Advertisement

From Vettes To Shark-Nose Ferraris, Muscle Rules Russo & Steele Sale

  • <p>Top of that list for its sheer uniqueness may be a 1965 Ferrari 330 GT “Shark Nose,” whose wildly distinct snout has decidedly hammerhead overtones. </p>
    1/12

    1965 Ferrari 330 GT “Shark Nose”

    Top of that list for its sheer uniqueness may be a 1965 Ferrari 330 GT “Shark Nose,” whose wildly distinct snout has decidedly hammerhead overtones.

  • <p>Purchased new through Luigi Chinetti Motors by Houston businessman and New Orleans Saints owner John Mecom, the then-standard 330 GT was shipped back to Italy for its custom nose job. </p>
    2/12

    1965 Ferrari 330 GT “Shark Nose”

    Purchased new through Luigi Chinetti Motors by Houston businessman and New Orleans Saints owner John Mecom, the then-standard 330 GT was shipped back to Italy for its custom nose job.

  • <p>Although this V12 changed hands a colors a few times over the decades, a recent owner oversaw a body-and-interior restoration that extended to the car’s wire Borrani wheels. </p>
    3/12

    1965 Ferrari 330 GT “Shark Nose”

    Although this V12 changed hands a colors a few times over the decades, a recent owner oversaw a body-and-interior restoration that extended to the car’s wire Borrani wheels.

  • <p>Another rakish entry from Italy is an early production model of Lamborghini’s dazzling 1966 350 GT. From its oval Cibie headlands to its Bizzarrini-created V12, this Lambo easily held its own against rival GT muscle from Maranello. </p>
    4/12

    1966 Lamborghini 350 GT

    Another rakish entry from Italy is an early production model of Lamborghini’s dazzling 1966 350 GT. From its oval Cibie headlands to its Bizzarrini-created V12, this Lambo easily held its own against rival GT muscle from Maranello.

  • <p>This example has been thoroughly restored, no small feat considering unique early-350 GT features that include glass with compound curves, a machined steering wheel and dash surround, and its Touring Superleggera (“super light” in Italian) alloy body panels. </p>
    5/12

    1966 Lamborghini 350 GT

    This example has been thoroughly restored, no small feat considering unique early-350 GT features that include glass with compound curves, a machined steering wheel and dash surround, and its Touring Superleggera (“super light” in Italian) alloy body panels.

  • <p>But the biggest spotlight is likely to shine on the array of American muscle corralled by Russo and Steele for this year’s Scottsdale event. Fans of Hemi Cudas and Camaros will find plenty of eye candy on display, not to mention Mustang lovers who like their pony cars with a few extra ponies.</p><p>“If you’ve got an original matching numbers car with all the documents, you’re going to be just fine” at the auction, says Alcazar.</p>
    6/12

    1966 Lamborghini 350 GT Engine

    But the biggest spotlight is likely to shine on the array of American muscle corralled by Russo and Steele for this year’s Scottsdale event. Fans of Hemi Cudas and Camaros will find plenty of eye candy on display, not to mention Mustang lovers who like their pony cars with a few extra ponies.

    “If you’ve got an original matching numbers car with all the documents, you’re going to be just fine” at the auction, says Alcazar.

  • <p>In particular, Alcazar is excited to see how a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Coupe in blazing purple will fare. Designed for a time when such cars were meant to dominate the road and drag strip alike, the Hemi Cuda featured the company’s powerful 425-hp engine and just a few, like the one offered for sale, boasted four manually-shifted gears on the floor. </p><p>“These cars really speak to the time when muscle ruled,” he says.</p>
    7/12

    1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Coupe

    In particular, Alcazar is excited to see how a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Coupe in blazing purple will fare. Designed for a time when such cars were meant to dominate the road and drag strip alike, the Hemi Cuda featured the company’s powerful 425-hp engine and just a few, like the one offered for sale, boasted four manually-shifted gears on the floor.

    “These cars really speak to the time when muscle ruled,” he says.

  • <p>There’s also a very rare 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Double COPO coupe, which stands for Corporate Office Production Order. These were Camaros that had special dealer-order options installed on the factory line.</p>
    8/12

    1969 Chevrolet Camaro Double COPO

    There’s also a very rare 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Double COPO coupe, which stands for Corporate Office Production Order. These were Camaros that had special dealer-order options installed on the factory line.

  • <p>In this particular red demon’s case, two COPO requests were filed, one for an upgrade to a 425-hp engine and another for a package that included a 140-mph speedometer, custom sway bar and larger wheels and tires.</p>
    9/12

    1969 Chevrolet Camaro Double COPO

    In this particular red demon’s case, two COPO requests were filed, one for an upgrade to a 425-hp engine and another for a package that included a 140-mph speedometer, custom sway bar and larger wheels and tires.

  • <p>Lastly, for fans of Corvettes who really want to travel back in time, there’s a 1969 L88 four-speed for sale with 2,500 original miles. </p>
    10/12

    1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88

    Lastly, for fans of Corvettes who really want to travel back in time, there’s a 1969 L88 four-speed for sale with 2,500 original miles.

  • <p>Alcazar says this could be the lowest-mileage L88 in existence, and is one of just 116 built for that model year and just one of 10 featuring a unique 4.56:1 rear end.</p>
    11/12

    1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88

    Alcazar says this could be the lowest-mileage L88 in existence, and is one of just 116 built for that model year and just one of 10 featuring a unique 4.56:1 rear end.

  • <p>“The car’s already in the Corvette Hall of Fame,” he says. “Like I said, these are the kinds of unique, documented machines that people will always want.”<br></p>
    12/12

    1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88

    “The car’s already in the Corvette Hall of Fame,” he says. “Like I said, these are the kinds of unique, documented machines that people will always want.”

<p>Top of that list for its sheer uniqueness may be a 1965 Ferrari 330 GT “Shark Nose,” whose wildly distinct snout has decidedly hammerhead overtones. </p>
<p>Purchased new through Luigi Chinetti Motors by Houston businessman and New Orleans Saints owner John Mecom, the then-standard 330 GT was shipped back to Italy for its custom nose job. </p>
<p>Although this V12 changed hands a colors a few times over the decades, a recent owner oversaw a body-and-interior restoration that extended to the car’s wire Borrani wheels. </p>
<p>Another rakish entry from Italy is an early production model of Lamborghini’s dazzling 1966 350 GT. From its oval Cibie headlands to its Bizzarrini-created V12, this Lambo easily held its own against rival GT muscle from Maranello. </p>
<p>This example has been thoroughly restored, no small feat considering unique early-350 GT features that include glass with compound curves, a machined steering wheel and dash surround, and its Touring Superleggera (“super light” in Italian) alloy body panels. </p>
<p>But the biggest spotlight is likely to shine on the array of American muscle corralled by Russo and Steele for this year’s Scottsdale event. Fans of Hemi Cudas and Camaros will find plenty of eye candy on display, not to mention Mustang lovers who like their pony cars with a few extra ponies.</p><p>“If you’ve got an original matching numbers car with all the documents, you’re going to be just fine” at the auction, says Alcazar.</p>
<p>In particular, Alcazar is excited to see how a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Coupe in blazing purple will fare. Designed for a time when such cars were meant to dominate the road and drag strip alike, the Hemi Cuda featured the company’s powerful 425-hp engine and just a few, like the one offered for sale, boasted four manually-shifted gears on the floor. </p><p>“These cars really speak to the time when muscle ruled,” he says.</p>
<p>There’s also a very rare 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Double COPO coupe, which stands for Corporate Office Production Order. These were Camaros that had special dealer-order options installed on the factory line.</p>
<p>In this particular red demon’s case, two COPO requests were filed, one for an upgrade to a 425-hp engine and another for a package that included a 140-mph speedometer, custom sway bar and larger wheels and tires.</p>
<p>Lastly, for fans of Corvettes who really want to travel back in time, there’s a 1969 L88 four-speed for sale with 2,500 original miles. </p>
<p>Alcazar says this could be the lowest-mileage L88 in existence, and is one of just 116 built for that model year and just one of 10 featuring a unique 4.56:1 rear end.</p>
<p>“The car’s already in the Corvette Hall of Fame,” he says. “Like I said, these are the kinds of unique, documented machines that people will always want.”<br></p>
Marco R. della Cava
·Automotive Contributor

If the annual Pebble Beach, Calif., auctions are the foggy highlight of summer for enthusiasts and collectors, then their balmy winter counterparts unfold each January in Scottsdale, Ariz. We’re taking a look at some of the four-wheeled stars on offer in the cactus-filled desert. Here’s what Russo and Steele will bring to the party:

For Russo and Steele’s Drew Alcazar, the Scottsdale auctions represent a giant gala being thrown in his backyard. Headquartered as he is in the Arizona vacation mecca, Alcazar’s general headache factor is but a fraction of what it is when he and his team are tasked with hauling their cars to a range of U.S. destinations. But that’s not to say he can take it easy.

To begin with, the competition for both sellers and buyers is intense since the biggest names in the auto auction world make sure they’ve got a presence in the area at some point during the month. Crosstown muscle car-focused rival Barrett-Jackson always puts on a huge event under the tents of WestWorld (Jan 20-28), while Bonhams (Jan. 28) and RM Sotheby’s (Jan. 28-29) will be swooping in with their European metal. And then there’s the simple matter of making sure that, as glam as the various events can be, the focus stays squarely on the buying and selling.