Profiles
-
1965 Porsche 912
Although widely acclaimed, the Porsche 911 was necessarily expensive, a shortcoming its maker addressed by offering the 912, which, though outwardly identical, was powered by the outgoing 356’s 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. The latter produced 90 horsepower, some 40 hp less than the 911’s six, but this deficit was offset by significantly reduced weight resulting in…
-
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Ferrari 275 GTB/4, chassis number 09603, was completed as a berlinetta (fixed-head coupe) in April 1967 and sold new to Motor S.a.s. in Rome, Italy, finished in Amaranto with beige leather interior. Its first owner was the longtime Ferrari customer and gentleman racer Dr. Augusto Caraceni, who competed in the Mille Miglia on two occasions…
-
1995 BMW M3
This extraordinary 30-year-old BMW M3 was purchased new in 1995 from Cheyne BMW in London by an Italian professional and is a true collectors’ gem. Shortly after acquiring the car, the owner relocated to Singapore for work. Before departing, he drove the M3 to his hometown of Alassio in Italy, where it was meticulously stored…
-
The Best or Nothing
Since 1954, the Mercedes-Benz SL has built its legacy largely through popular culture. Think of Clark Gable and his 1955 300SL Gullwing or Hugh Hefner’s 1959 300SL Roadster. John Lennon owned a 1965 W113 “Pagoda” 230SL, and the R107 was given a starring role in countless 1970s–80s movies and television shows, including “Beverly Hills Cop”…
-
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
The Chevrolet Nomad is by far the rarest of Chevrolet’s so-called “Tri-Five” Bel Air models, produced from 1955 through 1957. The nameplate, which would live into the early ’70s, carries a level of cachet unique to the model. Marketed as a halo model of the Tri-Five station-wagon line, the Bel Air Nomad shared its long…
-
1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
In 1978, Aston Martin thoroughly updated its V8 grand-tourer model and gave it the curious “Oscar India” moniker, a pronunciation of the internal designation “OI” — for “October Introduction” — using the phonetic alphabet. Numerous revisions brought significant improvements in luxury, refinement and performance across the range. Higher-specification V8 Vantage models featured a blanked front…
-
1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C Lago Spéciale Teardrop
Following Anthony Lago’s assumption of control at Automobiles Talbot in 1935, the company, now rebranded as Talbot-Lago, shifted its focus to a fresh lineup of sports cars. With engineer Walter Brecchia’s innovative designs, Talbot-Lago introduced a new 4.0-liter engine and modern chassis concepts, alongside a racing team led by René Dreyfus. In June 1936, at…
-
1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa
The 166 Spyder Corsa was aimed at the most sporting crowd — those interested in both circuit racing their new Ferrari while maintaining the ability to drive it in road races and on the street. The Besana brothers (Soave and Gabriele) of Lombardy were perhaps the ideal first Ferrari customers. Both aristocratic, with means from…
-
1966 Fiat Abarth OT 1300
The Fiat Abarth OT 1300 needs no introduction as the embodiment of a GT racer that combines a high-revving small-displacement engine, lightweight construction and inherent agility. To combat excessive cockpit heat from racing, a roof-mounted “periscope” air intake became a distinctive feature, earning it the nickname “Periscopio.” According to Pubblico Registro Automobilistico (PRA) documentation, this…
-
Finding Middle Ground
It’s possible that the only thing worth complaining about in Acura’s third-generation Integra is a steering wheel so bloated with a ’90s-era airbag that it dominates an otherwise inoffensive and durable interior. Truly, that’s it. Produced for eight glorious model years, the Integra’s combination of a screaming VTEC powerplant, low cost, capable handling and livability…