$5 Million Dollar HEMI CUDA Convertible!!

[mrriggsohara]

Although the auction may bid up to the reserve price, they will only bid against real bidders to keep it going. The auction house will not bid alone, or against itself. Their purpose is to sell cars, not make up historical numbers.
Regarding rarity versus value: You are absolutely correct when you say, "there's rare and there's valuable. They dont always equate to the same thing, that being $$$$." Remember that each person out there possesses their own reasons for purchasing certain cars. There can be no dispute that a 1966 Dodge Coronet Deluxe 4-Door sedan is not at all sexy looking compared to Gullwing Mercedes, GT40, Shelby Cobra, Challenger R/T, or Ferrari, but remember, there is an ass for every seat, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder (so they say). Let's look at Picasso paintings. I think they are mostly ugly. But many people pay millions of dollars for them. Why? Because they can. Why would someone pay $5,000,000 for a 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible? Because it is the last hemi convertible ever produced. To some people that means something. The plain jane grampa 4-door hemi car is 1 of only 4 out of 11,000 hemi cars. That, too, means something to some people. Consider this: If you or I owned one of these cars, the last hemi cuda convertible or the 4-door hemi car, one thing we would definitely have is "bragging rights." Like, "I own the Empire State Building." Not too many people can say that. And, again, to some, that means something. Honestly, if I had the millions to spend without denting my bank account, I would want both cars and probably 100 more. The pleasure and enjoyment that comes from merely looking at other people's cars can only be increased by actually being able to own and admire them in our own garages or, in the case of 100 cars, our own warehouses. But like an earlier writer stated: He likes strawberries, the other person likes cherries. He will never like cherries, and the other person will never like strawberries. Let's get used to it, in some extreme cases, the car hobby has become a high stakes game in which most of us cannot participate. When it comes to the hemi cars, both pretty and ugly, the market is completely unpredictable when we waunder around at the top. The more common hemi models are not so difficult to figure out pricing, i.e., Chargers and Roadrunners. But these two cars being discussed here are far from ordinary. Let's give the respect deserved and consider the historical significance of these cars. They may not be cars for us based on a number of reasons. Looks, money, whatever. However, some very wealthy and experienced collectors out there can have whatever they want. And from what I've seen, they want this stuff. Probably because they already have most of the other stuff we all have.

By the way, which original 1971 hemi cuda convertible did you own in 1986? Was it automatic or 4-speed? Regarding the 4-door Impala, that sounds nice, too. Do you think the Impala was a real 427/425 car or a made car? Or do you not know. Some crazy Chevy collector like Reggie Jackson might be interested in a car like that. I have no idea how many were built. Do you?

[njsteve]

The 4 door Impala was a red one and was featured in Musclecar Review around that time. Here's a photo. My car was the yellow and white one with an automatic. The last U.S production built car. (The white one was an export car) I sold it to "Otis" a year later. Never could get it to break into the 13's, so I got rid of it. Just too heavy and slow. I like what I have now. It's a lot quicker.

BTW, I have a full album of the 86 Musclecar Nationals. There was even a dark green ZL1 running in the 12's. From what I remember it was damn quick and very loud (with chambered exhaust).

[mrriggsohara]

njsteve,

Thanks for the picture of the 4-door Impala. Maybe I'm wierd, too. I must be. I think I love the car. The body style is so ordinary, the wheels and tires dull, but something in my brain cannot let me avoid facing the reality that something extraordinary resides under the hood. Putting the bland body with the most powerful engine available gives rise to cause emotional stir beyond that of looking at another hemi cuda or big block muscle car. Am I wierd?

About your hemi cuda convertible: Did Greg Joseph do the actual negotiating with you on Otis Chandler's behalf? By the way, that yellow/white color combination is awesome. You are a very fortunate man to have enjoyed that car the way you did. I bet it never sees the drag strip again. Unless of course you get it back.

Some of us drive our cars, no matter what they are. I have driven all of mine. Some, though, are only driven short distances, more infrequently because they are restored to perfect condition, and it seems silly to risk a road hazard. In the past, when I was truly so crazy about the way any certain car looked, one too perfect to sensibly drive, I just bought another one of the same breed in less than 100% perfect condition and drove it whenever I felt like it. You must know what I mean. Some cars are daily drivers, some are trailer queens, with many varieties in between. Years ago, I had several of each. Now I live in Manhattan with minimal need to drive, and much less space for automobile storage and maintenance.

[njsteve]

Actually I do really like that Impala (far more than the Coronet). Brings back memories of our old Impala family station wagon with Dad at the wheel, going 95 mph on the Merrit Parkway to Grammas house in Westchester. We would all yell WEEEE! whenever the car got airborne over the hills and dips...The NY state road crews flattened out the road and it's just no fun anymore.

Yup, Greg Joseph was the one to show up with the money, back in '87. It was a rainy day when he came to pick up the car and he almost had a coronary when I drove it to meet him in the drizzle.

Kinda like last night. I had the hemi out and went to a local cruise. I met my buddy who has a 39 Plymouth Coupe with a 392 hemi in it. We hung out in the rain while most of the other cars went scrambling home. Hey, it's only (acid) rain.

Are you going to the auction?

[Charley Lillard]

Riggs... The current owner of Steves old 71 Hemi Cuda convert just told me he wouldn't even pay 30K for the 4 door car. He has plenty of cars but has ne desire to own that 4 door.

[mrriggsohara]

Charlie,

Does that Woodland in your address stand for Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley?

Regarding the guy who owns Steve's old 71 Hemi Cuda not having any desire to own that 4 door: I certainly don't hold that against him. I appreciate his taste, too.

But let me say this: When a guy says he wouldn't even pay $30K for the rarest hemi car in the world, it sounds like he is just being nasty. Any one who owns, collects, or merely knows about hemi cars knows that the parts in that 4 door alone are worth much more than $30K. Right??? Perfectly restored parts cost a fortune these days. Even crappy original parts cost a lot of money. Restoring crappy old original parts costs a fortune, too. So, what is this guy really talking about? Fine, he doesn't desire the car, but it sounds like we're getting back to insulting other hobbiests.

[Charley Lillard]

Riggs.... Woodland is North near Sacramento.
My Friend is not trying to be nasty. He has no use for that car. He also is not into buying cars for parts so parting out the sum of it's parts because they might total more than 30K has no appeal to him either. How many parts off a 4 door are usable on another car anyway ? I just watched a 2 door Hemi car sell at Russo and Steel for about 65K and I would take that 2 door over that 4 door every time. We all know it will bid to more than 30K. I came to that # by removing 0's from anothers comment.

[442w30]

The red Chevy is actually a Bel Air or Biscayne, if memory serves correct. It was in a feature with a similar (albeit 2-door) '69 car in black.

[mrriggsohara]

njsteve,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.

I figured it was Greg Joseph. Yet I am surprised about the rainy day coronary story. Greg ended up with a lot of the nice cars from Otis Chandler's collection. Including the 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T hemi convertible for sale at the upcoming NYC auction. I spoke to Greg almost 10 years ago about a few of his cars. At the time he had, if I recall correctly, the only RS ZL-1 Camaro, too. In any case, he was a pleasure to speak with. I wonder if Greg is the current of the above mentioned Coronet convertible.

The auction: Yes I'll be there.

Thank you for all of the information.

[Charley Lillard]

I'm wondering how much you could pay for the 4 door to restore a 2 door with it's parts and still only get 65K for the 2 door like the one that just sold at Russo and Steele. I'm guessing fenders, 1/4's and doors are useless. The current owner of the Hemi Coronet convert is not Greg. He does own the RS ZL1 Camaro though. And I bet if someone offered him 2 mil for the Coronet convert it would have a new home. We will just have to see how the auction goes. Some of us kinda wanted to go but I don't feel right about going to New York on 9/11 weekend. I wonder if that will have a effect on auction attendance.