Barrett-Jackson’s inaugural New Orleans auction will have a fine mix of vehicles, as you may have read in previous stories, but American muscle continues to play a strong role in representation. We aren’t just talking about a docket full of Camaros and Mustangs — there are many more interesting vehicles to consider beyond the mainstays. What surprises does Barrett-Jackson have in store for you? Below are three to whet your appetite.
Plus, don’t forget that, in addition to the below cars and other vehicles you may find in the docket, you can also consign your own vehicle for sale. You can trust Barrett-Jackson to have the resources, experience, and reputation to market and sell your collector car.
1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass S W31
At this very moment, there are only two Oldsmobiles slated to cross the block, so let’s give some glory to the cars of Lansing. This one is among the best of the brand, a 1970 Cutlass S Holiday Coupe with the W31 package. Though it may look quite like its more popular W-Machine, the 4-4-2 W30, they are quite different under the skin as the W31 included a 325-horsepower 350 with a cam so radical, power brakes were not permitted. Other package features or requirements included aluminum manifold, striped W25 fiberglass hood with chrome locks, wide side stripes, Performance Axle Package (starting with 3.42 gears), sport mirrors, FE2 heavy-duty suspension, manual front disc brakes, and power-saving clutch fan.
This one has been optioned with M38 automatic, console with W26 Hurst Dual-Gate shifter, AM/FM stereo with 8-track, Super Stock II mags, U21 Rocket Rally Pac, N34 Custom-Sport steering wheel, and W35 rear spoiler. From a hp/cid basis, this car arguably packs a bigger wallop than the W30.
1966 Hemi Dodge Coronet 440
Two years after a massive 1-2-3 win at Daytona in 1964, the Chrysler Corporation introduced a street version of the 426 Hemi. Available in Dodge and Plymouth B-body cars like this Coronet, 1966 Hemi cars lacked the image of the GTO but had the horsepower to claim one-upmanship. Racers leaned toward the Coronet and Coronet Deluxe two-door sedans, while style-conscious status slaves gravitated toward the Coronet 500 with its standard bucket seats and console. Where did that leave the Coronet 440? The cheapest hardtop in the Coronet series.
This 13,984-mile 1966 Coronet 440 two-door hardtop is one of 288 U.S.-spec “H-code” Hemi built. Finished in light blue over a blue bench seat interior with column-shift TorqueFlite automatic, this is an unassuming muscle car before Dodge figured out image was important, leading up to the 1967 Coronet R/T.
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L71/L89
When the Mako Shark II-influenced Corvette debuted in the fall of 1967, it featured a radical body with a carry-over chassis. The coupe was now a notchback and featured standard T-tops. Mechanically, things were mostly the same aside of the addition of the much-needed TH400 automatic. Big-blocks continued to receive a unique hood that made them easily identifiable, with the L88 receiving its own hood different than the other 427s. The rarest engine option in 1967 was the 435-horsepower L71 427 with L89 aluminum heads but, for 1968, production took off despite a $800+ price — 624 folks opted for the engine combo.
This Silverstone Silver 1968 Corvette coupe was authentically restored over the past 3-4 years and features the L71/L89 engine backed by an M21 four-speed manual with 3.70 Positraction gears. Other performance options include the K66 transistorized ignition, N11 special off-road exhaust, and 15-inch wheels. Luxury features include black leather interior, power windows, plus other options.
