Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
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1948 Tucker 48 Torpedo Sedan
This price can be explained by the “ABC” factor-Aging Billionaire Collector. Such buyers can’t wait another 20 years, so they pay whatever it costs {vsig}2008-11_2243{/vsig} Preston Tucker’s promise of “the first completely new car in 50 years” struck a chord in the hearts of the public in 1948 and again with the release of Francis…
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1960 Jaguar E2A Le Mans Sports Racer
It was left in a corner to be junked, but Guy Griffiths, the father of vintage racing everywhere, talked the factory into selling it to him {vsig}2008-11_2254{/vsig} By 1960, Jaguar had won the world’s most prestigious race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, five times-twice with its original competition-tailored C-type and three times with…
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Back to the Future-and Step on It
The Challenger is a surprisingly solid car, far better than the class-leading Mustang. And yes, it will do a smokey burnout {vsig}2008-11_2244{/vsig} Chrysler’s latest entrant into the “retro-muscle” wars, the new Dodge Challenger, has been burning up Internet car chat forums and magazine covers since its introduction. It’s a car I’ve wanted to beat the…
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1966 Bizzarrini Strada 5300 GT Coupe
The Strada had dramatic looks, a competition pedigree, and abundant power, and it was not finicky to run {vsig}2008-11_2247{/vsig} Giotto Bizzarrini was hired by Enzo Ferrari in 1957 for his test-driving and engineering skills. In the midst of developing the 250 GTO, however, Bizzarrini left the company in the infamous “palace revolt” of 1961. Together,…
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1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Spyder
More than a decade after its restoration, this is still a spectacular car, as the generous results of the Monterey auction indicate {vsig}2008-11_2249{/vsig} Ferrari chose the October 1968 Paris Salon to launch the Daytona. A year later, at the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September 1969, it showed a Spyder version of the car, now…
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1936 Lagonda LG45R Rapide
It always used to come to us in November, to be readied for the Mille Miglia, and it’s a gutsy car that hasn’t been tarted up for Pebble Beach {vsig}2008-11_2246{/vsig} Lagonda introduced the 4½-liter M45 at the 1933 London Motor Show. With its overhead-valve 6-cylinder Meadows engine, here was a Lagonda sports car capable of…
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1939 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Aerocoupe
Three primary factors led to this impressive sales price; good unrestored condition, an exciting competition history, and immaculate provenance {vsig}2008-11_2248{/vsig} There were four Talbot-Lago T150C SSs made with Pourtout Aerocoupe bodies. Two are in private collections, and there are shadowy rumors of another in pieces, although no one has seen so much as a picture.…
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Red Mist Leads to Blue Monday
No need to get a second inspection, as the dealer had suggested; the first inspector was a pro and had already found 60-plus defects The unhappy buyer of a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing recently contacted “Legal Files” with an unfortunate story. A couple years ago, he was having a tough time finding an acceptable Gullwing. He…
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Highs and Whys in Monterey
The 2008 Monterey auctions brought together the largest collection of high-dollar collector cars ever offered anywhere on one weekend. Four of the auction houses featured multiple top-level GT Ferraris, with seven 275 GTBs, four Daytona Spyders, three Lussos, and almost four dozen more Ferraris crossing the block over three days. The auction houses know what…
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Everyman Goes Racing
With Ferraris, Porsches, and Alfas around me as the flag dropped, I was living the dream I’d had as far back as I can remember If you walked the paddock at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the 35th Annual Monterey Rolex Historic Automobile Races on August 16-17, you might have thought vintage racing was entirely…