Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
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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…
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1961 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe
I don’t recall any stories of Porfirio Rubirosa romancing the lady of the week in his PF coupe, and there is little competition history When the 250 GT Europa was launched at the 1954 Paris Salon, it was described as the first series production car for Ferrari. The 3-liter cars were in production for 10…
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1930 Bentley 8 Litre Mayfair Coupe
To find a vintage Bentley with its original engine and original body is rare indeed-and it’s the second-to-last built Introduced at the London Motor Show in 1930, the Bentley 8-liter made an immediate impact. While the engine was an extension of the successful 6.5-liter engine that powered Bentleys to numerous race victories, the 8-liter…
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1936 Panhard X76 Dynamic
To take full advantage of the “panoramic” windows, the driver was moved to the center of the car René Panhard and Emile Levassor obtained an 1888 Daimler patent for a V-twin motor, with the idea of using it in a small car. Two prototypes were built, equipped with a front-mounted engine and a gearbox. Levassor…
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Jurassic Swamp Meet
Fifty years from now the Petersen Museum may feature a diorama dedicated to the social gathering once known as an “automotive swap meet.” Young children will tug on their daddy’s shirtsleeves and ask, “Thousands of people just showed up and walked around for hours, hoping they might find something?” And Daddy will answer, “Yes, and…