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1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy
Completed on January 12, 1956, this was the 26th alloy-bodied Gullwing off the Untertürkheim production line, and actually the first completed in 1956. Its data card, a copy of which is included in the file, records all of the usual Leichtmetallausführung glories — alloy body, NSL engine, sports suspension, Rudges, etc. — as well as…
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1964 Iso Grifo A3/L Spider Prototype
Only a single original Iso Grifo convertible was built: this car, actually a companion to the original A3/L prototype coupe, with which it shared such distinctive features as the side exhaust rakishly snaking through the passenger’s side of the cowl and under the rocker panel trim with its nearly matte finish, a nose with a…
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2015 Ferrari California T
This 2015 Ferrari California T has 25k miles and is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle. Finished in Nero over red-and-black leather upholstery, the car has Novitec exhaust and suspension components, 20-inch split-spoke alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential, carbon-ceramic brakes with yellow-finished calipers, Scuderia Ferrari fender shields, front…
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1982 March-Chevrolet 82G
This 82G race car is the first of four examples produced by March Engineering in 1982 for use in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA GT Championship. Chassis 1, referred to as the 82G prototype, secured pole position in its debut at the Daytona 24 Hours, and in its subsequent running at…
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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…