Bad Porsches

The worst words for die hard Porsche fans is 'entry level'. First among these is the 914. Porsche decided to collaborate with Volkswagen and create the mid-engine 914 for the 1970 model year. The 914 was a mix of Porsche engineering with VW pieces that included the air-cooled, flat-four with all of 100hp. It sold well and over time its charms have become more apparent.

The 914’s replacement, the water-cooled, front-engine 924 was also built from VW and Audi parts. It debuted in 1976 and absolutely no one was overwhelmed. Its Audi-sourced 2.0-liter four now made a pitiful 95hp in North America.

The worst Porsche of all time? Some say it’s the Carrera GT, Porsche’s 605-horsepower effort to stake out supercar territory. Built around a 5.7-liter V-10 from the failed development of a Formula One engine, nothing about the mid-engine Carrera GT is Porsche at its best. It’s the Carrera GT’s nasty handling, lack of stability control, and grabby clutch that make it dangerous.

The Carrera GT will always be infamous as the car in which Paul Walker was riding when he was killed in 2013.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz = $324k

In the late 1950s, Cadillac was the undisputed heavyweight champ in the full-sized luxury car market in North America. Cadillac used the nameplates "Eldorado Seville" and "Eldorado Biarritz" to distinguish between the hardtop and convertible. The 1959 models came near the end of the 3rd generation. The 1959 Cadillac is remembered for the largest tailfins ever and dual bullet tail lights.

While the 1959 Eldorado was misunderstood in its day, collectors today recognize the car's combination of power, presence, and unbridled extravagance.

The Eldorado featured the ultimate engine of the late 50s, the Q-code 390-cu.in. V-8, topped by three two-barrel Rochester carburetors producing 345 hp.

This concours quality example made $324k in late 2018.

RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2016 Auction

2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato $363,000

RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2016 Auction was in Florida and featured more than 100 top collector automobiles.

1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster $715,000

1957 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Roadster by Bertone $286,000

1931 Bentley 8-Litre Tourer by Swallow $852,000 1927 Avions Voisin C14 Lumineuse Est. $800,000 – $950,000

1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon $1,815,000 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster $1,181,500

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Cabriolet est $3,000,000 – $4,000,000

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta 'Tour de France'

1934 Auburn Twelve Salon Phaeton $ 313,000 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe $ 121,000

1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet "Malmaison" $495,000 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 by Pininfarina $341,000

2005 Porsche Carrera GT $715,000

1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria by Rollston $1,100,000

1962 Kurtis Aguila $423,000 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Cabriolet

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer Est. $2,500,000 – $3,500,000

1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico $4,400,000 1968 Chevrolet Sunoco Camaro Trans Am $990,000

1984 Ferrari 288 GTO $2,585,000 1979 Porsche 911 Turbo Est. $375k.

2014 Pagani Huayra $2,035,000

1970 Chevrolet El Camino LS6 - $140k high bid

Restoration completed in 2020. Build sheet. CRV 454/450 HP LS6 V-8 engine rebuilt in 2020. Aluminum intake manifold. Holley 4-barrel carburetor. Muncie M22 4-speed manual transmission. 12 bolt rear end with 3.31 Positraction. Power brakes with front discs. NCRS shipping data report. Listed in the LS6 Registry. Numbers are estimated but only about 500 El Caminos were equipped with the mighty LS6 package. The LS6 produced 450bhp@5600 rpm, and 500lb-ft@3600 rpm. The ¼ mile comes in 13.44 seconds @ 108.17 mph.

Hagerty suggests a top notch 1970 Chevrolet El Camino LS6 is trending around $140k. This example crossed the block at Mecum.

1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 - $28,600 in 2020

1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 presented as Lot S152 at Mecum Indianapolis. Oldsmobile’s premiere muscle car of the 1960s, the 442 was a choice upscale muscle car. The 442 started out as a performance package for the 1964 F85 and Cutlass. Starting in 1964, “442” stood for a 4-speed manual, a 4-bbl carburetor, and dual exhausts – all of which were standard.

By 1970 the 442 had Oldsmobile’s big-block 455 V8 which was rated at 365 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The W-30’s advertised horsepower figure was underrated and was over 400hp. The W-30 package included a performance tuned Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor, a high performance cam, and a lightweight free-flow aluminum intake manifold. A set of high-performance cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds completed the picture. The W-30 had enough juice to frighten most drivers when the pedal hit the floor.

The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 is widely considered the best Oldsmobile muscle car ever built. It is also likely the most underappreciated and affordable today.

1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible - $325k high bid

1 of 17 V-Code 440 BBL Cuda Convertibles produced in 1971. 1 of 2 known Canadian export cars. Stored 35 years. Cosmetically unrestored. V-code 440 BBL V-8 engine. Torqueflight automatic transmission. Power brakes. Tor Red with Black interior and top. Bucket seats and center console.

1971 would be the final year the V-Code was offered in the Chrysler model line. That is backed by the A727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The radio-delete car came off the assembly line in EV2 Tor-Red with a matched black interior and top.

The vehicle high bid to $325k in 2020 at Mecum Indy.

1967 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster $1.37m

CSX3318. Restored in 2018 to original as-delivered spec. Correct 427 CI side oiler V-8 engine. Correct 4-barrel carburetor and intake. 4-speed manual transmission. Factory correct Rangoon Red. Sunburst knock-off wheels. History listed in the Shelby Registry. The car made $1.37m against an estimate of $1.3m to $1.5m.