Have classic car prices suffered because of the worldwide economic woes?
–E.N., Chicago A. Prices have fallen for marginal-condition collectible autos. Those in really good shape — and “original” desirable cars that haven’t been restored — continue to command high prices, judging by amounts paid at major collectible auto auctions, which generally set price levels for such cars. For instance, a 1963 Gulf Oil Chevrolet Corvette Z06 sold last month for $1.1 million at Illinois-based Mecum Auction Co.’s Florida collector car auction. That auction’s sales of 750 cars totaled $16.5 million, up from $15.2 million last year, Mecum Auction said. Q. I’ve long heard you’re supposed to use a car’s air conditioning during warm-weather driving and not lower a car’s windows for the best fuel economy because lowering windows increases aerodynamic drag that hurts economy. But I recently heard you use less fuel by shutting off the air conditioning and lowering the windows! That’s what our family did on hot days when I was a kid in the 1950s and auto air conditioning wasn’
