Columns


  • 1997 Porsche 911 GT1

    1997 Porsche 911 GT1

    The 993-generation 911 GT1 marks an inflection point between cars that can be run by a knowledgeable privateer and the later mid-2000s LMP2-class RS Spyder that requires further resources and support. Offered for public sale for the first time, this exceptional 911 GT1 — never upgraded to 996-style Evo specification — is supplied with a…

  • 1968 Serenissima GT

    1968 Serenissima GT

    In addition to competing with cars built by other manufacturers, Count Giovanni Volpi sought to make his own automobiles, and the result was a small number of racing and road cars bearing the Serenissima name. This machine, the Serenissima GT, was the last of these and created in concert with Count Volpi’s friend Alejandro DeTomaso,…

  • 2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello

    2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello

    Introduced in 1996, the 550 Maranello designed by Pininfarina blended contemporary and classic design elements while paying homage to the iconic 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Presenting beautifully throughout, this U.S.-specification 2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello is finished in Nero Daytona (Daytona Black) over a black leather interior. According to a CARFAX Vehicle History Report on file, this…

  • 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider

    1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider

    Despite Enzo Ferrari’s determination to win the 1955 World Sportscar Championship, very little went to plan that season. The new 118 and 121 LM 6-cylinder models did not pan out as projected, forcing Ferrari to revert to his 4-cylinder cars. And the disaster at Le Mans drew increasing scrutiny from critics of motor racing, which…

  • The Leading Edge

    The Leading Edge

    While the all-new Mustang that debuted in 1994 had sold in respectable numbers, Ford heard the rumblings of Mustang purists who felt that the fourth-generation car was too generic. To these fans, who decried it as a “two-door Taurus,” the SN95-platform Mustang had lost its soul. So, for its mid-cycle refresh, Ford designers sharpened the…

  • The Wide World of Porsches

    The Wide World of Porsches

    As you peruse Porsche classified listings, auction lots and SCM auction reports, you may have seen the term RoW, meaning “Rest of World.” Many buyers view RoW versions of Porsches (and other marques) to be pur sang — the way automakers chose to build them without intrusive North American safety and emissions regulations. Often, RoW…

  • Big Lie Country

    Big Lie Country

    The August 2024 “Legal Files” about California cracking down on Montana-registered cars produced quite a response. We received more letters about this topic than for any other recent column, so we’re revisiting the subject this month. The surprise was that almost all the letter-writers were unsympathetic to this practice. Many were highly critical of what…

  • There and Back Again

    There and Back Again

    I recently had the opportunity to speak at the 49th national meeting of the North American MGA Register, held locally here in Welches, OR. The convention was organized by SCM contributor Reid Trummel and hosted by the Columbia Gorge MG Club. My address to the group concerned a trip I made as a 17-year-old in a…

  • 1969 Shelby GT500 Fastback

    1969 Shelby GT500 Fastback

    Assembled 10 days ahead of schedule on February 21, 1969, this 1969 Shelby GT500 left the factory finished as it is today, in Acapulco Blue over black trim with Clarion Knit and Corinthian vinyl Hi-Back seats. The car was further equipped with an automatic transmission, air conditioning, sport-deck rear seat, tilt-away steering wheel, AM/FM radio…

  • 1928 Bugatti Type 43

    1928 Bugatti Type 43

    Assembled in the factory during the summer of 1928, chassis 43264, fitted with engine 124 and crankshaft 159, would not be mentioned for the first time until May 13, 1929, in the factory archives, along with two other chassis and inscribed “Prix Bugatti.” These three cars were destined to be the prizes awarded to the…