The worldwide auto industry has always been highly competitive. Only the smartest and most successful companies managed to survive the challenges that have left many other companies forgotten in the sands of time. But the truth is that even the best car companies have endured economic turmoil. In fact, some of the biggest automakers had periods in which they were dangerously close to closing their doors if not for a few important models.
Where many failed, the victors continued. Despite their troubles, these companies presented the right cars at the right time and emerge as winners. Find out the car models that saved even the biggest car companies from doom right here.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Our list starts with arguably the most spectacular way of getting out of bankruptcy. After Germany’s defeat in WW2, Mercedes-Benz was in a complete financial and infrastructural disaster. Their factories were gone and the company could only rely on pre-war models that were quickly made obsolete by the competition (via Telegraph).
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Luckily for Mercedes-Benz, Rudolf Uhlenhaut was a daredevil who loved taking risks. He developed the W194 for the 1952 Sportscar racing season. That car was constructed of lightweight aluminum and had a 3.0L straight-six engine. The result was the iconic W198 300SL, a perfect blend of beauty and performance that proved to be an instant hit among US customers. The Gullwing coupé was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show and produced from 1955-1957. The equally impressive roadster was available from 1957-1963. A total of 3,258 examples left the factory, effectively saving Mercedes-Benz and allowing them to re-enter the flourishing American market with the rest of their lineup.
This Model T-style roadster was built approximately 15 years ago utilizing a metal body mounted on a custom frame. A 2.8-liter Chevrolet V6 powers rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and a solid rear end. The engine features dual carburetors on an Edelbrock manifold, and the car is also equipped with wire wheels, four-wheel drum brakes, and a fuel tank concealed in a piece of faux luggage. It is titled as a 1926 Ford using an Idaho-assigned identification number and was previously owned by the seller more than a dozen years ago before being recently reacquired. This custom roadster is now offered at no reserve with a clean California title in the seller’s name.
The Model T-style metal body is finished in metallic gray and features a windscreen, reverse-hinged doors, LED taillights, and a luggage rack out back that is topped by a leather-covered box containing the fuel tank. Various paint flaws are pointed out in the gallery below.
Beige-finished wire wheels wear chrome center caps and are mounted with Excelsior tires. Braking is via drums at all four corners, and the suspension incorporates transverse leaf springs front and rear.
The cabin houses two seats that are upholstered in black and contrasted by tan door and side panels as well as gray square-weave carpets. The transmission tunnel upholstery shows signs of wear and peeling.
A four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a body-color metal dashboard housing a 160-mph speedometer, 8k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The six-digit odometer shows approximately 200 miles, around 100 of which have been added by the seller.
The 2.8-liter Chevrolet V6 is topped by an Edelbrock intake manifold, a Speedway manifold adapter, and two Stromberg-style carburetors. An aluminum radiator is also installed, and the oil was last changed around 100 miles ago.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission with a cable-operated clutch, and the solid rear end is said to feature a modified Toyota differential. Additional underbody images are provided in the gallery below.
The car is titled in California using the Idaho-assigned identification number shown above.
This Ford Model A pickup was the subject of a two-year custom build completed in 2020 and is said to utilize a chopped and extended 1929 Ford cab mounted to a modified chassis with a boxed frame. The truck was refinished in satin black over tan leather, and a 350ci Chevrolet V8 was installed along with a three-speed automatic transmission. Additional equipment includes a custom windshield visor, a fabricated bed assembly, an aluminum fuel tank, an Edelbrock carburetor, an aluminum intake manifold, lake-style exhaust headers, Guide headlamps, staggered-width 15″ polished slot wheels, and front disc brakes as well as a Lokar shifter, aircraft-style seats, and Dolphin gauges. This custom Ford pickup is now offered with a clean Oklahoma title in the seller’s name.
The steel bodywork was finished in satin black with a gloss black hood stripe following modifications including chopping the top, extending the rear of the cab, and fabricating a custom bed assembly that is coated in textured bedliner and houses the aluminum fuel tank. Additional details include a 1932 Ford-style grille, a tilt-out windshield, a windshield visor with stamped holes, and Guide headlamps with integrated turn signals.
The polished staggered-width 15″ slot wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires measuring 155/80 up front and 275/60 up front. Braking is provided by front discs and rear drums, and the car rides on a front drop axle with hairpin radius rods and a transverse leaf spring as well as a rear four-link setup with coilovers.
The cabin features aircraft-style custom aluminum seats upholstered in tan leather along with coordinated door and side panels adorned with riveted aluminum trim. Additional equipment includes a Lokar shifter, black carpets, aftermarket pedals, and lap belts. The selling dealer notes that the seats can be tilted forward or removed.
The aftermarket three-spoke steering wheel is mounted to a chrome tilting column ahead of Dolphin gauges consisting of a 140-mph speedometer and auxiliary readouts. The five-digit odometer shows 1k miles, approximately 50 of which were added under current ownership. True mileage is unknown.
The 350ci Chevrolet V8 was installed during the build and is topped by an aluminum intake manifold and an Edelbrock carburetor. Additional equipment includes an aluminum radiator, an electric cooling fan, finned Edelbrock valve covers, and coated lake-style headers with cutouts. The seller states that the oil was changed, the spark plugs were replaced, and the Edelbrock carburetor was installed along with a replacement fuel pump and filter in April. 2023..
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission.
The fabricated serial number tag reads OK1106303, which matches the sequence listed as the VIN on the Oklahoma title that describes the vehicle as a 1929 Ford.
This 1946 Chevrolet pickup has been modified in “rat rod” style, including channeling the cab and shortening the bed. Power is provided by a 350ci small-block V8 equipped with a four-barrel Holley carburetor, an aluminum radiator, and open exhaust headers. The truck also features front disc brakes, staggered-diameter chrome wheels, a bed-mounted fuel tank, and a Case tractor grille. Work performed by the selling dealer since their 2021 acquisition included replacing the engine wiring harness, alternator, battery, and exhaust gaskets as well as completing a brake inspection and an oil change. This customized Chevy truck is now offered in Georgia with recent service records and a clean Missouri title.
The channeled cab, shortened bed, and Case grille are finished in red and show corrosion and imperfections. A fire extinguisher is mounted to the exterior of the cab, and the fuel tank is mounted behind the cab on top of the wood-planked bed. The truck is not equipped with windows.
Chrome 14″ front wheels are mounted with 205/75 Cooper Trendsetter ST tires and the 15″ rear wheels wear 255/70 Grand Prix Performance GT tires. Braking is handled by discs up front and drums at the rear, and the truck rides on front and rear transverse leaf springs. A brake inspection was performed by the selling dealer in anticipation of the sale.
The interior houses a pair of padded driver and passenger seats upholstered in beige cloth with a matching one-piece backrest. The floors are covered in diamond plate, decals adorn the body-color dashboard, and the center console features a shift lever with a black 8-ball shift knob. Close-up images of pitting and other imperfections on the steering wheel and instrument cluster as well as corrosion and paint blemishes throughout the interior are presented in the gallery below.
The three-spoke steering wheel frames an 80-mph speedometer and and an externally mounted 8k-rpm tachometer. A trio of Sunpro instruments, including a voltmeter and oil pressure and coolant temperature gauges, is mounted under the center of the dashboard. The selling dealer notes that the voltmeter does not work. The five-digit odometer shows 56k miles and is inoperative, and true mileage is unknown. The truck has been driven approximately 300 miles by the seller.
The 350ci V8 is equipped with a Holley four-barrel carburetor, polished valve covers, and open exhaust headers. Cooling is from an aluminum radiator fitted with an electric fan, and power is sent to the rear wheels through a floor-shifted TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. The selling dealer changed the oil and replaced the engine wiring harness, alternator, battery, and exhaust gaskets in anticipation of the sale.
Additional photos showing the suspension, chassis, and driveline, as well as corrosion on portions of the underbody and mechanicals, are presented in the gallery below.
The identification tag mounted on the firewall is shown above and lists the serial number 5DPD13436. The serial number on the identification tag matches the vehicle identification number stated on the truck’s Missouri title, which contains an “exempt from mileage requirements” notation.
This Ford-style roadster hot rod was reportedly assembled in the early 1990s using a steel Brookville Roadster body and frame, and was acquired by the seller in 2017. The car is finished in metallic teal with a tan soft top over tan leather upholstery, and it is powered by a 383ci stroker V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include air conditioning, an AM/FM/cassette stereo, and cruise control as well as dual four-barrel carburetors, wire wheels, front disc brakes, a front drop axle, and a four-link rear suspension setup with adjustable coilovers. This Ford-style roadster is now offered with removable side curtains, records from the build, and a clean Texas title in the seller’s name listing the vehicle as a 1931 Ford.
The steel body and frame were reportedly sourced from Brookville Roadster. The bodywork is finished in metallic teal with multicolor pinstripes, and exterior details include full fenders and running boards as well as a tan soft top, removable side curtains, LED taillights, dual exhaust outlets, wing windows, and chrome bumpers and trim. The seller notes a stain on the soft top as well as a bent driver-side running board. The rumble seat has been removed.
Bright-finished wire wheels wear Ford-branded center caps and are mounted with staggered BFGoodrich Radial T/A and Cooper Cobra tires. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums, and the car rides on a polished front drop axle, transverse leaf spring, and tube shocks along with a four-link rear setup with adjustable coilovers.
The cabin houses a bench seat trimmed in tan leather upholstery with a color-coordinated dashboard, door panels, and carpets. Amenities include air conditioning, a heater, cruise control, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo wired to speakers in the kick panels.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel with a Ford center cap sits ahead of centrally-mounted VDO gauges that include a 120-mph speedometer and auxiliary displays. The digital odometer shows approximately 5k miles, around 2k of which have been added by the seller.
The 383ci stroker V8 is topped with an aluminum intake manifold and two four-barrel carburetors. Additional equipment includes an HEI distributor, polished bright accessories, Chevrolet-branded valve covers, and coated exhaust headers.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. Additional underbody images are provided in the gallery below.
The reproduction VIN tag reads A4625078, which corresponds with the VIN listed on the Texas title that lists the car as a 1931 Ford.
This 1933 Ford Cabriolet is a full-fendered street rod that has been fitted with a 350ci Chevrolet V8, independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes, Vintage Air climate control, and a number of additional modifications intended to improve drivability. Featuring a steel body and fiberglass fenders, the car is finished in dark blue and is also equipped with a dark blue convertible top, louvered hood top, adjustable coilovers, 15″ Halibrand wheels, and a dual exhaust system. Interior appointments include gray leather upholstery, lap belts, roll-up windows, a tilting steering column, a banjo-style steering wheel, and a CD stereo. The Chevy small-block is equipped with an Edlebrock carburetor and HEI ignition and is paired with an automatic transmission and 9″ rear end. Modifications to this ’33 Ford were carried out during previous ownership, and the car was acquired by the current owner in 2021. It is now offered on dealer consignment in Arizona with a Washington title.
Finished in dark blue with red and gold pinstripes, the car is said to feature a steel body and hood as well as fiberglass fenders and rear fuel-tank panel. Exterior details include a louvered hood top, LED taillights, dual side mirrors, and a single windshield wiper. The blue convertible top can be seen up close in gallery photos, and a boot cover is included in the sale.
The 15″ Halibrand wheels wear simulated knock-off spinners and are mounted with Kumho Solus tires measuring 195/60 up front and 235/70 out back. The four-wheel disc brake system incorporates vented rotors and Wilwood calipers all around.
The interior features a bench seat that is trimmed in gray leather upholstery and complemented by color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Vintage Air climate control has been installed along with lap seatbelts and a Kenwood CD stereo.
The banjo-style steering wheel is mounted to a tilting column and frames Stewart Warner instrumentation, including a 160-mph speedometer and gauges for oil pressure, fuel level, voltage, and water temperature. A Classic Instruments tachometer is mounted below the dashboard. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 37k miles, though total chassis mileage is unknown.
The Chevrolet 350 features an Edelbrock carburetor, HEI ignition system, finned valve covers, long-tube headers, a polished oil pan, an aluminum radiator with an electric cooling fan, and a dual exhaust system that incorporates Magnaflow mufflers. The fluids are said to have been replaced in preparation for the sale.
The car is equipped with independent front suspension and also features adjustable coilovers all around in addition to rack-and-pinion steering. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear end.
The Washington title carries an Antique Vehicle brand.
Did you grow up with Mom driving you around in a station wagon? Or maybe you got stuck driving Mom’s Country Squire?
In this episode of Drive the Bid podcast from AutoHunter.com, Derek Shiekhi, “Jalopy Jeff” Sutton and I discuss our favorite family haulers. Though somewhat replaced by the minivan, and then the SUV, the station wagon enjoys wistful nostalgia from Americans from sea to shining sea. Once eschewed as anathema for anything cool on four wheels, the station wagon is now fondly held to higher stature in the collector car world. Plus, there have been some really awesome wagons in modern history.
Do you have a favorite wagon?
Other discussions include news on the throwback 2024 Bronco Sport Freewheeling Edition, the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse, and a shipping vessel with over 2,000 vehicles that’s on fire near the Netherlands.
All this can be seen in the above video from AutoHunter Cinema, created by the experts behind ClassicCars.com, the world’s largest online collector car marketplace. AutoHunter brings forth a dedicated live customer support team, quicker auction listings and exclusive benefits for both buyers and sellers.
The Grand Prix was Pontiac’s submission in the personal-luxury coupe world after watching Buick receive approval to produce the Riviera. Over time, the Grand Prix lost its way and became somewhat of a bloated chariot (albeit a distinctive one). However, for 1969, Pontiac engineers were granted a stretched A-body platform called the G-body, and the Grand Prix was able to strut its stuff as a unique take in the segment. One of these pieces of Poncho history, a 428-powered 1969 Grand Prix, is available now on AutoHunter, the online auction platform powered by ClassicCars.com. Backed by a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission, this GP features bucket seats, center console with factory automatic/manual shifter, air conditioning, upgraded stereo, and more. Finished in Palladium Silver with black vinyl top over a black vinyl interior, this Grand Prix comes with a clear title in the seller’s name.
Under previous ownership, the exterior was refinished in the original color of Palladium Silver. Features include black vinyl top, driver-side mirror, and wheel well and rocker trim.
A set of 15-inch Pontiac Rally II wheels is wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.
The front and rear seats are upholstered in black vinyl. Features include center console with Rally Sports Speed Shifter, tilt steering column, air conditioning (with new blower motor and HVAC controls), and RetroSound AM/FM/AUX radio that was installed in October 2022. The dashboard and center console were restored in 2022.
The instrument panel includes a 140-mph speedometer, clock, and gauges for the fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The odometer currently reads 97,750 miles.
Power is provided by a period-correct 428cid V8 backed by a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.
This vehicle was factory-equipped with an independent front suspension and a solid rear-drive axle. Braking is provided by power front discs and rear drums. Like all 1969 Grand Prixs, this vehicle breathes via a dual exhaust system.
A James Bond Aston Martin movie car is headed to auction—but it’s not a Goldfinger DB5.
Part of RM Sotheby’s Monterey Car Week sale, scheduled for Aug. 17-19, this 1973 Aston Martin V8 was used in filming of the 1987 James Bond movie The Living Daylights. This more obscure entry in the Bond canon marked Timothy Dalton’s first appearance as 007, a role the British actor would only keep for one more film.
The Living Daylights also marked the return of Aston Martin to the Bond franchise after a long hiatus. Like the many Astons that have served as Bond’s transportation before and since, the V8 was equipped with plenty of gadgets, including a rocket booster and deployable skis.
Image via RM Sotheby’s
Multiple cars were used in filming, including four complete drivable vehicles and seven fiberglass shells. The car up for auction, designated car 10 during production, is one of the four drivable cars. In addition to the rocket booster and ski props, it was updated to look like a more recent Aston Martin V8, and received a roll cage and a sunroof to match the other cars, for continuity reasons.
Car 10 was pushed down a hill and into a snowbank for a chase scene, which meant removing the engine and transmission to lighten the car. It survived, though, and was kept by Bond prod uction company Eon Productions until 1995, when it was sold to British James Bond collector Peter Nelson, along with two of the other Living Daylights Astons (Eon Productions kept the fourth complete car).
Image via RM Sotheby’s
The car changed hands a couple more times, finding its way to the U.S. and being restored to roadworthy condition. It got a new 5.3-liter V-8 from the more powerful V8 Vantage model, along with the correct 5-speed manual transmission. Corrosion was repaired as well, and the front was repainted, according to the auction listing.
The Living Daylights may not be the most iconic Bond film, and the Aston Martin V8 may not have the iconic status of the DB5, but this is still a genuine Bond car that’s expected to bring a big hammer price. So while one of the James Bond DB5s sold for over $6 million in 2019, RM Sotheby’s estimates this car will sell for $1.4 million to $1.8 million.
When you ask most car people, even Aston Martin fans, the car that they identify as James Bond’s first Aston Martin, they almost always say it is the DB5 used in the film Goldfinger. While that may be correct for the films, in the Ian Fleming books things are a bit different. While the book Goldfinger is also the first time Bond would drive an Aston, it was not the DB5. When the book was published in 1958 the DB5 did not even exist. Instead it the same model as my Pick of the Day, a 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III.
The Aston Mk III, as they are known by most Aston aficionados, is an interesting transition car for the company that I believe offers the best of everything. They are the last car to use the Lagonda based twin-cam 6-engine that was developed by none other than W.O. Bentley. This is a legendary engine and was a great design.
The body of the Mk III was basically a modified version of the old 2/4 but modified in a way that to me perfects the original DB2/4 design. What they did was change the grill to the shape originally used in the DB3 racecar which became the same grill shape that every other Aston Martin car has used since. People seem to overlook that the Mk III was the first road going model to use this grill and that small change make the design somehow look much more modern and elegant.
The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, seller offering this car describes it as a car that was delivered new in 1958 by the Aston Martin dealership in Pasadena, California. The buyer owned the car until 1983 when he sold it to its second owner, who kept the car for more than 39 years. In 2007 this Aston Mk III underwent a complete mechanical restoration totaling more than $85,000 and happily still retains its original numbers-matching drivetrain, has all original body panels, interior, and glass. The paintwork shows signs of age through cracking and blemishes while the interior and glass are extremely nice.
The quality of the paint makes me wonder if it is original to the car and something I might ask the seller if I was a buyer. If it is original, this Aston Mk III would be a nice entry for the preservation class at an event like Pebble Beach. It is also a car that you could easily drive and not have to worry about the stray stone chip or two you might acquire on tours like the Colorado Grand, a tour that this car would be perfect for.
Bond’s Mk III, according to the book Goldfinger, was painted in a color called Whisper Grey. This is not a real factory color, but this one is painted in Ivory and carries an Oxblood leather interior. To me that would easily be close enough.
If you had not figured it out yet, I love this specific car. If I would not have to sell a bunch of stuff that my wife would object to me selling, think a lot of IRA money, I would have already bought it and be on the phone with Camille at Passport to arrange shipping to me for pick up in Monterey in a few weeks. While not as elegant or as popular as the DB5, the Bond connection is a big deal to me. On top of that the Mk III has more headroom and interior space than any other DB Aston Martin, making it the perfect car for my 6’4″ height. Yes the steering and handling is also a bit more primitive than the DB4 and later cars, but it is a very advanced car for one built in the 1950s and I would not mind those minor drawbacks.
This 1958 DB 2/4 Mk III is being offered for a market correct price of $280,000, which is a lot less than you would have to spend on a DB4 or 5. It is even less expensive than a DB6, and also more rare than any of the above cars being one of only 83 total Mk III cars built in left hand drive.
If you are looking for a blue chip GT car and the DB4-6 are too expensive, this car would be a perfect substitute. For me it would not be a substitute at all but a car I would likely keep forever.
