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Trans Am: The Beat Goes On
These homologation specials are among the most enjoyable muscle cars- they can actually dance, rather than just run fast {vsig}2008-6_2181{/vsig} From humble beginnings, by the late 1960s, the Trans-American Sedan Championship Series grew into one of the most popular events in SCCA history. Conceived as a sedan racing class for production-based cars with a minimum…
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Lazenby Lotus 17 Special
Jim Clark’s future mechanic had to design and build a suitable frame and scavenge everything else he needed. That appears to be what he did Having created his first special while training as a mechanic with the RAF, it was perhaps inevitable that David Lazenby would embark upon a similar project once he began working…
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1988 Ferrari Testarossa
The initial response was wildly enthusiastic and fueled a buzz that attracted people who had never before considered a Ferrari {vsig}2008-6_2185{/vsig} The Testarossa was a significant advance for Ferrari. Designed for series production, this flat-12 supercar continued Ferrari’s 12-cylinder tradition in a modern, mid-engined configuration that could be traced directly to the 512 and 312…
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1988 Ferrari Testarossa
The Testarossa was a significant advance for Ferrari. Designed for series production, this flat-12 supercar continued Ferrari’s 12-cylinder tradition in a modern, mid-engined configuration that could be traced directly to the 512 and 312 sports prototypes and Ferrari’s years of Formula One experience. This 1988 Ferrari Testarossa is a U.S.-delivery example equipped with stereo sound…
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1960 Jaguar Mk II 3.8 Saloon
Concours restorations can exceed six figures; if you’re very lucky, you might get half of that back when you sell {vsig}2008-6_2183{/vsig} “Grace, pace and space” was the Jaguar slogan in the 1960s, and no model epitomized this more than the mid-sized Mk II sedan, which was affordable, elegant and quick. In its ultimate form as…
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1935 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder
“La bella figura” means presenting the best face to the world. Mussolini wore tailored uniforms and was equally attentive to his cars {vsig}2008-6_2184{/vsig} By the early 1930s, Alfa Romeo was accumulating silverware and losing money in seemingly equal measure. It was rescued by the state-backed I.R.I. (Institute for Industrial Reconstruction). To attract new customers while…
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He Won the Bid, Not the BMW
If you’ve been tracking the legal analysis, you probably think the buyer is going to get the BMW. Sorry, you’re mistaken about that {vsig}2008-6_2188{/vsig} BMW’s new M3 sport sedan offers very impressive performance in an appealing package. At an MSRP of approximately $70,000, they fly out of dealers’ showrooms, and there have been reports of…
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Convertible Assets Indeed
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 went wrong again. So what,…
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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 collectible. There, I’ve said it.…
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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 buy and hold for today’s…