By David Boldt
MyCarData.com

(August 16, 2023) LOS ANGELES — It began (as I did) in 1953. The American economy was booming, but then, so was Wisconsin’s senator, Joe McCarthy. And while the election of Dwight Eisenhower put World War II fully behind us, the Cold War was heating up. With that, a handful of execs at General Motors believed the company should be building a sports car, and while the all-new Corvette was not yet America’s Sports Car, the basics were there, and at least one engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, recognized its potential.

(August 9, 2023) The 2023 Mecum Harrisburg auction, held July 26-29 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, saw an exceptional turnout of enthusiastic car connoisseurs looking to soak in all that Mecum’s exclusive East Coast-region auction had to offer, and based on the results, the crowds received their reward. Overall sales at the auction reached $34.2 million as 73% of all offerings hammered sold, making this year Mecum’s second most successful Harrisburg auction on record.

(August 4, 2023) The Veloce, Schnell & Fast Sports Car Collection, The Don Williams Estate Collection and a 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster are just a few of the selections to headline the superb array of classics, supercars, European sports cars and more consigned to the Monterey Car Week Daytime Auction, Mecum Monterey 2023, which marks the return of the world’s largest collector car auction company to the Del Monte Golf Course at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa in Monterey, Calif., Aug. 17-19.

An Austin Metro took second,
a Subaru Justy named third
    
(August 1, 2023) OXFORDSHIRE, England — The globally renowned Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional enjoyed another sell-out success at Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday, with a record attendance of 1200 cars and 3000 guests enjoying the Lincolnshire sunshine. Hagerty created the first Festival of the Unexceptional in 2014 as a celebration of long-forgotten everyday family cars from 1968-1989, now fondly known as the "Unexceptional Era."

Type 2 Schulwagens were built
to train staff at VW dealerships
    
(July 27, 2023) HERNDON, Va. — One of the highlight vehicles at the first International VW Bus Day and the launch of the 3-row ID. Buzz EV in Huntington Beach, Calif., on June 2 was Lind Bjornsen’s 1955 Volkswagen Type 2 Schulwagen. These vehicles were built as traveling training vehicles for VW dealerships and Bjornsen’s is believed to be the sole survivor. The vehicle was also a standout at the Orange County Transporter Organization’s Type 2 event in Long Beach, Calif., the next day.

See feature-length video of
racing Hudson Hornet here

(July 18, 2023) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The Hagerty Drivers Foundation has debuted its documentary on the history of the oldest known NASCAR championship car, titled “The Fabulous Hudson Hornet.” The film uncovers the serendipitous turn of events that led the small Detroit manufacturer to become a standout champion in the emerging stock car racing craze of post-war America.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

(July 17, 2023) Following a record $40 million in sales at Mecum Harrisburg 2022, Mecum Auctions will return to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., July 26-29 with an estimated 1,200 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, trucks, exotics, Hot Rods, customs and more to cross the auction block with live coverage by MotorTrendTV and MotorTrend+. Main attraction offerings include a fuel-injected 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and a 4-speed 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback.

Initial engine tests indicate peak power
of 205 bhp, within 5 bhp of original

(July 13, 2023) CREWE, England — The first new Speed Six in 93 years will made its global debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed this month. The most successful Bentley racing car ever, the Speed Six is regarded as one of the most important Bentleys in history. The newest Speed Six — Car Zero — will be used in a development program consisting of real-world durability and track based testing, before being retained by Bentley ahead of the build of 12 customer cars — all of which are already sold.

(July 5, 2023) MOLSHEIM, France — Bugatti is known across the world for visionary engineering and ingenious designs, and today the brand celebrates the official centenary of the racing debut of one of its most innovative cars — the Type 32 "Tank." This streamlined racing car was to lay the foundations for aerodynamic motorsport innovations, earning its nickname not only for its shape, but also for its visible rivets and bolts.

Memorabilia auction sells 92%
of nearly 4,000 lots offered

(July 1, 2023) WALWORTH, Wis. — Mecum Auctions recently added The World’s Largest Road Art Auction to its impressive list of annual events. The automotive memorabilia-focused auction was held June 20-25 at Mecum’s company headquarters in Walworth and featured nearly 4,000 lots of neon, tin and wooden signs, gas pumps and globes, pedal cars, posters and more on offer.