In 1958, Cadillac produced a total of 815 Biarritz convertibles. Five were taken straight from the assembly line to GM’s super-secret Styling Center, where they were highly modified. At least one of these cars has survived, reportedly the prototype of the “Raindrop” modification, and is presented here as part of […]
Archives: Profiles
1904 Rolls-Royce 10 hp Two-Seater
Such luxury was the equivalent of today’s private jet, a powerful symbol of its owner’s status and forward thinking {vsig}2008-3_2144{/vsig} The Midland Hotel, Manchester, was the site of a significant meeting in automotive history on May 4, 1904, when the Hon. Charles Rolls arrived by train with his business associate […]
1973 Sbarro Mille Miglia
Sbarro’s interpretation of the 1957 Ferrari 335S is in some ways prettier than the one Scaglietti built in the 1950s At the age of 17, Franco Sbarro, whose real name is Francesco Zefferino Sbarro, left his native Italy for Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in order to live his dream of being an […]
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Coupe
The GTB might be compared to an attractive woman who always keeps something in reserve {vsig}2008-3_2146{/vsig} The Ferrari 275 GTB signaled an important evolution for Ferrari as the company finally adopted a fully independent suspension, which had been tested, developed, and proven in Ferrari’s sports racing cars. Bodied by Scaglietti […]
1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Convertible
It takes a while for enthusiasts to realize these cars are about craftsmanship and balance, rather than style {vsig}2008-3_2147{/vsig} Mercedes continued its tradition of quality in the mid-1950s with the 220S and 300 model range. The 220S was offered in saloon, coupe, and convertible form. The 220S Convertible (W128) was […]
1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk I Saloon
That “inside front wheel in the air” was a function of stiff front springs and soft rear ones, which seemed to work {vsig}2008-3_2150{/vsig} Ford’s 1960s profile-raising competition program included recruiting Lotus boss Colin Chapman to give the new Cortina a sporting makeover. Chapman’s brief was to develop a Group 2 […]
“Eldosaurus” Has Evolved into White Elephant
Cadillac had a tough task in replacing its first front-wheel-drive Eldorado, the Bill Mitchell-designed model of 1967-70. Although gigantic, this first-gen front-driver was, like its stablemate the Oldsmobile Toronado, quite beautiful. Its successor, built from 1971 to 1978, was simply large. But the second-gen did have one advantage over its […]
1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible
I suspect the judges who previously gave this car an AACA Senior badge would not have done so on sale day {vsig}2008-2_2128{/vsig} Pontiac first offered the GTO option on the Tempest in 1964, and despite UAW strikes, which kept production down, it was a big hit. The muscle car market […]
1970 Lotus Elan Plus 2 Coupe
Most pretty British sports cars of the 1960s and ’70s have appreciated beyond the means of entry-level collectors {vsig}2008-2_2131{/vsig} The original Lotus Elan was introduced in 1962 as a roadster, although an optional hard top was offered in 1963 and a coupe version in 1965. It was the first Lotus […]
1967 Iso Grifo Coupe
This Grifo may not seem expensive for long. Euro-Americans are the ultimate street rod, and already great performance can easily be improved {vsig}2008-2_2132{/vsig} Renzo Rivolta started building Isothermos refrigerators before World War II. Following the war, Rivolta recognized another Italian need, transportation, and named his new car company Iso Rivolta. […]