A GDYNETS PUBLICATION 2014, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Car Collector Chronicles

Volume VII, Issue I1 Ca s February 2014

Exploring:

Car Collecting Today Classic Rides Reports From the Field Oldsmobile (1897-2004) Cadillac (1902- ) Allant (1987-1993)

High RPMs
The temp today (1/21) is all of 3F, and that is warm in comparison to what is on the way! Here in WI we are experiencing all that winter has to offer. As I indicated last month, I did spend a minute or two watching B-J Scottsdale. I would also note that it took more than a minute or two, daily, just to find out on which channel it was being broadcasted. Stupidity on the part of Fox and B-J! This issue has the B-J Olds/ Cad/Corvair results on page 4. I am still in shock at the total number of 6-figure sales. They were not unusual, but rather the norm. People are just nuts! What else can I say? At those prices, the buyers certainly are not driving these cars. Every year one expects to, and does, see a number of Cadillacs cross the block.. In that mix this year were a few Allants. What is notewortthy is the total absence of any XLRs. The XLR was a sporty Cad sitting on a C5 Vette chassis. 15,460 were manufactured from 2004 to 2009 at the Bowling Green, KY Vette plant. It had impressive 060 and 1/4 mile times. Some models boasted a six figure MSRP. I realize they are not old rides. But a lot of the iron crossing the block in Scottsdale, and bringing BIG BUCKS, is anything but old. So, it is somewhat surprizing that the XLR has yet to appear in the B-J catalog February Automotive Milestones02/01/1898 Travelers issues 1st auto ins policy 02/02/1923 Tetraethyl lead (TEL) first added to gas 02/04/1941 R. E. Olds received his last auto related patent 02/05/1952 1st "Don't Walk" sign installed in NYC 02/08/1936 GM founder Wm. Durant filed for personal bankruptcy 02/16/1852 Studebaker founded 02/15/1902 Olds ran its 1st national automobile ad in Saturday Evening Post

Corvair (1960-1969)

= Clickable Link

IN THIS ISSUE: High RPMs 1

GDYNets On the Web Auto Asterisks

02/17/1911 1st self-starter installed in a Cadillac 02/19/1954 Ford T-bird born 02/23/1893 Rudolf Diesel received German patent for diesel engine 02/24/1909 Hudson Motor Car Co. incorporated 02/28/1932 Last Model A produced

Think Spring!

B-J Scottsdale Results

GDYNets on the Web

Find GDYNets on the web:
CCC -THE FORUM -A web site to discuss the newsletter, the hobby and our cars. Car Collector Chronicles Saved 62 -Our 1962 Olds convertible, Ransom Eli Olds and things Oldsmobile related web site. The Gray Lady -1955 Cadillac Coup de Ville web site.

SAVED 62: A website devoted

to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobile cars and the company founder, Ransom Eli Olds.

CCC Forum EMail:

THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coup de Ville, lots of Caddy information and an extensive repair library.

DAVES DEN: -A site devoted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive information on the Steel City of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmobile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. George Yaros.

OldsD88@gmail.com

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Auto Asterisks
I enjoy learning about automobiles that I know little or nothing about or never even knew existed. Since my knowledge base is limited, I am easily entertained! Last month we took an extensive look at the offerings of Keller Motors. This month we shall explore a number of automobiles that surfaced on the horizon for only a brief period of time. They were but a blip on the radar screen, a flash in the pan, a mere footnote in the annals of automobile manufacturing history. Some are quite interesting. The Aurora One such vehicle is the Aurora. No, we are not talking Oldsmobile here. Far from it. This Aurora came from an authority even higher than Th General. Its creator was Fr. Alfred Juliano of the Roman Catholic Order of the Holy Ghost. He was a parish priest in Branford, CT. His parishioners helped fund his operation. What possibly could go wrong with God and the resident faithful on your side? Prior to entering the priesthood Juliano was an art student. He always wanted to design cars and entered competitions for aspiring auto stylists, including one sponsored by General Motors. Reportedly, G.M. offered him a scholarship to study with the legendary designer Harley Earl. Alas, this offer came too late as by then he had been ordained a Roman Catholic priest. Fr. Juliano wanted to create the worlds safest automobile. Such desire led to the incorporation of innovations light years ahead of their time. His 18 ft. fiberglass body purposely had a cow-catcher style nose. It was designed to safely cradle a pedestrian and protect them from harm. He mounted the spare tire between the driver and engine to provide impact protection. Seat belts and a padded dash were standard equipment on this auto. Also, the pedestal mounted seats would rotate 180 in the event of sensing a front-end collision! The car additionally incorporated a roll cage, side impact bars and a collapsible steering column. The car was set to be first presented to the public in 1957. The debut did not go well. The car underpinnings came from a 1953 Buick. The Buick engine had not been fired up for over four years. Nor had the fuel system been cleaned. Hey, the guy was a designer, not a mechanical engineer! On the drive to the debut the car died no less than 15 times. It had to be towed to gas stations for fuel system repairs seven times. Needless to say, the good father was a few hours late for the unveiling of his creation! A MSRP of $12K (just below the cost of a Cadillac Eldorado), the problems surrounding the unveiling and the physical appearance of the car doomed the venture. Not a single order for the car was received by the good father. His church drummed Fr. Juliano out of the order and he had to file for personal bankruptcy. The Aurora was forfeited by the father to settle an unpaid debut day repair bill. British car enthusiast Andy Saunders eventually tracked the car down. He bought it and then spent 12 years restoring it. For a time it was displayed in England at the Beaulieu Motor Museum. Lastly, this version of the Aurora holds one other distinction. It has been labeled, and frequently referred to, as the ugliest car ever built in America! This distinction may in fact have been justly earned? The Airscoot Next, let us take a look at the Airscoot. It will not be a very long look, as not a whole lot if information on it is available. The basic premise was that the Airscoot would serve as motor vehicle transportation for persons after flying into a locale. To function in this capacity it had to be small, compact, light weight and able to carried aboard the aircraft.

Fr. Juliano wanted to create the worlds safest automobile. Such desire led to the incorporation of innovations light years ahead of their time.

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Auto Asterisks - Contd.

These requirements resulted in production of what may best be described as a folding go cart. The 1947 creation of Aircraft Products Corp., out of Wichita, KS, weighed in at all of 72 lbs. It was only a hair over a yard long (37). Amazingly, it could carry, uncomfortably I suspect, 2 people and 2 suitcases. The vehicle was powered by a single cylinder air cooled engine that produced 2.6 h.p. The manufacturer claimed it could reach a top speed of 60 m.p.h. I cant imagine anyone ever even attempting to go that fast in it. Other sources put the top speed at 25 m.p.h. The manufacturer also hyped its fuel economy, represented as being 72 m.p.g. However, with a .3 gal. gas tank, the driving range of an Airscoot was only 21.6 miles. Airscoot in Life Magazine

The manufacturer also hyped its fuel economy, represented as being 72 m.p.g. However, with a .3 gal. gas tank, the driving range of an Airscoot was 21.5 miles.

The Allstate Allstate, the good hands people, ought to be a familiar business moniker to most. The name should also bring to mind the merchandising conglomerate of Sears, Roebuck & Co. Over the years Sears used the Allstate brand name on a wide variety of products for the automobile, from spark plugs to rebuilt automobile engines. The Allstate brand began in 1925 as part of a national contest to name Sears new brand of automobile tires. Public response in the contest was overwhelming. 937,886 people submitted a total of 2,253,746 names. Entries came from every state, and in 25 different languages. Hans Simonson of Bismarck, ND, received a $5,000 cash prize for his winning entry. In 1926, Sears adopted the Allstate trademark for initial use on automobile tires and tubes. The tires were guaranteed for 12,000 miles and quickly became big sellers in the catalog and at the new Sears, Roebuck and Co. retail stores (which first opened in 1925). Sears Chairman General Robert E. Wood credited the Allstate tire with making an important contribution to the success of Sears' retail store program. Sears formed the Allstate Insurance Company on April 17, 1931. Allstate offered low

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Auto Asterisks - Contd.

rates, availability through direct-mail sales (Sears catalogs) and through sales booths at Sears stores. The highpoint for the Allstate brand came in the 1950s and 1960s, when the brand appeared on a wide range of products; including garage door openers, fire extinguishers, motor scooters and camper shells. During the years before seatbelts, heaters, radios and A/C became standard equipment on cars, Sears offered a complete line of these accessories under the Allstate brand. In 1952, Sears introduced the Allstate automobile. The Allstate came about thanks to the marketing efforts of Henry J. Kaiser. He saw the partnership with the retailer as a vehicle (no pun intended) to sell the Henry J automobile. Built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, the Allstate was not Sears first automobile marketing effort. Between 1908 and 1912 Sears sold through its catalog the Sears Motor Buggy, made by the Lincoln Motor Works. This high wheeler actually sold quite well. The Allstate came in two models: The Standard ($1,395) and the Delux ($1,785). The buyer had a choice of a four or six cylinder engine and a transmission with overdrive. The car was nothing but a Henry J in similar clothing. It differed slightly from the Henry J in badging, possessed a distinctive grill and hood ornament, used unique seat covering materials, had a locking glove compartment and, unlike the Henry J, an actual trunk lid. Each car was built on demand, to fulfill actual received orders. While all automobiles came with a 90-day guarantee, Sears accepted no trade-ins. As popular as the insurance and accessories were, few people wanted to buy an entire car with the Allstate name. A total of 2,363 Allstates were sold by Sears in model years 1952 and 1953. The lowest cost Allstate was $1,395 in 1952, while the most expensive carried a $1,796 price tag in 1953. Disappointing sales caused the Allstate automobile to disappear from Sears stores after 1953. The car is notable in that its very existence angered Henry J dealers. They were justifiably upset that they were forced to try and sell a similar car with less features, but at a higher price. No doubt this dissatisfaction played some part in the 1954 demise of the Henry .

B-J Scottsdale Results

1952 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88 CONVERTIBLE $ 77,000 1953 OLDSMOBILE 98 FIESTA CONVERTIBLE 209,000 1955 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88 2 DOOR HARDTOP 34,100 1955 OLDSMOBILE STARFIRE 98 CONVERTIBLE 55,000 1957 OLDSMOBILE 98 2 DOOR HARDTOP 85,800 1959 OLDSMOBILE 88 2 DOOR COUPE(CUSTOM) 55,000 1960 OLDSMOBILE 98 CONVERTIBLE 77,000 1966 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 2 DOOR COUPE 22,000 1966 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 2 DOOR COUPE 17,600 1967 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR SEDAN 31,900 1968 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR COUPE 49,700 1969 OLDSMOBILE 442 CONVERTIBLE 42,900 1969 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR COUPE 25,850 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 2 DOOR COUPE 55,000 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 110,000 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 2 DOOR COUPE 106,700 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR COUPE 24,200 1970 OLDSMOBILE RALLYE 350 CUTLASS F-85 POST COUPE 29,700 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 2 DOOR COUPE 82,500 1970 OLDSMOBILE 442 2 DOOR HARDTOP 30,800 1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 84,700 1971 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 88,000 1972 OLDSMOBILE 442 W30 CONVERTIBLE 99,000 1972 OLDSMOBILE 442 CONVERTIBLE 60,500 1978 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 2 DOOR HARDTOP 8,250 1979 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS HURST 2 DOOR COUPE 19,450 1984 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO 2 DOOR HARDTOP 6,820 1986 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 2 DOOR COUPE 5,720

Overall, B-J Scottsdale saw an increase in prices of 7% The January Arizona auctions resulted in a total of 3,000 cars crossing the auction blocks at 6 auction houses

Car Collector Chronicles 1931 CADILLAC 355 A CONVERTIBLE 1936 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD LIMOUSINE 1937 CADILLAC V12 FORMAL SEDAN 1938 CADILLAC V16 SEDAN 1939 CADILLAC SERIES 60 SPECIAL 4 DOOR SEDAN 1941 CADILLAC SERIES 60 SPECIAL 4 DOOR SEDAN 1947 CADILLAC SERIES 62 CONVERTIBLE 1948 CADILLAC(CUSTOM TOPLESS ROADSTER) 1948 CADILLAC SERIES 62 (CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE) 1949 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 60 SPECIAL 4 DR SEDAN 1950 CADILLAC SERIES 62 CONVERTIBLE 1950 CADILLAC(CUSTOM TOPLESS ROADSTER) 1951 CADILLAC SERIES 62 CONVERTIBLE 1951 CADILLAC(CUSTOM ROADSTER) 1955 CADILLAC ELDORADO CONVERTIBLE 1956 CADILLAC SERIES 62 COUPE DE VILLE 1956 CADILLAC(CUSTOM TOPLESS ROADSTER) 1956 CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE 2 DOOR HARDTOP 1956 CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE 1956 CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE(CUSTOM) 1956 CADILLAC HEARSE(CUSTOM) 1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO BIARRITZ CONVERTIBLE 1959 CADILLAC SEDAN DE VILLE 4 DOOR HARDTOP 1959 CADILLAC 4 DOOR HARDTOP(CUSTOM) 1960 CADILLAC SERIES 62 2 DOOR COUPE(CUSTOM) 1960 CADILLAC ROADSTER(CUSTOM) 1960 CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE(CUSTOM) 1963 CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE 1964 CADILLAC DE VILLE CONVERTIBLE 1968 CADILLAC DE VILLE CONVERTIBLE 1967 CADILLAC ELDORADO 2 DOOR COUPE 1971 CADILLAC HEARSE(CUSTOM) 1979 CADILLAC SEVILLE(CUSTOM 4 DOOR SEDAN) 1981 CADILLAC SEVILLE 4 DOOR SEDAN (4/6/8) 1993 CADILLAC ALLANTE CONVERTIBLE 1993 CADILLAC ALLANTE CONVERTIBLE 2004 CADILLAC CTS-V 4 DOOR SEDAN 1963 CHEVROLET CORVAIR GREENBRIER VAN

Page 5;; 115,000 55,000 59,400 52,800 22,000 23,100 77,000 90,200 93,500 22,000 51,700 73,700 63,800 75,900 126,500 41,800 7,700 29,700 25,850 132,000 44,000 143,000 24,200 38,500 44,000 165,000 55,000 20,900 36,300 19,800 20,160 3,300 11,200 1,100 17,600 11,000 22,000 16,500

NOTE: A sister of our 1962 Dynamic 88 Olds Convertible sold at Mecum Kissimmee (Lot S63) for $50K. It is black with a black vinyl top, red/white interior and has A/C.

Ok, Ive had my say for the month. Now its your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and article contributions. I also ask that you please help spread the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC at OldsD88@gmail.com. Now that you have finished reading this months issue of the newsletter, come start/ join an ongoing dialog with other CCC readers and like-minded car collector folk on the CCC Forum. Stop by, check us out and share your views . ______________________________________

-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM!

COMING NEXT ISSUE: TBD