Columns
-
A Rare Rotary Comes Around
1972 Mazda RX-2 Coupe S/N S122A104481. 64,000 miles. “Replacement 1.1-liter rotary engine, 4-speed manual transmission, Herschel Orange paint, black vinyl upholstery, 13-inch widened steel wheels, front disc brakes, shortened springs, Panhard bar, Craig AM/FM radio, original purchase order.” Condition: 2. SOLD AT $34,650. Bring a Trailer, 11/9/23. The RX-2 was Mazda’s first rotary-powered car to…
-
Fantasy Meets Reality
As I wrote about in the October 2023 issue, my son Bradley got his driver’s license last summer. As a “safe and sane” first car, we decided on a 1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector’s Edition. It was probably more my fantasy than his, but the right car at the right price suddenly appeared. I am genetically…
-
As the Escrow Flies …
“Harry” and “Sally” are longtime Irish car collectors. At 78, Harry hasn’t given up on cars, and ended up being the high bidder in an online auction on Car & Classic. The prize was a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 220A cabriolet that hammered sold at a bid of €112,100 (about $123k). What makes this an interesting story…
-
Practical Performers
By the time Subaru rolled out the 2008 WRX and WRX STI in the U.S. the car had already enjoyed massive success. Debuting in 2000 as a 2002 model, it was arguably the first modern rally-bred car sold here in significant numbers. Turbocharging and all-wheel drive have a way of making a 3,200-pound car move…
-
1933 Auburn 12-160A Salon Speedster
In the tradition of great artists who became truly famous only after their death, Alan Leamy of the Auburn Automobile Company left behind 33 brief years of startling innovation in body contours — a portfolio that was appreciated in its time, but which only became legendary decades after his passing in 1935. Leamy’s finest design…
-
1931 Frazer Nash Interceptor
Frazer Nash was founded in 1922 by Captain Archibald Frazer-Nash, who in partnership with H R Godfrey had been producing the GN cyclecar. Designed by Godfrey and Frazer-Nash, the GN was Britain’s first and best-known cyclecar. The two young engineers set up shop initially in Hendon, North London, whence the first GN emerged in December…
-
1972 Lamborghini Jarama S
Ferruccio Lamborghini’s first production car, the Touring-styled 350GT, was launched at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show, featuring a glorious 4-cam 3.5-liter V12 engine by Giotto Bizzarrini, which was housed in a chassis that was the work of Gian Paolo Dallara. The line of front-engine grand tourers continued with the 4-liter 400GT and Islero 2+2s, the…
-
1959 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta
By the early 1960s, road-car production had ceased to be a sideline for Ferrari and was seen as vitally important to the company’s future stability. Thus the 250, Ferrari’s first volume-produced model, can be seen as critically important, though production of the first of the line – the 250 Europa, built from 1953 to 1954…
-
1967 Mercedes-Benz M-SL500 by Mechatronik
The absolutely stunning Mercedes-Benz 230 SL “Pagoda” is offered fresh from its transformation into a street-sleeping supercar by Mechatronik. Founded in 1997, Mechatronik GmbH has established itself over the last 25 years as one of the foremost specialists for classic Mercedes-Benz cars. Based in Pleidelsheim, Germany, north of Stuttgart, the company has been renowned for…
-
2005 Ford Hennessey GT1000
This 2005 Ford GT has been modified by Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE), which custom-installed twin 67-mm turbos in conjunction with the factory supercharger to create the Ford/Hennessey GT1000. All parts and electronic upgrades were installed by HPE technicians at the HPE facility in Sealy, TX. HPE dyno-testing of this vehicle shows 850 hp at the…