Jim Schrager has written about Porsches for SCM since 1997. He has also contributed to the 356 Registry for over a decade; for Panorama “Is My Porsche Collectible”?; for Excellence “10 Porsches to Buy Now”, and wrote two well-received books predicting the rapid rise in values for 356 and early 911 models, as well as co-authoring publisher Martin’s book on collecting Porsche.
He’s also a Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, was named by BusinessWeek magazine as one of the top twelve U.S. teachers of entrepreneurship, and is a member of “The Experts” panel for the Wall Street Journal. He’s written for MarketWatch, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, CEO Magazine, Crain’s Chicago Business and many more.
Jim was invited to the White House to consult with the President of the US (Clinton) regarding his first meeting with Japanese leaders.
And he’s an inventor, with a US Patent on a shock-absorbent patient stretcher chassis.
Adventures
Jim is an avid offshore sailboat racer, and Fleet Captain at a local yacht club on Lake Michigan, where he ran the Offshore Sailboat Racing Program for 10 years. He’s won trophies from all over Lake Michigan, and owned and raced 22 different offshore sailboats. He’s written for the largest sailboat racing newsletter, Scuttlebutt, and for Spinn Sheet, an Annapolis-based sailing magazine.
He founded and ran a roll-up of automobile body repair shops in the Midwest, and ran a Texaco gas station in the college town of Davis, CA while attending UC Davis, prior to dropping out of a PhD program in Econometrics to race motocross in Northern CA (Jim says: “with no significant success”).
Books
Jim has written several books on Porsches:
Jim’s Cars
Jim owns 30 cars, with around 20 Porsches, most of which are later 356s (B & C models) and early 911s, 1965- 1973 with a sampling of later 911s. He loves their old Mercedes 300 Turbo diesel, an MB they’ve had forever, a BMW 3.0 CS, a few other MB cars.
He makes a point to drive every old car at least once a month and get it up to full operating temperature during the 9 months when there’s no snow or salt on the ground–he found out the hard way how expensive it is not to drive a car.
Jim likes to note that this is a group of old cars no one else wanted: these cars are “left-overs.” After all the local California Porsche flippers did their shopping, these are the cars they felt were priced too high or had too many flaws. Jim bought the vast majority of them sight-unseen and with no pre-purchase inspection.
Although he enjoys looking at these old cars, the real thrill for him is how they drive. He and his family work very hard to make all these old cars run just like they did when new–or in some cases, with say, a 1969 911S, better than when they were new. Many times when a Porsche owner comes to drive our cars they ask us how we got it to run so well. The answer is–by keeping everything stock, but making sure it all works as it should. It often takes years to sort out one of these cars and really make them sing & dance. But that’s the program. Some of his cars amaze him as they drive better than any others he’s have had with the same specs.
Articles in Sports Car Market
Here are the latest articles from Jim:
Once More Unto the Breach – I know this is a bad idea. I understand this is not the smart thing to do when buying an old car. SCM’s John Draneas, in his many excellent “Legal Files” columns, warns us. I have read those words and completely agree. Yet here we are, doing something I know is wrong. This is not… Read more
2001 Porsche 911 Turbo – The fifth generation of the iconic 911 Turbo arrived as not only the fastest street-legal 911 of its time but also the most refined. The all-wheel-drive sports car heralded the arrival of water cooling in the 911, with its twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-6 engine. Enthusiasts and industry publications alike were enamored with its performance, with Car and… Read more
1968 Porsche 911L “Soft Window” Targa – A matching-numbers example, offered from single-family ownership since 1976 Presented in the original, as-delivered, striking Tangerine Orange-over-black livery Equipped with era-evoking classic Fuchs alloy wheels Desirable, limited-production 911L (Lux model) short-wheelbase 911 “Soft Window” Targa Offered with a Porsche-issued Certificate of Authenticity and digital copy of its Kardex Treated to more than $40,000 in restoration… Read more
1959 Porsche 356 Convertible D – Porsche’s 356A is truly the most swoon-worthy production automobile the Stuttgart firm ever created. The D was only produced in 1959 before the model was transformed into the 356B in 1960; at a mere 1,331 manufactured, it is one of the rarest production automobiles to ever don the Porsche badge. Dennis Collins has a passion… Read more
1964 Porsche 356 SC 1600 Cabriolet – The final iteration of the lightweight, rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive Porsche 356, the 356C, appeared in 1964, coinciding with Porsche’s purchase of the Reutter coachbuilding firm, which would handle all coupe and cabriolet construction in Stuttgart for the remainder of 356 production. New equipment included four-wheel disc brakes, a ZF steering gear and an optional 12-volt electrical… Read more
1977 Porsche 911S 2.7 Coupe – Coupled with tolerance for low-lead petrol, vastly superior fuel consumption and increased tank capacity, the new 1974 911 proved superior to its predecessor in every way as a fast, long-distance tourer. By 1977, maximum power output of all non-Carrera models had been standardized at 165 horsepower regardless of the destination market (including California). This manual-transmission… Read more
1966 Porsche 911 – According to a copy of the Porsche Kardex, this early-production, short-wheelbase 911 was completed on March 24, 1966. It was delivered to Carl Steffens of Mountain View, CA, through Porsche Cars Northeast Inc. of Bedford, MA, one of seven U.S. Porsche distributors during the period. Believed to have been retained by a second California owner… Read more
Age of Discovery – Luftgekühlt is a one-day car show — of sorts — only for air-cooled Porsches. From afar, it appears as an “in-crowd, secret-handshake” event meant only for the most socially well-connected Porsche owners. The 2021 edition was held nearby in Indianapolis, IN, in September. My son Max got the bug to go, so I went along… Read more
1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Cabriolet by Reutter – The term “barn find” has been vastly abused in the collector-car market, but here is a 356A cabriolet which was literally pulled out of an old building near Salem, OH. This matching-numbers cabriolet shows fewer than 46,000 miles — believed to be original — and was delivered in the rarely-seen Aquamarine Blue Metallic with a… Read more
When Chevrolet Built a Porsche – In the fall of 1964, Chevrolet introduced the second-generation Corvair in direct competition with the Ford Mustang. While the Mustang seemed to take all the air out of the room for a small, sporty American car, independent thinkers in the know realized the two competing products couldn’t be more different. The Mustang was great looking,… Read more1988 Porsche 930 “Slantnose” Coupe – Styling for the “Slantnose” 911 Turbo came from the legendary Porsche 935 race car. This factory option was executed on the raw body shell, allowing Porsche’s anti-corrosion warranty to be retained. Included in the price of $23,244 were sloped front fenders, retractable headlamps and air vents to ensure efficient cooling for the brakes and engine.… Read more
Porsche’s No-Frills Performance Bargain – There’s nothing more fun than buying, driving and enjoying a bargain sports car. Today, in our red-hot collector car market, most hope — and perhaps pray — that our purchases will continue to appreciate. Yet the prospect of price appreciation someday is different than a bargain today. The 911SC is that rarity which represents… Read more
1988 Porsche 959 Coupe – Conceived in the early 1980s as a 4-wheel-drive Group B competitor, the Porsche 959 was first displayed in concept car form at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show. Despite the subsequent abandonment of Group B, the 959 entered limited production in 1987 as a machine that successfully adapted state-of-the art racing technology for road use.At the… Read moreWhat Goes Up, Must Come Down. – On the way up, every buy is a good buy, because mistakes are papered over as the market rises. On the way down, every buy is a bad buyThe only constant in the market is change. While our vintage Porsche market has enjoyed an upward curve for the past several years, it may not continue.… Read more
The Tao of Steve’s Turbo Carrera – Stories abound that McQueen did everything he could to use the car as it was intended, and in that way, I imagine he had great fun with it{vsig}2008-11_2250{/vsig}In 1976, Porsche unveiled what was to be the first production 911 Turbo, known internally as a 930 and externally as the Turbo Carrera. Their success in recent… Read more
Fast Times at Collector High – The market has doubled and in some cases doubled again, and when this happens, a readjustment is on the wayYou can see it in the classified ads: This is a wild time. I can remember issues of Hemmings that didn’t have a single 356 Speedster for sale, yet today, several appear. I have never seen… Read more
Porsches You Have To Drive – When the slogan says there is no substitute, it means there is no substitute outside the family{vsig}2008-9_2225{/vsig}You can’t understand the Porsche gestalt without driving the cars. Looking at pictures and reading stories is a great way to prepare yourself, but true enlightenment only comes to those who drink the Kool-Aid. As my way of celebrating… Read more
The Speedster Spell – Ferry Porsche considered Speedsters silly cars, but Europeans love them and have been buying them for a decadeWhat is it about the Speedster that has caused prices to rise to unheard-of levels? While other 356s and Porsches in general continue on a solid upward trend, Speedsters seem to be on a tear. What’s so special… Read more
Putting a Price on Feelings – How anxious is the seller to sell? Is he emotional, ready to bail out? How anxious is the buyer? Has he just missed a similar car?Various Porsche talk boards are buzzing with complaints about the usefulness of price guides for early 911S cars (1967-73). About how the prices are too low, the guides are silly,… Read more
1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring – This Porsche 2.7-liter Carrera RS, a left-hand “Touring” model delivered in Light Ivory, was supplied new to private owner Bernard Dulcy, who had previously raced Renault Dauphines and Alpines from 1961 to 1966. With his regular co-driver Jean-Francois Bagarry, the French privateers drove their new Porsche in a number of road events, including the 1975… Read more
The Time-Traveling Investor – To earn 8% over 30 years, that $12,000 “concours” Speedster from 1977 would have to bring $224,000 in 2008 What if you could go back 30 years and buy any Porsche you’d like? What a way to make a killing. With what we know now, we’d know exactly what to buy and hold for today’s… Read more
1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring – The most distressing point is that the whereabouts of any original parts from chassis 1316 do not appear to be known{vsig}2009-12_2395{/vsig}Porsche revived the Carrera name for its top-of-the-range 911 in 1972-73. Designated Carrera RS (Rennsport), the newcomer was intended as a limited-edition “homologation special” to enable the factory to enter Group 4 competition in the… Read more
Ten Rules for Porsche Flippers – Never fix anything. A true flippopath will risk his newly acquired bounty and even his life to make a flipLast month, this column offered ten rules for Porsche collectors, people who are much better at buying than at selling, and who plan to keep their cars forever. Or at least until another one they “have… Read more
Grokking the Porsche Collector’s Gestalt – Buy what you like and you can’t do that well unless you buy what makes you happy. It’s a blend of emotion and rational thoughtNot everyone can make it as a successful Porsche collector. It takes a blend of emotion, knowledge, and temperament to put together the right cars at the right time to end… Read more
Keeper or Flipper? – Ever notice the guy at your cousin’s wedding, endlessly scrolling through his Blackberry during the service?Are you a collector or flipper? I find it makes all the difference to your enjoyment of the hobby to understand who you are and what you are doing. To see how you rate, take this little test. Don’t worry… Read more
A Costly 911 Dream – Don’t let a shop bill you for the time it takes them to gain experience on a complex set of pressed-steel stampings We got plenty of mail on McKeel Hagerty’s 1967 911S restoration story (December, p. 58), including this letter from Pete Zimmermann, longtime SCMer and author of The Used 911 Story. He writes: I… Read more
Decoding Early 911 Values – Contrary to myth, 1965-68 SWB cars are not rare, with 44,943 units made-that’s 40% of production from 1965 to 1973 This chart of 911 data has never been seen before. This is because the Porsche records are a mess, there are several massive typographical errors in the published data, and no one had taken the… Read more
Putting a Price ($152,007) on Memories – This 911 wasn’t one of the good ones. It was purchased, along with a 1966 912 donor car-and a speedboat-for $1,000{vsig}2007-12_2106{/vsig}Sometimes precious things have rather inauspicious beginnings. As you admire Porsches at various events, never forget that they can represent much more than just someone “writing the check.” There are often stories of great intrigue… Read more
1968 Porsche 911S Coupe – Cost-no-object restorations rarely make sense on production cars, even exciting ones in hot markets, like an early 911S{vsig}2007-11_2094{/vsig}Within two years of the original 911’s launch, Porsche introduced a new model that would satisfy even the most demanding drivers. The new S offered the same vault-like body and chassis, well-appointed 2+2 interior, and 2-liter flat 6,… Read more
What Makes a 356 Worth $176,000? – This B Cab had tools, a Carrera horn ring, Hirschmann antenna, Blaupunkt radio, headrests, and its original engine{vsig}2007-11_2088{/vsig}Hot on the heels of the recent Monterey auction results, I received an email, which asked the following question:”I just saw that nice black 1962 356B Cabriolet sell at Gooding in Monterey for $176,000 and I need your… Read more
1965 Porsche 911 Coupe – What’s so special about the original 235 911s? Not much, and most of it is bad. But they are different and that was enough{vsig}2007-10_2080{/vsig}In the late 1950s, Porsche began working on what would be a new model to entirely replace the 356. The styling was based on a set of guidelines prepared by Ferry Porsche… Read more
1965 Porsche 911 Coupe – In the late 1950s, Porsche began working on what would be a new model to entirely replace the 356. The styling was based on a set of guidelines prepared by Ferry Porsche and developed by his son, “Butzi.” The new Porsche was intended to be an evolutionary design and continue in the established Porsche tradition… Read more
Living the 356 Dream – One of the best things is just banging around local roads and pretty scenery with a few 356s running along with youThe Gathering of the Faithful. That’s what they used to call the annual meeting of 356 owners 30 years ago. Everyone got together, looked at each other’s cars, swapped tall tales, and generally just… Read more
Best Investments? Dial 911 – Low-mileage cars are a funny part of the hobby; you can’t use your new toy or you drive away its distinctionAll 911s were not created equal, and they are not treated equally by vintage car buyers. Each move in the market favors certain models, making superstars out of some and leaving others behind. Herewith we… Read more
1974 Porsche 914 2.0 Roadster – The 914 changed the rules. For starters, you paid extra for chrome bumpers and vinyl-covered roof sections. Excuse me?Porsche introduced the 914 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1969, and it became available in the U.S. in the spring of 1970. Priced at just under $3,500 (for the 4-cylinder car), an extra $200 bought the… Read more
Hands-on Happiness – There are three basic ways to invest in an older Porsche, each with pluses and minuses (Part III: Defining the Collectible Porsche)In the June issue, I examined some individual Porsche models and outlined what factors set them apart as either collectible or rather ordinary. Last month, I discussed those factors in-depth, with respect to rarity,… Read more
Either Rare or Well Done Will Do – Rarity can matter, but a rare Porsche is not automatically collectible, just as some high-volume models are valuable (Part II: Defining the Collectible Porsche)Last month in Part I, we examined why some Porsche values accelerate like an early 911S, while others lag behind like a 924 with a bad head gasket. Except for a few… Read more
1960 Porsche 356B Super Roadster – When Porsche introduced the improved 356B in 1960, the Speedster was succeeded by the Roadster. This was a change in name, even though both cars, and the interim Convertible D in between, remained at the bottom of the Porsche price schedule. In addition to the new name, the 356B delivered meaningful changes to the chassis,… Read more
You Gotta Know When to Hold ’em. – One good way to judge when a car becomes collectible is to simply note when its value rises above the original purchase price{vsig}2007-6_2021{/vsig}Part I: Defining the Collectible PorscheWhy do some Porsches accelerate quickly in value, while others languish? We can all agree that pedestrian models, such as the 924, will never be worth big money.… Read more
1963 Porsche 904 GTS Prototype – The fiberglass-to-metal body and chassis bonding worked fine for theprojected race life of a 904, then rust began to separate the two elementsWith the proven 356 Carrera Abarth having served formidably for three seasons, the imminent arrival of the two-liter Simca Abarth meant that Porsche was going to have to raise the stakes for 1964.Early… Read more
1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Prototype – This unusual 2.7 Carrera RS was created in 1972, based on the 2.4-liter 911S, and with which Porsche assaulted the 3-liter racing classes. Today, the RS is regarded by many as one of the top five sports cars to emerge from the 1970s. Its versatility is hardly surprising; the 911 was designed from the start… Read more
1987 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe – Porsche street cars had a very strong reputation for excellent durability-Turbos broke that rule{vsig}2006-9_1953{/vsig}In order to compete against bigger-engined rivals, Porsche homologated the type 934 race car in 1974 and embarked on an entirely new phase in race car development. As word spread about the incredible performance, the initial run of 500 cars disappeared like… Read more
1958 Porsche 356A 1600 S Speedster – In the current market, beauty and condition matter as much as originalityIntroduced to the United States in September 1954, the Speedster found a receptive audience as the lowest-priced Porsche. In the USA, there was some confusion caused by the fact that when constructing the newest Porsche, the designers left out many components standard on cabriolets.… Read more
1968 Porsche 912 Soft-Window Targa – The auction catalog calls the Weber carbs an update, but I call them wrongAfter years of building its commercial and racing success around the 356 models, Porsche introduced the larger, more powerful, two-liter Porsche 911 model in 1965.Maintaining the company’s success with rear-engine positioning, the all-new design provided an aerodynamic body over a revised chassis… Read more
1957 Porsche 356A Coupe – If this car drives as the catalog says, the new owner did very well. If not get busy spending and making it right{vsig}2006-5_1931{/vsig}The 356A was Porsche’s first volume production car, in Coupe, Speedster, and Cabriolet versions. Introduced in 1956, the 356A embodied substantial revisions to the original 356 series, including a one-piece curved windshield, horn… Read more
1969 Porsche 911E Targa – Soft rear window Targas have become the darling of the early 911 cognoscenti{vsig}2005-7_1853{/vsig}Porsche introduced the 911 Targa in mid-1966 to an enthusiastic audience anxious for an open 911. For the first model year in 1967, only the soft rear window was available. A year later, the glass rear window was introduced as a far more… Read more
1985 Porsche 928S – Many of the improvements the 928 introduced were just not the kinds of things most owners were looking for-at least not in 1978Porsche’s distinctive 928 was announced in 1977 and followed the pattern of the groundbreaking but underwhelming 924, with a forward-mounted, water-cooled engine. Although similar in basic layout, the 928 shared no components with… Read more
1961 Porsche 356B T-5 1600 – Whatever the auction catalog may say about the early 356Bs adding to the Porsche legend, at the time of its introduction, Porsche fans were aghast{vsig}2005-3_1827{/vsig}Launched in 1948, the Porsche 356 employed a platform chassis with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine and torsion bar independent suspension. In 1955 the 356A was introduced, readily distinguishable by its curved,… Read more
1988 Porsche 959 – Before the Ferrari F40, before the McLaren F1, almost before the term “supercar” was invented, there was the Porsche 959, an expression of extensive development, technical competence, and competitiveness that brought a new excitement to road-going automotive pursuits. The Porsche 959 odyssey started in 1983 and involved many pioneering techniques, most notably molded composite bodywork.… Read more
1976 Porsche 914 Hot Rod – Porsche’s all-out racing machines were always mid-engined, dating back to the 550 Spyder of the 1950s. After much racing success with this configuration, Porsche management decided in the late 1960s that its future high-performance road cars would also be mid-engined, due to the inherently better weight distribution. With this theory in mind, Porsche began development… Read more
1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet – A Turbo Cabriolet is almost a poseur among hard-core Porsche folk, a car to be seen in rather than a car to drive fast inIn series production from 1975, the 911 Turbo married a KKK turbocharger to the 3.0-liter engine, a combination that delivered a stunning 260 hp and a top speed of 153 mph… Read more
1965 Porsche 356C Coupe – Fair money for a car that can’t be restored economically in today’s marketPorsche is famous for the careful development of its machines, so it is no surprise that the 1965 356C, the last of the 356 series, is a highly sophisticated automobile. By this time, any shortcomings in the design and execution of the 356… Read more
1998 Porsche 911 GT1 – From any angle and at any speed, it is the perfect picture of what a modern sports prototype should look likeAfter its 1994 Le Mans victory with a decade-old design, Porsche needed a new long-term strategy for its international sports car competition. Enter the 911 GT1. Keeping to the spirit of the regulations, Porsche used… Read more
1964 Porsche 904 GTS – In 1963, the imminent threat of Abarth’s Simca 2000, which was to be raced in the European 2-liter championship, was the impetus for Porsche’s creation of the Carrera GTS. Porsche chassis designer Hans Tomala decided the required production run of 100 cars could not be quickly and cost-effectively produced in the traditional welded-tube frame format.… Read more
1973 Datsun 240Z – Few realize the roots of Nissan reach back to 1912, when a young man named Masujiro Hashimoto created a car. The car was named DAT, after three family member’s initials. By 1934, the cars were Datsuns and the company was Nissan. By the late 1950s, Yuraka Katayama, a young engineer educated in America, advocated both… Read more
1965 Volkswagen 21-Window Deluxe Micro Bus – When the boxy Volkswagen Transporter arrived on American shores in 1949, its effect and influence was immediate. Using standard Beetle components, it was easy to maintain and was one of the best ways to move small groups of people. Dubbed the “Micro Bus,” Volkswagen’s unique Transporter survived through the decades and evolved into several different… Read more
2001 Porsche Boxster S – As described by the seller on eBay Motors:This 2001 Porsche Boxster S is in great condition. It is Metallic Silver with black leather interior. It has AM/FM stereo, CD, cruise control, power windows, all available airbags, dual power seats, power mirrors, and wind screen. The engine is a six-cylinder S with a six-speed manual transmission.… Read more
1986 Porsche 928 Factory Custom 4-door Sedan – By the early 1970s, Porsche management decided that the 911 model would eventually have to be replaced by a more modern design. The new model would feature a water-cooled V8 front-mounted engine with its transmission and differential combined in a rearmounted transaxle for excellent weight distribution. The chassis featured all independent suspension and four-wheel disc… Read more
1961 Porsche 356B S90 Coupe – Although Porsche did not make a serious works effort in international rallying until the arrival of the 911, the 356 in private hands proved very competitive, being strongly constructed, light in weight and adequately powerful, especially in four-cam form. Early successes included private entrants Helmut Polensky and Walter Schuler’s victory in the 1952 Liege-Rome-Liege Rally… Read more
1970-76 Porsche 914-4 – It was either love or hate at first sight when the 914 was introduced in 1970. Three decades later, the situation is pretty much the same.To appreciate the 914, you have to understand its design brief: to recreate the 356 Speedster. That is, produce a simple, reliable, tossable, two-seat sports car with an immediately identifiable… Read more
1984-89 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe – The 1984-89 Carrera, as the final iteration of the original “widebody” normally-aspirated 911, is a good choice for someone looking for an affordable sports car coupled with a high degree of refinement, reliability and sparkling performance.Comparisons to the 1978-83 911SC are natural, as they share nearly identical bodies and interiors. But the Carrera has many… Read more
1977-89 BMW 6 Series Coupe – 630 (1977), 633 (1978-84), 635 (1985-89)As the logical extension of the exquisite 2800/3.0 CS coupes, the 6 Series brought the new look of the 7 Series to BMW’s large two-door grand touring machine. Even more than the earlier coupes, the 6 Series traded tossability for comfort, sophistication and interior room.The 3.3- and 3.5-liter straight sixes… Read more
1958 Porsche 356 Speedster – Of all the Porsches made in the 1950s, Speedsters are certainly the most charismatic. First sold in the 1955 model year, the Speedster was conceived for Porsche’s American distributor. For model year 1956, the entire 356 line under-went mechanical and chassis modifications and the revised and improved car was designated the 356A. The car pictured… Read more
1978–83 Porsche 911SC – Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet While the automotive world suffered through the 1973-1977 era of dramatically tightened emission-control laws, Porsche was busy building, piece by piece, the better mousetrap that would become the 911SC. Starting with the dramatically simplified CIS fuel injection of the ’73½ 911T, the SC included the flared body of the 1974 Carrera,… Read more
1973 Porsche Carrera RSR 2.8 – n the early 1970s, the FIA decided sports car racing should use cars that more closely resembled production vehicles. Using the Carrera RS 2.7 as its homologation platform, the 2.8 RSR developed 300 (DIN) hp with the use of a twin-plug ignition, hotter camshafts, higher compression pistons, and many other enhancements. The car offered here… Read more
1967 Ferrari 330 GTC – Intended to fill a gap in Ferrari’s line-up between the four-seat 330 GT 2+2 and the racer-on-the-road 275 GTB, the two-seat 330 GTC debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966 and in essence was a closed version of the 275 GTS. Pininfarina’s understated coachwork combined elements of the latter at the rear, with… Read more
1973 Porsche Carrera RS – The Carrera ‘RS’ was the first phase in Porsche’s production car racing program, started in 1972. The ‘RS’ was based on the 911S, and one of the first concerns was to save weight. This was accomplished mainly by removing the rear seats, by making the body of thinner steel and by using fiberglass bumpers. Another… Read more
1973 Porsche 914-4 – A completely different Porsche emerged for the 1970 model year to replace the rather short-lived 912. This one carried either the 1679cc Volkswagen four-cylinder or the earlier 2.0-liter Porsche flat six with its 125-horsepower rating. The big difference was that the engines were mid-mounted. The 914 was born out of a joint venture between Porsche… Read more
1965-1969 Corvair Corsa and Monza – The second-generation Corvair was one of the cleanest designs of its day. Although many predicted classic status because of its unusual rear-engine, six-cylinder boxer powerplants, 30 years later there is no shortage of decent cars around $5,000, with $9,000 buying a sharp turbocharged Corsa convertible.Corvairs are delightful to drive, with a light touch to the… Read more
1966–80 Fiat 124 Spider – Introduced in 1966 in Europe and hitting our shores in 1968, the Fiat 124 was the thinking man’s MGB. Obvious styling cues notwithstanding, the 124 offered an astonishing host of improvements over its traditional British rivals. Testifying to the strength of the American economy, more than 170,000 of the approximately 198,000 made ended up here.… Read more
Mercedes 230/250/280SL – Representing a gigantic step forward over the four-cylinder 190SL, the six-cylinder 230SL appeared in the early ’60s as a dramatic styling statement that still is striking today. This supurbly built car with decent-but-not-shattering performance remains quite affordable, with usable examples starting at $15,000, nice cars at $20,000 to $25,000, and first rate examples going for… Read more
Porsche 356B Coupe – It’s hard to imagine much more bang for your vintage buck than a 1960-1963 B Coupe. The B’s cost less than the later C models (1964-1965) yet have many of the durability and driveability improvements over the earlier A models, including bigger brakes, stronger connecting rods, bigger oil pumps, improved steering gearboxes and stronger, better… Read more
1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 – With the intention of competing in the worldwide luxury car market, Ferrari introduced the totally new 365 GT 2+2 at the Paris Salon in October 1967. It bore a strong resemblance to both the 330 GTC Special built for Belgium’s Princess de Rethy and to the famous 500 Superfast. The car was a technical triumph.… Read more