Ihad a friend who was cursed with the nickname “Swamp Gas.” Folks called him that because “swamp gas was the only explanation for something that weird.”
Which brings me to the Citroën 2CV.
Yup, that odd little French car that also answers to “deux chevaux.”
From the land of stinky cheese, the 2CV had a long, quirky life, being built in France from 1948 until 1988, with a couple of encore years of production in Portugal from 1988 to 1990.
In 1987, Ferrari celebrated their 40th anniversary, and to mark the occasion launched their most uncompromising road car ever — the twin-turbocharged, 471-bhp, 201-mph F40.
Developed by Michelotto, the F40 LM benefited from enlarged twin IHI turbocharger/intercooler units and advanced Weber-Marelli fuel injection, which increased power to over 700 bhp. A corresponding reduction in weight to just 1,050 kg resulted in predictably awesome performance, whilst the car also featured extensive chassis stiffening, race-specification transmission, uprated brakes and extensively modified bodywork.
Introduced in 1990, the 560SEC AMG was perhaps the most fabled of the “pre-merger” upgraded Mercedes-Benz automobiles. The car was powered with a 6.0-liter engine, producing twice the torque of the original 5.6-liter Mercedes-Benz engine.
Experts believe that only 50 or so of these pre-merger 560s exist — and one is on offer here. On file is paperwork from Japan proving its low mileage, and a full service in the U.K. in 2016.
When considering the greater Ferrari 275 GTB hierarchy, it is clear that chassis 08311 is truly one of the most desirable produced. Boasting aluminum coachwork and six Weber carburetors, 08311 was only the second GTB to be fitted with a torque tube.
In 1980, the car returned to Italy, where it was subsequently purchased by Luigi Compiano of Treviso, Italy, and remained in his vast car collection for nearly four decades.
The current owner had the car restored cosmetically and Read More
The automobile that we present today is just as we found it, belonging to Jan Willem Martens, and is just as we love to discover a car: in used, original condition.
The car runs well, with surprising acceleration. You can hear the superchargers whistling, communicating the personality and potential of this beast. You are behind the wheel of a real race car, built to adapt to circuits or road races such as the Mille Miglia.
The car has never been Read More
This year, the Bentley marque passes its centenary. It is a huge achievement, not least because throughout those 100 years it is a company that has always been associated with the utmost sporting and luxurious cars.
That reputation was founded on the basis of magnificent automobiles like the 6½ Litre offered here today, cars which exemplified style and performance.
Whereas 4-cylinder cars tended to receive lightweight coachwork, the 6½ was not so restrained, so it is not surprising that of Read More
Any car is a rolling exercise in compromise: horsepower vs. economy, stability vs. agility, interior space vs. exterior volume, bilge capacity vs. sinkability.
Whoa. What?
That last is only a problem with the most glaring example of compromise in automotive design ever — the Amphicar 770.
It has been called the “fastest car on the water and the fastest boat on the road” and “a vehicle that promised to revolutionize drowning.” It has also been doing quite well as a Read More
Making its Indianapolis debut in 1948, this car failed to qualify.
George Connor was able to qualify the car in 6th position for the Indy 500 in 1949, finishing the race with an impressive 3rd overall. Bill Holland drove it at two subsequent AAA races that year at Trenton and Milwaukee. Connor drove the car in two more 500s, finishing 8th in 1950 and 30th in 1951. In 1952 and 1953, Charlie Marant entered the car at Indianapolis, but he Read More
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