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1952 Astra Coupe
When Jay Everett unveiled his hand-built coupe at the Petersen Motorama in 1953, it marked a new direction in custom cars. At the time, most American customizers were basing their work on pre-existing cars from Detroit. Everett took the more difficult and more rewarding path of building his own full-bodied creation from scratch, and that…
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1928 Cadillac “Al Capone” Series 341A
The continuous history of this 1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan has been established since 1932. While the provenance of the “Al Capone” armored Cadillac has never been questioned, its origins were never confirmed beyond reasonable doubt until now. Thorough documentation begins with the purchase of this 1928 Cadillac by Harry LaBreque in May of…
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1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Built to homologate the new 429 “semi-Hemi” engine for NASCAR, the Boss 429 was the most powerful Mustang ever and one of the rarest as well. The engine, intentionally under-rated at 375 horsepower, featured a forged-steel crank, NASCAR rods, four-bolt main bearing caps and large-valve aluminum heads with crescent-shaped combustion chambers. A large cold-air scoop…
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1942 Dodge WC56 Military Command Car
• Genuine military Command Car as used by General Patton World War II • Complete frame-off rebuild • Engine, transmission, and drive gears have been rebuilt
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1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster
Why spend $132,709 for this car? One reason: Mercedes-Benz provides service and parts to keep it running Mercedes-Benz managed, starting in May 1955, to produce a sports car that cost less than half the price of the very desirable — but hardly accessible — 300SL. The 190SL was a strong and sturdy car, and it…
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2005 Ford GT
At the 2002 introduction of the modern-day GT40 concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI, Ford’s vice president of design, J. Mays, declared the GT40 “the ultimate living legend.” Further, he added, “It’s a true supercar with appeal equal to that of the greatest sports cars in the world, but…
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1929 Bentley 4½ Litre “Blower”
Among all Brooklands habitués of the 1920–30s, perhaps the most glamorous and charismatic of all the historic motor course’s racing celebrities was the diminutive Bentley-driving Baronet, Sir Henry Ralph Stanley “Tim” Birkin. He combined his “Bentley Boy” high-society image with a fearless driving talent. With fellow enthusiast/racer Mike Couper, Birkin & Couper Ltd was established…
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1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB
In November 1971, Ferrari unveiled at the International Exhibition in Turin a Pininfarina prototype called the Ferrari BB Berlinetta Boxer. The style reflected the design of the Dino 246 GT with fewer curves. The engine was very similar to that of the famous 312B and 312P, with a displacement of 4.4 liters, the same as…
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1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback
To describe this magnificent Bentley R-type Continental, it is difficult to improve upon the typically perceptive and balanced analysis that George Daniels himself wrote of the car for his autobiography All in Good Time — Reflections of a Watchmaker, published in 2000: “The ease with which the Continental will cover vast distances without discomfort to…
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1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spyder Lungo
Few great classic sports cars can match the intense sensory overload provided by the supreme Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 in raucous action. Add the historic importance and cachet of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, of Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, of Francis, Earl Howe and of Marshal Italo Balbo — and it becomes patently obvious…