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350-Powered Diamond T 404 Custom Hauler

This Diamond T 404 is a customized hauler that underwent a partial rebuild and refurbishment in Texas around a decade ago, with work including mounting the cab and flatbed on GMC pickup chassis and the installation of a 350ci Chevrolet V8 and an M22 four-speed manual transmission. The truck was acquired in 2019 by its current owner, who commissioned a repaint in matte black as well as the installation of an air-ride suspension system. Additional features include a diamond-plate bed with a winch and two tool chests along with under-bed storage compartments, a rear receiver hitch, front brush guard, AM/FM radio and an auxiliary input, tow mirrors, body-color steel wheels, and black leather upholstery. This modified Diamond T is now offered by the seller on behalf of its current owner with New Hampshire registration listing the truck as a 1939 Diamond T pickup.

Said to have been previously finished in green, the bodywork was fitted to a 1 1/2-ton GMC dually pickup frame during the initial build, and was repainted its current shade of matte black in early 2022. Exterior equipment includes a custom diamond-plate bed with two tool chests and a winch along with a rear receiver hitch, under-bed storage compartments, a front brush guard, extended mirrors, LED taillights, and dual exhausts that exit ahead of the rear wheels.

Body-color steel wheels are mounted with Dynatrac and Michelin tires. The truck is equipped with an air-ride suspension that was installed during current ownership.

The cabin houses a single bench seat with a folding central armrest trimmed in black upholstery. Black carpets and mats line the floors, and features include a fold-out windshield, diamond-plate lower door panels, a floor shifter, and a push-button AM/FM radio with an auxiliary input.

The wood-rimmed steering wheel is mounted to a chrome steering column and sits ahead of a dark green-painted metal dashboard housing a 100-mph speedometer, a combination gauge, and auxiliary Stewart Warner displays monitoring oil pressure, voltage, and coolant temperature. A pressure gauge and control switches for the air ride system are mounted under the right side of the dash. The five-digit odometer shows approximately 40k miles, though total mileage is unknown.

The 350ci Chevrolet V8 was installed during previous ownership and features an aluminum radiator, a single carburetor, MSD ignition, tubular headers, and a polished and finned air cleaner cover and valve covers.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via an M22 four-speed manual transmission. Additional underbody photos are provided in the gallery below.

The truck is registered using the State of Idaho-assigned VIN shown above.

The truck does not have a title, as it is being sold in a state that does not issue titles for vehicles of its age. It is being sold with its New Hampshire registration, which lists the truck as an antique.

No Reserve: 302-Powered Phaeton Hot Rod

This Ford-style Phaeton convertible was constructed under previous ownership between the early 1980s and the project’s completion around 2010. The car features a Gibbon Fiberglass body finished in blue mounted over a Progresssive Automotive frame, and power comes from a 302ci Ford V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Additional features include a Ford 8″ rear end, a Holley carburetor and intake manifold, a dual exhaust system, Mustang II-style independent front suspension, rear coilovers, power-assisted front disc brakes, and 15″ wire wheels along with a Lebaron Bonney soft top, tan marine-grade upholstery, an aftermarket climate control system, a JVC stereo, and Classic Instruments gauges. The seller purchased the car in 2021, and work completed since is said to include a rebuild of the carburetor, installation of a fan shroud, and replacement of the brake master cylinder in addition to finalizing the air conditioning install and adjustment of the steering and throttle components. This Ford-style Phaeton hot rod is now offered at no reserve with service records and a clean Arkansas title in the seller’s name.

The Gibbon Fiberglass body is styled after a 1934 Ford Phaeton convertible, and it is finished in blue with matching fenders and running boards and mounted to a Progressive Automotive-sourced frame. Additional features include a four-piece Rootlieb hood, dual mirrors, power-locking rear-hinged front doors, and a Lebaron Bonney folding soft top.

Chrome 15″ Superior wire wheels are mounted with staggered-width Hankook Kinergy ST tires. The suspension features a Mustang II-style independent front setup along with a triangulated four-link system with adjustable coilovers out back. Braking is performed by power-assisted front discs and rear drums.

The cabin features dual bench seats clad in marine-grade tan upholstery along with coordinated door and kick-panel treatments. The car is equipped with an aftermarket climate control system, and additional equipment includes a floor-mounted shifter, a tilt steering column, and a JVC stereo system as well as lap belts for the front and rear occupants. A decal commemorating participation in the 2022 Hot Rod Hundred reliability run is present on the dashboard.

A turned metal bezel houses Classic Instruments gauges that consist of a 130-mph speedometer flanked by auxiliary readouts. The five-digit odometer displays 528 miles, which is said to represent the mileage added since the completion of the build.

The 302ci V8 is said to have been sourced from a 1968 Mustang and is equipped with a Holley intake manifold and carburetor, the latter of which is equipped with an electric choke. Cooling is provided by a Walker radiator, and power is sent to the rear wheels via a C4 three-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 8″ rear end. The powertrain was rebuilt during the build according to the seller, who notes the carburetor was rebuilt, a fan shroud was installed, and the master cylinder was replaced within the past year.

Additional photos of the underside, suspension, and stainless-steel fuel tank are included in the gallery below.

350-Powered 1948 Plymouth Sedan Street Rod

This 1948 Plymouth sedan street rod was acquired by the seller in 2001 and has been modified over the years with the most recent updates including installing a Ridetech Shockwave airbag suspension, Fat Man fabrication tubular front A-arms, Posies rear leaf springs, lowering spindles, and front disc brakes. The car is finished in yellow over brown and powered by a replacement 350ci V8 mated to a Turbo 350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear axle. Features include front frame sections from a GM G-body, PerTronix electronic distributor, a Demon four-barrel carburetor, VDO instrumentation, LED taillamps, Billet Specialties door handles and window cranks, and a Budnik steering wheel and staggered wheels. This Plymouth street rod is offered with manufacturer’s literature, service records, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.

The body is finished in yellow and is said to have been repainted under previous ownership. Features include a Porsche 911-style fuel filler system, a shaved rear trunk handle, chrome bumpers and mirrors, Newstalgia LED third brake lamp and taillamps, and a Newport Engineering electric windshield wiper motor. The windshield was replaced in 2019.

The staggered five-spoke Budnik wheels are mounted with Yokohama tires. The car is equipped with front frame sections from a GM G-body, Ridetech Shock Wave airbag suspension, Fat Man fabrication tubular A-arms, Posies rear leaf springs, lowering spindles, and an MPC underfloor master cylinder. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums. The suspension and front brakes were installed in 2021.

The cabin features two rows of bench seats upholstered in brown cloth joined by color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Equipment includes a Ridetech air ride controller, Billet Specialties door handles and window cranks, aluminum pedals, lap belts for all occupants, a Bluetooth-capable Clarion stereo, Blaupunkt speakers, and a trunk-mounted Ridetech air pod and an Optima red-top battery. The trunk is operated via an electronic popper. The air conditioning does not work.

The Budnik billet steering wheel frames a VDO 120-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, battery voltage, and oil pressure. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 30k miles, approximately 12k of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.

The replacement 350ci V8 was installed under previous ownership and features a Demon four-barrel carburetor, a PerTronix electronic distributor, a polished V-belt drive system, a custom aluminum radiator, an electric cooling fan, ceramic-coated tubular headers, and a powder-coated and pinstriped air cleaner lid and valve covers. An oil change was performed in preparation for sale.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Turbo 350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear axle.

Ford F-100 Replica

This Ford F-100 replica was built as a project by Classic Trucks magazine with assistance from Sacramento Vintage Ford during the mid-2000s. It is finished in Pearl Red over two-tone brown and cream upholstery and is powered by a Smeding Performance 351ci V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. Additional equipment includes a Currie 9” rear end, an Edelbrock fuel system, a Performance Distributors ignition system, MagnaFlow mufflers, four-wheel disc brakes, an independent front suspension, Wheel Vintiques wheels, a BeBops fiberglass cab, a Pro’s Pick steel bed, a Vintage Air climate control system, and a LeCarra steering wheel. The truck was acquired by the seller in 2019 and also features wooden bed planks, a tilt Ididit steering column, and stainless-steel bumpers. This F-100 replica is now offered with a clean California title in the seller’s name listing the truck as a Special Construction with no model year.

The BeBops fiberglass cab and Pro’s Pick steel bed are mounted on a Walton Fabrication chassis and suspension, and are finished in Pearl Red. Exterior details include stainless-steel bumpers, a Fairlane Company fiberglass hood, fiberglass fenders, a bright grille from Sacramento Vintage Ford, running boards, twin overhead mirrors, tinted glass, and wrap-around front and rear windows. The bed features wooden planks with stainless-steel runners, and chipping on the edges is shown in the gallery below.

Wheel Vintiques 18”-diameter front and 20”-diameter rear wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 and Yokohama AVS S/T tires, respectively. The truck is equipped with a Walton Fabrication independent front suspension and rear leaf springs as well as power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes. The frame and suspension components are powder-coated.

The cabin houses a bench seat from RodDoors that is trimmed in brown upholstery with cream microsuede inserts along with cream-colored door panels and brown carpeting. A Vintage Air climate-control system has been installed in addition to lap belts, one-touch power windows, and a tilt Ididit steering column. A wireless Bluetooth Blaupunkt amplifier is paired with Infinity Reference speakers. Stains are evident on the right-side interior panels. Two keys with remote fobs are included in the sale.

The LeCarra steering wheel fronts instrumentation consisting of a 200-mph speedometer with an inset tachometer and auxiliary gauges. The digital odometer shows 51 miles, though total mileage is unknown.

The Smeding Performance 351ci V8 is fitted with a K&N air filter, an Edelbrock carburetor and intake manifold, tubular headers, and a Performance Distributors ignition system. An oil change was performed in March 2022.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a C4 three-speed automatic transmission and a Currie 9” rear end. A 2.5” Muffler Man stainless-steel exhaust system with MagnaFlow mufflers is installed. A transmission fluid change is said to have been performed in March 2022, and the seller notes a leak on the underside.

The car has been assigned identification number CA968534 from the state of California. The assigned identification number matches the VIN listed on the current California title, which lists the truck as a Special Construction with no model year. An article from Motor Trend outlines further build information and specifications.

Baltimore Cancer Support Group 9th Annual Car Show

Baltimore Cancer Support Group 9th Annual Car Show – The Baltimore Cancer Support Group (BCSG) held its 9th annual car show in the Joppatowne Plaza on Sunday October 23, 2022.  Fortunately for all, the rain held off until after the show, allowing the attendees to enjoy a comfortable October afternoon.   This year’s event, attracted about […]

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In addition to powering U.S. aircraft in WWI, the Liberty V-12 helped create the Lincoln Motor Co.

Aerial combat advanced at an astonishing rate during World War I, and though it seems unimaginable today, there were no American-designed aircraft deemed suitable for battle in the skies over Europe. There was a U.S.-designed engine in the fight however: the Liberty V-12 or L-12.

The L-12 engine was America’s greatest technological contribution to the aerial war effort. Its initial assignment was powering the “Liberty Plane”—a version of the British-designed De Haviland/Airco DH-4 bomber produced in the U.S. by Dayton-Wright in Dayton, Ohio; Fisher Body Corporation in Detroit, Michigan; and Standard Aircraft in New Jersey. In addition to powering the DH-4 and a variety of other airplanes, over its long service life the L-12 powered tanks, high-speed watercraft, and land-speed racers.

Liberty V-12 at the National Air and Space Museum
An L-12 at home in the front of De Havilland DH-4 at the National Air and Space Museum. The engine weighed about 844 pounds and produced approximately 400 horsepower at a maximum rpm of about 1,800.Photo courtesy Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The L-12 came about because Packard’s head of engineering, Jesse G. Vincent, recognized the need for a standardized line of aircraft engines that could be mass produced during wartime. The government assigned Vincent the task of creating this engine and teamed him up with Elbert J. Hall of the Hall-Scott Motor Company. The two met in Washington, D.C., on May 29 and, with the help of volunteer draftsmen, created detailed drawings and a full report by May 31. This original design was a V-8, but in their report Vincent and Hall outlined how the engine could be configured as a four-, six-, eight-, or 12-cylinder engine.

By July 3, a
V-8 prototype assembled by Packard was running, and a V-12 soon followed. Due to its superior horsepower potential, the 1,650-cu.in. V-12 was given the nod for mass production.

Liberty V-12 ID plate
An I.D. tag shows the L-12’s firing order and reveals that this example at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum was built by Lincoln on September 25, 1918.

Not only did the Liberty engine mark a great achievement for American aviation, it was responsible for creating a landmark car company: Lincoln. Henry Leland, who founded Cadillac, and his son Wilfred started Lincoln with a $10 million government contract awarded to build Liberty engines. The Lelands left Cadillac to form Lincoln because General Motors President William C. “Billy” Durant was a pacifist and initially rejected the government’s call for GM to build L-12s. (Durant later recanted and Liberty engines were manufactured by GM.) Production numbers seem to vary for output before and after the war but in total Ford, Lincoln, Packard, Marmon, and Buick produced 20,748 L-12 engines.

The L-12 was a liquid-cooled single-overhead-camshaft V-12, rated to make 400-plus horsepower. The deep box-section crankcase was two piece—upper and lower—and cast out of aluminum. The cases were joined by bolts around the case as well as by bolts on each side of the main bearings. The cylinders were individual with welded-on cooling jackets and the cylinders extended down into the crankcase for increased rigidity. The stroke was 7 inches while the bore was 5 inches and aluminum pistons on floating pins helped pump up 5.4:1 compression. The cylinders breathed through 2.5-inch valves (one intake, one exhaust) with exposed rockers and valve springs, while carburetion was handled by a pair of Zenith model US52s.

Liberty V-12 at the National Air and Space Museum
This De Havilland DH-4 at the National Air and Space Museum is a prototype — the first American-built version of the British designed bomber manufactured by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. It was used for testing and never saw combat.Photo courtesy Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The Liberty is a fascinating engine built with many advanced features. If you’re interested in some in-depth reading, a full report about the L-12 presented in 1919 to the Society of Automotive Engineers by Jesse G. Vincent, is available as a free download at jstor.org.

Will a California-dreamy sale price lead to increased values for the Plymouth ‘Cuda?

As Baby Boomers exit the collector car market, and at a time when performance EVs are reshaping the landscape, but 600-plus-horsepower late-model pony cars are still commonplace, will the hottest 1960s and ’70s American muscle cars dip from all-time high values? Or at least level off?

Coming in ninth of the top 10 most expensive cars sold at Mecum’s Monterey sale was this 1971 Plymouth ’Cuda convertible, which fetched $1.1 million (including fees). It managed to edge out a Monterey, California-appropriate 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS (one of the 1,308 Touring-spec cars, not a one-of-200 Lightweight)— once owned by the late actor Paul Walker, which sold for $1.072 million.

This would probably come as no surprise to muscle-era Mopar cognoscenti. A ’71 ’Cuda convertible with a 440 Six Pack, like this one, is like the Venus de Milo of B-bodies, second only to a ’71 Hemi ’Cuda convertible. (Speaking of top muscle car prices: One of those Hemi cars crossed the block at Mecum’s Indy sale in 2021 and the seller turned down a high bid of $4.8 million.) Plus, this particular example has a known history in Mopar circles as it was once part of Steven Juliano’s collection. Juliano died in 2018 after battling cancer and left behind an amazing 30-year stash of rare and unusual Mopars, Shelby Cobras, petroliana, and more. His treasure trove was auctioned at Mecum’s Indy sale in 2019 where this same ’Cuda convertible sold for $1.15 million. The car crossed the block again at Kissimmee in 2021 and sold for $962,500—a loss of $187,500. Earlier this year, it crossed the block yet again at Kissimmee where it bid up to $900,000, bringing us to the most recent sale, in Monterey, for $1.1 million. If you’re playing along at home, that’s $137,000 more than when it sold in 2021, but $55,000 less than what this car sold for in 2019.

Color bar graph depicting the value of a 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda from 2006 to 2022.

To your average magazine editor, that kind of money would buy a few cars, a big 4K flat screen to put on the back wall of the garage, a nice stainless kegerator, and who knows what else. But on a percentage basis, those aren’t enormous swings—particularly for people with a lot of disposable income. Prices of everything have gone up sharply post pandemic and collector cars have been no exception. You’d assume, then, that this ’Cuda would’ve bid up even higher in 2022 than the $1.15 million it sold for in 2019. Perhaps it’s reached a plateau? Somehow we doubt it. Price guides show that these cars fell off a cliff after the 2008 financial crisis, but they have rebounded with interest since. (The sale of this car in 2019 contributed to that average.) This could probably be said about values of almost every popular, desirable American muscle car—a scary fall from their prior-to-2008 highs and a sharp rebound less than 10 years later.

This sale was interesting to us because there’s been a lot of talk about interest in 1960s and ’70s muscle cars waning, in light of record high prices paid for trucks and SUVs, Japanese imports, and, of course, Italian and German sports cars, plus all the never-before-seen performance levels of new and late-model vehicles—electric and internal combustion. But this ’Cuda’s two seven-figure sales in a three-year span, while hardly typical because the car is so unusual, shows that muscle cars have legs— especially at the upper reaches of the market, where the most desirable examples live. There might be some ups and downs in the short term, but anyone holding out for the day when big-block 1960s and ’70s icons are affordable, might have a little longer to wait.

Porsche at LA Carrera Panamericana

Porsche at LA Carrera Panamericana – For more than seventy years, La Carrera Panamericana has been respected as one of the most intense, grueling challenges in all of motorsports. Known worldwide as the last great surviving road race, this multi-stage rally stretching through Mexico is classified as one of the most fabled events across all […]

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