Philip Richter
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2003 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
An entirely new Aston Martin for the 21st century, the V12-engined Vanquish coupe debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2001. Aston Martin’s first power unit of its type, the 5.9-liter, 48-valve, V12 engine (first seen in the DB7 V12 Vantage) developed 460 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, with 400 lb-ft of torque available at…
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Selling All the Way
The collector car hobby has witnessed sweeping changes and staggering growth over the past decade. Once a cottage industry, the collector car market has transitioned into a legitimate global business. Many smaller companies have enjoyed rapid growth and have garnered the attention and admiration of much larger publicly listed and private equity-backed global firms. The…
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2010 Pagani Zonda R “Revolución Specification”
In 2007, Pagani introduced its first track-focused model: the Zonda R. As the most fearsome and spartan distillation of the company’s technological capabilities, the Zonda R is truly the marque’s tour de force. Free from race and governmental regulations, the Zonda was designed to be the ultimate driver’s car, offering the ultimate uncompromised driving experience. The…
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The $500 Million Endowment
In early November 2022, McPherson College announced that an anonymous donor had made an extraordinary endowment gift to the school. This record-breaking, potentially $500 million donation is the largest single commitment ever made to a liberal-arts college. This news thrust the small Kansas-based school into the headlines. It is notable in the collector-car community because…
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2012 McLaren MP4-12C
The MP4-12C was the first production road car developed entirely by McLaren, featuring a carbon-composite chassis and equipped with a 3.8-L twin-turbocharged V8 and Graziano 7-speed Seamless-Shift dual-clutch gearbox. This 2012 example is finished in the rare premium color of Mercury Red over a Carbon Black leather-and-Alcantara interior with red contrast stitching. It was optioned…
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AMG Alchemy
The 2022 SCM 1000 AMG Invitational was born out of a phone call. About two years ago, SCM Publisher Keith Martin called me to discuss his next serial car purchase. I suggested he consider an R230 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG. I explained that it is a near-supercar bargain, bestowed with one of the most refined AMG…
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Earning Their Place
The 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance played host to a special class of Porsche 917 race cars. That this gathering — 50 years after the 917’s overall win at Le Mans in 1971 — would occur there, rather than in the paddock of some storied racing circuit, is significant. We spoke with Revs Institute founder…
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1988 Alpina B7 Turbo/1 Katalysator
This Alpina B7 Turbo/1 is number 243 of 278 examples produced between 1984 and 1987 and is one of 42 examples fitted with a catalytic converter. The car was produced in October 1986 and first registered in March 1988, and it was imported to the U.S. by the seller in June 2021 on behalf of…
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A Capital Idea
The collector-car world is experiencing a metamorphosis. Over the past six years, we have witnessed the maturation of the industry. The transition began in earnest when RM Auctions announced a strategic partnership with publicly traded Sotheby’s in 2015. Next, in 2020, media giant Hearst acquired Bring a Trailer for an undisclosed sum. Finally, now Hagerty…
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1993 Cizeta V16T
Given the Cizeta’s cost and exclusivity, it is no surprise that each V16T produced has an interesting backstory. This car, chassis 101, is no exception. After Brunei became an independent country in 1983, the Sultan of Brunei and his family used a portion of their vast oil wealth to build the largest car collection the…