Two Cool American Concept Cars Are Coming up for Auction

Mecum Auctions

The Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum in Chicago has closed, with nearly 300 cars coming up for auction at the end of September.
The auction includes the 1982 Dodge Turbo Charger, which wore aerodynamic bodywork and acted as a pace car for the PPG Indy Car World Series.
The 2002 Lincoln Continental concept is also available, with its classy styling and Aston Martin V-12 engine.

Concept cars lead unusual lives. After a glamorous spin on the turntables at an auto show, many end up stashed away in a warehouse, dusty and forgotten, and some even get crushed, remembered only through photos. A lucky few earn a spot in a museum, on display to demonstrate the dreams of a bygone era. Recently, the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum in Chicago shut down. Its collection of nearly 300 cars is set to be sold off this month by Mecum Auctions, giving car enthusiasts the rare chance to acquire two intriguing concept cars: the 1982 Dodge Turbo Charger and the 2002 Lincoln Continental concept.A Functional WedgeMecum AuctionsWhile many concept cars are simply static models, and the ones that do move are typically limited to slow speeds, the Dodge Turbo Charger stands out as a fully drivable concept that was kept busy. As the paintwork along the side skirts and orange siren atop the roof indicate, the Turbo Charger served as a pace car for the PPG Indy Car World Series, driving ahead of the field of open-wheeled race cars—piloted by legends from Mario Andretti to Al Unser and A.J. Foyt—before the green flag dropped. Based on the fifth-generation Charger, built from 1981 to 1987 as a front-wheel-drive coupe, the Turbo Charger concept adopted sleek wedge-shaped bodywork with aerodynamic appendages, including a substantial rear wing and fairings over the rear wheels. The car originally wore a silver and red livery, as seen in this video of the 1982 Budweiser Cleveland 500, before later being repainted with blue accents.Mecum AuctionsUnderneath the sheetmetal was the turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-four that would later appear in the production-spec Charger, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. No performance figures were ever released for the concept, but the turbocharged engine produced 142 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque when it arrived in the Charger for 1984. Car and Driver reviewed a 146-hp 1985 Shelby-tuned Charger Turbo, which had a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 7.6 seconds.While the powertrain remained stock, Dodge fitted the concept with beefier brakes and a wider track in the front and rear. The suspension was also reworked to improve handling, since the Turbo Charger was designed to be chased by a pack of amped-up Indy Car drivers raring to go racing.Mecum AuctionsGullwing doors and NACA ducts just ahead of the rear doors added visual drama, while the cabin was decked out with Recaro race seats with full harnesses and a roll cage. The row of dials along the dashboard drew inspiration from airplanes. While the Turbo Charger’s streamlined look never made it to production, the concept serves as an intriguing piece of American motorsports history that might still run with a bit of elbow grease. A Lincoln with the Heart of an Aston MartinMecum AuctionsFrom the 1940s until 2002, the Lincoln lineup was topped by the distinguished Continental sedan. Years of declining sales saw Lincoln’s flagship get discontinued, but at the 2002 Los Angeles auto show, the American automaker hinted at a return for the Continental with a large, handsome concept. The nameplate wouldn’t end up being revived until 2017, but the 2002 concept ended up previewing the design language that would appear on cars like the 2006 Zephyr (renamed the MKZ the following year) and the 2007 MKX SUV.The concept carried an air of importance, with upright bodywork and plenty of chrome, including a strip that ran from the lower front bumper, up over the fender, and down the entire shoulder line of the car to the taillights. The Continental concept also rode on 22-inch chrome wheels and was fitted with rear-hinged coach doors.Mecum AuctionsMecum AuctionsAt the rear, the Continental features a wild split-tailgate trunk, with the top section lifting upwards and the bottom section sliding out like a drawer. There was even a set of silver metal luggage that nearly fit into the trunk like a puzzle. Inside, the concept had a mix of tan leather and silver metal accents, with a spacious rear seat and a fold-out table and television. While the Continental concept’s legacy was in its styling, the body-on-frame car also packed a pretty neat powertrain. Ford, Lincoln’s parent company at the time, also owned Aston Martin, so the Continental featured a 6.0-liter V-12 borrowed from the British sports-car specialist, sending 414 horsepower through a six-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels.Mecum AuctionsMecum AuctionsBoth the 1982 Dodge Turbo Charger and 2002 Lincoln Continental concept will be auctioned off by Mecum at the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum from September 19 to 21. There are no estimates for what prices the two concepts will command, but all lots are being offered at no reserve, giving automotive enthusiasts the chance to snag a unique piece of history for potentially very little.More Concept Cars