes the interior significantly more spacious and leaves plenty of room for the full-size bed, recently replaced stove, sink and refrigerator.

“A solar panel has been mounted on the roof which supplies power for the auxiliary battery. Also installed is an aftermarket audio system complete with Bluetooth compatible radio.”

The asking price for this interesting VW camper is $29,900.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: 1975 Puma GT 1600, Volkswagen-powered sports coupe

The Pick of the Day is something you don’t see too often, or maybe ever, or even heard of unless you’re some kind of Volkswagen fanatic.

This little yellow sports coupe is a 1975 Puma GT 1600, a car made in Brazil for the home market and rarely seen in the US; in period, they were brought here only in kit form, and not too many at that.

With a twin-carb, air-cooled 1,600cc VW boxer engine in the rear, the fastback coupe has definite Volkswagen underpinnings, but it didn’t start out that way. Puma was a small Brazilian automaker that produced cars from 1964 through 1995, and the GT originally was built as a race car with front engine/front-wheel-drive powered by a DKW drivetrain.

But in 1967, Volkswagen bought DKW and moved production out of Brazil, which had strict taxation laws against automotive imports, thus leaving Puma with no engines available. So, the sports car was reborn in 1967 as the GT 1600 with a rear engine/rear-wheel-drive layout ala the VW Beetle, and now for street use.

“It’s reported that only 22,000 were built,” states the Pompano Beach, Florida, dealer advertising the Puma on ClassicCars.com.

This Volkswagen-powered Puma wears its all-original fiberglass body, which the dealer says has “some small paint imperfections” on the roof, and a black interior that the dealer says looks like new. There’s no information in the ad regarding mileage or any restoration history.

The engine is linked with a Volkswagen 4-speed manual transaxle and rides on a set of 14-inch 5-spoke wheels. The undercarriage is solid, the dealer adds, and the car “runs and drives great.”

“Lots of looks and fun to drive!!!” the dealer exclaims.

This sporty coupe would be a huge hit at any Volkswagen gathering, of which there are many, but the owner would need to be ready to answer loads of questions about what it is and where it came from.

The ad does not specify whether this Puma was built in Brazil or assembled from the kit, which most-likely would have been done by a handy owner in the US. The kit-based cars came fairly complete, with a builder needing to supply only a VW engine and transaxle, front suspension, wheels and tires.

The Puma is priced at $23.500.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: 1987 Buick Grand National with 33 original miles

The Pick of the Day is a 1987 Buick Grand National, a remarkable time-warp example that has been driven only 33 miles since new and now offered by its original owner in Kansas City, Missouri, on ClassicCars.com.

The seller bought the car at Lust Buick of Aberdeen, South Dakota, the ad says, then kept it stashed in the garage.

“Purchased as a collector car from day one, this Grand National has only 33 original miles and is the kind of reference-grade classic that literally defines value,” states the private seller, who says the car was maintained in a temperature-controlled garage, was recently serviced and is ready for someone to start putting miles on it.

1987 Buick Grand National with 33 original miles

The Buick is powered by its signature turbocharged V6 engine that puts out 245 horsepower linked with a Turbo-Hydramatic 200R 4-speed automatic sending power through 3.42 gears, offering a combination of starting-line grip and high-speed cruising ability. The car is equipped with factory power steering, power-assisted brakes and chrome factory wheels with original Goodyear Eagle GT tires.

The car features the original GM code 19U Black paint that highlights the crisp, original sheet metal; it was the only paint color given to Grand Nationals between 1985 and 1987.

“Inside this awesome street bruiser, you’ll find an original Gray and Black interior that’s virtually spotless,” the seller says. “Naturally, the car is loaded with all the features you’d expect, including power windows, power locks, climate control, cruise control and a tilt steering wheel.

“Sinister, fast and highly desirable, this Buick is everything a classic muscle car should be!”

In 1981 and 1982, Buick raced its pedestrian Buick Regal in NASCAR’s Grand National series and took home the trophy both years. To capitalize on the success after grabbing the attention of American muscle car fans, Buick rolled out 215 examples of the Regal Grand National package in 1982 built with a naturally aspirated V6 engine that made 125 horsepower.

Fast forward a few years to 1984 and Buick replaced the Regal’s engine with a standard turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 that gifted drivers 200 horsepower. The Regal Grand National reached 235 horsepower in 1986, making it more powerful than the Chevy Camaros and the Pontiac Firebirds at the time.

Buick hit the jackpot with the Grand National in 1987 by fitting it with a stalwart turbocharged V6 that pushed 245 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of V8-slaying torque.

The asking price for this essentially unused Buick is $85,000 or best offer.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: 1957 Dodge pickup truck, handsomely restored

Pickups have become increasingly popular as collector vehicles, although most of the attention is focused on Ford and GM trucks. But this pretty Dodge pickup could turn some heads in a different direction.

The Pick of the Day is a 1957 Dodge D100 that has been restored to a condition better than it ever was during its likely original life as a working piece of farm or construction equipment.

While the words “pretty pickup” might sound like a non-sequitur to some, just take a look at the photos with this ClassicCars.com advertisement from an Indianapolis, Indiana, dealer and see if you don’t agree.

This Dodge looks to be beautifully finished in attractive colors by someone with eye for detail and originality who completed the “body-off-frame restoration” of this Texas truck. The result is a show truck that looks spectacular outside, inside and underneath.

And it drives as good as it looks, according to the seller.

“This truck was restored to original specifications with upgraded highway gears with tuned suspension and steering,” the seller notes. “It has a 230-cubic-inch rebuilt flathead six, 4-speed transmission performs flawlessly with comfortable 55-60 mph speeds.”

The Dodge is fitted with gleaming wide whitewalls on painted wheels and original chrome hubcaps, and stained-oak pickup-bed rails that match the wood on the floor. The simple interior also looks like new.

“It has upgraded custom original-style interior, headliner and plush carpeting that looks period-correct,” the ad says. “The new front bumper with fog lights with custom light oak bed are all in excellent condition.

“It was also featured in the ‘2009 Vintage Trucks Magazine’.”

The asking price for this magazine-star Dodge pickup is a modest $25,000.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: 2005 Mercedes Benz SL55 for performance, daily usability

One of the most interesting developments in the enthusiast car space in the past 15 or so years is the concept of a daily driver supercar, an exclusive high-performance car that is as good on track day as it is driving to work. There are a number of these cars available, but the single car that truly offers the best of both worlds is the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG.

The Pick of the Day is one of these fantastic cars, a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG, finished in Diamond Silver Metallic paint with an Ash leather interior.

The SL55 AMG when new in 2003 had a list price of $134,200. While not crazy money then it was definitely expensive. In performance, the SL55 AMG was at the top of the class with a 0-100 mph time of 9.9 seconds, just a 10th of a second slower than the Ferrari 575M Maranello, which cost several times the price of the SL55 and with considerably more-expensive service costs.

At the same time, the SL55 is achieving this level of performance, it could give the driver and passenger back massages, and if it’s too warm out, air condition the seats.

According to the San Ramon, California, dealer advertising this convertible on ClassicCars.com, the Mercedes has covered only 49,000 miles from new. It is optioned with a Panoramic Roof, power-adjustable heated seats with memory and the massage package for ultimate luxury.

The build quality of this generation is also phenomenal, and you see the quality of the materials used and of the cars construction everywhere you look. Also, unlike a lot of modern cars, the engine in the SL55 AMG actual looks great and is not completely covered by plastic bits; as an added touch, it carries a plaque with the signature of the person who built it.

I used an SL55 AMG as my Monterey Car Week ride for two years, and the car is simply flawless. It is also the last Mercedes SL model that is a bit wild to drive. The driver aids will keep you out of trouble but are not so invasive than you can’t get the car sideways.

Combined with a trunk that is able to carry a week’s worth of luggage, camera gear, laptops and even all the books and such that I buy in Monterey every year, and this car is a winner on all counts.

If you think you desperately need the Ferrari 575 instead of this amazing Mercedes, consider that the starting price for a used 575M Maranello is around $100,000, and this SL55 is priced at only $22,995.

I do not see that the Ferrari is worth four times the SL55, and your wallet will thank you when you get the first service bill from the Mercedes mechanic instead of the Ferrari mechanic. And the Ferrari is incapable of providing a massage.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: MGB Limited Edition came only in black

If you are making your first classic car purchase and have always wanted a British sports car, my answer as to what to buy is always the same. Start with an MGB.

The reason is that despite some people’s opinions to the contrary, the MGB was always an extremely well-built car for the era and they are the easiest classic British sports car to own. The parts are inexpensive, the mechanicals are simple, and they are easily able to cope with modern roads and traffic, having adequate performance and enough comfort to use as a daily driver.

They were so good that from 1962-1980 MG built 512,243 of them. This represents the world record for production of a British roadster.

The Pick of the Day is a car from the end of the fun of the MGB, a 1980 MGB Limited Edition.

The Limited Edition MGB was a marketing idea dreamed up by British Leyland and its American MG distributorship in Leonia, New Jersey, to boost slipping sales in the North American market. The advertising campaign, as well as such details as the side stripes on the car, were dreamed up by Marce Mayhew, the creative director of Reach McLinton, MG’s advertising agency.

The production period of the North American version “LE” was only 1979 and1980. And all of the cars were black in color.

But why black cars?

Apparently there was an agreement between Leonia and the MG dealers across North American that the “LE kit” would be only installed on black cars and to buy a black car of that time period, it could only be a Limited Edition.

The car was introduced at the 1979 New York auto show and was slated to have a production of only 5,000 units. However, 6,668 were produced during the two-year run.

The MGB Limited Edition were offered with Champagne, Beige, Autumn Leaf or black interior. In addition, they all featured a leather-covered steering wheel, silver side striping, a Limited Edition plaque, rear luggage rack, GKN alloy wheels, and a front spoiler.

The Pick of the Day is offered by a dealer in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The dealer says the car has been driven only 44,000 miles from new and has its original paint and interior. It adds that the paint is exceptional, the underside is rust free, and that the interior looks like a time capsule, as though the car was never used.

The only change to the car is the addition of a Weber 2-barrel side-draft carburetor replacing the anemic Stromberg it had when delivered. This should make up for some lost performance and if you want to go back to the original carb setup this would be an inexpensive thing to do. I would not, the Stromberg robs performance from a car that can use the performance boost.

This car also includes all of its original accessories, including a matching alloy spare wheel, original full tool kit, and original tonneau and boot covers. It also has a British Motor Heritage Trust certificate which certifies the specifications of the car as being correct.

As an added bonus, this is also an overdrive-equipped car which makes for a much nicer driving experience on the freeways.

The asking price for this 1980 MGB Limited Edition is $17,900, very reasonable for a car this original and well preserved. I would have a good detailer work on the car and then I would drive it to shows in 2021 and enjoy the last of the classic MG sports cars.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Pick of the Day: This one was built for African hunting safaris

People have modified or even custom-built vehicles to use on hunting trips, from big-game hunting in India to the pursuit of wild pigs and other critters in Texas. The Pick of the Day is such a vehicle.

The vehicle is one of three built (and one of only two known to survive), a 1975 Mohrs Safarikar created by Bruce Baldwin Mohs, an inventor in Madison, Wisconsin, notes the St. Louis dealer advertising the unusual creation on ClassicCars.com.

The dealer says that Mohs was “an inventor, entrepreneur, engineer, big-game hunter, and all-around celebrator of the eccentric.” Among his inventions were “the instant milkshake (and) the reflective trim strip used on highway barriers” He also built seaplanes, mechanical props for such Hollywood filmmakers as Alfred Hitchcock, and some very strange cars.

His first, we’re informed, was the Ostentatienne Opera Sedan in 1968.

Of Mohs’ Opera Sedan, the dealer notes, “This bizarre creation was based on an International truck chassis, with a 304 cubic-inch V8 from the same source,” the dealer reports.“In lieu of conventional side doors, it featured a single rear-entry door that opened like a flying saucer. It also had 20-inch wheels with nitrogen-filled whitewall tires, a butane furnace, refrigerator, two-way radio, and more.”

Five years later, Mohs did his trio of Safarikars.

“As its name suggests, Mohs envisioned the Safarikar as a rugged machine capable of tackling the rigors of African Safaris, but with the luxury, exclusivity, and quality of a Rolls-Royce,” the advertisement points out. “That was the idea, anyway.”

The Safarikar was built around the chassis, suspension and 392cid V8 powertrain from an International Travelall. He added “tungsten-alloy bulkheads, aluminum panels and steel outriggers,” as well as a Rolls-Royce-style radiator shell, heavy-duty bumpers, and a multi-piece folding hardtop above the dual-cowl phaeton-style vehicle.

The doors were horizontally opening slide-out structures so occupants, sitting three-abreast in a Naugahyde-covered bucket seats, could better spot game while in motion. By the way, the dealer notes that the seats were developed and patented by Solar Automotive, actor Steve McQueen’s studio, and were designed for vehicles racing in the Baja 1000. The rear seat converts to a sleeping platform, and the interior has room for someone to stand up and shoot.

The dealer says this Safarikar was thought not to have survived until 2009, when someone saw it mentioned in an AACA forum, started searching and found it “quietly decaying in a Georgia parking lot.”

The owner was found, a deal was struck and a 4-year restoration process was begun.

“It retains the correct piston-style A/C compressor and features power brakes and power steering,” the dealer notes. “The big V8 runs well, sending power to the rear wheels via an automatic transmission.”

Since being restored, the car has been displayed at Amelia Island and has won an AACA National and Grand National honors.

“Delightfully off-center, totally outlandish, and with a face only a mother could love, the Mohs Safarikar provides a fascinating glimpse into the fertile mind of Bruce Mohs.”

The 1975 Mohs Safarikar is offered for $349,500.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.