Sports Car Market is the world’s leading monthly magazine on buying, selling and collecting classic and sports cars.

Keith Martin

Keith’s Blog: The Six-Car Collection, Part IV

Why is it so hard to get to six cars? Perhaps because each car we are considering speaks in its own distinct language and creates its own excitements and trepidations. Each model also is a key for entry to marque activities. The Jaguar E-type V12 gets us into English car

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Keith Martin

Keith’s Blog: The Six-Car Collection, Part III

I just put a note in the mailroom of my condo: “Parking space wanted.” I’m having trouble getting down to just six cars. To recap, we are keeping the 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 coupe, the 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider S4 and the 1965 Alfa Giulia Spider Veloce. The C3 Corvette

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Keith Martin

Keith’s Blog: The Six-Car Collection, Part II

Last we discussed finding the perfect mix of garage space, event participation, affinity groups and classic cars. We note that our current “keepers” are the 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 2+2, the 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider S4 and the 1965 Alfa Giulia Spider Veloce. Here are two more contestants. While the

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Shifting Gears

A Meditation on Preservation

Some winners are easier to pick than others. At the Kentucky Derby, it’s the nose of the horse that crosses the finish line first. At the Super Bowl, the team with the most points when the clock expires is the champion. The first team to take four games in the

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Legal Files

The Case of the Runaway Rolls

Memory Lane Motors has been a collector car fixture in Portland, OR, for over 40 years, dealing largely in mid-range American and European classic cars. Manager Elan Davis says that in all that time, it has never sold a car at auction. To his regret, he made his first attempt

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Collecting Thoughts

 Highlights From Monterey Car Week

Back again we went, for the fourth post-pandemic-cancellation Monterey Car Week. It was, as they say, “bigger and better than ever.” Crowds were thicker, traffic was a nightmare, and hotels engaged in their expected price gouging. The cars, however, never disappoint. This year they again made up for all the

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Affordable Classics

Lexus IS as Lexus Does

The first generation of the Lexus IS was never much to look at. Apart from more-stylish wheels and a slightly more pugnacious stance, Lexus’ new compact sport sedan didn’t seem to differentiate itself much from some lesser Toyota models. You had to get closer and pay attention to see that

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American

1964 Shelby Cobra 289

Hank Williams was a decorated World War II hero who had taken part in the invasion of Normandy Beach, and was also a medical professional and a jazz musician who played drums. An Austin-Healey had been his original mount, but it was rapidly becoming outclassed on the track. He originally

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German

1997 Porsche 911 GT1

The 993-generation 911 GT1 marks an inflection point between cars that can be run by a knowledgeable privateer and the later mid-2000s LMP2-class RS Spyder that requires further resources and support. Offered for public sale for the first time, this exceptional 911 GT1 — never upgraded to 996-style Evo specification

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Italian

1968 Serenissima GT

In addition to competing with cars built by other manufacturers, Count Giovanni Volpi sought to make his own automobiles, and the result was a small number of racing and road cars bearing the Serenissima name. This machine, the Serenissima GT, was the last of these and created in concert with

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Next Gen

2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello

Introduced in 1996, the 550 Maranello designed by Pininfarina blended contemporary and classic design elements while paying homage to the iconic 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Presenting beautifully throughout, this U.S.-specification 2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello is finished in Nero Daytona (Daytona Black) over a black leather interior. According to a CARFAX Vehicle

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Race

1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider

Despite Enzo Ferrari’s determination to win the 1955 World Sportscar Championship, very little went to plan that season. The new 118 and 121 LM 6-cylinder models did not pan out as projected, forcing Ferrari to revert to his 4-cylinder cars. And the disaster at Le Mans drew increasing scrutiny from

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Keith Martin

Keith’s Blog: Today’s Six-Car Collection

We call it “Car Knitting” or “Car Solitaire.” It’s the never-ending and always entertaining process where we mentally and physically reshuffle the cars in our garage. At SCM, we’re getting closer to the desired combination of cars and garage spaces. At the same time, as our patterns of use evolve,

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Keith Martin

Keith’s Blog: Jurassic Oregon

Over Labor Day Weekend, we attended the 47th annual All British Field Meet. Held at Portland International Raceway, it bills itself as the longest-running and biggest three-day all-British car event in the country. It averages nearly 700 cars a year. Now that Bradley is driving, this has become a family

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Keith Martin

Keith’s Blog: Speedo Calibration Will Be Up To You

After spending three weeks talking to gurus and posting on social media about this issue, I’ve come to the following conclusion: I am going to put our two-owner 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C onto Bring a Trailer with a speedometer that reads slow. We bought this car specifically to prepare for the

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