How did it all begin? "I've always loved old cars," Milton says. "I drove a '55 Chevy back in high school--I souped up the engine and put a four-speed in it. In 1962, I really wanted a new Pontiac, but of course I couldn't afford one at the time." Finally, in 1969 he purchased his first Pontiac--a brand-new Grand Prix. Having already been bitten by the collector bug, he restored a $600 Model A roadster two years before. Collecting and restoring early American iron continued up to 1983 when Milton began to amass musclecars. "Back then I was working 16 hours per day, and whenever I could set some money aside, I'd by another car. Of course, I was hoping each one would go up in value while I owned it," he says.
Milton has a penchant for convertibles that goes beyond the simple thrill of open-air cruising. "I was always a convertible lover, but I also appreciated the low production figures of that body style," he says. "Any desirable high-performance engine option with a four-speed is rarer still in a convertible as long as it was offered that way. The cost to restore a rare model has always been about the same as a run-of-the mill vehicle, so there's more value in doing the rare one."
'62 421 SD Catalina
Jim Kurzen, Pontiac field rep and drag racer, bought this SD Catalina new in 1962 from Edwards Motor Company in Canton, Ohio. One of 172 421 SD cars built in 1962, the original sticker price with destination charge included was $4,436.48. You can cry now. The 13U "DUO 4 BARREL 4 SP SYN" cost $1,342.85--that's sticker speak for the 405-horse, dual four-barrel Super Duty engine with the four-speed trans.
"Pontiac was out of aluminum parts when this car was being built, and Jim didn't want to wait," Milton says. "Pontiac later gave him the aluminum bumpers and hood to put on the car, but he turned down the aluminum fenders figuring he wouldn't put them on anyway. He later said, 'Who would have ever guessed what these parts would do in value?' And this was back in 1988 when I bought it."
According to Milton, the body paint is original except for the hood, and the interior is all original. The 421 SD engine has been detailed because Jim had painted the engine black back in his racing days. Only the 8-Lug wheels and blackwall tires have been added since.
'69 Firebird Ram Air IV Convertible
Why buy this Bird? It's 1 of 17! (12 four-speeds, 5 automatics) This special-order paint Windward Blue '69 Firebird 400 features the 345-horse Ram Air IV powerplant, a close-ratio four-speed trans, and a 3.90 HD Safe-T-Track rearend. Other notable options include Deluxe Parchment interior, 8-Track, power antenna, console, walnut shift knob, floor mats, luggage lamp, AM/FM radio, door edge guards, remote outside mirror, Rally wheels, hood tach, disc brakes, ride and handling package, underhood lamp, and left and right visor mirrors. Milton purchased this optioned-out rarity from a private collector in 1993 after a few years of on-and-off negotiations.