Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
Columns
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1959 BMW 507 Roadster
Someone called it Germany’s answer to the Thunderbird-and trust me, this was not a compliment Unveiled to gasps of delight at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1955, the remarkably beautiful styling of the two-seater 507 came from the drawing board of German Count Albrecht Goertz, influenced not a little by U.S. BMW importer Max Hoffman.…
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1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro
I remember when I sold one for a record price of $30,000. I’m sure someone called the buyer a lunatic for paying so much Don Yenko was the major Chevrolet performance dealer for many years, and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the 427 Camaro. He converted numerous cars to 427-cid engines before planning…
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1967 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA Corsa
I couldn’t keep away from the white GTA on the showroom floor, admiring it like it was a Playboy centerfold {vsig}2005-9_1876{/vsig} This striking Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is documented as the car in which future Ferrari and Alfa Romeo T33 sports-prototype star Andrea de Adamich won the 1967 European Touring Car Challenge Championship. Records show…
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Alfa Romeos: 1956 Giulietta Berlina, 1966 2600 Sprint Zagato, 1971 GTV, 1991 164S
Four different Alfas grace this month’s profile section as Alfas are highlighted marque this year in Monterey. {vsig}2005-9_1870{/vsig} 1956 Giulietta BerlinaChassis number: AR148801774This is an original early 1956 Alfa Romeo 750C 4-door Berlina with a column-shifted four-speed shifter and its original, numbers-matching engine. This car is quite complete, however it is missing a hubcap and…
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1964 Ferrari 250 GTL Lusso
This car’s association with Rob Walker is probably more hype than provenance, but for me it’s enough to want it in my garage {vsig}2005-9_1874{/vsig} When the new 250 Gran Tursimo was launched at the 1954 Paris Salon it was described as the first standard series production Ferrari. Pininfarina subsequently developed several different bodywork styles for…
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1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Convertible
Early E-types had a variety of distinctive styling features that complemented the elegance of their lines, though not all of them were practical {vsig}2005-9_1872{/vsig} The new E-type had understandably received rave reviews at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1961, so Jaguar Cars Inc. geared up for another public relations coup as the new…
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1961 Fiat Jolly 500
The expense of restoring these cars can be surprisingly high even if you get the local basket-weaving class to refurbish your seats for free {vsig}2005-9_1873{/vsig} Few cars that Fiat produced had the “cuteness” of the Jolly. With coachwork by Ghia, the Fiat Jolly 500 was introduced in 1957, and had no real practical use, except…
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Pick Six
Alfa Romeo is the featured marque at a variety of events in Monterey this year, so sprinkled throughout this issue you’ll find a focus on Alfas. Putting all this stuff together had me itching to write yet another chapter in my long saga with the marque, so last week I tried to buy a Spider…
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1971-81 Alfa Romeo Spider
Two ways to view the Spica fuel injection system: “diabolical” or “misunderstood” Universally regarded as two of the best open sports cars of all time, Alfa Romeo’s 750-series Giulietta Spider and 101-series Giulia Spider of the late 1950s and early ’60s were a tough act to follow. To remain the perennial darling of the enthusiast…
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How My Bimmer Turned into a Pacer
I drove to Seattle on a Saturday morning in a 2006 BMW 325i, and by the time I returned the following day I was behind the wheel of a 1977 AMC Pacer wagon. And yes, it was by choice.The BMW is a fine car, with a pleasing appearance less Bangle-ized than its upmarket stablemates. As…