Tag: Auctions

  • Comedian Kevin Hart’s custom 1977 Ford Bronco heads to auction

    A 1977 Ford Bronco restomod owned by comedian and actor Kevin Hart will cross the block at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction, scheduled for June 17-19.

    The Bronco boasts numerous upgrades, starting under the hood. It’s powered by a 5.0-liter V-8, coupled to a 3-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive system with a Dana twin-stick transfer case. The V-8 features Crane electronic ignition, and breathes through an Ardent Performance custom exhaust system with MagnaFlow mufflers.

    For better off-road performance, the Bronco sports a lift kit, King coilover shocks (teamed with red springs, to match the exterior), and 35-inch Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires mounted on 17-inch Fuel wheels, with a spare tire on a custom swing-away carrier. Other additions include a 9,500-pound Warn winch, aftermarket bumpers, and Rigid LED light pods.

    1977 Ford Bronco owned by Kevin Hart (Photo by Barrett-Jackson)

    1977 Ford Bronco owned by Kevin Hart (Photo by Barrett-Jackson)

    Power disc brakes and power steering were added to make the Bronco a little easier to drive than stock.

    The interior features a number of modern upgrades, including a new audio system with a Bluetooth/USB/Pandora head unit, four speakers, and a 10-inch subwoofer. The dashboard also features new gauges from AutoMeter, including an LED speedometer. Most of the trim is blacked out to match the exterior color scheme.

    Hart is a big fan of restomods. He recently paid $825,000 for a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette at another Barrett-Jackson auction, and also took delivery of a 1970 Dodge Charger from Wisconsin’s SpeedKore Performance Group, sporting a carbon-fiber body Hellephant V-8. The Charger replaced a SpeedKore-modified 1970 Plymouth Barracuda that was destroyed in a crash, in which Hart was a passenger.

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  • Princess Diana’s 1981 Ford Escort heads to auction

    A 1981 Ford Escort sedan previously owned by Princess Diana is headed to auction with Reeman Dansie, which plans to put the car under the hammer on June 29.

    The car was given to Diana by Prince Charles as an engagement present in May 1981, two months before their wedding, and was used by her until August 1982, according to the auction house, adding that the Escort has been out of public view for 20 years.

    An Escort might not seem worthy of a princess, but this is the upmarket Ghia version, at least. It also sports a silver frog hood ornament, a copy of a gift from Diana’s sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, inspired by the fairy tale of a beautiful girl whose kiss turns a frog into a prince, per the auction listing.

    Princess Diana's 1981 Ford Escort - Photo via Reeman Dansie

    Princess Diana’s 1981 Ford Escort – Photo via Reeman Dansie

    The current owner is a “great admirer” of the princess, and has kept the Escort’s history secret until now, according to the listing. Auctioneers verified the car’s authenticity from its vehicle-history file and registration number, according to a BBC write-up of the sale. The auction house also claims photographs of Diana in the car—with the same WEV 297W license plate it wears now—confirm the royal connection.

    The Escort still sports its original paint and upholstery, and currently shows 83,000 miles on its odometer, according to the listing. This was the third generation of Escort, marked by a switch from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. Ford eventually devised some performance versions of the third-ten Escort for the European market but, despite having one of the larger 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engines, this isn’t one of them.

    Reeman Dansie expects the royal Escort to fetch between 30,000 and 40,000 British pounds (approximately $42,000-$57,000 at current exchange rates) at auction, and noted that Diana’s Audi 80 cabriolet sold last year for 58,000 British pounds.

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  • 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440-6 heads to auction

    A rare 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda is scheduled to cross the block at Mecum Auctions’ Tulsa, Oklahoma, sale, which runs June 11-12. No, it doesn’t have a Hemi, but this ‘Cuda is still highly collectible.

    That’s because this ‘Cuda is a V-Code car, meaning it has the other legendary Mopar engine from the golden age of muscle cars. It’s a 440-cubic-inch V-8 with 6-barrel carburetion, or “440-6” in Mopar jargon. It makes a factory-rated 390 hp, and drives the rear wheels through a 3-speed automatic transmission.

    This car was used as a dealer demonstrator, according to the listing. It’s also heavily optioned, boasting power steering, power brakes, a Shaker hood, and the A36 Performance Axle Package. The configuration makes it more valuable, as does the thorough documentation, including two window stickers and four binders of files, according to the listing.

    1970 Plymouth 'Cuda (Photo by Mecum Auctions)

    1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda (Photo by Mecum Auctions)

    The Plymouth Barracuda (performance versions got the shorter ‘Cuda name beginning in 1970) was a competitor for the Ford Mustang, although it actually launched just before the Ford. The Mustang made the idea stick, though, which is why we still call cars like this pony cars rather than fish cars.

    The 1970 model year marked the debut of a new Barracuda/’Cuda body style, twinned with the first-generation Dodge Challenger. This was also the last generation of the Barracuda, as the car was discontinued after the 1974 model year. Rumors of a Barracuda resurrection occasionally circulate, but with the Plymouth brand now dead as well, that seems unlikely.

    Today, the ‘Cuda is one of the most collectible muscle cars, with pristine examples regularly fetching millions of dollars at auction. Mecum doesn’t provide an estimate of what this car will go for, so it should be interesting to learn the final figure.

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