Photos: Barrett-Jackson

It’s fun to browse through the catalogs of auctions and see what’s coming up for purchase. With any of the larger auction companies, you’ll find a wide variety of vehicles. Some are ones you remember, some are ones you wished you’d forgotten and others may be ones you never knew existed. It’s rather like being at the Woodward Dream Cruise, but without the hotel and gas bills.

How about a 1976 Cosworth Vega? Fewer than 1500 examples were built, featuring a Cosworth-modified, fuel injected, dual overhead cam all-aluminum engine, Borg Warner 5-speed transmission and 4.10 rear axle. An example at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson event in Las Vegas is reported to be fully documented, with just 9000 original miles.

Looking rather like a Chrysler Prowler that was left out in the rain, this Panoz AIV Roadster is certainly a unique vehicle, sure to turn heads wherever it goes. With a weight of 2570 pounds and a Ford 32-valve DOHC Cobra engine under the hood, they’d best be turning quickly and this asphalt burner will hit 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. Only 176 Roadsters were produced between 1997 and 1999. The fiberglass fenders and aluminum body contribute to the light weight and styling flexibility.

This 1970 American Motors Rebel “The Machine” does not claim to be a trailer queen or concours perfect, but it sure has a profile that keep people wondering… “What is that?” This example of The Machine sports a recently rebuilt and balanced 401-cid engine and a 4-speed transmission. The standard engine would have been a 390-cid using 10:1 compression and delivering 340hp and 430 ft-lb of torque on high-octane gas.

When most people hear the word Corvair, they likely think of an air-cooled GM car, Ralph Nader or some kind of navy ship. If you, in fact, think of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier 9-passenger Van, then your vintage car… er, van… exposure is far better than mine. First appearing in 1961 as the Corvair 95, this van was targetted at the Volkswagen Transporter. With its 80 hp horizontally opposed, air cooled 6-cylinder engine, it would have bested the Transporter in almost any performance measurement. The Corvair-based Greenbrier was built into the 1965 model year.

Stretching the limit are assorted John Deere and Ford farm tractors, 1880 covered wagons, stage coach replicas and a 1915 Cretor Model C Popcorn Wagon. I guess you never know what you’ll encounter in Las Vegas and that applies to car auctions as well as anything else.