Columns
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Pebble Beach, 2020
Each year, we call this our “Pebble Beach” issue. We wrap it up about one month before the Monterey week, and through the coordination of our printer and the trucking companies, copies magically appear at nearly every Monterey venue, from the Lodge at Pebble Beach to Concorso Italiano. By its nature, SCM is both reflective…
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1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
The Carrera was intended for high-speed touring, a fast, exclusive car built for hops from Paris to Monaco with a wife or lover-your choice The evocative “Carrera” name first graced the flanks of a Porsche in 1955. Applied to a 356A powered by a slightly less ferocious version of the racing 550 Spyder’s 1.5-liter, twin-overhead-camshaft,…
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1969 Dodge Charger Daytona vs. 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird
In 2007, these cars would have cost nearly twice as much, but they are still priced above five years ago. Hemi magic still outweighs Daytona’s rarity It’s a long time since any Dodge Daytona or Plymouth Superbird raced on the high banks in NASCAR competition, but they routinely fly across auction blocks these days. There’s…
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1990 Ferrari F40 LM Competition Berlinetta
If you want to have the meanest, baddest, highest-horsepower stallion allowed in the Ferrari Historic paddock, here it is The F40 was a simple machine that, like the greatest Ferraris of the past, relied upon its engine for its performance. Suspension and layout were conventional, and there were no serious attempts to employ cutting-edge technology.…
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2008 Maserati MC12 Corsa
Built as an edition of only twelve examples, this was to be an exclusive model for use at Maserati-supported track days, similar to Ferrari’s FXX program {vsig}2009-9_2363{/vsig} The MC12 marked Maserati’s re-entry into the ultra-exclusive supercar market and international racing scene. A tangible symbol of Maserati engineering and a worthy descendant of the company’s greatest…
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1958 AC Ace Bristol Roadster
The Ace retains a poise that’s absent from its meatier derivative, offering high-geared steering, enough body roll to orient the driver, and a firm brake pedal Introduced in October 1953, the AC Ace was essentially a reworked version of LOY 500, the handsome John Tojeiro-designed sports racer with which motor trader Cliff Davis had notched…
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1958 AC Ace Bristol Roadster
Introduced in October 1953, the AC Ace was essentially a reworked version of LOY 500, the handsome John Tojeiro-designed sports racer with which motor trader Cliff Davis had notched up six wins and four seconds that season (in addition to placing 9th overall at the Goodwood Nine Hours). Lured into collaboration with the Thames Ditton…
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1970 Alfa GTA 1300 Junior
Photos make it clear this is no historic relic, but rather a current weapon of mass destruction Introduced in 1966, the GTA (the “A” stood for alleggerita, or lightened) was the official competition version of the Giulia Sprint GT. The model was produced in road and race variants, the latter, as usual, being the responsibility…
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Provenance As an Asset: A New Issue for the Taxman
We are addressing provenance created by the owner after a car’s acquisition, and whether the costs involved can be used to reduce the gain on the sale Many collectors are selling cars they have owned for several years, often for substantially more money than they paid for them. In many cases, they purchased these cars…
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Cautious Buyers Raising the Bar
As readers of SCM know, my day job is finding new homes for old Ferraris. Over the many years I’ve been involved with the market, I’ve seen it undergo several permutations. Now, the digital revolution has really hit the market full force, and it’s changing the ways cars are marketed-not just for me, but for…