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.
There’s a little Kansas liberal arts school in a town of 14,000 that has an endowment that could make some Silicon Valley scenesters blush. Would you believe $1.5 billion? Yes, you read that right. How does McPherson College do it?
As Hagerty tells it, a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous promised that (s)he would donate $500 million if McPherson College could raise half that amount by June 2023. The school met the goal and, then, the Patron of the Great Unknown followed up on the promise by doubling it. That one billion, combined with McPherson College’s $250 million endowment and $342 million in fundraising, brings the total to $1,592,000 for a school with around 800 students.
Why does McPherson matter to you? It’s the only place in America were one can earn a four-year degree in automotive restoration. The program emphasizes the following:
Historic automotive technology
Automotive restoration management
Automotive communications
Automotive restoration design
Automotive restoration technology
Currently, the 150-odd students in the program are working on a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet to make the school’s first debut at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this coming August. Donated by Pennsylvanians Richard and Mary Hoperman, the unrestored Mercedes made an appearance during Pebble Beach Car Week before arriving at its new home in Kansas for restoration. “Our Mercedes-Benz 300 S will stand as a commitment to our mission to be the center of excellence for restoration education,” says McPherson on its website.
This past Friday, McPherson College’s president announced the endowment at an event last week. “Today is historic, not just for McPherson College, but for all small liberal arts colleges in America,” says Michael Schneider. “I am incredibly grateful to our anonymous donor for giving us an unprecedented opportunity — and responsibility — to build and implement our strategic vision of becoming a destination learning community.”
Barrett-Jackson has had an association with McPherson College since 1999, establishing several scholarships including the Nellie Jackson Scholarship (in honor of the matriarch of the Barrett-Jackson organization), available to female students in McPherson’s automotive restoration program. In addition to the three scholarships, Barrett-Jackson has provided internships for both students and graduates of McPherson.
“It is important to me and the industry to give young people a chance to learn these skills,” says Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson chairman and CEO. “I am proud we can provide opportunities for the restoration tech program to grow and add new people to the profession.”
McDonald’s may be king, but In-N-Out outranks it as everyone’s favorite fast-food restaurant. However, not everyone has access to the chain, being a SoCal tradition since 1948 and more recently available to those in the Southwest, Northwest, and Rockies. In celebration of 75 years of hamburgers and more, In-N-Out is holding a 75th Anniversary Festival at the (newly christened) In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on October 22, 2023. The day will be full of cars on display, drag racing, live music, food, and more. Best of all, the restaurant chain is looking for a few good vehicles to recruit for the show — do you have a hot rod, classic, or muscle car to bring?
Image courtesy of NHRA
There are two core aspects of the celebration: the Festival will include the car show, drag races, and other activities like carnival games, several stages featuring bands playing your favorite tunes throughout the decades, special In-N-Out displays including Cookout Trucks and other concessions, and a myriad of vendors. There will also be a Rock 2 Freedom Benefit Concert (which will require a separate ticket) to benefit the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation, a non-profit created by the burger chain that helps those who are enslaved by any substance or person to gain freedom and healing from substance abuse, and to create, educate, and assist with solutions to eliminate human trafficking. Performing on the main stage will be .48 Special (In-N-Out Burger’s family band) followed by funksters 311 and that little ol’ band from Texas, ZZ Top.
Image courtesy of NHRA
But enough about music and improving the world — you wanna hear about the car stuff, right? Purchasing a car show ticket grants you entry for one vehicle, entry to the Festival, and a commemorative gift. Purchasing an Elimination Bracket Racing ticket will grant you entry for one vehicle to race in one of five classes: Ford, GM, Mopar, Miscellaneous Muscle Cars, or NSS A/FX; the driver will also receive a ticket for entry to the Festival. Purchasing a Fun Run ticket grants the less competitive to two Fun Run races, plus one entry to the Festival. As you may have guessed, all NHRA rules will apply.
Of course, since your hot rod, classic, or muscle car is the greatest ever, you just may win an award. Space is limited, so help fill the slots with some spectacular vehicles, will ya?
ClassicCars.com chatted with Cheston Carson, Product Specialist at Dodge, at Barrett-Jackson and went on a Thrill Ride in both the 797-horsepower Challenger and Charger Hellcat Redeyes. These thrill rides give people the opportunity to experience the dynamic performance of these vehicles in a way you can’t every day. Not only is it an educational experience, it’s fun for the whole family! With a variety of options, from Challenger and Charger Hellcats to Redeyes, the Dodge Thrill Ride is available at every Barrett-Jackson auction and is free to everyone attending the event. If you’re visiting the inaugural New Orleans auction September 28-30, you don’t want to miss this!
ClassicCars.com chatted with Cheston Carson, Product Specialist at Dodge, at Barrett-Jackson and went on a Thrill Ride in both the 797-horsepower Challenger and Charger Hellcat Redeyes. These thrill rides give people the opportunity to experience the dynamic performance of these vehicles in a way you can’t every day. Not only is it an educational experience, it’s fun for the whole family! With a variety of options, from Challenger and Charger Hellcats to Redeyes, the Dodge Thrill Ride is available at every Barrett-Jackson auction and is free to everyone attending the event. If you’re visiting the inaugural New Orleans auction September 28-30, you don’t want to miss this!
In late June, I needed to pick up a vehicle from the body shop, so I called an Uber from my house. As an Acura enthusiast (or more so, a fanatic) I was pleased to see that my ride was going to be in a TSX. The car arrived and looked great. “How many miles are on it?” I asked as we got the trip underway. The driver, Randy, paused. I thought he might say it had 100,000 or so, but the car had 495,980 miles on the odometer. When the ride finished, I exchanged contact information with Randy so he could stay in touch when he got closer to the big-five.
He followed up with me only a couple of weeks later via text message and said, “Looks like tomorrow is the day.” We met up at a midpoint (I drove my 585,000-mile Legend, of course) to experience the milestone together.
The Rollover
Being mid-July in Arizona, by 10:30 a.m. the temperature had already soared to triple-digit range so we kept our time in the parking lot to a minimum. Randy had 13 miles left to go, so I hopped into the passenger seat and we decided to drive about six miles up the freeway and then loop back.
Our calculations paid off, as the 500,000-mile mark came at almost exactly the location where we originally started – safe inside the parking lot at Tempe Marketplace so we didn’t have to be pulled over on the side of a busy road taking videos and photos. I shook Randy’s hand and welcomed him (and his trusty TSX) to the half-million-mile club.
Randy’s Mileage Accumulation
The staggering thing to me isn’t necessarily Randy’s mileage achievement, because there have been plenty of vehicles reaching the 500,000-mile mark and beyond. I’m particularly intrigued by the speed at which Randy accrued those miles.
Click above to watch Tyson’s video of the rollover
To further illustrate this, I pulled a CARFAX report based on his car’s vehicle identification number (VIN). His car was sold new in May 2010 with 10 miles on the odometer. Randy took ownership in January 2017 at 44,993 miles. Within two years, he hit 150,000 miles. The most recent odometer reading on the report was an emissions check in March 2022 at 391,073 miles. And now 16 months later, he hit 500,000.
Working the math on that data: Randy has put 455,007 miles on his car in just a little over six years of ownership. That comes out to 75,834 miles per year. Divide that by 365 days per year, and his car has been driven on average 207 miles every single day day for the last six years. Wow. Uber over-achiever extraordinaire.
Nuts and Bolts
What is the backstory on this seemingly-immortal car, anyway? The TSX model was launched in 2004 as the gateway sedan to the Acura Division of American Honda. Technically, it was introduced in mid-2003 which is why we recently celebrated a 20-year anniversary. The first-generation model was sold as an Accord in Europe.
Randy’s TSX comes from the second generation of the model which launched in 2009 but carried over similar engineering. It is powered by Honda’s popular (and clearly robust) 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline-four powerplant which was rated at 201 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque when new. The engine could be paired with either a five-speed automatic transmission (as in Randy’s case) or a six-speed manual.
Randy’s car is an automatic, and he says that the only major unscheduled replacement during all those miles has been an alternator. The rest has simply consisted of routine fluids, tires, and brakes.
To the Moon (Twice)
The conclusion of our celebration consisted of placing a “LOW MILEAGE” sticker on Randy’s windshield to make things official. We joked about the fact that Randy’s car has driven to the moon and back, and now he’s on his way there again. “I think I left something there, so I have to go back,” he mused.
Thanks, Randy, for sharing your experience with me. I wish you many more happy and safe miles.
Do you have a high-mileage vehicle story to share? Let us know in the comments!
In late June, I needed to pick up a vehicle from the body shop, so I called an Uber from my house. As an Acura enthusiast (or more so, a fanatic) I was pleased to see that my ride was going to be in a TSX. The car arrived and looked great. “How many miles are on it?” I asked as we got the trip underway. The driver, Randy, paused. I thought he might say it had 100,000 or so, but the car had 495,980 miles on the odometer. When the ride finished, I exchanged contact information with Randy so he could stay in touch when he got closer to the big-five.
He followed up with me only a couple of weeks later via text message and said, “Looks like tomorrow is the day.” We met up at a midpoint (I drove my 585,000-mile Legend, of course) to experience the milestone together.
The Rollover
Being mid-July in Arizona, by 10:30 a.m. the temperature had already soared to triple-digit range so we kept our time in the parking lot to a minimum. Randy had 13 miles left to go, so I hopped into the passenger seat and we decided to drive about six miles up the freeway and then loop back.
Our calculations paid off, as the 500,000-mile mark came at almost exactly the location where we originally started – safe inside the parking lot at Tempe Marketplace so we didn’t have to be pulled over on the side of a busy road taking videos and photos. I shook Randy’s hand and welcomed him (and his trusty TSX) to the half-million-mile club.
Randy’s Mileage Accumulation
The staggering thing to me isn’t necessarily Randy’s mileage achievement, because there have been plenty of vehicles reaching the 500,000-mile mark and beyond. I’m particularly intrigued by the speed at which Randy accrued those miles.
Click above to watch Tyson’s video of the rollover
To further illustrate this, I pulled a CARFAX report based on his car’s vehicle identification number (VIN). His car was sold new in May 2010 with 10 miles on the odometer. Randy took ownership in January 2017 at 44,993 miles. Within two years, he hit 150,000 miles. The most recent odometer reading on the report was an emissions check in March 2022 at 391,073 miles. And now 16 months later, he hit 500,000.
Working the math on that data: Randy has put 455,007 miles on his car in just a little over six years of ownership. That comes out to 75,834 miles per year. Divide that by 365 days per year, and his car has been driven on average 207 miles every single day day for the last six years. Wow. Uber over-achiever extraordinaire.
Nuts and Bolts
What is the backstory on this seemingly-immortal car, anyway? The TSX model was launched in 2004 as the gateway sedan to the Acura Division of American Honda. Technically, it was introduced in mid-2003 which is why we recently celebrated a 20-year anniversary. The first-generation model was sold as an Accord in Europe.
Randy’s TSX comes from the second generation of the model which launched in 2009 but carried over similar engineering. It is powered by Honda’s popular (and clearly robust) 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline-four powerplant which was rated at 201 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque when new. The engine could be paired with either a five-speed automatic transmission (as in Randy’s case) or a six-speed manual.
Randy’s car is an automatic, and he says that the only major unscheduled replacement during all those miles has been an alternator. The rest has simply consisted of routine fluids, tires, and brakes.
To the Moon (Twice)
The conclusion of our celebration consisted of placing a “LOW MILEAGE” sticker on Randy’s windshield to make things official. We joked about the fact that Randy’s car has driven to the moon and back, and now he’s on his way there again. “I think I left something there, so I have to go back,” he mused.
Thanks, Randy, for sharing your experience with me. I wish you many more happy and safe miles.
Do you have a high-mileage vehicle story to share? Let us know in the comments!
