Columns
-
Another Sort of Taxonomy
You have certainly heard the adage, “Come for the cars, but stay for the people.” Our hobby is full of personalities, which often make it enjoyable. But the transactional nature of car collecting means it is unique compared to other pastimes. Nothing is so revealing of a person’s traits — for better or worse —…
-
Title Trouble
“Legal Files” recently received a call from a distressed longtime friend and client. “Mark” had moved to Arizona and tried to register his 1972 Ferrari Daytona. Mark had owned the car for many years, and presented his clear title issued by his former state. To his surprise, the Arizona DMV clerk would not register the…
-
Show It Your Way
In the era before Cars & Coffee-style events, it was rare to see gatherings of collectible cars outside a highly organized setting. These were generally semi-formal concours-style events. They started with the early arrival of the entrants’ cars, sometimes before dawn. Cars were most often shown with the hoods shut, so that the overall design…
-
Packaged Goods
1998 Nissan 240SX SE # 71190. S/N JN1AS44D0WW105293. 133k miles. “2.4-liter inline-4, 5-speed manual transmission, Silver Moss Metallic exterior, gray cloth with patterned inserts, factory 16-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, sport-tuned suspension, air conditioning.” Condition: 1.SOLD AT $21,262. Bring a Trailer, 4/21/22. The Nissan 240SX market is interesting to follow. On one hand, you have…
-
1930 Cadillac V16 Roadster by Fleetwood
Established in 1902, Cadillac was bought in 1909 by the newly formed General Motors Company, which had begun to bring together several makes and wanted Cadillac as its luxury-car division. Cadillac had made a name for itself through innovation, the equipment fitted to its cars and the number of cylinders they had: V8, then V12…
-
1991 Ford RS200
As the copy of a letter from Ford Motorsport, signed by Bob Howe [Ford’s RS200 program sales chief] and dated October 15, 1991, indicates, this RS200 was sold new to a Swedish enthusiast for £57,498. It was one of the few RS200s to have been finished in dark red when it came off the production…
-
1964 Facel Vega Facel II Coupe
In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 cars, all of which were stylish, luxurious and fast. Hand built, they were necessarily expensive — the Facel II was priced in Rolls-Royce territory — and bought by the rich and famous seeking something exclusive and distinctive. Launched in 1961, the Facel…
-
1983 Ferrari Meera S
Even the most ardent of Ferrari enthusiasts might not recognize the Meera S. The car is unique in every sense of the word, as a one-of-one special built for Saudi Arabian royalty in the 1980s. The Meera S takes a design of its own with protruding body panels, open-slatted bonnet grille, and the illusion of…
-
1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL
Our example is exceptional in more ways than one. Firstly, it is presented in incredibly immaculate condition today, offering an irresistible invitation to get in and drive. Secondly, it has an unusual history, having been delivered new to Caracas in Venezuela, through the distributor Zico. A copy of its Datenkarte tells us that the car…
-
2016 Porsche 911 R
Already a collector’s item before it was launched, the Porsche 911 R was the marque’s gift to driving enthusiasts, an ultimate 911 with extraordinary performance that could be exploited on the road. It was an immediate hit, and the small number of examples to appear on the market saw their prices increase considerably, reflecting the…