Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
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1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Convertible
It takes a while for enthusiasts to realize these cars are about craftsmanship and balance, rather than style {vsig}2008-3_2147{/vsig} Mercedes continued its tradition of quality in the mid-1950s with the 220S and 300 model range. The 220S was offered in saloon, coupe, and convertible form. The 220S Convertible (W128) was produced in limited numbers from…
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1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz “The Raindrop Car”
In 1958, Cadillac produced a total of 815 Biarritz convertibles. Five were taken straight from the assembly line to GM’s super-secret Styling Center, where they were highly modified. At least one of these cars has survived, reportedly the prototype of the “Raindrop” modification, and is presented here as part of the Wiseman Collection. At first…
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1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk I Saloon
That “inside front wheel in the air” was a function of stiff front springs and soft rear ones, which seemed to work {vsig}2008-3_2150{/vsig} Ford’s 1960s profile-raising competition program included recruiting Lotus boss Colin Chapman to give the new Cortina a sporting makeover. Chapman’s brief was to develop a Group 2 competition version; Lotus would then…
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Is Your Snake a Replicant?
Unless you are building an S/C or Comp car replica, just say “no” to scoops, roll bars, sidepipes, stripes, and other incorrect items Okay, I’ll freely admit I am a Cobra snob. I’m not as bad as one I witnessed at a Cobra gathering, running toward a replica yelling “I’m going to kick the lid…
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1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Coupe
The GTB might be compared to an attractive woman who always keeps something in reserve {vsig}2008-3_2146{/vsig} The Ferrari 275 GTB signaled an important evolution for Ferrari as the company finally adopted a fully independent suspension, which had been tested, developed, and proven in Ferrari’s sports racing cars. Bodied by Scaglietti and designed by Pininfarina, the…
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1904 Rolls-Royce 10 hp Two-Seater
Such luxury was the equivalent of today’s private jet, a powerful symbol of its owner’s status and forward thinking {vsig}2008-3_2144{/vsig} The Midland Hotel, Manchester, was the site of a significant meeting in automotive history on May 4, 1904, when the Hon. Charles Rolls arrived by train with his business associate Henry Edmunds, to meet Frederick…
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1973 Sbarro Mille Miglia
Sbarro’s interpretation of the 1957 Ferrari 335S is in some ways prettier than the one Scaglietti built in the 1950s At the age of 17, Franco Sbarro, whose real name is Francesco Zefferino Sbarro, left his native Italy for Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in order to live his dream of being an auto mechanic. In 1957, he…
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“Fun Run” Anything But
The owner’s friend wrecked his car, but the owner’s policy pays the claim, his premiums go up, and possibly his policy gets cancelled {vsig}2008-3_2149{/vsig} Ever borrow a friend’s valuable car and worry that something bad might happen? Here’s a case where it did. As usual after the completion of the competitive runs at a recent…
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Where Are Ferrari’s Future Classics?
One of the frequent questions that crosses my desk is “Which current Ferraris will become classics like the Lusso, 275 GTB, or any of the collectible earlier Ferraris?” Sadly, the answer is very few, if any. Win on Domenica, sell on Lunedi From the first Ferraris built in 1947, the Ferrari reputation was built on…
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An MG That Fits You to a ‘T’
The fastest TF takes 18.9 seconds to reach 60 mph and you run the risk of being rear-ended by a soccer mom in her SUV {vsig}2008-3_2143{/vsig} The MG TC, TD, and TF brought top-down British sports car motoring to America, and all three are now affordable collectibles that give you an authentic taste of a…