Archive for the ‘classic cars’ Category
August 24th, 2010 | 
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During a long history of 100 years, Alfa Romeo has created more than 70 models, and what better to draw a little attention to your brand than creating a poll among British Alfa Romeo fans to determine which one of those 70 models is the best. And the winner is…the Alfa Romeo GTAm by a hair of less than 1% over the 8C Competizione.
The Alfa Giulia GTAm was a two door coupe produced y Alfa Romeo in 1970-1971. It was powered by a 2.0 L straight-4 engine producing up to 240hp. It was derived from the standard 1750 GT Veloce production model with a SPICA mechanical fuel injection system. A highlight of the GTAm’s career was winning the 1970 European Touring Car Championship in the hands of Dutchman Toine Hezemans. It beat out the competition in this poll with a 20.4% vote. The 8C Competizione followed the GTAm with a 19.8%.
“The Giulia GTAm was a great Alfa and a deserved winner. It’s really interesting to see how people voted in the poll. We all have our favorites which is testament to the fantastic cars Alfa Romeo has produced over the past century.” For those of you interested, the latest GTAm is on sale in dealerships across the UK.
Press release after the jump.
Alfa Giulia GTAm – best Alfa Romeo ever originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 16:00 EST.
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It was only about six months ago that 80-year-old Stirling Moss was unfortunate enough to fall down an elevator shaft in his very own home. After recovering quickly from minor injuries, Moss moved forward quickly by purchasing a Porsche RS61 just like the one he raced in the sixties. That little speedster set him back a record $1.7 million, but it was well worth it for Moss as he was set to race it in Monterey this past weekend.
Unfortunately, while Moss was taking a warm-up lap at the the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s qualifying session, a fellow racer ran into him on his out lap. Stirling was unhurt, but the car, however, suffered considerable damage rendering it undriveable for the rest of the Monterey weekend. As this particular weekend was due to be his only race outing in the RS this year, he will now have to wait until 2011, once it is repaired in the United States, to get back behind the wheel of this classic Porsche race car.
Stirling Moss’ Porsche RS61 crashes at Monterey originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 August 2010 20:00 EST.
The British auto manufacturer Aston Martin is notorious for creating some of the most elegant and luxurious cars on the supercar market. What makes them stand apart is that they do so without taking away from any of the brute force of an agile hyper-car. However, when we see a car like the bulky, awkward looking 1996 “Sportsman” Shooting Brake, we wonder how all of that finesse got lost in in this particular translation.
With styling similar to the V8 Le Mans, the Shooting Brake is an entirely hand built 2-door hatchback. What makes it even more special is the fact that only two were ever built. Normally, we wouldn’t discuss automobiles such as this unless they were miraculously thrown back into the loop so you can guess that this one has gone back into circulation. The Shooting Brake is up for auction at Bonhams’ sale of Fine Motor Cars and Automobilia at the ’Weekend de l’Excellence Automobile on September 11th. Due to its rarity, the car is expected to fetch upwards of $650,000; as much as a couple of 599s.
We’ll let you decide if you want a hatchback over a couple monstrou, red Ferraris. Other Astons up for sale are a 1965 DB5 Vantage (one of which went for $830K at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed), a 1957 DB2/4 MKII Drophead Coupe, and a 1986 Volante.
Super-rare $650k Aston Martin Shooting Brake up for auction originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 8 August 2010 06:00 EST.
Yesterday we reported that a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible was auctioned for $830.000 and today we are pleased to announce that an even more exclusive 1966 Aston Martin DB6 will be available for auction in Monterey on August 13, 2010.
The Aston Martin DB6 was based off the DB5, but had a larger and more accommodating Grand Touring drive. For some, like legendary crooner Bing Crosby, this was an ideal car to drive around in. In fact, Crosby was the original owner of this exclusive vehicle. The silver gray coupe is powered by a 4 liter OHC straight 6 engine producing 282hp which was made by AM.
The coupe is in excellent condition and still has all of the original interior and original cheery wood steering wheel. The DB6 did receive new paint and chrome about five years ago. It has also received new wheels, tires, and a new brake system.
1966 Aston Martin DB6 for auction originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 8 July 2010 09:00 EST.
In July 1963 Aston Martin unveiled the DB5. The convertible version was limited to only 23 units, but only nine of them featured the more powerful Vantage engine which was a 282bhp engine mated to a four-speed/overdrive gearbox. One of these fantastic automobiles was auctioned during this past weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for an impressive £551,500 (or $830,000 at the current exchange rates).
The Aston Martin wasn’t the only vehicle with a price tag to bid on at that auction. Other extravagant vehicles were sold and included a 1937 Bentley 41/4-Litre Drophead Coupe (which was featured in the 007 James Bond film ’Never Say Never Again’), a 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK230, and a 1976 Jensen Interceptor Series III Coupe. In total, the auction raised an impressive £3,707,687.
Group Head of Bonhams Motoring Department, James Knight, comments: "There was extraordinary strength of bidding in all areas of the market and we were exceptionally pleased to establish yet another world record Aston Martin price with the sale of the DB5 convertible."
Press release after the jump.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible auctioned for $830K originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 15:00 EST.
Gooding & Company has announced that a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione will be available for auction at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. The car is considered to be the most significant LWB California Spider ever built, so expect to see a very high price attached to this vehicle.
The California Spyder features a 508 D chassis, covered headlights, and the most powerful engine still fitted to a California Spider, a Tipo 168. These highlights are some of the main reasons this car has done so well in a number of events. It finished 5th overall at Sebring 12 Hours and has done well in the Bahamas Speed Week, many times with famous drivers including George Reed and Alan Connell behind the wheel.
The same auction will also feature a 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta by Zagato, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod, and a 1971 Lamborghini Miura S that is being estimated at more than $600K. There will also be an auction by Mecum featuring a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France.
Press release after the jump.
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione for auction originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 2 July 2010 21:00 EST.
Yes, you read the title right; there is a 1914 Rolls Royce for sale, but this is not just any 1914 Rolls-Royce! This is a royal purple 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that just happened to belong to Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. Interested? The car is available for sale in Germany at a price of 5.5 million euro (or around $6.7 million at the current exchange rates).
This vehicle was built as a special order from the War Department in Russia in 1917 and then transferred to the Tsar. After the murder of the imperial family, the Rolls Royce "experienced" an adventurous life, traveling through half the world, including doing a stint in a car museum where it was displayed next to Adolf Hitler’s Mercedes. Finally the car was bought by a car collector in Germany and was hidden from curious eyes!
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was produced from 1906 to 1925, with 6,173 units produced. It was powered by a 7428cc six-cylinder engine that delivered a total of 48 HP at 1200 rpm and was mated to a three-speed gearbox. The car was capable of a top speed of 24 mph.
1914 Rolls-Royce for sale at $6.7 Million originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 09:00 EST.
One of the year’s most anticipated auto events is the Goodwood Festival of Speed and this year’s staging is only a few more days away. So if you’ve circled the dates July 2-4 on your calendars, you’re going to be in for quite a treat as Porsche will be coming to the event and will be bringing a host of its history-making race cars for the weekend-long autopalooza.
Among the classic Porsche racers that are scheduled to be in the event include the legendary Porsche 917 to commemorate the company’s historic win at Le Mans in 1970. Porsche will also bring the 1962 804 GP car, as well as a number of its winning race cars from the Targa Florio road race in Sicily.
Classic cars won’t be the only Porsches expected to be present at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Combining old-school classics with new school powerhouses, Porsche will also be fielding a host of its latest creations including the 911 GT2 RS, regarded as the most powerful and fastest Porsche production car in the company’s already illustrious history.
Historic Porsche racers to be displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 24 June 2010 17:00 EST.
Ten years in the making and many disputes with developers and state and local governments later, the LeMay Museum has finally broken ground as of last week. Fitted with a budget of about $100 million and a timeline of 18 months until completion, the LeMay Museum will bring to light the astounding collection of Harold E. LeMay, founder of a waste management business in the state of Washington.
Harold E. LeMay was able to collect about 3,000 cars during his lifetime which is deemed the largest collection of its kind by the Guiness Book of World Records. In 1998, LeMay founded the LeMay Museum with the intentions of displaying his marvelous collection for all to see. Unfortunately, Harold LeMay was unable to see the completion, or even the start for that matter, of his museum before his death in 2000. Of course, as they say, behind a great man there is a wonderful woman and following his death, LeMay’s wife, Nancy, took on the project. With her many fundraising efforts, Nancy LeMay was able to allocate $15 million of her own along with $11 million from the state of Washington, and $1.6 million from AAA car club.
The design for the museum consists of a spiraling display ramp and lots of chrome and glass featuring 500 of LeMay’s classic automobiles sitting on nine acres. Retail shops, dining, and entertainment venues will also take up shop on this parcel of land. Developers project a total of about 425,000 visitors and $34 million in revenue per year.
Among his collection of 3,000 automobiles, LeMay has a 1916 Buick Abadal, a 1924 Lincoln L Towncar, a 1929 Ford Model AA, a 1950 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible, a 1959 Chrysler 300E, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, a 1983 DeLorean DMC 12, and just about everything in between.
LeMay Museum finally breaks ground; Will display LeMay's collection of 3,000 autos originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 18 June 2010 22:00 EST.
The RM Auctions’ 25th anniversary Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in August will feature some of the most exclusive cars in the world. One of them will be a Scaglietti-designed ‘Pontoon Fender’ 250 Testa Rossa. With only 21 units produced, the 250 Testa Rossa was produced from 1957 to 1958.
This car in particular was delivered new to Brazilian Jean-Louis Lacerda Soares and was raced for several seasons in South America under the Esquardari Largatixa banner where it recorded a number of successful finishes. For the past 14 years it has been campaigned extensively in its yellow and green Brazilian racing colors, recording numerous wins and podium finishes at the world’s most prestigious historic racing events.
Although no one knows exactly much money it will be auctioned for, we have to remind you that in 2009 a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa was sold for a record $12 million. That sounds promising.
Rare 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa for auction in Monterey originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 11 June 2010 23:00 EST.
A 1969 Shelby Trans Am Mustang Boss 302 that belonged to Dan Gurney is now available for sale on eBay. Really, is there much more to say than that? There were only three cars built for the 1969 season and this car chassis 9F02R-112073 was the prototype, test car, and Ford media car. Yes, you have just stumbled upon automotive heaven.
The car was driven by Dan Gurney at Kent and he then practiced with it at Sears Point. Peter Revson drove it at Laguna Seca finishing 4th overall for the car’s best result of the 1969 season.
The car was then used as a test car at Bud Moore’s shop, raced by John Gimbel of Dark Horse Racing, went back to Bud Moore, and was then sold to Daher Racing from Guadalajara Mexico. Believe it or not, the car found its way back to Bud Moore who then sold it to Danny Moore. Danny Moore used this vehicle to win the SCCA National Championship. It was in 2003 that the 1969 Shelby Trans Am Mustang Boss 302 was restored by Phil Gallant.
The Shelby was restored to "a very high concours standard with as many of the original parts retained as possible". Tony Oddo of T.O.E Performance Products rebuilt the 8 cylinder engine to produce 527hp with 420 ft lbs of torque.
If you want it, it can be yours for $1,100,000.
1969 Shelby Trans Am Mustang Boss 302 for sale on eBay originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 11 June 2010 18:00 EST.
In 1959 Ferrari unveiled a one-off 250 GT Tour de France specially designed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This car took first in its class and third place overall at Le Mans and won the 1000km Nurburgring race as well. Since then the car has only been owned by a few collectors. Unbelievably, this particular car will now be going up for auction by Mecum in Monterey, California. This auction will take place during the Pebble Beach concours weekend on August 13, 2010.
The 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France, serial number 1321, is painted in the original red and orange livery with original racing number. It was built on a 2600 mm wheelbase and powered by a 3-liter version of the Colombo ’short-block’ V12 engine that delivered 240 hp. This appearance will be its first in over twenty years since its outing in Road America in the early ’90s.
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France for auction originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:00 EST.
Gooding & Company has announced three extraordinary collector cars for the 2010 Pebble Beach Auctions: a 1927 Mercedes-Benz S Boattail Speedster, a 1956 Maserati 200 SI, and an award-winning 1951 Ferrari 340 America. Gooding & Company is the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and every year they host a Pebble Beach Auction. This year it will occur on Saturday August 14 at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday August 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center.
The first tantalizing piece of machine is a Mercedes S Boattail Speedster that was owned by the Marx Brothers. It also previously made an appearance in the film Sylvia Scarlett starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. This is the first time the car will ever be offered to the public at an auction. The second piece is the 1956 Maserati SI that was raced by Sir Stirling Moss. This vehicle has had podium finishes at Nurburgring, Napoli, Caraccas, and Bari. Recently, it has won in its class at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The third item is the 1951 Ferrari 340 America from the estate of devoted enthusiast Mr. Gil Nickel. This vehicle debuted at the 1952 New York Auto Show and has participated in the Mille Miglia, Monaco Historics, Laguna Seca Historics and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
“Cars with such incredible history and pedigree truly capture the market’s attention. These cars are supreme examples of rarity and connoisseurship with connections to three great marques,” says David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding & Company. “We are particularly pleased to offer cars that have rarely been seen in public or previously available on the open market.”
Press release after the jump.
Pebble Beach Auctions rounds up three collector cars for auction originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 8 June 2010 09:00 EST.
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