Profiles
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1964 Ford GT40 Prototype
Whoever won the battle to own this car spent an absolutely scandalous amount of money to do so, presumably because the car is so historicallyimportant {vsig}2005-11_1896{/vsig} In April of 1964 the Ford GT40 was unveiled to the automotive press, and the journalists and industry executives alike were awestruck by the innovative monocoque design and dashing…
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1970-1977 Mercury Capri
With the exception of a few fake side vents and one character line too many, the Capri was handsome and looked the part of a 2/3-scale pony car “The Sexy European” was how FoMoCo billed the Capri for its U.S. launch in 1970, as if it was peddling Sophia Loren at Lincoln-Mercury dealers rather than…
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1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda 2-Door Hard Top
What kept production numbers low was the staggering cost of the Hemi option, at just under $900-or nearly a third of the base price of the car {vsig}2005-10_1884{/vsig} In a day when clones and replicas are so commonly seen, it is a pleasure to see an authentic, factory-built 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda coupe. Presented in…
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1956 Jaguar XK 140 “MC” Roadster
During the Second World War, William Lyons and his colleagues conceived a new car design that featured the world’s first high volume twin-cam engine, called the XK series. A short wheelbase chassis and a two-seat sports roadster body were married to this new engine and the result was nothing less than sensational-sleek, beautiful, and strikingly…
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1969 Lancia Fulvia HF Fanalone
Most references politely say that Fanalone means “large lights,” but Italian friends have told me that it’s actually slang for “big breasts” During the 1960s, the wonderfully nimble, front-wheel-drive Lancia Fulvia reigned consistently among the highest echelon of international rally contenders. Campaigned by the Lancia factory team in 1966, they achieved second place finishes in…
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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…