Barrett-Jackson’s perennial 2023 Palm Beach auction will be a-happening in Florida before you know it. The April 13-15 event has the same quality and variety of vehicles you’ve seen in our Scottsdale coverage, but with a twist since America is an archipelago of states and subcultures that keeps things interesting. So, what will be interesting in Palm Beach? Here’s some hand-picked vehicles to whet your interest.
1948 Allard L-type Roadster
I’m not familiar with Allards other than they are quite desirable early British sports cars. They were hybrids, most often using Ford and Mercury flathead V8s. though there was a handful of Allard Palm Beach roadsters built with the Chrysler 331 Hemi.
The L-type was a four-seat roadster offered with one of the flatheads, with this one featuring the 221ci Ford. However, this example is a two-seater on the larger 112-inch wheelbase, so perhaps one of you Anglophiles can elaborate if this Allard is more custom and special than others.
1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Super D-500
Among the 1957 Forward Look series, Dodge was arguably the gaudiest but, to these eyes, it also comes off as the sleekest, especially in top-line Custom Royal in Lancer two-door hardtop dress. Doesn’t it look like it’s ready to take off into the air? The Chrysler 300-C may be king, but the Dodge has its charms.
Even more charming is the engine in this one: the Super D-500, which was a dual-quad Red Ram 325 Hemi putting out 310 horsepower. Backed by Chrysler’s famed TorqueFlite, this pushbutton Dodge is the one to have.
1969 Dick Harrell Camaro
You may be familiar with 427 COPO Camaros but, before those existed, several performance-oriented shops and dealerships were transplanting 427s in place of 350s and 396s. Yenko, Nickey and several others seem to garner all the glory, but it was drag racer Dick Harrell who was hired by both dealerships to develop 427 Camaro conversions.
This 1969 Camaro SS is an original Dick Harrell Performance Center conversion. Starting out as a Rallye Green “X66” 396 Camaro, Harrell’s shop dropped in a 427, added an aftermarket Stinger hood with striping from head to toe, Kelsey-Hayes Stripper mags wrapped in offset Goodyear Polyglas tires, and whatever else the original owner specified.
1980 Jeep J10 Honcho Pickup
When I was a kid, Jeep pickups were not common. Looking online, one resource shows 6,839 built, so it stands to reason, though no mention whether that’s model year or calendar year. The Honcho trim package added fancy white wheels, striping, black and chrome grille and more.
Supposedly, only 1,264 Honchos were built from 1976-83, and here’s a nice ’80 that’s had a frame-off restoration. Power comes from AMC’s capable 360 backed by a three-speed automatic. Some liberties have been taken with the resto, but no one can deny it looks good, especially with that denim interior.
To see more of what’s on Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach 2023 docket, visit www.barrett-jackson.com.
Source: www.classiccars.com