Profiles
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1953 Bentley R-Type Continental
After creating some lightweight bodies on the Bentley Mark VI chassis, coachbuilding firm H.J. Mulliner was contracted to design and construct the R-type Continental prototype, affectionately named “Olga.” Exhaustive road testing resulted in modification of the gearbox to a direct-ratio top gear and a lowered rear-axle ratio for enhanced performance. These modifications provided high-speed touring…
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Driving Outside the Box
Though it may be hard to believe, Porsche’s first-generation 986-series Boxster is now 25 years old. While the Boxster was considered by many to be the Porsche you bought if you couldn’t afford a 911, in truth it was among the sharpest, purest sports cars the brand has ever built. From rags to riches By…
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1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Rollston
The Rollston Company was inarguably New York’s finest coachbuilder — renowned for the proficiency of its designers in both open and convertible styles, with conservative or rakish lines. Few American shops of any era were so skilled at so diverse a catalog, all built with outstanding craftsmanship and rock-solid quality. It is a testament to…
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1964 Aston Martin DB5
Clothed in aluminum “saloon” bodywork by Milanese design house Carrozzeria Touring, Aston Martin chassis DB51681R is resplendent in Snow Shadow Grey over red Connolly leather. Delivered new to Mr. A. White on July 7, 1964, this 5-speed DB5 spent much of its life in the U.K. until it was purchased by Sir Sean Connery through…
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1969 Monteverdi 375S Coupe
During the 1960s, American V8 power was seen by independent European manufacturers as a means of creating a luxury Grand Tourer to compete with the more exotic offerings of long-established firms like Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin. AC, Jensen, Facel and Iso, among others, all went down this route, as did Swiss BMW dealer Peter…
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1995 Ferrari F50
Creating a successful movie sequel, producing a follow-up album or becoming a repeat champion in sports can be the challenge of a lifetime. Think about being asked to improve on the Ferrari F40. For the F50, named as Ferrari’s 50th birthday present to itself, Ferrari elected to start with a clean-sheet design and lean on…
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Club Sport
Porsche sporadically released special derivatives of its 911 flagship including the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7, 1974 Carrera RS 3.0, and 1984 911 SC/RS. Continuing this tradition, Porsche introduced a 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport model at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. Built with a “less is more” ethos, the Club Sport was created to satisfy…
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1988 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6.0-L AMG Hammer Coupe
At the time this car was built, AMG was still an independent tuning company separate from Mercedes-Benz. This particular car was built by AMG North America in Westmont, IL, during an era when, infamously, “The only limitation on what could be done to your Mercedes-Benz was the size of your bank account.” It’s estimated that…
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1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider
Enzo Ferrari was determined to secure the FIA World Sportscar championship in 1955, with the final leg being the Carrera Panamericana. A grueling five-day rally, it traversed the Mexican wilderness en route to the border near El Paso, TX. For the 1955 Carrera, Ferrari designed an all-new chassis, the type 519/C. It utilized a low-riding…
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One Impressive Impreza
Mention Subaru to most people and they’ll think of an Outback station wagon-cum-crossover. Tighten it up to Subaru sports cars and they will usually think of the WRX and WRX STI hot rods, or the strangely sci-fi SVX of the 1990s. But there was a brief period at the turn of the millennium where the…