Columns
-
Birds in the Hand
1993 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon Exceed 4WD S/N P24W0400476. 176,100 kilometers (109,500 miles). “2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 145 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque, 4-speed automatic transmission and a 2-speed transfer case, 15-inch wheels, a brush guard, a sunroof, sliding, folding and swiveling second-row seats, folding third-row seats, an information display on the dashboard, and…
-
Wait and Pounce
“If it’s not really the car you are looking for, pass on it and keep looking.” Those were Miles Collier’s words to me as I was engulfed by the red mist. I was at a Silver auction in Portland when I spotted a handsome 1969 Alfa Romeo Spider. I recall calling Miles from the auction…
-
Fashionably Early
It’s nice to be first. Ask Jeff Bezos. Or Bill Gates. Or the Netflix guy. And, yes, even Mitsubishi. It didn’t nail it right out of the gate — that came later with the Lancer Evolution (see “Affordable Classic,” July 2021) — but the Eclipse GSX marked a lot of valid firsts for car enthusiasts.…
-
Stamp of Approval
Last month, we looked at various factory-supported programs that provide certifications of originality, condition and provenance of collector cars. But those are not the only “stamps of approval” out there. There are also third-party services that provide inspections and documentation to help establish authenticity, although these vary in scope even more wildly than factory programs.…
-
Online Scam Dealers Multiply
Publisher Martin called and said, “You’ve got to talk to our friend ‘Mark.’ You won’t believe what he’s gotten into now!” Martin had made a huge impression on Mark, telling him how his Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG was the best thing since sliced bread. So Mark started digging around on the internet and located a great-looking…
-
1952 Allard K2 Special Roadster
Allard built just 119 K2 sports tourers from 1950 to 1952 and — now as then — each K2 is appreciated for its impressive performance potential on both road and track, as well as its distinctive styling and exclusivity. This K2, chassis number 91K3019, is something more special yet. As Allard documentation on file confirms,…
-
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
This ultra-rare and ultra-low-mileage U.S.-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RS is believed to be one of only 26 delivered to the U.S. in the dazzling combination of Aqua Blue Metallic with contrasting Guards Red graphics and wheels. Delivered new to Porsche of Spokane, WA, this GT3 RS has been cherished its entire life, showing only 374…
-
1955 Porsche 356 Continental
Purchased new on April 7, 1956, by a Canadian GI overseas (or at least shipped to Canada originally, as noted on the car’s Kardex from Porsche records), this car made its way to Houston and was owned by a submarine commander who broke down in Benson, AZ, while on his way from Houston to Los…
-
1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series II
Claiming significant in-period ownership provenance that has more recently given way to a stellar concours exhibition record, this striking 1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast is a typically ravishing example of Ferrari’s mid-1960s flagship touring machine. According to the research of marque authority Marcel Massini, chassis number 8565SF is the 34th of 36 total examples built, though…
-
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
The Spanish bull referred to as the Miura may have first entered the pop-culture lexicon with the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s enduring 1926 classic The Sun Also Rises. Hemingway’s disaffected expatriates travel to Spain to watch the bullfights, and there they are impressed by the brutal capabilities of the Miura, a creature that is muscular, powerful,…