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1992-97 Subaru SVX
If striking design and technical sophistication were the prime factors in determining a car’s collectibility, the Subaru SVX (1992-97) would certainly make the grade.Introduced in 1991 as a Giugiaro-designed show car, it wowed the public and the motoring press with its trend-setting Italian design. The SVX was both praised and criticized for its originality, especially…
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1959 Porsche 356A Super Cab
In 1959 Porsche concluded the run of the 356A cars, with their distinctive “droopy” front fenders, lower headlights and low bumpers. Even though the Cabriolet appears to share thepanels of the Speedster, in fact their bodies have almost nothing in common. In further contrast to the Spartan Speedster, the Cabriolet was built with a taller…
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1935 Auburn Model 851 Boattail Speedster
Frank and Morris Eckhart of Auburn, Indiana, started the Auburn Motor Company in 1903. As their business grew, they acquired more dealerships to stay ahead of the competition, but by the mid-’20s size had caught up with them and they were in need of new leadership. In 1925 E. L. Cord became general manager. Under…
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1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce
A modern classic by Pininfarina, the simple yet elegant Spider bodywork premiered in the US on the 1967 1.6-liter Duetto would prove enduringly popular, lasting into the 1990s. The Spider’s mechanics were essentially those of the Giulia sedan, comprising independent front suspension, a coil-suspended live rear axle and four-wheel servo-assisted disc brakes, while the engine…
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1991 Ferrari F40
Introduced in Europe in 1987, Ferrari’s newest supercar was a shock to the senses. An engineering tour-de-force, the F40 combined raw-edged radical styling with state-of-the-art engine, body and chassis design. Driving one is a visceral experience, hammering the senses with brutal acceleration, go-kart-quick reflexes and a howling exhaust note that pierces your very being. The…
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1960 Jaguar XK 150 DHC
Jaguar turned the motoring world upside-down and inside-out when it introduced the XK 120 in 1948. It combined a powerful 160-bhp twin-cam straight-six with the most sensuous body ever seen on a production automobile. The combination of the 120-mph top speed, beauty and value had the celebrities lining up for their copies. Basic specifications called…
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1957 Maserati A6G2000 Gran Sport Spider
According to factory records supplied by the ever-helpful Maserati expert Ermanno Cozza, this desirable car left the factory on February 22, 1957, and was delivered new to Maserati’s California dealer, M. Rezzaghi. Records show that the car was next owned in 1959 by M.C. Valdez of San Diego and further evidence shows that it was…
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Shamed by Swig
Ferrari Mondials and snow-packed roads don’t mix very well. That was just one of the many thoughts that crossed my mind as we slid sideways towards the edge of the mountain road. I hadn’t planned on using the Ferrari as a snowmobile, but Martin Swig has a way of rearranging reality to suit his priorities.…
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1962–67 MG Midget and Austin-Healey Sprite
In the mid-’50s, as the costs of Austin-Healeys, Triumphs, and MGs began to increase with each new model year, Donald Healey saw a niche opening up for a car that would be fun to drive, inexpensive to own, and “small enough to store in a chap’s motorcycle shed.” From that inspiration was born the Austin-Healey…
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1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe
The 280SE 3.5-liter cars were Mercedes-Benz’s first V8-powered sports cars. A combination of elegant styling coupled with effortless performance made them highly desirable and they were every bit as prestigious as their competitors. From the outset, the emphasis was on quality and the cars featured a new interior with more wood and leather upholstery as…