Columns
-
1976 Fiat-Abarth 131 Rally
To get the 131 Abarth homologated for Group 4 competition and to replace the aging 124 Abarth, Fiat produced a roadgoing version in a few hundred units. Launched at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show, the 131 Abarth Rally got the same engine as the competition version, but a little “civilized,” with the 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 16-valve…
-
Mega Sale of a Mega Cruiser
1996 Toyota Mega Cruiser S/N BXD200001087. 90,900 km (56,500 miles). “4.1-L turbodiesel I4 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission and a 2-speed transfer case, producing 155 hp and 282 lb-ft of torque, 17.5-inch wheels, portal axles, inboard brakes, locking front, center and rear differentials, a four-wheel steering system, a rear-mounted ladder, and a folding rear step.” Condition:…
-
From Vague-O-Matic to Cash-O-Matic
In all my years of selling cars at auction, I have never had a “miracle moment” where the bidding went far beyond my expectations — until our 1971 Citroën DS21 Pallas sold this past fall. When I saw the car offered on Bring a Trailer in August 2021, I was immediately curious. I had been…
-
The Case of the Buried Benz
Readers often ask where I find “Legal Files” column ideas. Many times, they come from suggestions from SCMers, so if you spot something interesting, feel free to email a tip. This story came from my first and most loyal reader, Publisher Martin. Not usually a man of few words, his email contained just a link…
-
Turning the Corner
As far as time-travel fantasies go, buying up used cars before they became collectible may not seem quite as clever as betting on the World Series or investing in Apple when its stock was trading at $15. But to most car enthusiasts, there’s no question that being able to easily acquire high-quality examples of desirable…
-
VTEC Just Kicked In
Think back to 1999. Four-cylinder sport compacts had overrun SEMA. Car magazines serving this market were 400 pages thick, with new ones being launched left and right. Every other Japanese econobox on the road was lowered and bedazzled with larger wheels and an aftermarket exhaust. No carmaker better understood this coming of age for a…
-
1903 Knox Model C Runabout
Knox automobiles were built in Springfield, MA, from 1900 to 1914. The earliest production Knox three-wheelers were built in the Waltham Watch Company’s Springfield factory. For 1903, just one model was cataloged, the Model C, built on a wheelbase slightly extended over its predecessor of 72 inches. The clever, compact, runabout bodywork was retained, a…
-
1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark I Jamaican
The rare car we offer was exported new to the U.S. in 1960 as an Ivory White Austin-Healey 3000 BT7 4-seater. As with many old sports cars, it fell into disrepair and was turned into a Fiberfab Jamaican in the late 1960s. These stylish sports coupe bodies, designed by Chris Beebe, were available for installation…
-
1966 Maserati Mistral Coupe
Last of the classic 6-cylinder Maseratis, the Pietro Frua-styled Mistral commenced production in 1963. The 3.7-liter version of the famous long-stroke engine was fitted to most cars, other options being the 3.5-liter or, from 1966, the 4.0-liter unit, all of which came with Lucas fuel injection. A handsome 2-seater on a shortened, square-tube chassis, the…
-
2008 Zagato GTZ Nibbio
Wearing bespoke carbon-fiber bodywork by Zagato, this stunning GTZ Nibbio is one of just nine to be restyled by the famous Italian coachbuilder. The current owner commissioned the build in GTZ specification after buying the vehicle in 2015. The work was completed in late 2016; the final bill was no less than €750,000, reflecting the…