Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
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Credit-Card Specials in Monterey
The DB7 led directly to the current top-notch Astons, and it’s a huge amount of swagger and eyeball for $50,000 {vsig}2008-11_2242{/vsig} Finding an affordable classic in Monterey seems about as likely as grabbing the “early-bird special” at Alain Ducasse’s newest restaurant. This is after all Monterey, and for five days in August, even the meanest…
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Just Be Glad It Runs
The cockpit swathed us in leather-trimmed functionality; ancillary systems like heating and coolant temperature control were just afterthoughts “Have you noticed the oil streak that runs across the golf course and ends up under your Alfa?” That was the comment I was greeted with as I ended the Monte Shelton Northwest Classic Rally. A 500-mile,…
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2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupe
At about $10,000 below the auction company’s low estimate and a titanic $145,000 below the 2005 list price, those 4,500 miles were dear indeed {vsig}2008-10_2236{/vsig} The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren revives the glorious tradition of the 300SLR and marks the reawakening of Mercedes-Benz’s passion for super sports cars. It is a passion that can be traced…
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1953 Chrisman Bonneville Coupe
While this car was created to race, it combines a high level of technical competence in construction with the highest standard of finish {vsig}2008-10_2231{/vsig} Hot rodders Art and Lloyd Chrisman were early and successful pioneers of drag racing with their famous #25 dragster, which was the first to achieve trap speeds of 140 mph and…
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1965 McLaren-Elva M1A “Cro-Sal Special”
The Elva-built McLarens, called M1A to distinguish them from the original McLaren prototype, were campaigned by some of the most famous and successful drivers and teams with a variety of powerplants. Their characteristics reflect the McLaren team’s emphasis on simple, straightforward design and rugged construction, traits which had been inculcated into them from years with…
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Triumphs of the Will
As Triumph TR prices lag behind Austin-Healeys, determined, well-advised collectors can find bargains {vsig}2008-10_2232{/vsig} The big news in British cars over the past ten years has been the rapid rise in prices for Austin-Healeys-from $25,000 to $75,000 for very nice cars, with a few magnificent ones bringing $100,000 plus. By contrast, Triumphs-which offer much the…
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1996 Ferrari 456 GT Coupe
I’ve often told people trying to squeak into a Ferrari that if they can’t afford the best example, they really can’t afford an edgy one Not since the 412’s demise in 1989 had Ferrari offered a 2+2, and when the 456 GT debuted at the Paris Salon in October 1992, it was obvious that the…
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1955 Jaguar XKD-type Sports Racer
This is the first production D-type, out of long and dedicated ownership, unspoiled and still in its original form {vsig}2008-10_2233{/vsig} XKD 509, the first “production” D off the line in 1955, has a long and interesting history. It was supplied new to New York distributor Chuck Hornburg, who sold it to Albert R. Browne of…
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The Spyder and the Fly.
Armed with a camera, they decided they could earn eternal YouTube fame by videotaping “Gibby” urinating on the Ferrari {vsig}2008-10_2238{/vsig} It was a nice day in Ontario, Canada, so a Ferrari owner decided to take a top-down drive in his 360 Spyder. During his motoring, he decided to make a stop to run an errand…
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Laws of Diminishing Returns
I recently received an email regarding a 430 Scuderia that had hit a deer, with the damage described as “very lightly hit, the bumper is scratched and the hood is lightly dented.” Further emails stated that the owner, who was a passenger in his own car, felt the diminution in value to his 430 because…