American Collector Closed

While last week ended with the open convertibles from the American Collector category, those cars built between 1950 and 1975, this week will begin with the hardtops. First up is this amazing 1964 Lincoln Continental 4 Door Hardtop owned by Tim Wilson. This car has only 1019 original miles. Tim told me that the paint and the interior were also original. This car is a past Keeneland winner as well as a winner at Dayton's Concours d'Elegance.

A rarity in red is this 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. Almost all of the 400 of these cars made came in black but owner Robert Werner said this was an actual factory option color. The distinctive design of this car featured the massively long bullet bumpers. If you're doing a double take at the people on the left, yes, that is Dennis Gage of My Classic Car (http://www.myclassiccar.com/) who was at the Keeneland event shooting an episode of his show.

One of famed designer Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" cars was also on display. This 1956 Chrysler New Yorker sports some of the most innovative and beautiful styling to come out of Detroit during the decade. Only 4115 of these were produced and fewer than 100 are known to still exist.

The marketing and advertising folk claimed that this 1955 Pontiac Star Chief was "new in everything but Pontiac's great name." With clever styling touches that set it apart from its GM brothers, the 287 cubic inch 180 horse power Strato-Streak V8 lurking under the hood changed Pontiac's image from being strictly a family car to a roaring road beast.

The 1972 Ford LTD Brougham was the company's most luxurious full size offering for this model year. The car has 73,000 actual miles. The interior is all original and with the exception of part of the trunk, so is the paint. The car came with every power and luxury appointment Ford offered in 1972.

Perhaps the most recognizable car from its ear, this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is a perfect example of the line. With over 130,000 of these cars made it is easy to see them at most any car show but one in this condition is rare indeed.