Author: Stephen Serio

Stephen Serio is the president and owner of Bond Group in Waltham, MA, where for 35 years he has dealt in some of the world’s rarest European and classic cars. He has been contributing to SCM since 1996.

Aston Martin’s Third Savior

Aston Martin and its various ownership incarnations have perfected the art of going under — think massive avalanche — and then being saved for another life of making cars. Anyone familiar with the history of this much-admired, cherished and revered company realizes that Lazarus has nothing on these car builders […]

The “Pretty Woman” Lotus is a Winner

Few modern classics offer more performance and visual bang than a Lotus Esprit Turbo SE. Somehow, this softened version — the less-aggressive, non-origami, original shape — has aged gracefully over the past 20 or so years. Peter Stevens gets credit for this design, with honorable mention to Julian Thompson for […]

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL convertible

This car was supplied new to the wife of well-known Tulsa-based actor and producer Milton Berry. She kept this quality, matching-numbers Mercedes-Benz 280SL until it was traded in to the original Tulsa, OK, Mercedes-Benz dealer in 1999. It stayed in his personal collection until 2010, when it was ultimately purchased […]

Did You See That ’58 Aston Martin DB Mark III?

Is there such a thing as an affordable classic or a good deal during Monterey auction week? Watching collectors and enthusiasts flock to the numerous auctions searching for a special, once-in-a-lifetime deal is like watching a professional goat rodeo. If you are a chaos junkie, this is for you, but […]

1975 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile”

In 1968, BMW launched the 2500 saloon, and it was this car that gave birth to a string of elegant coupes that peaked with the CSL “Batmobile.” The first such model was the 2800CS, and with independent suspension, taut chassis and a 170-horsepower engine, it was an attractive candidate for […]

1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage Coupe

This superb DB2 was sold new to William “Bill” Spear, wealthy amateur American racer and a close friend of Briggs Cunningham, the famed American gentleman racer and sports car builder. In fact, the two of them each ordered a new DB2 in November 1950. LML/50/19 is the 19th car built, […]

2001 BMW Z8 Roadster

One of the most incredible modern sports cars to ever be built, the Z8 was destined to become a future classic after its debut in the James Bond film “The World is Not Enough.” The concept project was given to Henrik Fisker, who in 1997 was the head of BMW’s […]

1976 Lagonda V8 Series 1 Saloon

What’s interesting about “007” is that it has been hot-rodded, modernized, and neutered of its ZF 5-speed {vsig}2008-8_2208{/vsig} Lagonda had been dormant for a decade when Aston Martin revived the marque in 1974 as the model name for a sensational new four-door sedan based on the existing V8 coupe. Launched […]

1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series III

I truly believe there is no price guide for something that has few peers with regard to originality The car offered here is a DB4 Series III Aston Martin, which differs from the previous two series due to a better oil cooling system, including a bigger sump. The car condition […]