Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
Columns
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Keeper or Flipper?
Ever notice the guy at your cousin’s wedding, endlessly scrolling through his Blackberry during the service? Are you a collector or flipper? I find it makes all the difference to your enjoyment of the hobby to understand who you are and what you are doing. To see how you rate, take this little test. Don’t…
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Good Value out of the Box (Its Own)
The 2-liter is really the car to have, as it transforms the 914 from an also-ran into a car capable of out-running a TR6 {vsig}2008-3_2140{/vsig} By the late 1960s, it was apparent the 912 was no longer the answer to Porsche’s need for a lower-cost, higher-volume model. High production costs and currency issues had forced…
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Leaving 1990 in the Dust
In my 20 years of writing about the market, I have never seen high-end cars accelerate in value like this For the first time in two decades, we’re considering pulling a tattered banner out of storage and hoisting it above SCM world headquarters. It bears the fabled words of Monterey Sports Car Auction founder Rick…
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1957 BMW 507 Roadster
Removing the issues of performance, reliability and dealer service-significant considerations in 1957-the 507’s charms rise to the surface {vsig}2008-2_2134{/vsig} In the early 1950s, BMW covered opposite ends of the automotive spectrum. On the one hand, R24 motorcycles and Isetta bubble cars provided inexpensive transportation for the average German citizen. On the other hand, the large…
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1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible
I suspect the judges who previously gave this car an AACA Senior badge would not have done so on sale day {vsig}2008-2_2128{/vsig} Pontiac first offered the GTO option on the Tempest in 1964, and despite UAW strikes, which kept production down, it was a big hit. The muscle car market was evolving, and in 1965,…
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1931 Reo Race Car
Blanco and this Reo scored podium finishes for 22 years-from 1931 to 1954-a monumental accomplishment {vsig}2008-2_2137{/vsig} Car collectors have known for a long time that some of the greatest barn finds have come out of Argentina, but not many realize why this is so. To understand, it is necessary to appreciate Buenos Aires in the…
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Shelby Sacks SAAC
After 32 years, Carroll Shelby no longer officially recognizes SAAC In my May 2007 column (p. 60), I wrote about the 32-year relationship between automotive icon Carroll Shelby and the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC). I said then that SAAC is the best friend that Shelby ever had; it has steadfastly preserved the legacy of…
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1954 Ferrari 250 GT Europa Series II
Consistent serial production 250s begin with the Europa GT. Prior to this, one could find differences between sequential Ferraris of the same model Introduced to the public at the 1953 Paris Auto Salon alongside the 375 America, the 250 GT Europa was Ferrari’s first true Gran Turismo and the first road-going Ferrari to be identified…
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1970 Lotus Elan Plus 2 Coupe
Most pretty British sports cars of the 1960s and ’70s have appreciated beyond the means of entry-level collectors {vsig}2008-2_2131{/vsig} The original Lotus Elan was introduced in 1962 as a roadster, although an optional hard top was offered in 1963 and a coupe version in 1965. It was the first Lotus road car to use the…
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1967 Iso Grifo Coupe
This Grifo may not seem expensive for long. Euro-Americans are the ultimate street rod, and already great performance can easily be improved {vsig}2008-2_2132{/vsig} Renzo Rivolta started building Isothermos refrigerators before World War II. Following the war, Rivolta recognized another Italian need, transportation, and named his new car company Iso Rivolta. Starting with scooters, he expanded…