SCM Staff
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The Drive Home
Three vintage cars departed LeMay — America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, WA on December 27 and immediately headed into multiple winter snow storms. The 1957 Chevrolet Nomad, the ‘61 Chrysler 300G and the ‘66 Ford Mustang — all in shiny red — were on a 2,900-mile road trip that would take them across America to Detroit. The…
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Is the Age of the Original Beater at Hand?
Editor’s Note: A buyer paid a record $583,000 for a very neglected 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction. Did the sale — the highest-ever auction price for a 356A Speedster — signal a shift in values? Are non-restored cars now more valuable than restored cars? Miles Collier and Donald Osborne…
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The Heavy Price Paid for a Pickled Car
A 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS sold for $140,000 at the Auctions America sale in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on March 28, 2015. The car showed a mere 1,248 kilometers (775 miles) on the odometer, which was the focal point of this extraordinary transaction. Now, does it make any sense to pay well over the odds for…
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Artcurial Unveils Huge Barn-Find Collection for Rétromobile 2015 Auction
Includes Long-Lost Ferrari California Spyder A huge automotive archeological treasure trove — including a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder — will star at Artcurial’s Rétromobile auction on February 6, 2015. Likened by some to the famed “reserve collection” of the brothers Schlumpf, this barn-find hoard includes cars ranging from humble Amilcars, Citroëns and an…
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A Glimpse of Pure Passion
The SCM Monterey Insider’s Seminar is always a good experience, but this year it was a great deal better than good — it was fascinating, inspiring, and — of course — highly instructive. This year’s theme, “Preserve or Restore? The Three Tipping Points to Making the Decision” brought out principal speaker Miles Collier’s intense passion…
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Flying High Without Leaving the Ground
The Motorworks Revival — known simply as the Jet Center Party — has been hosted for the past 23 years by Gordon McCall and takes place on the Wednesday preceding the Pebble Beach Concours. In the beginning, it was a low-key, invitation-only party for concours entrants and select friends that set the tone for the…
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An E-Ticket Ride at the Best Place on Earth
If I had to sum up my trip to Monterey for the “big car week” in two words, they would be “exhilarating” and “exhausting.” And at most times, it really was a combination of the two. It’s not like I hadn’t been before. This was actually my fourth time to Monterey in August over…
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Alex’s Blog: Robert Brooks Discusses the 250 GTO — Exclusive!
I went to London in early July with my father, SCM Publisher Keith Martin, to attend a special anniversary dinner at Bonhams’ headquarters — and to witness the unveiling of the Ferrari 250 GTO consigned for Bonhams’ August 14-15 auction in Carmel, CA. Last week I spoke with Bonhams Chairman Robert Brooks. Brooks discussed the historic…
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Alex’s Blog: The Essence of BMW Throttles Through the Generations
The Ultimate Driving Machine has been my automotive drug of choice since I turned 16. My first Bimmer was a reliable 1977 320i. Soon after, I upgraded to power steering with my Alpine White 1995 318i, which I still drive today. My love for my car is renewed every time I hear the engine turn…
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A Nimble Backroad Whale
Flying all the way from Oregon to Texas to drive a car sounds a little bit crazy, but we’re talking about BMW’s 2014 M6 Gran Coupe — on the Circuit of the Americas track near Austin. Once I reached the track, the BMW instructor waved his arm at the array of 2014 M6 Gran Coupes…