Throughout the week of March 12-17, the demise of Bear Stearns sent a shudder through the world’s economy. If, like me, you consider The Economist fun reading, and you survived the 1974 and 1979 gas crisis and the 1980-85, 1990-95, and NASDAQ 2000 recessions, it’s been all-too-predictable. The U.S. economy […]
Columns
Bad Dog, Rover
At the end of the day, the Rover P6 counts as a “nice try.” It’s the equivalent of a brainy kid who’s always sick Some of you may find this hard to believe, but I’m the last person to argue that all old British cars-regardless of how quirky or unusual-are […]
The Time-Traveling Investor
To earn 8% over 30 years, that $12,000 “concours” Speedster from 1977 would have to bring $224,000 in 2008 What if you could go back 30 years and buy any Porsche you’d like? What a way to make a killing. With what we know now, we’d know exactly what to […]
Nash’s “Mini Me” for ’53
The American automotive scene is littered with the tiny carcasses of small cars that U.S. manufacturers have tried to foist on a largely unwilling and disinterested market. American Bantam, Playboy, Crosley and Nash with the Metropolitan all tried, with varying degrees of success. But in the end, the American market’s […]
The Future as History
{vsig}2008-5_2178{/vsig} As I look at these pictures of my children, Alexandra and Bradley, taken 16 years apart, I wonder what kind of automotive world they will inherit. We Baby Boomers are the last generation to experience raw, unregulated cars as daily drivers; those built from 1955 through 1974 represent a […]
1928 Mercedes-Benz S-type Saoutchik Roadster
The underbidders stopped bidding when they thought the car wasn’t selling-bad luck, as it was {vsig}2008-5_2173{/vsig} The 6.8-liter S-type was produced in four series from 1927 to 1930, with a total output of some 170 cars. This car is from the original 1927-28 series, of which just 26 were built. […]
Who’s a Mister Softee, Then?
At first glance I’d have to say very well sold indeed, but what price can you put on fun? Maybe it’s a bargain {vsig}2008-5_2167{/vsig} This month’s “American Profile” is going to take a tiptoe amongst the automotive daisies, the puff and fluff of the market. Along with the heavy hitters […]
1968 Alpine Renault A110 Coupe
To be welcome, even invited, to drive flat out over an alpine pass in a raging blizzard at night-that’s priceless This ex-Works car, fitted with a Mignotet-built and -tuned engine, started its racing career in the 1968 Tour de Corse driven by Jean-Francois Piot. The rally was won by Jean-Claude […]
The Lost Generation
Pontiac Firebird SD, Buick Grand National GNX, Mustang 5.0-highlights of the muscle flexed in ’70s and ’80s Detroit {vsig}2008-5_2168{/vsig} The American collectible car contingent has long argued over when the “real” cars stopped rolling out of Detroit. Collectible prices indicate Detroit’s muscle atrophied with astonishing speed after 1971. What followed […]
1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2
What was meant by “recommissioned in 2007” is anyone’s guess. According to Bonhams it runs, although it was pushed onto the stage The 250 GTE 2+2 debuted at the 1960 Le Mans 24-Hour race, serving as the Course Marshal’s car, and had its world premiere later that year at the […]