Profiles
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Playing Whack-A-Mole in Monterey
It’s August 2015 on the Monterey Peninsula, and the results are in from the International Whack-A-Mole competition! Apply your knowledge of this zany arcade game to the recent auction scene. Where are the prices going next? What’s going to pop up in value and surprise you and what is going to get walloped and go…
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Toyota’s Under-the-Radar Sports Car
Some marques, even in the affordable category, seem to engender passionate supporters. Mention Alfa or Porsche, and the swooning starts. Even the humble Miata has a plenty-of-fans. The Toyota MR2? Not so much. But if you are looking for an affordable two-seater, it should be on your list to investigate. They are plentiful and have…
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1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster
A legend in its own — relatively short — lifetime, the car offered here is the first example built of the fabulous Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR roadster, an even more-exclusive, limited-edition, open-topped variant of the already super-exclusive CLK GTR coupe with which Mercedes-Benz had re-entered international sports car racing in 1997. At the time of its…
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1933 Cadillac Series 355 Roadster
Offered here to the discriminating collector of fine luxury cars is a Cadillac that has splendor, luxury, and rarity all in the same package. In fact, this 1933 Series 355 Cadillac Roadster is number two of only three V8 roadsters produced — and the only one in existence today. It presents in the present day…
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1959 Lister-Chevrolet
Numerous privateer racing drivers got it in their mind to build their own car in the 1950s, with each experiencing varying degrees of luck on the track. Brian Lister had the money and the engineering know-how, so his first racing car, which was built in the mid-1950s with the able assistance of Don Moore and…
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1925 Bugatti Type 13 Brescia
The first 16-valve Bugatti cars were built from 1920 to 1923. Among these cars, a few rare racing models stand out. The Bugatti sales ledgers provide us with information on approximately 22 twin-magneto Type 13s, and seven single-magneto cars in 1923. In 1924, only 19 Type 13 twin-magneto models were built, and 40 or so…
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1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta
Ferraris have always been campaigned frequently and with ferocity by both the factory and wealthy privateers. The company’s reputation during its early days hinged on the success of its race cars. Whilst numerous road-going “Inter” models would be built afterwards by Ferrari, this 212 Barchetta would be the final Touring-bodied, race-ready “Export” model built by…
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1974 Jensen Interceptor Series III Sports Saloon
With the Interceptor saloon’s introduction in 1967, Jensen had switched from glassfibre to steel for its car bodies. Underneath, the preceding C-V8’s robust chassis, running gear and 6,276-cc Chrysler engine remained substantially unchanged. With around 280 bhp on tap, performance was more than adequate, The Motor recording a top speed of 140 mph with 100…
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1966 DeTomaso Vallelunga
The Vallelunga prototype was styled and constructed by Carrozzeria Fissore. An alloy-bodied spider and a pair of closed coupes were completed in 1963/64. The Vallelunga was assembled around a backbone chassis frame and was powered by a 1.5-liter Ford Kent 4-cylinder engine which performed double-duty as a stressed chassis member, a practice becoming accepted in…
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1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster
This 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster is exceptionally rare by virtue of its special-order Titanium Silver Metallic paint, which is matched with a black leather interior with gray piping and accent stitching. Sparingly driven and showing just 30,188 miles, it features the visually stunning mid-mounted V12, 5-speed manual transmission, hydraulic front lift system for ramp…