Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
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1999 Shelby Series 1
Inarguably one of the best-known Shelby Series 1s, the example offered here continued a rich tradition in American publishing, that of awarding a new automobile to the winner of one of the men’s magazine world’s most prestigious annual competitions. It was delivered new to the famed swimsuit model Karen McDougal as part of her prize…
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1969 Shelby GT350 “B Production” Racer
This fascinating 1969 Shelby GT350 race car, serial number 480033, began life as a Silver Jade GT500 sold new in Hayward, CA, on August 28, 1969. Shortly after its initial purchase, the car was stolen and damaged. The insurance company, unwilling to repair what it considered an “exotic” car, cashed out the owner. It was…
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Well Bought and Sold
1993 Nissan 240SX S/N JN1MS36P6PW309175. 236,800 miles. “2.4-liter, 4-cylinder KA24DE, rated at 155 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque, 5-speed manual transmission, 18-inch NISMO RAYS 57CR wheels, a JDM Kouki 180SX Type X body kit, APEXi N1 coil-overs, NISMO front and rear lower control arms, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Brembo front brake calipers, 300ZX Twin…
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Dakar or Bust?
I’ve been writing about off-road Porsches since 2003. That’s when my review of the new Cayenne models appeared in The New York Times. My first reaction to an SUV from Stuttgart was that it was like watching someone hiking the Yosemite Falls Trail in an Armani suit and Gucci loafers. However, Porsche management was more…
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Drummer Gets Snared
My favorite rock group of all time is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. You can imagine my excitement, then, when drummer Max Weinberg called my office and told me he was a longtime SCMer and “a huge fan of ‘Legal Files.’” Flattering indeed, but unfortunate that we made our acquaintance because he had…
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Grab Your Popcorn
I love movies about cars, racing, real events, real people and lots of drama. I’m also old enough to remember Dad taking me and my brothers to see “On Any Sunday” at the theater when we were children living in Southern California. That movie, directed and produced by Bruce Brown, was an instant classic, with…
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A Rose By Any Other Name
On the surface, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) had a great idea for a new lightweight 2-seat sports car. The 2012 co-development agreement with Mazda that led to the 2017–20 Fiat 124 Spider was originally intended to produce a new Alfa Romeo model. However, its CEO, the late Sergio Marchionne, nixed that plan, saying that…
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1901 Milwaukee Racer 6HP Steam Car
Founded in 1899 by WH Starkweather, Herman Pfiel and W.G. Smith to build steam-powered cars, the Milwaukee Automobile Company produced its first car in 1900. Having overestimated the demand for its products, the company was soon declared bankrupt, and it closed in 1902. This “Milwaukee Racer” was built by the company in 1901 for Dr.…
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1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Le Mans Tourer
There are few sounds in motorsport quite as evocative as a Blower Bentley at full chat — a gruff explosion of noise and power only matched by the guttural howl of a Vulcan bomber. Unapologetically loud, dirty, and fearsomely quick, the model earned a legion of fans throughout the 1920s and 1930s despite never winning…
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1970 Iso Grifo Series I Targa
This 1970 Iso Grifo is one of approximately 14 targa examples built during four years of Series I production. It was completed on May 21, 1970, before being delivered new in Germany. Chassis 314 was purchased in 1978 by its previous owner, who commissioned a repaint in the current shade of dark blue metallic and…