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1926 Bugatti Type 39A Grand Prix
Without doubt, Ettore Bugatti found his feet as an internationally recognized manufacturer of high-performance motor cars in 1926. The Type 39A was his first supercharged racer that really worked and gave little if any teething trouble. The 1926-27 Grand Prix Formula demanded cars of no more than 1,500 cc, with a minimum weight of 1,320…
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Here Comes the Judge
Last month, “Legal Files” analyzed the six shots fired by Barrett-Jackson in its lawsuit against Judge David Clabuesch, the unhappy seller of the Ramchargers Hemi ‘Cuda that brought $300,000 at the Scottsdale auction in January. Judge Clabuesch has responded by emptying his own legal pistol, filing a five-count counterclaim against Barrett-Jackson and an accompanying Third…
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Whipping the Prancing Pony
When it comes to older Ferraris, what once was supercar performance is now dated, and speed costs money. How fast do you want to go? {vsig}2007-7_2053{/vsig} There’s always been a direct connection between how much fun your sports car is, and how fast it goes. Best of all is a machine that makes all the…
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Strangers on the Shore
If the Mini you’re looking at has roll-up windows and no visible door hinges, it was made after 1969.no matter what the owner or the title claims The success of the new Mini has meant that classic Minis are starting to reappear in the United States, despite the fact they haven’t been legally imported since…
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Either Rare or Well Done Will Do
Rarity can matter, but a rare Porsche is not automatically collectible, just as some high-volume models are valuable (Part II: Defining the Collectible Porsche) Last month in Part I, we examined why some Porsche values accelerate like an early 911S, while others lag behind like a 924 with a bad head gasket. Except for a…
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Gone, and Forgotten as Well
How the mighty have fallen. In 25 years, most expensive cars depreciate, but few cars as significant as the original Audi Coupe Quattro (Ur-Quattro from the German for “original”) have so utterly disappeared both in value and visibility from the marketplace. Although Audi was not the first to offer an all-wheel-drive sport coupe-Jensen briefly offered…
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1961 Mercedes-Benz 300d “Adenauer”
From the onset, the 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300 was aimed at the American market. The car’s outstanding quality was matched only by its breathtaking price-it cost as much as three Cadillacs. But the price ensured exclusivity, and early customers ranged from renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to actor Yul Brynner. The 300 was also the choice…
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1965 Shelby GT350 “Supercharged”
Unveiled by Carroll Shelby on January 27, 1965, the GT350 fastback had a fiberglass hood and functional scoop, and a clean-looking grille with a tri-color horse on the driver’s side. All 1965 Shelbys were Wimbledon White with a blue GT350 side stripe below the door. Dealer option Le Mans stripes were available, running down the…
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1963 Shelby King Cobra Cooper Type 61M
Film clips show MacDonald almost sideways and he never lifts or moves the wheel as he slides through the turn, lap after lap. It is breathtaking to watch In 1963, Carroll Shelby needed a car to compete in the USAC-sanctioned Fall Series on the West Coast, which evolved later into the SCCA Canadian American Challenge…
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Everyday Muscle
Forgo modern conveniences (such as a jack for your iPod and seat heaters), and you can find an old car that will be daily fun {vsig}2007-6_2011{/vsig} So your Cobra Daytona Coupe is too hot and loud inside, and your Hemi ‘Cuda convertible’s top leaks when it rains. You’d like something old yet practical as a…