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A Two-Way Ticket Down to Tennessee
I’ve finally taken a ride on the Chattanooga Choo Choo. This was my fourth visit to the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, sponsored by Millennium Bank. Like a fine wine, this event gets better each year. Developer and philanthropist Byron DeFoor is the founder of the festival. His commitment to nurturing the resurgence of the city’s downtown…
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Monopoly Money?
Tyler Reddick, driving for NBA legend Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team, just went from 3rd to 1st on the last lap to win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It gave the NASCAR regular-season champion an automatic entry into the NASCAR Championship 4, and a shot at the 2024 season championship. Amid the celebration, you wouldn’t know that…
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Kaishū Means Renovation
We have previously looked at factory heritage programs available from many European automakers (“Collecting Thoughts,” April 2023). From Aston Martin to Porsche, owners can send their collector cars back to the mothership for verification and, in some cases, factory restoration. Now as Japanese collector cars increase in value, a similar-yet-distinct set of services are becoming…
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Little Giant
When Fiat exited the North American market in the early 1980s, it seemed unlikely that the economical Italian brand would ever return. A shoddy reputation had been built over the years on poor reliability, questionable build quality and a penchant for premature rust. Though its cars were small, they carried an awful lot of baggage.…
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1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
As Cadillac’s designers opted for more-restrained styling for 1960, the single-model-year styling of the 1959 Cadillacs has made those cars a true icon of the era. One of only 1,320 Eldorado Biarritz convertibles produced in 1959, this Eldorado Biarritz was one of the most expensive cars of its era and remains a highly coveted example…
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1964 MGB “Coune” Berlinetta
In 1962, Jacques Coune established his own coachbuilding firm to create body styles that were not offered in the ranges of various manufacturers. This was particularly true of the MGB, which was only available as a roadster when Coune began producing his MGB berlinetta. He produced 56 examples, one of the first being presented at…
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1974 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile”
With only 1,039 CSLs produced between 1972 and 1975 compared to over 19,000 standard CS/CSi models, these “specials” will always be relatively rare, and today this ultimate BMW coupe is highly sought after. The 31st of only 57 Series 2 cars produced, chassis number 4355031 was delivered new on July 11, 1974. BMW factory records…
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1969 DeTomaso Mangusta
This DeTomaso Mangusta was delivered new in May 1969 to Ing. Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Bolaños, Presidente de la Republica Mexicana, for $8,891 (copy of purchase invoice on file). Of the 401 Mangustas produced, most had the less-powerful, 271-horsepower, 302-ci Ford V8 engine, while comparatively few had the superior 289-ci version with 306 hp, like this…
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1984 Porsche 911 SC/RS
This particular example — the final SC/RS produced — was first earmarked for South African importers Lindsay Saker; however, it was diverted, eventually landing with Tycho Christian van Dijk, owner of the eponymous van Dijk Racing Team, in February 1984. Van Dijk prepared the car with subtle Dutch flag-inspired colors, a hood-mounted rally light pod,…
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No Resuscitation for CPR Classic
Collector car dealers who sell customers’ cars and never pay them their money is not a new subject for SCM readers. But it was a whole new experience for Hans Claassen of Montrose, CO. NBC 7 San Diego recently reported that Claassen is one of many clients who claims he is owed money from CPR…