Darin Schnabel
The 2009 classic car auto auction season is rapidly waning and it is time to review the significant events from the past year. I am planning a series of articles, beginning with coverage of the RM auctions of 2009. Be sure to check back often for interesting and informative articles on the best of 2009.
RM Auction’s Icons of Speed and Style auction was held in late September at the Peterson Automotive Museum. This “no reserve” auction featured 80 lots of historic vehicles as well as 70 lots of automobile memorabilia. The auction realized almost 7 million dollars in total sales.
The 1965 Dodge A100 pickup truck “Little Red Wagon” wheelstander exceeded its high pre-auction estimate of $300,000.00 by $250,000.00, marking the top transaction of the day. The “Little Red Wagon” was campaigned by Bill “Maverick” Golden for over thirty years and it was the most famous exhibition wheelstander in drag racing history.
Darin Schnabel
The car was such a hit with fans that it commanded appearance fees higher than any other exhibition vehicle and second only to drag racing icons Don Garlits and “TV’ Tommy Ivo. Interestingly, the truck was not designed with wheelstanding in mind, but the mid mounted 426 hemi was virtually uncontrollable in pre race tests, lifting its front wheels in the air at every hit of the throttle.
Dodge PR rep Frank Wylie called Bill “Maverick” Golden to drive the beast in a Dodge truck commercial. Golden, already a successful Mopar campaigner, agreed and the filmshoot was scheduled at Fontana Dragway. The onwatchers were stunned as Maverick pulled the front wheels off the line and they didn’t touch down for 600 feet!
After some medical attention due to the violent landings, Maverick decided to purchase the vehicle from Dodge and he and the truck made its debut at the season opening event at Lion’s Drag Strip in Long Beach, Ca. That show, in front of 10,000 awe-struck fans and the nation’s top magazine and newspaper photographers, put the Little Red Wagon on the map.
Darin Schnabel
Fame does not come without a price and the unpredictable wheelstander experienced three violent wrecks, in 1969, 1971 and again in 1975. Refinements such as independent rear braking for steering and opening up the floorboard so the driver could see the track made the truck more drivable.
After his third wreck in 1975, a non operable show truck was pressed into service and it is this truck that was campaigned for the next thirty years, In 1977, Golden and the Little Red Wagon entered the Guinness Book of World Records with a wheelstand that lasted 4230 feet…over three quarter miles!
A legendary truck and driver and a top winning bid at the Icons of Speed and Style auction…what a way to go!
Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see ya down the road…
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