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Party Car
When we think of performance Fords here in the U.S., our focus is mostly on thundering V8-powered Mustangs, mid-engine GTs and the brawny F-150 Raptor. These are big cars with even bigger presence. But Ford of Europe is big on performance too, just in a smaller way. Across the pond, “Fast Fords” are most often…
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Documented Successes
When I figured out that the wrecking yard in Pennsylvania had a genuine Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth sitting on its crowded lot of discarded junkers, my next course of action after arranging for enclosed transport was to locate a manila folder. In it went the crummy, low-res photos of a beige sedan with its iconic…
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Michael Jordan Still Dominates the Court
The NASCAR antitrust lawsuit settled during the ninth day of a trial that was expected to last at least another two. Specifics of the settlement have not been made public, except to report that NASCAR’s team charters will become permanent, or “evergreen,” as described in the parties’ joint statement. You might remember that “Legal Files”…
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Classic Then, Classic When?
The first Monte Shelton Northwest Classic Rally was held in 1988. Sponsor Shelton was a Jaguar and Rolls-Royce dealer and sports-car racer in Portland. At that time, the Northwest Classic was the only large multi-day touring event for old cars in the region. It grew quickly, with over 100 entries some years. I entered that…
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1962 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster
While the enlargement of the Thunderbird into a 4-passenger car proved excellent for sales, buyers continued to pester Ford for the return of a 2-passenger model. In response, for 1962, the third-generation “Bullet Bird” became available as a limited-production Sports Roadster. The “top-of-the-line” Ford featured a sleek fiberglass tonneau that fit over the rear seat,…
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1954 Swallow Doretti
The Swallow Doretti was a brief-yet-intriguing British sports car, produced in 1954–55 by Swallow Coachbuilding, then under Tube Investments. Styled by Frank Rainbow, it featured a Reynolds 531 tubular steel chassis, aluminum body and Triumph TR2 running gear. Like many Swallows, this Doretti was sold new in California. Our subject car’s buyer was Harvey M.…
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1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Spider
Only 38 examples of the 2900 were produced by Alfa Romeo, with fewer known to exist today. Some of the most desirable of these are the long-chassis Spiders — “long” being a relative term, as the wheelbase was only extended by 20 centimeters but provided the most luxurious platform for a 2-seater body. Built in…
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2015 Ferrari FXX K Evo
The FXX K was propelled by a Formula 1-derived Hy-Kers hybrid powerplant — a Tipo F140 V12 engine displacing 6.3 liters. A “Manettino” dial on the center console provided four different levels of assist from an electric motor, including one designed for “instant maximum torque delivery,” offering an additional 187 horsepower. With total output now…
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1956 Jaguar D-Type
Among the final production D-types to emerge from Coventry before the February 1957 factory fire, chassis XKD551 was dispatched on June 12, 1956, as a short-nose example — measuring approximately 19 cm shorter than the succeeding long-nose variants. The accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate documents state that the D-type was completed wearing body number…
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Caught in a Crunch
It was an eventful week at Mecum Auctions’ recent four-day Dallas/Fort Worth sale — hundreds of cars sold and only four crashed! The accident happened in the post-sale staging area, where three of the cars were parked. A driver, presumably a Mecum employee, was moving a 1958 Willys resto-mod pickup. The truck sported a 5.7-liter…