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1955 Porsche 356 1500 Continental Cabriolet
One of only 299 Pre-A cabriolets built in 1955 A 1,488-cc OHV Type 546/2 flat 4-cylinder engine with dual Solex 32 PBI carburetors that makes 55 horsepower at 4,400 rpm Spectacular Terra Cotta-over-Ochre color scheme Delivered with rare factory options and accessories Faithfully executed, show-quality restoration. Documented matching-numbers engine A perfect entry for leading concours…
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1955 Hudson Italia
Hudson designer Frank Spring (who left Murphy Coachbuilders in the 1930s to join Hudson) contracted with Carrozzeria Touring of Milan to build 25 production models of his dream sports car. Touring created a Superleggera coupe with an aluminum unibody built over a steel tub frame. Unique to the Italia were aircraft-style doors, custom bucket seats,…
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1953 Allard JR Le Mans Roadster
• Estimated 350-hp, 365-ci Cadillac overhead valve V8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors, 4-speed manual transmission, semi-independent front suspension with split axle, rear De Dion axle with coil springs and tubular shock absorbers, and Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes • One of only seven Allard JRs built • One of two factory entries to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953…
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1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta “Competizione”
In the tradition of Ferrari’s dual-purpose road and racing berlinettas, the new 250 GT SWB was a tractable and well-mannered daily driver about town — and a veritable beast in a race. Competition-specification cars with additionally up-rated engines and lightweight alloy aluminum bodies were immediately made available for racing customers. Competizione-specification examples totaled to 72…
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1936 MG NB Magnette Airline Coupe
It could easily be argued that one of the prettiest swept-back designs of the 1930s was on the very few Airline Coupes that graced MG chassis. The design was created by H.W. Allingham, and the cathedral-style lighting panels on the sliding sunroof, the spare tire neatly blended into the swept-back tail underneath a metal cover,…
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1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America
Lancia Aurelia B24 S Spider America 1131 This car is among the rare survivors, having resided for its entire life in the forgiving western United States. In 1992, it was owned by the president of the U.S. Lancia club, who also was an avid vintage racer. He had the car cosmetically restored by Italian Lancia…
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Cacti and Campari
Just weeks ago I was toodling through the Arizona desert, sneaking away from the auctions for a quick drive to Sedona in a lovely dark blue Aston Martin V8 Vantage. I was seeking a brief respite from the ceaseless shattering of world records at the auctions being held, where one high sale after another was…
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The $175k Missed Shift
Sports car racing driver David Piper (a former F1 driver who lost a leg below the knee in an accident driving a Porsche 917 during the filming of Steve McQueen’s 1971 film “Le Mans”) recently won an important case in The Royal Courts of Justice in London. The high court awarded damages and legal costs…
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The Not-So-Affordable Trends of Arizona
The USA, China and the European nations have each all printed over a trillion dollars in the past few years. We are in a cash crisis, with no place for this cash to go,” quipped one of my longtime automotive writer colleagues. “This has to account for some of the big-dollar cars again being classified…
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1930 Cadillac 452 V16 ambulance
Quiet, strong, flexible and powerful, the Cadillac V16 defined luxury in the golden age of classic luxury automobiles. As brilliantly styled under the hood as its Harley Earl exterior, it exuded quality and exclusivity that were reinforced by the refinement of its drivetrain and chassis. The Cadillac V16 was also durable, which explains the…