Everyone has a Z-car story. If you didn’t own one yourself, you knew someone who did. Datsun (later Nissan) built an affordable 2-seat fastback sports car with respectable power and handling — and enthusiasts bought them in large numbers.
However, the evolution of the Z-car is a cautionary tale for automakers because Nissan was too quick to listen to focus groups of sedan buyers.
By 1974, the single-year 260Z came with a 2+2 version that destroyed the roofline. By the Read More
Bruce McLaren’s first sports prototype was the M1A. The team’s first self-designed car, the M1A was another simple space-frame design featuring the Oldsmobile V8 engine via a Hewland transaxle.
Frank Nichols’ Elva Cars was already building its own highly successful sports racers, and he expressed an interest in the new McLaren prototype. The result was an agreement for Trojan (Elva’s parent company) to build a production version: the McLaren-Elva, 24 of which were completed.
For 1965, the design was refined Read More
Truly one of the most desirable BMWs built thus far into the 21st century, the M3 CSL is a must-have automobile in any collection of BMWs, and this example will not disappoint.
Lancia’s production records coordinate chassis 829AR0001832 with Bertone Body 397 and confirm the original colors of Azzurro with “Sereno” carpets, black Alcantara seating surfaces, black seat shells and dashboard and black flocked door panels.
Body 397 left Bertone’s Grugliasco Works on October 21, 1974, and Lancia completed assembly about 12 weeks later, on January 9, 1975.
The car has never been restored, remains original throughout and appears as-delivered without the optional roof spoiler and roof-mounted air deflector. The paint appears Read More
This is one of six WO Bentley 4½ Litre cars assembled by the Service Department from New Old Stock and reconditioned parts in 1936.
Of the six RC Series 4½ Litre cars completed, chassis RC41 is the only one to retain its original coachwork (the other five have been rebodied as Le Mans-style Tourers). As such, EMF 113 is utterly unique. We believe it to be a matching-numbers car and doubt that another “garage find” WO Bentley of such rarity Read More
Steve McQueen, at one time the world’s highest-paid actor, a racing driver, motorcycle enthusiast and pop-culture icon, needs little introduction here or anywhere else. McQueen acquired, drove and raced dozens of fabulous cars.
McQueen purchased this Hudson Hornet 7C sedan in the mid-1970s, and it was registered in his name in August 1977. This Twin H-Power Hudson was in his possession and ownership at the time of his passing on November 7, 1980.
As a rule, it’s the overlooked cars that make the best Affordable Classics. That’s certainly the case with the Porsche 924. The more-developed 944 that came along later has completely overshadowed Porsche’s first water-cooled car.
It’s well past time to take another look and find the appeal and the value in one of the last affordable Porsches.
When the 924 arrived for the 1977 model year, it replaced the lackluster 914 2.0 and the 912E as Read More
This is the Formula One Brabham in which — on September 20, 1969 — star Belgian racing driver Jacky Ickx won the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park, Ontario.
It is also the actual car in which Ickx finished 2nd in that same year’s Mexican Grand Prix, 3rd in the French, 5th in the Dutch and 6th in the Spanish round of the 1969 Drivers’ World Championship series.
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