Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
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1956 Maserati A6G/2000
The A6GCS sports cars and A6GCM monopostos were consistently successful, and competitive buyers took notice until in 1954 Maserati responded with the A6G/54 (later named A6G/2000) Gran Turismo, a barely disguised competition car with wider and more-comfortable bodywork from a variety of coachbuilders. One of the competitive-minded individuals attracted to Maserati was an American living…
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2011 Ferrari SP30 Berlinetta
From the earliest days of Ferrari, the Modenese firm openly catered to the individual wishes of its buyers. Ferrari was all too happy to tweak the mechanical specification for its more-influential customers, but the task of building a bespoke Ferrari was primarily left to coachbuilders — Pininfarina, Ghia, Bertone, Zagato, Boano and many others creating…
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1977 Tyrrell P34
The six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 was a pet project of designer Derek Gardner, who had come up with the idea while he was working on four-wheel-drive systems for Indianapolis cars during the late 1960s. A few years later, and with the majority of the Formula 1 grid using the same Ford-Cosworth DFV engine, he revisited the…
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Half-Japanese
1991 Plymouth Laser RS S/N 4P3CS44R3ME148237. 148,600 miles. “2.0-liter inline-4, 5-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 16-inch wheels, pop-up headlights, pop-up sunroof, cloth upholstery, automatic front shoulder belts, power windows, air conditioning.” Condition: 1. SOLD AT $5,538. Cars & Bids, 5/22/24. Chrysler teamed up with Mitsubishi to create Diamond-Star Motors in 1985. Chrysler had been importing…
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California Cracks Down on Montana LLCs
“Trevor” was surprised when a California state investigator and two sheriff’s deputies rang his doorbell. They were armed with a search warrant authorizing them to search his garage and to seize his cell phone. The garage search located exactly what they knew would be there — a high-dollar sports car with Montana license plates. The…
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That’s Mister Two to You
The Toyota MR2 rocked the sports-car world when it arrived in 1984. With a mid-engine, rear-drive design that stood on the shoulders of the Porsche 914 and Fiat X1/9, the lightweight Toyota offered nimble steering and adequate speed at a truly affordable price. American buyers stepped up, purchasing more than 37,000 of them in 1985.…
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The Cadillac of Ferraris
In early May, Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 s/n 11429, a non-running project, was sold on Bring a Trailer for $78,750, including buyer’s premium. A bargain price! At least until one digests that it was fitted with a 4.6-liter Cadillac Northstar V8 backed up with a 4-speed automatic GM 700R4 trans, a non-original aluminum radiator and…
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Ciao, Bella Macchina
When I was director of dance for the Portland Opera, a large part of my life revolved around yearning, passion, searches, mysteries, findings and farewells. It’s not so different with the classic cars that roll in and out of our garages. After 10 years and 15,000 miles, I am selling our 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto.…
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1940 Packard Custom Super Eight 180 Darrin Convertible Sedan
According to a report filed by some of the top Packard historians in the country, such as Richard Langworth, Bob Turnquist and Don Figone, fewer than 150 Packard Darrins were produced between 1937 and 1942. Of those, just 11 Convertible Sedans were constructed and 10 are known to survive today, making this 1940 Packard Custom…
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1959 Austin-Healey “Bugeye” Sprite Mk I
This 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite was purchased by the seller on Bring a Trailer in March 2019 following a six-year refurbishment process completed by the prior owner. The car had previously been stored disassembled in a barn, and the overhaul included rebuilding the 948-cc inline-4 and the 4-speed manual transmission. Finished from the factory in…