Profiles
-
1973 Citroën SM Coupe
The SM is the symbol of demise of Citroën as an independent company. It is also the story of corporate management embracing the “bigger is better” theory, and the engineering department wanting to make a better and more sophisticated car, but ending up with something that was just more complex, less reliable and infinitely more…
-
1992 Corvette LT1 Convertible
1992 represented a milestone year in the life of America’s sports car. The one-millionth Corvette was built, ground was broken for the National Corvette Museum, and Corvette made its performance comeback with the introduction of the LT1 as the base engine. While from the outside, all of the 1984-1996 C4 Corvettes looked very similar, connoisseurs…
-
1964 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Coupe
After the second World War and into the 1960s, as prosperity increased with the car-buying public, the demand rose for better, more elegant and entertaining vehicles. Up until this time, most manufacturers concentrated on rather bland and functional cars. Volkswagen, of course, produced the Beetle and a Microbus. Looking for a new “image” car, Volkswagen…
-
1978 Ferrari 400A 2+2 Coupe
From the onset, the intention of the 400 had been to challenge the finest luxury saloons available. It was anticipated that a large demand would come from the lucrative American market, though sadly the cost involved in meeting the stringent US regulations denied this option. Introduced in 1976 at the Paris salon, it was available…
-
1926 Bentley 3-Liter Speed Model
In 12 short years, Bentley became one of Britain’s most revered marques through its cars’ technical sophistication and enviable record in long-distance racing events, including winning the Le Mans 24-hour race five times. Designed by Walter Owen Bentley and his colleagues, the 3-Litre was the progenitor of the 4.5-, 6.5- and 8-Litre Bentleys. The 3-Litre…
-
1996 Lamborghini Diablo SV-R
The Diablo was introduced in 1991 under Lamborghini’s brief period of Chrysler ownership, preserving but refining its layout, smoothing out the body’s humps and bumps and improving occupant accommodations. In the middle of the ’90s, Lamborghini built 31 Diablos prepared for use on the racetrack. The race version, known as the SV-R (for Sport Veloce,…
-
1985-89 Toyota MR2 Mark I
1984 marked the debut of the Toyota “Mid-engine runabout two-seater,” or “MR2,” in Japan. Less than a year later, it arrived on American shores amid enthusiasm and debate. Based on a prototype called the SV3, the short, lightweight, angular car found a comfortable seat in the Toyota model lineup. It was a sporty offering, supported…
-
1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB Limousine
The Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine made its premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in the fall of 1963. The previous “Grand” Mercedes-Benz were the pre-war 770 models (1930-43), built during a time in automobile history when luxury, power and elegance were at their pinnacle. They were the Daimler-Benz premier product, portraying state of the art…
-
1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition Coupe
Last of the “Big ‘Vette” series, the 1982 Corvette lineup included a built-to-order-only Collector Edition model. Distinguished by more than just special paintwork, though of course it had that too, the Collector Edition featured an opening hatchback rear window in place of the previous fixed backlight. As well as a unique silver-beige metallic, “fading shadow”…
-
1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino
This European-registered car has a 2,418-cc V6, double overhead camshaft, cast iron block and light alloy heads, and produces 178 bhp at 7,000 rpm. It has a five-speed manual gearbox with front and rear independent suspension with unequal-length A arms, coil springs, tubular shock absorbers and four-wheel disc brakes. The forerunner to the hugely popular…