Columns

1960 Chevrolet Corvette Race Rat

Chassis number: 00867S104420 George Reed of Illinois was a gentleman racer in the traditional sense of the term — wealthy, commanding and fi ercely competitive. By the late 1950s, he had already made a name for himself as a driver with strong fi nishes at Sebring, Nassau, Cumberland, Road America, […]

Sometimes You Just Say No

  Whether it’s a cheap car or a million-dollar one, some elements of the buying decision are the same. And sometimes, even though a car is priced right and is in excellent condition — in fact, it is just what you have been looking for — saying no and walking […]

1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe

There were Ferraris…and then there were Ferraris. Enzo Ferrari built a few very exclusive grand touring models for very famous and ultra-wealthy clients. Constructed in several series — in very limited numbers — the Superamericas were truly the ultimate Ferraris of their time, and they attracted an exclusive client list. […]

1967 Fiat-Abarth 1000 TC Berlina Corsa

The Abarth reputation as a giant-killer was cemented on the racetracks, rallies and hillclimbs of Europe and America, as funny-looking but potent little Fiat sedans stormed to class wins and group championships in event after event. Based on the Fiat 600D introduced in 1960, the 850 TC, for Turismo Competizione, […]

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing

Derived for sport, this aluminum Gullwing did not see competitive use. Completed on April 20, 1955, 5500208 was appropriately finished in metallic silver gray over a blue leather interior. The 300SL was also outfitted with Rudge wheels, the NSL motor and Plexiglas windows per aluminum-build specifications. On May 27, 1955, […]

1956 Lancia Aurelia B24 S Convertible

In 1954, Lancia introduced a sporting Pininfarina-designed Spider aimed at the American market. After a brief production run, Lancia replaced the Spider with a more developed convertible, complete with a more substantial soft top and roll-up windows. Between 1956 and 1958, only 521 B24 convertibles were built, of which approximately […]

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Dual-Cowl Sports Tourer

By 1926, Bentley saw a need for a new 4-cylinder model. Although a Le Mans winner, the 3 Litre was wanting in international competition, and the standard road cars suffered from increasingly heavy bodies. With the 6½ Litre in production, Bentley sought to combine the light chassis of the 3 […]

1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Convertible Victoria

This 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Custom Convertible Victoria by Waterhouse was produced on June 15, 1931. The known history dates to 1939, when Calvin Collins of New York purchased it from the McCormick garage. The Collins family enjoyed the car for several years, but it was almost lost to the […]

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 […]

Two Coasts, Two Weekends, 5,000 Cars

“To Infinity, and Beyond!” That’s how I felt as I left Scottsdale, AZ, where 2,694 cars had crossed the block, and headed to Kissimmee, FL, where another 2,326 consigned vehicles were looking to find new owners. For 25 years, attending the January auctions in Scottsdale has been a fixture in […]