Profiles
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1956 Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupe
Subdued styling kept values among the lowest of V12 Ferraris; they wereentry-level cars priced about the same as a 250 GTE or a 250 PF coupe {vsig}2005-10_1887{/vsig} At the 1956 Geneva Motor Show, Pinin Farina unveiled a prototype built on a 250 Europa GT chassis. The new body made the car look longer than the…
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1940 Maserati 8CL Indy Car
The car was like a snappy retort delivered after the party was over-clever, but presented to an empty room {vsig}2005-10_1888{/vsig} Following on the success of Wilbur Shaw’s win in his Maserati Tipo 8CTF at the Indianapolis 500 in May 1939, the Maserati factory was confident it could repeat this victory in 1940 with its new…
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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Scam-a-Lot
Jimbo is now dropping names I can easily check. The stones on this dude belong on Easter Island As offered by Legendary Motorcars (www.lmccars.com): This car was completely restored in the late ’90s and comes with factory Rudge wheels and belly pans. Other features include a sport camshaft and big front sway bar. This car…
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1971-81 Alfa Romeo Spider
Two ways to view the Spica fuel injection system: “diabolical” or “misunderstood” Universally regarded as two of the best open sports cars of all time, Alfa Romeo’s 750-series Giulietta Spider and 101-series Giulia Spider of the late 1950s and early ’60s were a tough act to follow. To remain the perennial darling of the enthusiast…
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1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro
I remember when I sold one for a record price of $30,000. I’m sure someone called the buyer a lunatic for paying so much Don Yenko was the major Chevrolet performance dealer for many years, and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the 427 Camaro. He converted numerous cars to 427-cid engines before planning…
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1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Convertible
Early E-types had a variety of distinctive styling features that complemented the elegance of their lines, though not all of them were practical {vsig}2005-9_1872{/vsig} The new E-type had understandably received rave reviews at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1961, so Jaguar Cars Inc. geared up for another public relations coup as the new…
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1961 Fiat Jolly 500
The expense of restoring these cars can be surprisingly high even if you get the local basket-weaving class to refurbish your seats for free {vsig}2005-9_1873{/vsig} Few cars that Fiat produced had the “cuteness” of the Jolly. With coachwork by Ghia, the Fiat Jolly 500 was introduced in 1957, and had no real practical use, except…
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1964 Ferrari 250 GTL Lusso
This car’s association with Rob Walker is probably more hype than provenance, but for me it’s enough to want it in my garage {vsig}2005-9_1874{/vsig} When the new 250 Gran Tursimo was launched at the 1954 Paris Salon it was described as the first standard series production Ferrari. Pininfarina subsequently developed several different bodywork styles for…
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1959 BMW 507 Roadster
Someone called it Germany’s answer to the Thunderbird-and trust me, this was not a compliment Unveiled to gasps of delight at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1955, the remarkably beautiful styling of the two-seater 507 came from the drawing board of German Count Albrecht Goertz, influenced not a little by U.S. BMW importer Max Hoffman.…
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1967 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA Corsa
I couldn’t keep away from the white GTA on the showroom floor, admiring it like it was a Playboy centerfold {vsig}2005-9_1876{/vsig} This striking Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is documented as the car in which future Ferrari and Alfa Romeo T33 sports-prototype star Andrea de Adamich won the 1967 European Touring Car Challenge Championship. Records show…