Archives
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Hands-on Happiness
There are three basic ways to invest in an older Porsche, each with pluses and minuses (Part III: Defining the Collectible Porsche) In the June issue, I examined some individual Porsche models and outlined what factors set them apart as either collectible or rather ordinary. Last month, I discussed those factors in-depth, with respect to…
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Whipping the Prancing Pony
When it comes to older Ferraris, what once was supercar performance is now dated, and speed costs money. How fast do you want to go? {vsig}2007-7_2053{/vsig} There’s always been a direct connection between how much fun your sports car is, and how fast it goes. Best of all is a machine that makes all the…
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Strangers on the Shore
If the Mini you’re looking at has roll-up windows and no visible door hinges, it was made after 1969.no matter what the owner or the title claims The success of the new Mini has meant that classic Minis are starting to reappear in the United States, despite the fact they haven’t been legally imported since…
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Either Rare or Well Done Will Do
Rarity can matter, but a rare Porsche is not automatically collectible, just as some high-volume models are valuable (Part II: Defining the Collectible Porsche) Last month in Part I, we examined why some Porsche values accelerate like an early 911S, while others lag behind like a 924 with a bad head gasket. Except for a…
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Everyday Muscle
Forgo modern conveniences (such as a jack for your iPod and seat heaters), and you can find an old car that will be daily fun {vsig}2007-6_2011{/vsig} So your Cobra Daytona Coupe is too hot and loud inside, and your Hemi ‘Cuda convertible’s top leaks when it rains. You’d like something old yet practical as a…
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Enzo Crashes: Repeat as Needed
This Enzo was a stunt car in the filming of “Redline,” and had unquestionably been used hard and put away wet {vsig}2007-6_2022{/vsig} As virtually everyone in the car world knows, on March 26 actor Eddie Griffin crashed a Ferrari Enzo at Irwindale Raceway in L.A. while practicing for a promotion for the movie “Redline.” The…
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Three Wheels on My Wagon.
The Scootacar was promoted as having room for a driver and groceries, but in practice, it was one or the other Sometimes I wonder how the British ever managed to produce distinguished automobiles when the government threw so many obstacles in the path of the motor industry. Perhaps the most significant was the motor vehicle…
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You Gotta Know When to Hold ’em.
One good way to judge when a car becomes collectible is to simply note when its value rises above the original purchase price {vsig}2007-6_2021{/vsig} Part I: Defining the Collectible Porsche Why do some Porsches accelerate quickly in value, while others languish? We can all agree that pedestrian models, such as the 924, will never be…
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1911 Mercer 35R Raceabout
Mercers remain four to five times more expensive than a comparable Stutz, proving that a Raceabout is the most desirable pre-WWI car built in America Restored from a highly original and complete car, this is one of very few authentic Mercer Raceabouts. Like the 1911 Simplex in the Chandler Collection, it was once owned by…
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1946-47 Frazer Nash-BMW 328
This car is accepted by the Vintage Sports Car Club as a pre-WWII example, which is a big plus as it can race (and beat up on) lesser sports cars Before we examine this unique car, let’s take a look at its origins. In 1934 BMW’s first sports car, the very nimble 315, made mincemeat…