Despite controversial styling, the 612’s performance is Formula One: It reaches 60 mph in just over four seconds and tops out at 199 mph {vsig}2006-4_1473{/vsig} In naming its new four-seater Granturismo after Carrozzeria Scaglietti, Ferrari acknowledged the immense contribution made by its collaborator in the past 50 years. Founded by […]
Profiles
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe “James Bond”
James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, which roared into the public consciousness in the 1964 movie “Goldfinger,” has a fair claim on being “The Most Famous Car in the World,” as Dave Worrall’s 1993 book asserts. That Silver Birch DB5 embodied the virtues of the character first launched in Ian Fleming’s […]
1966 Lamborghini 400 GT Monza
In 1970, after just 7,136 km, this unique V12 Granturismo was bricked up in a garage on a busy street {vsig}2006-4_1924{/vsig} Lamborghini’s first model-the 350 GT-wowed the motoring press and public at its 1964 launch. Not content to rest on their laurels, Lamborghini’s engineers were already at work on the […]
1966 Jaguar E-Type Series I 2+2 Coupe
The rear seats won’t accommodate anyone bigger than munchkins from “The Wizard of Oz” What was an E-type owner to do when little Nigel and Fiona came along? Grace, pace, and space was how the marketing blokes in Coventry described the new “family” E-type 2+2 coupe that bowed as […]
1960 Volkswagen Split-Window Pickup
1960 Volkswagen Split-Window PickupVolkswagen pickups were worked to death and their lifespan was shorter than that of a Roman slave {vsig}2006-3_1917{/vsig} Unquestionably among the most innovative designs of its day, the Volkswagen “dropside” pickup stretched the definition of full-service utility vehicles. Production of the pickup was started in 1952, and […]
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable
Even if the Commies had beaten us in space exploration, we had both the hideaway hard top and the Edsel The Ford Fairlane Skyliner can claim to be America’s first production convertible to feature a retractable hard top. Introduced as Ford’s top-of-the-range model in 1955, the Fairlane was rival to […]
1965 Ferrari 1512
Ferrari built three of these cars 40 years ago and never used the engine again. If you blew it up, it would be a very long walk home In an attempt to curb the ever-increasing speeds of Formula One, engine regulations were changed in 1961 to a maximum capacity of […]
1952 166/330 MM Touring Barchetta Recreation
These rebodies are selling far below construction costs and will deliver miles of smiles. But don’t go near Pebble Beach, and don’t expect to make money Carrozzeria Touring’s 1949-53 Barchetta is considered one of Ferrari’s classic models. Only about 35 Touring Barchettas (literally translated as “little boat”) were produced using […]
1925 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Scaphandrier-style tourer
Looking at the clumsy double tops I wonder: What were they thinking? When electrical engineer F. H. Royce joined forces with well-known motoring sportsman the Hon. C. S. Rolls to form Rolls-Royce Motors in 1905, it took them two years to hit their stride with the 40/50 HP model, now […]
1901 Panhard et Levassor Rear-Entrance Tonneau
The first Panhard rolled out in 1891, and in 1892 this pioneer firm created the mechanical layout nearly all other successful manufacturers would follow: front engine, midships transmission, and driven rear wheels. Called “La Systeme Panhard,” it was the beginning of many innovations this company would bring to automotive development, […]