The estimate of $200,000-$250,000 was aggressive; the nearly $400,000 realized for this car is a high point for the marque After the introduction of the new P-type Midget early in 1934, the N-type 6-cylinder Magnette appeared, replacing the L-types and the K-types. Originally, these models were fitted with a 56 […]
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1987 Chevrolet G20 “A-Team” Custom Van
Formerly part of the Barris Star Car Collection in Hollywood, California, this Chevrolet G20 van is believed to have been supplied unregistered directly to Universal Studios during the last year of production of “The A-Team” television show. An all-action adventure series first screened during the 1980s, the “A-Team” starred George […]
China Rally to Nowhere
The participants arrive at the hotel in Hong Kong and express their displeasure. The organizer breaks down in tears and runs off. Now what? {vsig}2007-8_2042{/vsig} If you’ve owned collector cars for long, you’ll agree that one of the biggest challenges is finding opportunities to use them. You can drive your […]
Room for Four
Mechanics, parts suppliers and restoration shops do not discriminate; Ferrari parts and labor do not relate to market value (Part I: More seats, less money. The early 2+2s) {vsig}2007-8_2044{/vsig} In the late 1950s, Aston Martin and Maserati found a very lucrative market niche supplying GT cars to owners who wanted […]
REALLY Basic British Fords
The Ford Popular was happy only on the crown of the road, and steering one was likened to stirring jam with a rubber spoon {vsig}2007-8_2041{/vsig} The British must truly love their Fords, since the models produced after the end of World War II appear so frequently in popular media. One […]
Hands-on Happiness
There are three basic ways to invest in an older Porsche, each with pluses and minuses (Part III: Defining the Collectible Porsche) In the June issue, I examined some individual Porsche models and outlined what factors set them apart as either collectible or rather ordinary. Last month, I discussed those […]
Hi-Tech English Electronics? Oh, Please
The first Lagondas used red LEDs that failed with alarming regularity, but the CRTs that replaced them cost a fortune to repair {vsig}2007-8_2026{/vsig} Every so often, British industry has an epiphany and produces something truly groundbreaking. While perhaps not as significant as the introduction of radar or disc brakes, the […]
1960 Porsche 356B Super Roadster
When Porsche introduced the improved 356B in 1960, the Speedster was succeeded by the Roadster. This was a change in name, even though both cars, and the interim Convertible D in between, remained at the bottom of the Porsche price schedule. In addition to the new name, the 356B delivered […]
1953 Muntz Jet
In the annals of automotive history, there have been few hucksters, snake oil salesmen, and promoters as bizarre as Earl “Mad Man” Muntz. Muntz made and lost a fortune in the automobile business, first selling used cars to service men returning from WWII and later as a Kaiser-Frazer dealer in […]
1962 Lotus 25 F1
It is no overstatement to say that the Lotus 25 revolutionized Formula 1 car design. It was a complete break from conventional thinking, advanced even for Colin Chapman, and its significance must be one of the best-kept secrets in motor racing. Colin Chapman said the inspiration came from the steel […]