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1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Convertible Coupe

The Castagna-bodied 6C 1750 Alfa shown here is a triple masterpiece: its magnificent Vittorio Jano-designed engine, Alfa Romeo’s superb chassis,and the beautifully constructed and subtly detailed Castagna body. In addition, it has been fastidiously restored in Australia by marque specialists Double J. Vittorio Jano put the P2 GP project behind […]

A Thousand Here, A Thousand There

In Oregon, May 1 is the official beginning of our sports car season. Our garage is soon filled with the chirping of a half-dozen vehicles, each, like a hungry baby bird, crying out for hundred-dollar bills to be tossed under its hood in an annual rite of spring awakening.Cindy’s 1978 […]

1970 Alfa Romeo GTAm

The GTAm models are derived from Alfa’s 1750 Veloce coupe. The Am suffix is a shortened version of “America,” and refers to the US model, which required fuel injection for emission reasons. With full development, the GTAm engine brought twice the brake horsepower available from a standard carbureted car. The […]

Give That Car an “A”

At SCM, we often describe cars as being “first tier” or “second tier” collectibles. These terms are used intuitively, rather than being based on any analytical system. While putting together this year’s Pocket Price Guide, we were reviewing our five-star short-term appreciation rating, and felt it left something to be […]

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint (2002)

This 1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint coupe was formerly owned by Pat Braden, author of Alfa Romeo Owner’s Bible. It has covered approximately 36,000 miles. A complete car, it needs a straightforward, but total, restoration. It “ran when parked,” but that was years ago. The gauges are functioning (or at […]

Shamed by Swig

Ferrari Mondials and snow-packed roads don’t mix very well. That was just one of the many thoughts that crossed my mind as we slid sideways towards the edge of the mountain road. I hadn’t planned on using the Ferrari as a snowmobile, but Martin Swig has a way of rearranging […]

1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce

A modern classic by Pininfarina, the simple yet elegant Spider bodywork premiered in the US on the 1967 1.6-liter Duetto would prove enduringly popular, lasting into the 1990s. The Spider’s mechanics were essentially those of the Giulia sedan, comprising independent front suspension, a coil-suspended live rear axle and four-wheel servo-assisted […]

My Green Ferrari

The car hauler should be pulling up any day now, delivering the newest addition to the Martin-Banzer menagerie. Or is that collection?It’s a 1984 Ferrari Mondial Cabriolet, in the distinctive color of light metallic green, with a tan leather interior. A birthday present, sort of, it came into my life […]

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto

This is not just another mouth-watering classic Alfa. Offered here, absolutely fresh from 42 years in the ownership of one British enthusiast, chassis 2111027 is one of three Scuderia Ferrari short-chassis team cars prepared for the 1932 Mille Miglia. While this car did not enter that race, it was one […]

Mooners and Masterpieces

January and August are the two busiest months on the collector car calendar, but they are as different as desert and ocean. August in Monterey is a three-day spectacle of disposable wealth, with million-dollar cars selling haphazardly across the Peninsula the way oils are splashed on a Jackson Pollock painting. […]