Two dozen powerhouse performance vehicles showcasing one of the coolest motoring trends of the decade are among the highlights of 200 lots going under the hammer in South Africa’s largest ever collector car auction happening this weekend at Montecasino in Johannesburg.

“The world’s been muscle car-mad for decades,” explains Creative Rides CEO Kevin Derrick, “but recently American pick-ups are all the rage because they carry the ‘right’ kind of street cred.”

Picking Up Street Cred

If you have to ask what makes street cred “right”, you might not have it. Channing Tatum does have it with his regular ride being a 1957 Chevrolet 3100, as does Colin Farrell with his classic Ford Bronco. And if you’re still unsure, picture Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his Ford F150, or the original king of cool, Clint Eastwood’s 1990s GMC Typhoon.

Derrick says classic trucks make a lifestyle statement that’s so cool because it’s so understated.

“Nothing about classic pick-ups scream ‘midlife crisis’, which – if they’re honest – has crossed people’s minds when they’ve pulled up to traffic lights and glanced sideways at some drivers of low-slung, bright red stallion-badged Italian creations.

“No matter how expensive tricked-out, gorgeous Restomod trucks might be, people always seem to smile when they see them. It’s cool – almost an anti-status symbol thing – to drive a retro pick-up and it’s a trend that, especially among younger buyers, has been boosted by social media.

“The more people see amazing Restomod trucks online – and especially that icons like Channing Tatum drive them – the more desirable they become. It’s not a fad; trucks are here to stay.”

Social Media #RetroCool

Derrick says this is underpinned by the demographic driving the boom.

“Data from Hagerty’s underwriters show Gen Xers and Millennials request 51% of the company’s car insurance quotes and 60% of its truck quotes. Millennial quote volumes for trucks increased 33% over the past year, while truck quotes from Gen X owners rose 19%.

“And truck buyers, far from penalising modifications, have repeatedly demonstrated that they’ll pay a premium for updates. Younger drivers want cab mod-cons that make their retro rides comfortable, which is exactly opposite to what most classic car collectors seek in their purchases.”

Derrick says appetite for beautiful trucks is international. Prices for classic trucks have risen more than 50% in the past four years; 20% more than the classic vehicle market as a whole, according to Hagerty.

It’s also showing no signs of slowing. In the first quarter of this year, the average sale price of classic pick-ups hit approximately R852 500, up 33% over the previous quarter, according to data from Classic.com. This figure was the median price across gross sales; not differentiating by manufacturer, model or vehicle condition.

Classic.com says in 2018 the average sale price of pick-ups hovered around R360 000, defined by the same criteria and calculated at the median rand/dollar exchange rate for that year. That’s an increase in average price of R492 500 in little over four years.

Retro Restomod Truck Hot List

Derrick says 24 spectacular American muscle trucks are on the block at Creative Rides’ two-day auction at Montecasino this weekend; models spanning more than 90 years of automotive design.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring the family along to see this combination classic car show, rare car exhibition and exciting auction event.”

Derrick’s top picks of American classic trucks on the block are:

• A 1942 Ford Jailbar Pick-Up: Built for a limited period in the 1940s with production interrupted by the Second World War, this restored beauty in dazzling blue epitomises retro driving cool. A 302 Ford V8 powers this classic that should be driven every day.
• A 1958 Chevrolet Apache that’s a chrome-trimmed black beauty. Built on a Mitsubishi Colt chassis it comes complete with modern brakes, suspension and diff that looks retro but delivers a smooth contemporary ride. The 1958 Chevy pick-up body has been meticulously restored, and serious grunt comes from its 350 CU LS1 V8 engine.
• A 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Pick-Up. This is the model produced two years before Channing Tatum’s ride and the best way to describe the truck is that you wouldn’t think twice about remortgaging your house to buy it. It’s the perfect example of a Restomod that commands a premium. The black exterior is complemented by a red cab fitted with individual seats, Dakota gauges and a state-of-the-art sound system. It’s not style over substance, though. Under the bonnet is a McNabs 383 Stroke V8, boosted by two four-barrel Holley carbs, a Weland high-rise manifold and custom exhaust. Earlier this year, Barrett-Jackson’s sale of a Restomod 1952 3100 for more than R5.8m made the truck auction Top 10 sale prices list.
• A 1948 GMC Truck with the look and feel of luxury greased lightning. This Restomod classic has an indulgent leather interior with aluminium accents that match the impeccably restored exterior of the silver showpiece. It boasts 5-spoke Boss Motorsport wheels and is powered by a monster 5.7 LS V8 engine on a Jaguar suspension.
• A 1960 Chevrolet El Camino – The first-generation Chevrolet El Camino was a coupé utility vehicle produced in 1959 and 1960. Unlike a standard pick-up, the El Camino was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. With so much design space devoted to the rear fins, the El Camino was more about style and performance with its powerful 350Cu V8, than it was about working.

Derrick says this weekend’s auction also features incredible muscle for collectors looking for more traditional American collectables, and top of that list is a 1963 Corvette C2 Split Window.

“1963 was a watershed year in Corvette history for several reasons, including that it was the only year that the split-window coupé was produced, and that it marked the introduction of the iconic Stingray. Only 10 594 split-window coupés ever left the factory, placing them among the most collectable and desirable V8-powered prizes for muscle car aficionados.”

Other hot muscle cars are:

• A 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby;
• A white 1963 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Roadster;
• A tricked-out statement-making green and purple 1935 Ford coupé hotrod; and
• An extremely rare 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air “bubble top”.

Driving the Dream

Creative Rides Lead Auctioneer Joff van Reenen says global interest in this weekend’s historic sale has been overwhelming, with more than 5 million page views of the auction lots in just over a month.

“There have also been more than 1m views of the auction preview video on our digital channels.

“Creative Rides has received inquiries from more than 40 countries, and like all previous auctions, this one will be a hybrid digital and live sale. That means collectors from across the country and around the world will be bidding in real time via live stream against bidders on the floor at Montecasino.”

Van Reenen says so far, the bulk of auction registrations have come from Gauteng, closely followed by the Western Cape.

“The next largest group is England, then Australia – which from our previous auctions, has proved to be a strong market. Completing the Top 5 is America. There’s no doubt that the weakness of the rand has contributed to the overseas interest in this sale; that and the outstanding quality of the auction collection.”

Van Reenen says gates open at 8am on Saturday and Sunday, with the auctions on both days starting promptly at 11am.

“This is an outing for the entire family, where you’ll see some of the rarest cars in the world starting with models from 1911, right up to future classics that left the factory this year. Everyone will love the buzz of the auction floor and enjoy relaxing with the variety of food and drinks available on site.

“The event will showcase more than 100 years of automotive design in the shape of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, Mercedes, Alfa, Jaguar, Jeep, VW, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, Cadillac and Rolls Royce, among others.

“The auction e-catalogue is available at https://creativeridesauctions.com/, as well as on the Creative Rides app, which is free on Android and iOS.”

Van Reenen says bidders will be able to register at the venue with FICA documents and payment of the auction registration fee. That fee will be refunded to all unsuccessful bidders.

The two-day auction will also be live-streamed on the Creative Rides website, as well as social media channels. To preview the sale, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRD7561PNtI