If you’re as excited as we are by the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1, it might be wise to understand the historical significance of those three letters at the end of Chevy’s retrofied muscle car. Way back in 1969 – a year some consider to be the apogee of Camaro history – the automaker built just 69 ZL1s, each powered by an aluminum-block 427-cubic-inch V8 that was otherwise unavailable in the Camaro and built specifically for drag racing.

The ’69 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is highly coveted by collectors, and a perfectly stunning example was auction at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. Though this particular ZL1 saw plenty of use on the drag strip, it’s been completely restored to like-new condition. We just drove the new 2012 ZL1 (full report coming soon), so we were keenly interested in seeing this one cross the auction block. The final bid came in at 0,000, putting the actual sale at 1,000.

Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos above, and be sure to click past the break, where you can watch a video of it being auctioned and read more about the 1969 Camaro ZL1 after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 races across the auction block [w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 races across the auction block [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The unfortunate reality of a post-JFK, post-9/11 America means that our president needs to be hidden away from public view, and the details of his high-security transportation are just as hidden. But there was a time when the leader of the free world was paraded around for all to see, and for three presidents of these United States, this was the car in which they met their constituents.

Nicknamed the Queen Mary, this 1938 Cadillac V-16 President Convertible Parade Limousine was one of only two specially made for the White House (the other dubbed Queen Elizabeth), and was used by FDR, Truman and Eisenhower during their presidencies. Delivered on special order shortly after the introduction of Cadillac’s second-generation sixteen-cylinder engine (which was smaller and lighter than its predecessor but delivered the same output), the Presidential Limousine’s 165-inch wheelbase made it eleven inches longer than the already gargantuan production model.

After the end of WWII, as part of its routine maintenance, Cadillac replaced the sixteen-cylinder engines with V8s that were both more economical and easier to maintain. The cars were last used by President Eisenhower during his re-election campaign, after which longtime Cadillac dealer Jack Tallman, who witnessed the pair being rebuilt several times while visiting the factory, was offered the chance to purchase both cars. Tallman selected the Queen Mary for his collection, where it stayed for four decades. In 1999, the car was sold to one Al Wiseman, who showed it at Amelia Island in 2002 where it was awarded as the best original, unrestored vehicle.

It is now being offered for auction by the estate of John O’Quinn, its last owner, at the upcoming RM Auctions event in Arizona next week, where it is expected to fetch between 0,000 and 0,000. Have a closer look in the high-res image gallery and the detailed listing after the jump.

Continue reading 1938 Cadillac V16 convertible parades from White House to auction house

1938 Cadillac V16 convertible parades from White House to auction house originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On January 19th starting at precisely 10:30am, Bonhams auctioneers at the Barrett-Jackson mega-event in Scottsdale will begin bringing to the stage lots 1 through 151 as part of the auction house’s “The Scottsdale Sale”. The lots represent a wide range of significant and unique items from the estate of automotive journalism guru and personality David E. Davis, Jr, who suddenly and sadly passed away on March 27th of last year following surgery.

The items are a vast array of Mr. Davis’ collection of rarities assembled during his nearly 60-year career history with automobiles, the people who designed and built them, and especially with those legends who risked their lives racing them. Lots range from lot number one through to lot 151, and these can all be seen online and bid on pre-auction.

Among the array of a lifetime’s collectibles are included several pieces of desk art, original wall art, rare signed photographs of Dan Gurney, Juan Manuel Fangio, Carroll Shelby, and others, plus a great number of authoritative books, many now out of print. Not to mention a perfectly preserved crimson red 1951 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe – a favored Harley Earl design – with fewer than 9,000 original miles, listed as lot number 326.

Continue reading David E. Davis, Jr. items and his cherry ’51 Caddie hit the block at Bonhams auction in Scottsdale

David E. Davis, Jr. items and his cherry ’51 Caddie hit the block at Bonhams auction in Scottsdale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next month will see all sorts of great movie memorabilia go up for auction. Steve McQueen’s racing suit from the legendary film Le Mans will go under the gavel alongside the last privately owned DeLorean DMC-12 during Profiles in History’s “Icons of Hollywood” auction. The two-piece Gulf Racing suit was originally donated to a British newspaper when filming concluded in 1971.

The Observer asked readers to answer three questions about the history of the Le Mans race for a chance to win the suit, and 12-year-old Timothy Davies snagged the top prize. Richard Attwood, the winner of the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans personally handed over McQueen’s suit. Attwood himself drove the Gulf Porsche 917K for the film.

The suit remains in excellent condition, complete with its American flag, Gulf, Heuer Chronograph and Firestone sponsor patches as well as Michael Delany’s name stitched in blue thread on the right hand side. The auction house estimates that the set will fetch somewhere between 0,000 and 0,000 when it goes under the gavel during the “Icons of Hollywood” even on December 15-17. Head over to Profiles in History for more information.

Steve McQueen’s racing suit for LeMans goes up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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