Filed under: Classics, Videos, Design/Style

There are very few things that get the unanimous approval of everyone here at Autoblog. One of them is Icon 4x4, which makes impossibly expensive yet worth-every-penny reimaginings of history's best off-roaders. For this year's SEMA Show, Icon debuted something new that had nothing to do with off-roading, yet still had our whole team salivating.

Christened a "Derelict" by Icon founder and designer Jonathon Ward, this 1952 Chevy Coupe looks like an abused artifact from a time not worth remembering. Knowing Icon like we do, however, it's anything but. The Derelict is fitted with a 6.2-liter V8 from General Motors producing 430 horsepower and an interior upholstered in gorgeous vintage briefcase leather, but the exterior is as original and rusty as it was when Icon found it. What we didn't know at SEMA is that the '52 Chevy isn't the first Derelict that Icon produced.

Our friends at eGarage have produced an excellent video about how the two Derelicts came to be, including how Jonathon Ward and his company made them. Spoiler alert: It wasn't as easy as dropping a new engine into an old car and redoing the leather. The Derelicts were meant to be high-performance yet reliable daily drivers, which requires more thought and engineering than we ever imagined.

Follow the jump to be one of the first to watch this latest video from eGarage.

Continue reading Jonathon Ward talks about his Icon Derelicts in latest eGarage video

Jonathon Ward talks about his Icon Derelicts in latest eGarage video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Etc., Technology

In an effort to stay on the bleeding edge of old crap-bucket technology, the 24 Hours of LeMons has now created a prize specifically for autonomous vehicles. The X Ceedingly Bad Idea Prize will award one million shiny new nickels to the first team that manages to pilot an autonomous vehicle to a win. We assume that carries a caveat of not killing anyone in the process. As always, the vehicle itself can't cost more than $500, though the associated technological wizardry required to keep the driverless machine on the track doesn't count toward that grand total.

Madness? Probably, but we would feel more comfortable sharing the course with a computer than some of the tactically inept drivers we've seen bashing around the track in our time. The next 24 Hours of LeMons race kicks off at New Jersey Motorsports Park on April 14-15, but you need to get your application in by February 4. Get cracking, people. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the press release.

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries

24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Earnings/Financials

The annals of automotive history are filled with nameplates that weren't quite able to survive the boom and bust nature of the business, especially here in the United States. One of the most successful orphaned automakers was Studebaker, remembered fondly for such design gems as the bullet-nosed post-World War II Starlight and trend-setting fiberglass-bodied Avanti.

Sadly, Studebaker officially ceased producing automobiles in 1966, though a small portion of its legacy lives today in the form of the ex-Kaiser AM General. But if a Colorado-based business has its way, the Studebaker name will once again appear on vehicles sold in America. Somehow, we're far from convinced any of its conceptual designs will ever see the light of day.

Looking over the proposed revival, we see a range of so-called Studebaker cars, trucks, motorcycles and scooters. Half the motorcycles are actually Hyosung models from Korea with Studebaker scripting on the fuel tanks, and the other half are nothing but poor renderings. As for the cars, well... there isn't a single shred of Studebaker DNA in any of them. In any case, the company is reportedly looking for "qualified investor/partners". We wish them the best of luck... they're gonna need it.

Studebaker Motor Company resuscitated, looking for investors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal, Ford

We'd guess a thief's favorite Ford Mustang is whichever one he happens to be hooning around in - ahead of either illegally selling it, stripping it for parts or falsifying its VIN to pass it off as a legit car. But the 'Stang that's attracted the most attention from this scourge of society is none other than the 2000 Mustang.

While we're not sure what it is about the venerable Ford pony car in that model year that's caused it to rise to the top of the inaugural National Insurance Crime Bureau "Hot Wheels Classics" report on Mustangs, we are finding the study to be compelling reading. Who knew that 411,155 Mustangs have been stolen since 1981? The report is similar to NICB's annual report on the most stolen cars, but focused on just Mustang thefts, with data dating all the way back to 1964. Apparently NICB got the idea to do a Mustang-centric report after being asked for data from MustangEvolution last year.

Even more interesting than the report, however, is that NICB has also posted a six-minute documentary about how it helped reunite a Shelby GT350 with its rightful owner some 25 years after the car had been stolen. While not exactly part of the report, the video is a pretty cool showpiece for the nonprofit group that investigates car theft and insurance fraud.

To read the full press release and check out the NICB's video, click past the jump.

Continue reading Which Ford Mustang is most popular with thieves? [w/video]

Which Ford Mustang is most popular with thieves? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Jaguar

What binds car enthusiasts to one another? A love for cars, certainly, but we'd argue there's a deeper psychological connection. Namely that we've never quite grown up, and don't really care to. We're all still the little boys we once were, hanging posters of our favorite supercars on the walls of our childhood bedrooms. The only way to convince us of the reality of our own age is to show us how old the then-new supercars we pined for as kids have now become. So it's with a big lump in our collective throat that we bring you the news that the Jaguar XJ220 is now 20 years old - and along with it, that we're all 20 years older than we were when it came out.

The first time we got a glimpse of the mid-engined XJ220 was actually back in 1988 when it debuted at the British Motor Show. But that was in concept form. It wasn't until 1992 that the first customer took delivery. And while it was a fair bit different from the concept version (okay, so the drivetrain was very different, with half the cylinders and half the driven wheels of the V12 concept), what we got was still earth-shattering in its capabilities - particularly for its time, but still by any objective measure. The production XJ220 packed 550 horsepower, hit 60 in less than four seconds and hit a top speed of 213 mph... a new record in the early 90s.

By the time production ceased two years later, Jaguar and TWR had built just 275 examples. The one pictured above is one of ten pre-production prototypes, specifically the example that Andy Wallace piloted to that landmark top speed at Ford Stockton, Texas, in 1991. The yellow example (also pictured in our high-resolution image gallery) was one of the very rare XJ220 S homologation specials with carbon fiber bodywork and 700 horsepower on tap. Click the thumbnails to scope it out and follow the jump for the full press release to take a trip back to your childhood.

Continue reading Jaguar celebrates 20 years of XJ220

Jaguar celebrates 20 years of XJ220 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible, Performance, Etc., Europe, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury

The 2001-2003 Z8 is one of the more graceful designs to slip from the BMW design studios in recent memory. With the droptop's classic roadster lines and plenty of performance on tap, the Z8 may not have sold like gangbusters when it was in production, but its slow-burn appeal has ensured that it has plenty of fans and impressive resale value. Despite a very limited production run of just 5,703 units, Senner Tuning has belatedly turned its attention toward modifying this convertible, which is quickly becoming a classic.

The company's engineers got started with a new sports air filter and easy breathing exhaust, including low-restriction catalytic converters. Throw in a mild ECU reflash and the vehicle is good for 450 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. Senner Tuning says those figures should be good enough to get the Zed to around 186 mph.

Thankfully, the folks at Senner haven't messed with the Z8's aesthetics too much. A set of slick 19x9-inch Work Schwert SC1 wheels ride up front while 19x10-inch rollers out back take care of putting power to the pavement. Senner also spent some time with the vehicle's suspension. A new coilover suspension with adjustable rebound, new strut bar and reinforced shock mount are all part of the package. If you like the sound of this recipe, Senner Tuning will rework your Z8 for the princely sum of just under $25,000 at current conversion rates. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading BMW Z8 freshened courtesy of Senner Tuning

BMW Z8 freshened courtesy of Senner Tuning originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Etc., Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Nissan, Porsche, Volkswagen

The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.

The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn't populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Porsche 911 are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises.

For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty Buick Regal GS. Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it's the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fiat 500 Abarth also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R. Of course, we're simply thrilled to see the sinister Audi TT RS make a showing. Hit the jump for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.

Continue reading Hagerty predicts this year's future classics

Hagerty predicts this year's future classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Toyota, Racing

A design and engineering icon, the Toyota 2000GT is the forefather of all Japanese supercars, the ancestor to which the Acura NSX, Nissan GT-R and Lexus LFA must pay homage. It's rare enough to find a 2000GT for sale, but the example being offered by Maine Line Exotics is particularly special.

MF10-100001 is the first Toyota 2000GT produced, and one of the three that Toyota delivered to Shelby American Racing in 1967 to be prepped for the 1968 SCCA season. Two of those cars raced under the Shelby-Toyota banner in 1968. MF10-100001 wore the #23 and was driven by Davey Jordan.

How much does Maine Line Exotics want for this important piece of automotive history? How does $1.7 million grab you? Head over to Maine Line Exotics for more information.

First Toyota 2000GT produced goes up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Europe, Saab, Earnings/Financials

Despite the popular saying, history cannot simply repeated. So, when faced with the possibility of losing the entire classic collection of cars that had made up the official Saab museum in Trollhättan after the officials in charge of the automaker's bankruptcy proceedings threatened to break it up, a few organizations stepped up to the plate to keep it together.

According to a report from Autocar, the city of Trollhattan, SAAB AB and The Wallenberg Foundation came up with the $4.05 million required to purchase the entire collection outright. A total of 120 cars are included, including the Ur-Saab, which is the first automobile built by the Swedish company.

Trollhättan buys entire classic Saab collection to preserve museum originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Technology, Electric

This electric DeLorean is just a prototype, but our sister publication, Translogic got to take it for a spin and found that a 260-horsepower electric motor finally makes the DMC-12 the sports car everyone has always wanted it to be. While we get to see plenty of footage of the car lapping Houston Motorsports Park, this episode also includes an interview with DeLorean Motor Company CEO Stephen Wynne.

While we don't want to give too much away, Wynne discusses future plans for the Texas-based DeLorean restorer and remanufacturer, which include bringing the electric DeLorean to market. Wynne tells Translogic that the car is expected to sell for between $95,000-$100,000. The car is said to have a 100-mile range, which would make it roughly equivalent to the Nissan Leaf, but with far more performance - not to mention its iconic time machine looks.

With all the negative publicity some pundits have heaped upon electric vehicles as of late, we wonder if perhaps this is the car to change their minds about EVs? See Translogic's full experience with the electric DeLorean in the video after the jump.

Continue reading Translogic takes DeLorean DMC-EV for a spin

Translogic takes DeLorean DMC-EV for a spin originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Specialty

Being agriculturally inclined to build barns in the country, we don't expect barn finds to turn up in the middle of a high-turnover metropolis. Yet that's been happening more regularly of late, and writer Michael Mraz has found another example in South Central, Los Angeles: a one-of-one Mercedes-Benz 1935 Caracciola 500K built especially for Silver Arrows race driver Rudolph Caraccioloa. It is pictured above in better days, after having been restored and displayed on the lawn at the Pebble Beach concours in the late 1970s.

What's amazing about the Caracciola 500K, and tragic for car lovers, is that it has a good deal of company: in a piece called "Wheels of Fortune" in the February issue of Town & Country magazine, Mraz found scaffolds full of vintage metal in awful condition, rusting outside in a parts yard called Porche Foreign Auto. They include:

...a pair of one-off prewar Maybachs; one of two Iso Grifo Spyders (designed and engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini, who also has the Ferrari 250 GTO on his résumé); one of 29 alloy-bodied Mercedes Gullwings...; a couple of BMW 502s and 507s; a half-dozen or so Lamborghini Miuras, with their mighty V12 engines; and the last surviving example of the seven Horch 855 Spezial Roadsters ever built, a specimen once owned by Eva Braun that was for a time on loan to the Audi Museum in Germany. (Audi was founded by August Horch.) Parked one on top of the other are dozens upon dozens of Porsche Carrera carcasses....

Porche Foreign Auto was started in 1967 by a German butcher named Rudi Klein, who bought the Caracciola 500K after it was shown at Pebble in 1978. He took it to a Mercedes show in Newport Beach in 1980, and when it wouldn't start he loaded it on a trailer and took it home. It hasn't been seen since, outside of the parts yard.

Klein passed away, and his salvage yard is overseen by his sons, who won't let any gawkers into to view the cars. Even Mraz was denied entry. But he spoke to folks who have seen the collection, and one said that there are vehicles people have sought for decades and thought had been destroyed. The head of the Mercedes Classic Center in Irvine believes the Caracciola 500K could be worth more than the 1937 540K Spezial Roadster that was auctioned for nearly $10 million at last year's RM Auctions at Pebble. But we might never know.

Town & Country doesn't have a proper website, so pick up the magazine to read the piece and see what the automotive world is missing. There's a sample of it in the attached gallery, but be warned, it's not pleasant to see.

One-off Mercedes 500K barn find discovered in South Central, LA salvage yard originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions

We've been busy covering Barrett-Jackson this week, but there are plenty of other auctions going on in Scottsdale as well. One of those is Gooding & Company, which has been selling some pretty incredible cars. Perhaps the most significant is this 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, which is just one of 29 built with an aluminum alloy body.

Standard 300SL Gullwing prices can exceed a million dollars, but this particular example was expected to sell for anywhere between $2,500,000 and $3,000,000. These alloy 300SL Gullwings come up for sale infrequently, though, which is perhaps why the final bid of $4.2 million was so high. With auction fees, the final selling price of the 300SL was an incredible $4.62 million, a new record for this car.

You can read more about this particular 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy after the jump, and check out photos of the car in the gallery above.

Continue reading Rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy sells for record $4.62 million

Rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy sells for record $4.62 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Celebrities

What price would you pay to own a piece of history? We're thinking that might depend on what sort of historic significance we're talking about... or, in the case of this 1964 Cadillac Hearse, how morbid that history may be.

As you may remember, Barrett-Jackson in 2011 auctioned off a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance that some thought carried John F. Kennedy's body to the hospital after his fatal shooting. Turns out the provenance of that machine was very much in question, and bidding stalled at just $120,000.

Following up that unimpressive sale a year prior, Barrett-Jackson decided to bring out a car who's history was never in question: the car that carried the casket containing JFK, along with his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, from Parkland Memorial Hospital to the airport at Love Field.

Regardless of the fact that it is known to have carried JFK's body, it only garnered a high bid of $160,000. After fees, the new buyer will pay $176,000.00 to own this 1964 Cadillac Hearse. Check out our live images of the car at Barrett-Jackson above, and read more about it after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1964 Cadillac JFK Hearse garners final bid of $160,000 [w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1964 Cadillac JFK Hearse garners final bid of $160,000 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Celebrities

What's "the most famous television car in the world"? We suppose that depends on who you ask, but to many, nothing but the General Lee could possibly hold the title. Of course, there wasn't just one General Lee. In fact, scores of orange Dodge Chargers were filmed for "The Dukes of Hazzard," and most of them never survived their first televised escapade.

Not so Lee 1, so named because it was the car that famously jumped over a Hazzard County police cruiser in the very first episode of the hit series. If you've ever seen the opening credits, you know the car we're talking about... it flew 16 feet in the air over a distance of 82 feet. And, as you may have guessed, it didn't exactly stick the landing.

No matter. Because of its notoriety, Lee 1 was saved from destruction and restored over a period of 16 months. And, due to that same famous history, we thought it might draw plenty of attention from the crowds at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction. In reality, bidding ended at just $110,000. That makes the final sale price a seemingly paltry $121,000.

Read more about Lee 1 and watch a video of it's auction after the break, and check out our live image gallery above.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: Dukes of Hazzard 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee falls flat [UPDATE: w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: Dukes of Hazzard 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee falls flat [UPDATE: w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

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 $410,000, putting the actual sale at $451,000.

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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Filed under: Classics, Auctions

Most, if not all, know the story of the 1948 Tucker sedan. Yes, there was a movie, and it's well worth watching. But even if you've never seen or heard of a the machine, one look at Preston Tucker's Torpedo is all it takes for you to realize it's something special.

Just 51 Tucker Torpedo sedans were built before the company went out of business. Those were 51 special machines, though, with a rear engine (like the iconic Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911), disc brakes and fuel injection - a combination practically unheard of at the time.

Perhaps it's the so-called Cyclops Eye, though, that is most interesting about the Tucker Torpedo. This third headlight moves with the car's steering wheel, helping the driver see around turns. Such technology may not be uncommon today, but in 1948, it was revolutionary.

The final bid came in at an impressive $2,650,000. That means the new owner will pay $2,915,000 to drive this Tucker home. Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos from the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction, and watch a video of the auction or read more about the car after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1948 Tucker Torpedo bid up to over $2.6 million [w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1948 Tucker Torpedo bid up to over $2.6 million [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Bentley, Rolls-Royce

Easily one of the most beautiful cars to roll down the auction block at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson event was this 1947 Bentley Mark VI. It's hard to describe just what this Bentley's coachwork looks like, so we suggest you check out the live photos we took of the machine as it was being auctioned.

A few things we know for sure, though. This Bentley has won just about every award it has been eligible for, including being voted as the best of its breed by the Rolls-Royce Owners Club. That, for those unaware, is a very big deal in such circles.

Apparently, a number of bidders at Barrett-Jackson realized just how special this Bentley Franay is, because the gavel finally fell with a winning bid of $2.5 million and a final selling price of $2.75 million after all fees were calculated. Read more about the 1947 Bentley Mark VI Franay after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1947 Bentley Mark VI Franay sold at $2.5 million

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1947 Bentley Mark VI Franay sold at $2.5 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions

Of all the concept cars ever shown off to a fawning public, one of the coolest has got to be this 1954 Desoto Adventurer II Coupe. It was originally built in 1954, and it sits atop a Chrysler Imperial chassis with a body designed and built by Ghia.

It's not surprising that this Desoto Ghia concept looks so beautiful with names like Savonuzzi and Exner listed as its designers. Take special note of the sliding rear window, which allows this car to be converted into a sort of reverse convertible.

Including all fees, this concept sold for $1,430,000. Check out our live images of the 1954 Desoto Adventurer II Coupe concept at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction or watch a video of the auction after the jump.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1954 Desoto Adventurer II Coupe concept car sells for $1.3 million [UPDATE: w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1954 Desoto Adventurer II Coupe concept car sells for $1.3 million [UPDATE: w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions

For the first time since 1973, a Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow has gone up for auction. Just five of these historic machines were ever built, and only three are known to exist today. So, it's rare. But it's also fast. In 1933, when the Silver Arrow went on the market, its top speed of 115 miles per hour was extremely impressive.

So, when a Pierce-Arrow rolled down the block at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, there were plenty of eyes glued on the stage. And there were also bidders. Deep-pocketed bidders, in fact. Before the gavel fell, bidding quickly passed the million-dollar mark, with several interested parties.

The final bid came in at an even $2,000,000 and that means the final selling price was $2.2 million. Check out our live photo gallery of the 1933 Pierce-Arrow above and watch it cross the break on video after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1933 Pierce-Arrow sells for $2 million [UPDATE: w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1933 Pierce-Arrow sells for $2 million [UPDATE: w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions

We all dream of one day walking into a long-abandoned barn in the middle of nowhere and finding a classic muscle or race car, needing little more than some freshening to be restored to its previous glory. But that never happens, right?

Wrong. As evidenced by the 1965 Shelby GT350 that is being auctioned at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction. As the story goes, this car was still in the possession of its original owner (purchased on September 29, 1965) until 2009, and had only accumulated 44,000 miles. Since then, it's seen only basic care and maintenance to make it suitable for the road, but the entire body, paint and interior are all original and untouched. We hope it forever stays this way... a car is only original once, and it can never be unrestored.

We figured there might be a lot of interest in the car, but even we underestimated just how much. The final bid for the car was an astounding $350,000 with the final price set at $385,000 after auction fees.

Check out a video of the car hitting the auction block and read more about its story after the break, and check out our high-res images live from Scottsdale above.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1965 Shelby GT350 barn find headed to a new home [UPDATE: w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1965 Shelby GT350 barn find headed to a new home [UPDATE: w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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