Instagram Jump Start: Hudson Hornet is simply fabulous at Scottsdale

23 January 2017

Collector car enthusiasts converged on Scottsdale, Ariz., last week, but you didn’t have to be there to enjoy the party. No less than seven auctions dominated the automotive airwaves and headlines, and there was plenty to see on social media.

Among the surprises: Although it didn’t come close to cracking the list of top sales, a 1955 Hudson Hornet reached back and found some its former glory on Instagram, taking top honors as the most-liked post on HagertyClassicCars. The “Fabulous Hudson Hornet” lived up to its nickname by surging past Mustang, Tucker, Jaguar and Ferrari.

As we roll into a new week, here’s a look back at our top five posts:

1953 Hudson Hornet (1,790 likes) – Finished in homage to the wildly successful NASCAR Hudson Hornet, this 1953 Hornet features a 308-cid Twin-H Power inline-6. While Hudsons never sold as strongly as the Big Three’s offerings, the Hornet’s racing success made it a strong performer on showroom floors. (This one sold for $33,000.)
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (1,686 likes) – It was about time for a little muscle at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction, and this 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 filled the bill. Named for its 302-cid V-8 engine producing 290 horses, and for being pretty boss, this one left the block selling for $88,000.
1948 Tucker (1,540 likes) – This 1948 Tucker 48 – the 44th production car built – was stored for 34 years. One of nine originally painted green with a green wool broadcloth interior, it was later red and then received a brown paint job in the 1970s. With only 7,900 miles on the odometer, it is estimated to bring as much as $2.1 million at RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction this week. (It sold for $1,347,500.)
1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 (1,500 likes) – RM Sotheby’s sold this 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre Roadster at the high estimate of $308,000. It is beautifully restored in Opalescent Dark Blue paint and Cinnamon leather interior.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Spider (1,378 likes) – Anyone, anyone … Bueller? This beautiful 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider doesn’t even have an estimate at Bonham’s Scottsdale auction. Obviously, if you have to ask, it’s probably too expensive. (It was a no sale at $10,650,000.)

Best of the Rest – More often than not, we lean toward photos that spotlight one or two automobiles, and if they’re classic, all the better. But we turned away from that basic formula this week because we just couldn’t stop gawking at this photo by @kollectorcars. Cars, busses and highways intersect in an eye-catching image, and for us, X marks the spot. It’s our favorite post of the week.