Sonny and Cher “Half-Breed” Mustangs

In 1964 Ford launched an icon: Mustang.

Riding two years of blistering sales, marketing dollars funded a project to put rising stars Sonny and Cher behind the wheel of brand new, nearly consecutive serial number, 1966 Mustang Convertibles. To match the sporty but mainstream Mustangs to the flamboyant rockers, George Barris and Barris TV and Movie Cars were hired to customize the pony car. A great Train of Thought, or so it would seem…

Ford, their red-hot Mustang, George and a few Barris Kustom tricks should have been a Good Combination. Here at MyRideisMe.com, United We Stand in saying, these cars failed!

Sold as a pair, they fetched over $150,000 (including fees, maybe a win?) at the 2010 Barrett Jackson Auction with George Barris himself on the block to add his, “I Got You Babe” to the auctioneers urging that when it comes to these two collectible cars, Its the Little Things that make’m bring big bucks.

Watch the full 6 minute auction if you’d like:

It’s hard to decided which of the “custom” treatments I liked least. I guess we’ll start with the empty ice cube trays filled with a simple metal mesh pop-riveted to the hood. The very quotable sell sheet in the window (read it here) called these, “Simulated Hood Scoops”. I say, Mama Was A Rock And Roll Singer Papa Used To Write All Her Songs and work at a hardware store on the weekends. Is this custom?

What Now My Love, you ask? Check out the grill:

I Hate to Sleep Alone, so I gotta ask: Did the front of either car improve? A cleft chin marks the center of the grill after removing the iconic running horse, then, I’m not sure if it’s a refrigerator shelf (the same one that donated the ice tray) or maybe part of an old stove on Cher’s car. Either way, someone’s Living in a House Divided. Were rectangular headlights ever an improvement or used in another custom?

Proving the custom Beat Goes On the interiors compliment the “custom” front ends disastrously.  I couldn’t put words together to describe the interiors, so let me quote the sell sheet:

Sonny’s Mustang is upholstered with Bobcat fur and antique buff leather trimmed with rustic suede. Cher’s car features white Ermine fur and black antique Scottish leather upholstery, trimmed in hot pink suede.

Ermine and Bobcat. When You Find Out Where You’re Goin’, Let Me Know.

Barris Kustoms has built several great customs: The Hirohata Merch, Blue Danube and of course Sam Barris’ own custom commonly known as “Sam’s Merc”. There’s no doubt the Barris crew can make an amazing car, but these Mustangs and the recent Toyota Prius custom rival the neon clad PT Cruisers covered before as some of the worst attempts at custom I’ve seen.

Don’t Let it Be Me, tell me if you agree! Do these Half-Breed customs work for you?

Mellow Artist Paints Nostalgia and Speed

Car Art and Hot Rod Art Become Fine Art

Have you ever met Tom Fritz? Chances are, you’d remember if you had.

You probably noticed the dark display at one of your favorite car shows, then you were drawn in by the vivid paintings filling almost every bit of dark.  I last ran into the flip-flop wearing, ultra soft-spoken Fritz at Barrett Jackson 2010. I don’t know crap about art, especially fine art except for what I like, and I like what Tom’s throwing down.

Tom’s art is all the more sweet when he takes the time to talk with you about each piece and fill you in on some of the catchy titles like: “Feeling the Belts”, “Raising Merry Hell II”, “Ancient Barbaric Amusements” and one of my favorites, “Quick Sombish”.  (link to Fritzart Gallery) Tom wrote about the making of “Quick Sombish” from the concept sketches to the in-process work and of course, the finished piece (shown here). To date, it’s one of my favorite stories at MyRideisMe.com and a recommended read for any artist. Read about this Wheels up front engine dragster by clicking here.

To pass the time when Tom’s at a show, sometimes he’ll paint. Swanee nabbed this action shot of Tom at my request because I just couldn’t believe how he holds his brush. Arm extended, holding the brush nearly at it’s end, he paints these strikingly beautiful paintings. Is anyone else amazed by this? I’d shake and be smooth like a California highway. It’s a treat to watch.

You can barely see the reference photo he’s got behind the light, and even tougher to see in a photo is the sketched image he’s after. From there, Fritz usually adds a period character that no doubt loves his hot rod like no other (or is driving the piss out of it!)

These two paintings are 1 of a kind. I know the Hemi powered, blown dragster racing out of the blazing sunset was sold before the paint dried. As you can imagine, Barrett Jackson attracts quite a few who only want (and can easily afford) original paintings.  Up in the top left corner of this picture, you can see another of my favorites, mentioned above, called “Feeling the Belts”.  Chutes-out, this front engine dragster’s easing to stop through an almost Tom Fritz-signature, warm and glowing sunset. Damn Tom, it’s hard to pick a favorite!

So when you see Tom at the next show, go say hi and ask about, “Messin with the Institution” or maybe, “Shaving the Devil’s Beard” shown in his display. The same warm glow seen in the painting’s also waiting for you in conversation with Tom. Enjoy.

Visit Tom Fritz website here.

Barrett Jackson Auction’s Salute to Boyd Coddington?

I expect a hot rod driver or builder to know who Boyd Coddington was. Like him or not, there’s no denying his influence on style and the budget of custom cars, especially the one-off rides built for his TV show, “American Hot Rod”. His death almost 1 year ago shocked the custom car world.

It looked like there were alot more hot rods and cars that I’ll call “regular” at the 2009 Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona this year. What the heck is regular? Well, I just mean they’re somewhat obtainable by more then just wealthy collectors out there. I guy with a dream who’s been saving for a while might have a shot. With the “dreamers” and the collectors all gathered at Barrett Jackson, how many knew who Boyd Coddington? Quite a few!

Case in point are 2 hot rods sold on Saturday at Barret Jackson. The first is this neo-classic styled: chopped, red and flamed but with billet (of course Boyd’s) wheels, 1932 Ford 3 window coupe. A great looking, no-expense-spared car, no doubt, but was it worth the $200k it sold for? (without commissions) Who knows the actual build cost, but that could be said for many cars on the block. From what I heard the auctioneers saying, many cars were being sold for the cost of the “frame off rotisserie” restoration. Not this car, I think it sold for a premium because it was a Boyd car. It’s tough to hear in the video below, but the cheers from the crowd as the price kept rising support that theory. What do you think? (after a short word from their sponsor…)

Also supporting my Boyd buy theory is this Chip and Sam Foose built 29 Ford Sedan. This steel car will be the topic of another blog. I got a chance to chat with the new owner and he was tickled to have such at great car for $50k (without commissions) With 15″ Boyd wheels, this low slung sedan is in fantastic condition and anything with Chip Foose’s name on it, I think, also should fetch a premium. Did it? I think in a few years, it’ll take alot more money to own a car built by Foose. More on this cool 80′s time machine in a future blog.

Finally, I’ll throw out another 32 Ford 3 Window coupe for you to ponder. This is a different, much more nostalgic looking 32, but for years, any steel 32 was fetching big, BIG dollars, weren’t they? This car sold for $58k. Is that right? This car was CHERRY! I checked, it’s a steel car and features a somewhat ordinary 350/350 combo, but with the simple but stylish interior, artillery steelies and whitewalls, this is my style.

So did the Boyd name bump up the price at auction or was it a simple case of 2 guys really wanting the same car?

Barrett Jackson Auction – 1980′s Reject Camaro

Have you ever gone through your closet to find some clothes that make you say, DAMN!  I never wore that, did I?  I think the same is true for cars, especially custom cars that were built in the 80′s.

At some point, did the designers take a step back and go, “Really?  Is that cool?”  I wonder cause this is an example of just about everything that’s wrong with 80′s custom paint.

The only redeeming quality about this car is the LT5 tucked under the hood.  As a 1988 Camaro, this is a combo that never was and that’s probably why with this car, like every other car offered by GM, they read a long a boring disclaimer stating that basically that as far as GM is concerned, these cars don’t exist.

So if you can, look past the glowing neon yellow wheels and matching neon yellow seating surface and dig that sliding seal fading to upside down shoe graphics done in, you guessed it, neon yellow and *gulp* purple.  Adios 80′s!

What do you think?  Please leave a comment below!

Look for many more and much less nauseating shots from Barret Jackson.  Feel free to give Swanee a friendly nudge in the next couple days to get working on the hundreds of shots he took.

Stories to be told:

• Hurst Limited Edition Viper
• Out there rides for sale at Barret Jackson
• 1954 Kaiser Darrin from her in Scottsdale crosses the block
• Deals or not?  Cars I thought were a steal
• Killer 29 Sedan that’s 80′s Nostalgia?
• Barris Kustom 40 Ford Deluxe heading to Georgia
• Pontiac Club de Mer Recreation – Steal of the Auction?

Please check back in!

Breakfast with Mr. Ferrari, Lamborghini & Rob Myers

It’s no wonder RM Auction is celebrating their 10th year in Arizona with “Automobiles of Arizona” at the Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. Accepting my invitation to their Media breakfast I arrived slightly more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed then the next writer and photographer because this was my first time to look behind the scenes. Tucked in a small ballroom with other friends from the Phoenix Automotive Press Association (PAPA) I got to meet the kind folks running RM and hear what Rob Myers founder and former president ( Ian Kelleher was recently promoted to President) had to say about the state of the Collector Car Market.

Mr. RM took the podium with a smooth stride and turned to show a friendly smile. Here’s a man that enjoys what he does. Reflecting back to 1976, Myers remembered his first trip to Barret Jackson. Back then, he says, “It was a hobby.” He remembered buying a Mustang for about $1000 and driving it back to the RM home base back in Canada.

Now, Meyers estimated that nearly a quarter billion dollars will exchange hands in Arizona this week. Sound crazy? He’s not speculating that RM, Barret Jackson and the other auctions he spoke well of would clear that kind of money, (although the auctions are a healthy $150M chunk of it) he was referring to all the peripheral money and side deals being made all over the valley.

Take a cruise down to the Scottsdale Pavilions on Saturday night during Auction Week and you’ll see a huge turnout of cars with bunches of them for sale. Then, how about the revenue from the hotels and bars? And don’t forget the local classifieds that are jam packed with classic cars for sale because everyone knows, the right people are in town: Buyers. If you can’t sell your car this week, you won’t.

Telling us of a $1M car deal done in the hotel bar, Meyers asks us, mostly rhetorically, “How’s the Collector Car Market? It’s great! Good cars always bring good prices. It’s a good investment too… at least if it’s in my garage, I can’t get Ponzi’d out of it!”

As I listened and took notes between laughs enjoying how well Rob Myers knows his business, he offered more proof of a strong collector car market by casually mentioning the 3 years of work booked for RM’s elite car restoration business in Canada.

RM’s got it all for their clients: Hospitality, a full range of services and of course, they get the cars. In this strong collector car market, I can’t wait to see what the Corvette Grand Sport goes for.