You can learn a lot about the state of the classic car industry from auction sites. While sales have been fairly slow in 2023, there are still plenty of breathtaking cars changing hands. Recently, four historic vehicles sold on Bringatrailer.com. These vehicles were a 1953 Willys M38A1, a 1964 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupe, a 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite, and a 1947 Chrysler Town & Country Sedan. Here’s what you need to know about these exciting examples.
1953 Willys M38A1
The first vehicle on our tour is a gorgeous and rugged Willys M38A1 with an olive drab finish and white US Army-style stencil graphics. Its exterior coloring is made all the more impressive with its beige canvas upholstery. This classic also boasts a stylish braided tow rope around its front bumper as well as a slotted grille, a trailer hitch receiver, and a folding windshield.
This eye-catching truck is more than just style — it features a 134 cu in Hurricane F-head inline-four with a single carburetor and a Fram oil filter system. The Hurricane F-head can route power to either its rear wheels or all four wheels thanks to its dual-range transfer case and Borg Warner three-speed manual transmission.
The truck sits on top of body-color 15” steel wheels wrapped in GT Radial Maxmiler Pro tires, which the previous owners had installed in 2022. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drum brakes.
If you take a look inside the cabin, you’ll see individual front seats and a rear bench seat that complement the truck’s exterior. A stylish three-spoke steering wheel resides in front of these seats.
Some of the interior’s equipment features include a floor-mounted gear shifter, power cutoff switch, twin transfer case shift levers, and placards along its painted dashboard. The dashboard also features auxiliary gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, voltage, and coolant temperature.
This historic vehicle sold at no reserve for $8,500.
1964 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupe
The seller of this classic Ford Thunderbird obtained it 23 years ago and is the car’s third owner. The T-bird sports a silver finish similar to its original coloring, but it was repainted in 2001. Some of its notable external details include its dual mirrors, rear fender skirts, dual exhaust outlets, and hood scoop.
Underneath its body are 15” steel wheels with full covers and 215/75 Michelin Symmetry thin whitewall tires, and it comes with a spare in its trunk. This Thunderbird also features power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes.
The classic Ford is powered by a rebuilt 390 cu in V8 with Thunderbird-branded valve covers, a four-barrel carburetor, and a gold-finished air cleaner. The engine sends power to its rear wheels via a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission and a 3.00:1 ring and pinion. It also comes with power steering.
The first thing you’ll likely notice about the Thunderbird’s interior is its front bucket seats and a contoured bench seat. These seats were re-trimmed in silver vinyl upholstery by the seller, complementing its exterior. The cabin also includes a matching dashboard, center console, and door panels, and these features are even more stunning with polished trim accents.
This incredible classic Thunderbird sold at no reserve for $15,000.
1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite
Next, we’ll take a break from American classics and showcase a truly special vehicle created by the British automaker Austin-Healey: a 1960 Bugeye Sprite. This eye-catching car was refurbished in the mid-1990s and now includes a stunning white finish over black vinyl upholstery. It also includes removable side curtains, chrome rear bumperettes, and a removable black vinyl soft top that matches the interior.
This 1960 Austin Healey sits on silver-finished 13” JBW Minilight wheels wrapped in 155/80 Westlake Radial RP18 tires, and it includes extra steel wheels with Ironman GR906 tires. Plus, it features front disc and rear drums, an overhauled front suspension, and a recently-fitted sway bar.
A 948cc A-series inline-four engine with dual SU carburetors energizes the Sprite. This engine routes power to its rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, ultimately producing 48 horsepower.
This classic’s interior comes with low-back bucket seats with black vinyl and white piping, and it features a matching black vinyl dashboard. This dashboard features Smiths instrumentation with a 6k-rpm tachometer, auxiliary gauges, and a 100-mph speedometer. Finally, it features a two-spoke steering wheel with an aftermarket cover.
The 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite sold at auction for $16,000.
1947 Chrysler Town & Country Sedan
Last on our tour is a truly remarkable 1947 Chrysler Town & Country sedan with a tan finish and ash wood-framed mahogany veneer panels. The breathtaking exterior also includes a wood and steel roof rack, chrome bumpers, overriders, and a central third brake light.
The Chrysler’s incredibly unique body resides on 15” steel wheels adorned with chrome hubcaps and mounted with Denman Classic bias-ply whitewall tires. The vehicle also includes an independent front suspension with coil springs, a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs, and four hydraulic drum brakes.
The sedan’s engine is a 250.6 cu in L-head inline-six with four main bearings, and it features a factory rating of 114 horsepower. The engine powers its rear wheels through a four-speed Fluid Drive semi-automatic transmission.
The cabin includes front and rear bench seats with burgundy leather and tartan cloth inserts, and it features color-matching burgundy carpeting along its floorboards and lower door panels. Additionally, the cockpit features a burgundy three-spoke steering wheel with a chrome horn ring, making the cabin all the more fashionable. Some notable amenities include a Comfort Master heater, a locking glove box, a rear robe cord, and an AM radio.
This remarkable classic sold at no reserve for $69,000.
Get the Best Insurance for a 1953 Willys or Another Classic
Whether you’re driving a Ford Thunderbird, Willys Jeep, Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite, or another fine classic, you need to do everything you can to preserve your piece of motor history. You can protect your investment for years to come with Classic Auto Insurance.
Here at Classic Auto, we’re more than just an insurance company — we’re classic car enthusiasts. We offer our clients robust and affordable policies based on agreed-upon value. This means that we’ll work with you to estimate your car’s true worth. Plus, we include inflation guard in our policies, which will ensure that your vehicle is never underinsured.
If you’re ready to learn more about how Classic Auto Insurance can protect your ride for years to come, you can call 888-901-1338, or you can get an instant quote here.
