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Sunbeam’s Snakebit Tiger
I asked a group of gearheads why Tigers can be bought so cheaply, and almost in unison they said: “Because of the styling” The story of the Sunbeam Tiger remains a frustrating one to aficionados, who struggle with a version of the Rodney Dangerfield Syndrome. If the car can win respect for its performance, why…
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Best Investments? Dial 911
Low-mileage cars are a funny part of the hobby; you can’t use your new toy or you drive away its distinction All 911s were not created equal, and they are not treated equally by vintage car buyers. Each move in the market favors certain models, making superstars out of some and leaving others behind. Herewith…
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Beta Than You Think
Even rubber-bumper MG prices have left Betas in the dust, though its DOHC engine was designed by Aurelio Lampredi of Ferrari fame {vsig}2007-9_2063{/vsig} For most collectors, the Lancia story effectively ends if not with the Fiat takeover in 1969, then certainly with the end of Fulvia production in 1976. The Beta-introduced in Europe in 1972…
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1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen Replica
When Karl Benz applied for a patent on January 29, 1886, for his “vehicle with gas engine operation,” little did he realize that his invention would change the world. Patent DRP 37435 is regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. The Benz Patent Motor Car, test drives of which were already carried out in…
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1956 Arnolt-Bristol Coupe
The greatest attraction of the car is that it is ideal for vintage tours and rallies, offering protection from the elements and reasonable luggage space In 1955, Road & Track described the Arnolt-Bristol as “American designed, British powered and Italian styled.” Offered as a coupe or roadster, it combined the talents of designer Arnolt from…
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1969 Lola-Chevrolet T142 Formula 5000
At the end of the day, Formula 5000 is still the ultimate bang for the buck in vintage racing One of the most attractive categories within historic motor racing is Formula 5000, catering to single-seater (near-Formula One) cars powered by production-based engines of up to 5 liters capacity. Formula 5000 racing was introduced in 1968…
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When Size Does Matter
How to decode the evolution of Ford’s 427, 428, and 429 big block muscle {vsig}2007-8_2040{/vsig} Ford 427, 428, 429. What do these similar numbers tell us about very different engines? To the uninitiated, Ford’s big inch performance motors all seem basically the same, with slightly different displacements. Nothing could be further from the truth. That…
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1967 Ferrari 330 GTS Spyder
The 330 GTS has all the 275 Berlinetta chassis specifications, clothed in a superbly built Pininfarina body, with a/c and power windows The 330 Coupe was unveiled in Geneva in March 1966, while the seductive Spyder appeared at the Paris Auto Salon six months later. Styled and built by Pininfarina, the 330 GTC and GTS…
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1935 MG NB Magnette Airline Coupe
The estimate of $200,000-$250,000 was aggressive; the nearly $400,000 realized for this car is a high point for the marque After the introduction of the new P-type Midget early in 1934, the N-type 6-cylinder Magnette appeared, replacing the L-types and the K-types. Originally, these models were fitted with a 56 hp, 1,271-cc engine in a…
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1987 Chevrolet G20 “A-Team” Custom Van
Formerly part of the Barris Star Car Collection in Hollywood, California, this Chevrolet G20 van is believed to have been supplied unregistered directly to Universal Studios during the last year of production of “The A-Team” television show. An all-action adventure series first screened during the 1980s, the “A-Team” starred George Peppard as Colonel John “Hannibal”…