Author: Thor Thorson

Thor Thorson is president of Vintage Racing Motors, a Seattle-area collector-car dealer and vintage-racing support operation. He has been actively involved with racing for over 40 years, dealing with racers from Ferraris to Sprites, but is mostly seen driving Elva sports racers. He has been writing the race-car profiles for SCM since 2003.

1936 Talbot-Lago T150C Racer

The heads of the Automobile Club de France, keen to see prestigious national firms return to racing, decided to introduce new rules for the 1936 ACF Grand Prix. The new regulations, adopted on October 13, 1935, opened the event to sports cars. The declared goal was, of course, to encourage […]

1953 Allard JR Le Mans Roadster

• Estimated 350-hp, 365-ci Cadillac overhead valve V8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors, 4-speed manual transmission, semi-independent front suspension with split axle, rear De Dion axle with coil springs and tubular shock absorbers, and Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes  • One of only seven Allard JRs built • One of two factory entries to the 24 […]

1952 “Wagner Special” BMW Racer

This car appeared on the grid at the 1952 Eifelrennen at the famous Nürburgring complex in Germany. It finished 5th, in the middle of a collection of BMW-powered race cars. This is a unique opportunity to own a contemporary racer to the Veritas racer — and at a comparably bargain […]

1974 Lancia Stratos Groupe 4

The Lancia Stratos is unquestionably the most extraordinary rally car ever produced. It is also one of the most successful, having won the World Rally Championship three times (and probably would have continued if allowed to do so). The first prototype Stratos was a project designed by Marcello Gandini for […]

1930–31 Maserati Tipo 26 Sport Road Racer

This magical Maserati was a direct competitor of the smaller-engined, less-uncompromisingly-race-bred Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. It should be considered absolutely within the same breath as one of the most illustrious of Italian-made thoroughbred road-racing cars. This extraordinarily well-presented survivor from Maserati’s early history is offered here direct from 57 years […]

1955 Aston Martin DB3S Sports Racer

Launched in 1952, the first Aston Martin sports racer was the DB3. Developed for Aston Martin by Eberan von Eberhorst, a former Auto Union racing engineer from the pre-war era, the DB3 featured an all-new, tubular chassis using De Dion rear architecture, with a purposeful, chunky, slab-sided body. Competition victory […]

1972 Porsche 917/10 Spyder

Perhaps the world’s most recognized Porsche 917: Team Penske Racing, sponsored by L&M Driven by racing legends Mark Donohue and George Follmer Debuted at Mosport ’72 Can-Am driven by Mark Donohue Dominated the ’72 Can-Am series, taking first at five of nine races Can-Am Champion in ’72 driven by George […]

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spyder Lungo

Few great classic sports cars can match the intense sensory overload provided by the supreme Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 in raucous action. Add the historic importance and cachet of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, of Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, of Francis, Earl Howe and of Marshal Italo Balbo — […]

1966 Ferrari Dino 206 S Spyder

In February 1966, Ferrari debuted a new sports-racing car formulated for the FIA’s 2-Liter Group 4 class, with hopes of winning over the numerous privateer teams that campaigned in Porsches. Dubbed the Dino 206 S, the car was powered by the development of the 65-degree V6 engine that had been […]

2007 Peugeot 908 V12 HDi FAP Le Mans Racer

This car has a 700-plus horsepower, 5,500-cc twin-turbocharged dual overhead camshaft V12 engine, 6-speed sequential manual paddle-shift gearbox, independent front and rear double-wishbone suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic ventilated disc brakes. The wheelbase is 116 inches. • 2009 Le Mans Works entry• Exceptional and undisputed racing provenance• 1st Overall at Monza, […]