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1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Le Mans Tourer
There are few sounds in motorsport quite as evocative as a Blower Bentley at full chat — a gruff explosion of noise and power only matched by the guttural howl of a Vulcan bomber. Unapologetically loud, dirty, and fearsomely quick, the model earned a legion of fans throughout the 1920s and 1930s despite never winning…
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1970 Iso Grifo Series I Targa
This 1970 Iso Grifo is one of approximately 14 targa examples built during four years of Series I production. It was completed on May 21, 1970, before being delivered new in Germany. Chassis 314 was purchased in 1978 by its previous owner, who commissioned a repaint in the current shade of dark blue metallic and…
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1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO
Engineer Giotto Bizzarrini was tasked with further refining the 250 GT berlinetta for the 1962 racing season. Bizzarrini’s result was the 250 GTO. Introduced at a press conference in February 1962, the 250 GTO was absolutely stunning. Power was provided by the latest development of the 3-liter Colombo short-block V12. The new type 539/62 chassis…
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1967 Mercedes-Benz 230 AMG
In 1967, AMG was formed by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, two former Daimler-Benz engineers with a passion for engine tuning and motorsport. The pair turned their hand to custom race configurations with a penchant for Mercedes-Benz, notably bulking out and entering the now-famous 300SEL-based “Red Pig” in the 1971 24 Hours of Spa.…
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2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster
Mercedes-Benz has left a more significant imprint on motorsports history than any other manufacturer, bar none. So it came as little surprise that after decades of relative abstention from factory-based competition, it became a commanding winner in the German DTM series (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) in the 1990s with its potent C-Class race cars, the 190E…
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1927 Amilcar C6
After being discovered behind the Iron Curtain, this Amilcar — along with a second chassis — is understood to have been exported from East Berlin via Switzerland prior to being sold to Morris Frost of Florida, where a restoration was carried out prior to the car being used on the road. A cracked engine block…
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A Rare Rotary Comes Around
1972 Mazda RX-2 Coupe S/N S122A104481. 64,000 miles. “Replacement 1.1-liter rotary engine, 4-speed manual transmission, Herschel Orange paint, black vinyl upholstery, 13-inch widened steel wheels, front disc brakes, shortened springs, Panhard bar, Craig AM/FM radio, original purchase order.” Condition: 2. SOLD AT $34,650. Bring a Trailer, 11/9/23. The RX-2 was Mazda’s first rotary-powered car to…
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Fantasy Meets Reality
As I wrote about in the October 2023 issue, my son Bradley got his driver’s license last summer. As a “safe and sane” first car, we decided on a 1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector’s Edition. It was probably more my fantasy than his, but the right car at the right price suddenly appeared. I am genetically…
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As the Escrow Flies …
“Harry” and “Sally” are longtime Irish car collectors. At 78, Harry hasn’t given up on cars, and ended up being the high bidder in an online auction on Car & Classic. The prize was a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 220A cabriolet that hammered sold at a bid of €112,100 (about $123k). What makes this an interesting story…
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Practical Performers
By the time Subaru rolled out the 2008 WRX and WRX STI in the U.S. the car had already enjoyed massive success. Debuting in 2000 as a 2002 model, it was arguably the first modern rally-bred car sold here in significant numbers. Turbocharging and all-wheel drive have a way of making a 3,200-pound car move…