Classic Cars

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RM Auctions Lands 1971 Maserati Ghibli Spyder for Amelia 2014

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The Pray collection is a big part of the upcoming 2014 Amelia Island Concours at RM Auctions. It looks like the RM drinks social is at the Ritz. I am nervous already. The Ghibli Spyder was so immensely-popular when revealed that it also created an entire cottage industry of custom conversions. This really makes sense. The shark-like bit of the Ghibli’s styling was dramatically weighed down by the huge fastback coupe style. The rear canopy is large enough to overwhelm the delicate front shapes in total. Therefore, seeing any out and about is a good thing. One offered for sale? …

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18 Sublime Retro BMWs to Brighten Your Day -- Gooding & Co

19 Sublime Retro BMWs to Brighten Your Day — Gooding & Co. Amelia Island 2014 Preview

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Something to warm even the coldest hearts, fingers and toes today. 19 retro BMWs from the Gooding and Co. Amelia Island events in early March. (Most are 2014 entries, but a handful appear to be from 2012 or 2013.) Presented here in chronological model-year order, from the 1957 503 Coupe through the M1 and the M6 of the 1980s. They are all simply delightful to behold. Favorites? The 1960 BMW 700 is cuter than cute can be in M racing colors. Or the white M1 is still a big hero of mine. Many more articles on the Amelia Island, Florida …

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Corvette Museum — The Racecars! 58 High-Res Photos — Plus NCM Motorsports Park A High-Speed Dream

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There are more than a few hundred stop-and-stare Chevrolets at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.   But isn’t the NCM all closed up following a natural disaster the other week? No sir. The museum itself consists of six or seven distinct buildings, 90% of which are still open to the public. Every day, all year long. Business as usual for this all-star local attraction. This is a big summer for NCM already: the 20th anniversary celebrations fill the summer calendar here. This article focuses on two things: — introducing the soon-completed NCM Motorsports park directly across the …

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1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman SWB 12

Update1 — 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman SWB for $75,000 In Charleston, South Carolina

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 No words to describe this immaculate 1970 Pullman? I am never short of words! Yes, a tech thing prevented description of this car yesterday. But I will say these things now: — cars in this quality are very rare — price just 10% of a the total earned by drop-top six-door 1971 600 Pullman earlier this month in Paris by RM Auctions — for history fans or the inherently curious: the eagle in the front grille is the German Imperial flag — and nothing to do with some other eagle iconography that is perhaps better-known from Deutschland. https://www.deutschland.de/en This car …

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The Zora Files - What Would Zora Do 17

Update1 — What Would Zora Do? Corvette Godfather and Guardian Angel — The ZAD Playbook to Greatness

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Update1 — Chevrolet has thrown its support behind the Corvette Museum, and will oversee the restoration of all sunken Corvettes via the General Motors Design Center in Warren, Michigan. Zora smiles. What would Zora do? Is this a silly question for a man who lived from 1909-1996, and retired with a custom 454 automatic Corvette C3? No. He was the go-to guy for all the toughest Corvette problems challenges over the years. What would Zora do now? He would be very emotional, try to get the the cause of the sinkhole a few buildings away from his eternal resting place. …

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1963 Corvette GS Chaparral by Dick Coup at National Corvette Museum

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The Corvette Museum faced a big setback this week: a giant sinkhole under the museum’s grand pavilion caved in, taking eight Corvettes into the deep soil underneath in the process. Bowling Green is quite nearby to Mammoth Cave, and the geology of the region is tricky to build on. So, is it curtains for this Bowling Green landmark just before the huge 20th-anniversary celebration this fall? Absolutely not. First off, the Corvette Museum owns hundreds of acres of land. The new motorsports park across the road has plenty of room for a ne location, or the current spot could simply …

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Wealth Dreams -- 1930 Lancia Lambda 8 Sports Tourer Seeks New Home -- My Home 6

Wealth Dreams — 1930 Lancia Lambda 8 Sports Tourer Seeks New Home — My Home!

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So, if you were in the audience or bidding online during RM Auctions’ Paris 2014 event, what would you pick to drive home? Let’s have an imaginary budget of $150,000 — which is plenty — where would your dollars go? For me, it is this 1930 Lancia Lambda 8 Sports Tourer. It speaks to me. I think about it often. It is like a lover I will never have, or a friend I’ll never lose. Four doors, low roof, drama from all angles — yep. This is just my style. It is still seeking a new ‘forever home’ since not …

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RM Auctions Paris Feb 2014 - 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype 13

Update2 — RM Auctions Paris Gala Brings Out the Global Jet Set… But Also High Reserves

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RM is a real class act. This Blenheim, Ontario-based automotive specialist auction house took the best possible route to the European collector’s market via a glittering February 5th, 2014 Gala in Paris. For a relative new-comer in the seven-figure classic car world, RM is making all the right moves. Did they arrive in Paris with a variety of old Mustangs and Corvettes? Nope — not a single yank tank is in the top-thirty list from this event. The hand-crafted list of cars includes a number of unique and special pieces with extra relevance to France and European racing history. Names …

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1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Six-Door Landaulet - RM Auctions Paris 2014 - 7

1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet — *Just* $731,000 at RM Auctions Paris 2014

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Just $731,000? That is still a huge sum of money, right? In today’s world, for a six-door Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet, this is an absolute bargain. First off: most of these cars have never left the banana republics they originally called home. Many are still in active service all over the world. Secondly, this car might look rough cosmetically, but let me assure you: the Mercedes-Benz 600 (and all their pre-1989 cars, for that matter) are unbelievably strong automobiles.     I know this for a fact because I spent three weeks a few years ago dis-assembling the interior of …

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Swoopy 1955 D-type JAGUAR Tops All Comers with $5M Total in Fabulous RM Auctions Paris Gala 3

Swoopy 1955 D-type JAGUAR Tops All Comers with $5M Total in Fabulous RM Auctions Paris Gala

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Both my gorgeous French Racing Blue favorites could not approach the total earned by this BRG stunner from Jaguar the other week in Paris. RM Auctions delivered a possible world-record Jaguar total with the sale of this flawless 1955 D-type for just over $5 million on February 5th, 2014. Stay tuned for more details in the next few minutes via an upcoming article. But wanted to highlight the exceptional nature of this D-type Jaguar. Well bought and well sold — a rare combination. Photos courtesy of RM Auctions. Thankyou!

1969 McLaren M6GT - Specs vs F1 and P1 - Photo 67

Supercar Icons – 1969 McLaren M6GT vs. F1 vs. P1 – Style and Specs Compared

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[Orig Published on: Dec 30, 2013 @ 19:14 Only one of these LT1-powered road cars was officially made by McLaren. At the time, “by McLaren” literally meant that Bruce’s racing crew had created a road car for the boss. The saying goes that the original M6GT was his daily driver: attending events and developing the production plans of this racing prototype for the road. His plan was for a run of 250 cars, but only three more were created by Trojan, a fellow racing shop with the ability to complete the street-legal fiberglass bodywork, doors, and all the other trimmings …

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1968 Corvette ASTRO and ASTRO II Concepts at the National Corvette Museum + Ferrari and Bugatti-style Concepts 8

1968 Corvette ASTRO and ASTRO II Concepts at the National Corvette Museum

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The Corvette Museum is fantastic. So much so that reviewing my visit’s 350+ photos is a bit mind-boggling. Organizing the coverage into topic chunks seems most logical versus one massive article. The below video highlights these Astro concepts briefly… before my iPhone conked out of battery life mid-filming. Good times. Let’s dive in to these exceptional concept Corvettes in the Engineering and Prototype room. The Astro and Astro II are both from 1968, and show the deep divide over where to take the Corvette C3 in its 1970’s iteration. They show a wild expression of streamlined principles across the board, …

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Video Walk-around and Photos - Near-Mint 1969 Land Rover Series II Defender at Baker LR in CHarleston 16

Video Walk-around and Photos – Near-Mint 1969 Land Rover Series II Defender

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A left-hand-drive Series II from 1969? Flawless condition and only 22,500 miles showing on the odometer? Yessirs, this Series II Land Rover is about as perfect, rare and special as it gets. A factory restoration sees all-new canvas for the top, not a spot of grime or wear on the underbody, and even seven seats inside. A seven-seater? Not in the traditional sense… This Series II seats seven via three up front and four in back. The bucket seats are all hilariously undersized, and the rear passengers will lock knees and boots a bit more often than soldiers prefer. Even …

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1939 Delahaye 165 V-12 Cabriolet at Mullin Auto Museum18

Iconic Classic Car: 1939 Delahaye 165 V-12 Cabriolet at Mullin Auto Museum

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Only at the Mullin Automotive Museum could a car as brilliant, unique and influential as this Type 165 Cabriolet be summed up as “Car 30.” Amid the world’s finest collection of all-things pre-war and coach-built, the Oxnard, California Mullin Museum is a must-visit for all car fans. Those with a special passion for classics will find none other than 90-plus completely one-off models in the astounding collection. Housed in a glamorous stage-type museum building, the mood is right for period flashbacks with a recreated LeMans pit area real enough to be a fire hazard. Everything is magnificent about the museum, …

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RM Auctions Paris Feb 2014 - 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype 13

RM Auctions – Paris 2014 Preview Series, Part2 – 1982 Porsche 956-004 Group C

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What would happen if the long-body racers from the late 1960s could be made stronger, lighter and 3X as quick around corners? Turbocharging and advanced aerodynamics in this 956 Group C racer were paramount to winning championships – as were high-speed pace and near-unbreakable reliability. It added up to a world-beating racing program for much of the 1980s for Porsche. The dream is very much alive today – with 620-horsepower and fantasy track thrills – and will be auctioned on February 5, 2014 in Paris by RM Auctions. 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype – To be auctioned on Wednesday, …

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RM Auctions - Paris 2014 Previews - 1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIb by Sbarro20

RM Auctions – Paris 2014 Preview Series, Part1 – 1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIb by Sbarro

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Wow. RM Auctions had a record year in 2013, with a top-five list so classy there are barely any non-Duesenbergs. But things are even brighter so far in 2014. The Porsche below is one example. 1961 Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder – Sold for $2,750,000 on Thursday, January 16, 2014   Chassis no. 718-066 Engine no. P90316 This is part one in a series of articles highlighting a handful of favorites ahead of the Place Vauban on February 5th from 5pm. A selection of the 50-plus cars being sold that night will be on display February 4th, after the International …

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Classic Porsche Face Off - White 1972 911S vs Black 1967 911S Targa

Road Scholars in Raleigh, NC – White 1972 911S vs Black 1967 911S Targa

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Which would win your heart? The white 911S packs a bit more street charisma up front, but the “Soft Window” Targa from 1967 is much, much rarer. The Targa seller’s ad notes that only 483 of these models were imported in 1967 – the only year it was offered. Pricing is $215,000 for the Targa, and upon inquiry for the white 911S. As Porsche is finalizing the next-gen 911 Targa, that brushed-alloy roll hoop is about to skyrocket in popularity. Both 911s are extremely desirable and about as flawless as can be had from 100-percent authentic and original Porsche 911s. …

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RM Auctions Paris 2014 - 1953 Gordini 24S GIF1

HD Video – 1953 Gordini 24S Blasts Around Its Favorite Tracks Before RM Auctions Paris Sale

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 This car defies logic. On one hand, it looks adorable and cute. So narrow and low, with the blue bodywork peeled back around the exhaust manifold and the straight-cut pipes. Watch the below… The Gordini starts to howl at about the half-way mark of this video preview. Kudos to its bold driver, who is not shy with the loud pedal. Firing up the 24S takes a prod onto an organ-stop switch – included as the fuel cutoff for racing. This very car won the Tour de France (a car race at the time…) and also traded paint with Porsche and …

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Iconic Classic Supercars: 1965 Bizzarrini Strada Alloy 5300GT One of Most Influential Cars, Ever

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Ever the tornado of creativity and speed, Ferrari was quite volatile in the early 1960s. For every race they won, it seems like a failed buyout from Ford and the epic ‘palace revolution’resulted in a big brain drain for Maranello. Competing hot-shot engineers would form nearly a dozen competing supercar marques, including Lamborghini, De Tomaso, Iso, ATS, ASA and Bizzarrini. Each led by a mastermind engineer, stylist, machinist or visionary, only Lamborghini’s brand was strong enough to make it to the 1970s and beyond. The Ferrari exodus left all these talented men with huge ideas, but less of a real …

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How Plucky Visual Humor and Lavish Color Saved the VW Beetle in America (100+ Images)

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I’ve been really hard on VW lately, and passed up an opportunity to test drive the 2014 Beetle GSR this summer – which I strongly regret! A few background items: — My first car was a 1975 SuperBeetle, which was the final and best evolution of the design with a curved windshield, hand-crank sunroof, L-Jetronic Fuel Injection and a new MacPherson strut front suspension design. I drove Walter, as he was named before joining our garage, throughout high school until year 2000, and for much of college until 2005. I miss him on winter days like this. — Silverado out …

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CarRevsDaily

New Supercar or Vintage Racecar: The Case for Recreations + Quiz: Which is the Fake?

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Here is the case for exotic, hand-crafted replica vintage racecars: They Exist. They did not hit the walls, or churn tires through bodywork, or reek of urine. They start the first time, and can be titled and driven on the roads. At Motor Classic & Competition in Westchester County, New York — the all-time best hero racecars come back to life, rumble onto 2014 streets, and perhaps even find a home in your garage. Most race-winning examples of anything need to be treasured and preserved; maintained and respected. To put it in plain language: the GT40s in this article are …

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ChicagoMotorCLubBuilding - CarRevsDaily

Auto Landmark: Chicago Motor Club – Vacant Art Deco Highrise

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  How sad is this title? 17 stories of glory, with car elevators and a full drive-up garage system, on prime real estate of Wacker Drive in Chicago?     Last we checked, 68 South Water Street was owned by a consortium of flustered real estate investors. Hotel conversion plans have backfired, and there are rumblings that the building … may not be inhabitable. Too bad. Look at this penthouse sun room. Vacant for the last 30 years, at least. Built over 80 years ago, bringing this masterclass in Art Deco architecture up to code seems to be prohibitively expensive …

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Iconic Classic – 1925/34 Rolls-Royce Phantom I – Round Door Aero Coupe

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This Phantom Series I Rolls-Royce V12 rumbled out the factory doors in 1925, but did not add these gorgeous stream-liner panels until its coachwork was complete in 1934. There is much to learn from this Jonkheere Aerodynamique Coupe – even today. The grille treatment is remarkably swept-back, but maintains the classic proportions very artfully. It is very hard to imagine these designs being fabricated by hand, but that was the only way to achieve results like this in the early 1930s. CAD-CAM has come a long way since the Round Door Coupe – but very few of this car’s contemporaries …

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Hero Racecars - 1970 Alfa-Romeo Tipo 33-4 TASMAN 15

Racing Evolution 1968-1970 – Alfa Romeo T33 Mugello, T33/2 LeMans + T33/4 Tasman

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This is part two of the Alfa Romeo endurance racer showcase. These long-tail machinesdirectly evolved from the original Tipo 33 Periscopo and Stradale prototypes – but made huge changes. Far less glass lowers the center of mass, while aerodynamic ground effects became a critical part of racing. This put an end to the smooth flowing surfaces of the curvy 1967 T33 Stradale and its siblings. The Tipo 33 series diverged in 1969 in anticipation of rule changes in the 1970s that would prefer an open cockpit layout. Yes, for trivia buffs, Le Mans has alternated between open and closed cars …

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Hero Racecars – 1967-1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale

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Okay, the Tipo 33 Stradale is not quite a street-legal supercar: this is a racing prototype that competed in some of the fiercest LeMans racing battles ever seen. Among its six-plus variants in body style, length, and mechanical package: the Tipo 33 was considered to be among the top three contenders for the late-60’s golden age of endurance racing. Ultimately: the Tipo 33 proved slower than Ford and Porsche, but ahead of McLaren, Ferrari, and the numerous other LMP1 teams. Was the Tipo 33 not a race-winner? Does being spanked by Ford every year it competed mean it is a …

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1961 MINI Drops 54 Years in 60 Seconds

Timelapse Video: 1961 MINI Drops 54 Years at Past/Future Dutch MINI Factory

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A charming, *exclusive* time-lapse of a 1961 model’s rebirth from MINI, just as the firm debuts its hottest 2014 JCW Concept and the all-new Hardtops are officially official. Long pre-amble: Short video. Enjoy this ’61 Mini’s rebirth. This 1961 Austin Seven was originally built in the Netherlands after Mini fever swept Britain and wider Europe by storm. Similar tides these days, as Mini has signed up to build cars again in the Netherlands starting in Summer 2014. While this is not a fully Mini plant, the Dutch crew is giving it all of their love. A team of – no …

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Concept Flashback - 2006 BMW Mille Miglia 9

Concept Flashback – 2006 BMW Mille Miglia

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New cars can be tiring to write about. These concepts are my diversion before the real work begins. Many concepts these days roll onto the stage with tight-lipped executives – who will say it only points toward a potential future design, etc. If the exec in question is standing in front of a mono-pod spaceport of some kind, it is easy to trust him. But more than ever before, concept cars are a lightly veiled launch platform for the real-deal production car about 8 months later. Cynical? Me? Never. Some concepts have barely a chance in hell of seeing volume …

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Update1 Racing Heritage: the Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz (100+ Rare Photos)

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Imagine a combination of all forms of racing – off-road to high-speed – done by one core chassis design.   During the 1930s, the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were storming every type of racing one could imagine: both competitively in Formula races and for world record attempts outside the circuit. This sent the Silver Arrows up hillclimb events, on ultimate Vmax runs, and even a few winter setups that included a dually rear wheel and a closed shell cockpit at one point.   All these variants were highly ingenious engineering achievements around one core chassis design. The open-wheel profile of any …

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Superformance Ford GT40 Showcase 9

Tempted? Superformance 1966 Ford GT40's Are Virtually Flawless

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These two devils play a wicked trick on the brain at first sight. Their unique blend of original and modern Ford GT cues really sets them apart on the roads – even when that giant V8 is not howling away. Priced from $150,000 each, these are recreations of Ford GT40 LeMans-winners. But these cars have a few aces up their sleeve to make up for their lack of pure vintage credibility: speed, presence, and ease of use. They are also easier to drive on the street, with updated emissions and other helpful concessions to road use. The sense of occasion …

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Own This Authentic 1969 McLaren M10-A To Be A Racing Hero

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One thing I love about the English car mag culture is their enthusiasm for track days – and track day cars. I hope this catches on here, and am doing my part with a few ‘first-times’ under my Dunlop belt.   But one thing that will always beat an Exige S or other time-attack miracles? A real, fire-breathing race car. Nothing will bring all those study hall sketches to life like this 1969 McLaren M10A currently for sale by FantasyJunction in Emeryville, California. Priced at $160,000, this car comes with a drooling list of included equipment, and stretch-folders full of …

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The Most Stylish 4-Door Never Made? 1980 Ferrari Pinin Still Brilliant

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The 1980 Ferrari Pinin concept shares much of the low-slung beauty of the 400i models, but none of their affordability. This one-off concept is being sold by Museo Ferrari for $1.2 million. Before you write off this design and its gob-smaking egg-crate grille, take a few minutes to twirl it around with 30 years perspective since its debut. Yes, the nose is messy, and the clamshell hood shows some panel fit issues in some of the photos.   But Enzo Ferrari himself is also sitting in the car for some of the photos, evaluating it around Fiorano on a nice …

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Classic Supercars: Ultra-Chic Ferrari 400i and 412i

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Classic car shopping is often like staring over a city from high atop a mountain. Once your eye sees one thing it likes, there are ten more within the same focal point. Such is Hemming’s Classifieds section. This site allows is a much broader type of browsing and car shopping, with long distance delivery of anything bought online. Generally, private sellers online come in two flavors: – extreme obsessives who are forced to part with a car they have cherished – extremely careless people charged with liquidating an asset You can guess which one you want to buy from to …

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McLaren Turbo – Secrets of Black Air – 1987 Buick GNX Story

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Let’s start at the beginning, my personal vantage on the Buick GNX – before and after watching Black Air: The Buick Grand National Story. Here are three things you may not know about the 1987 Buick Grand National: Engine came first, car second. What sporty body could fit this 500HP boost-monster? Housing the huge McLaren turbocharger and intercooler hardware of the 3.8-liter V6 was the hardest part. It was a very sentimental project for the company, allowing unbridled execution of the super-car engine and total styling black-out. That high-gloss, rich paint was pure fantasy at the time. The GNX was the …

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RM Acutions 64 Hemi Charger Mont2011

Concept Flashback: 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger – Speedster Prototype

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Can you guess who hates Camaro and Mustang news? Dodge. This one-off concept’s HEMI engine gurgles and rocks the car as it revs with indignity at the 2.3-liter turbo four heading to the 2015 Mustang. No cubes = no pubes, the Hemi Charger growls to itself. Packing a 7.0-liter V8 engine with a quoted 600 horsepower, the Hemi Charger concept is part Batmobile part race-car and part street fantasy The proportions of this machine are hilariously retro. Clearly converted from a much longer sedan platform, the back deck of the Hemi Charger is a few feet longer than even the …

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BMW V12 Turns 25! Celebrating the Evolution of the V12 BMW 7-series

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BMW’s mighty V-12 turns 25 this year, and the red carpets are being unfurled worldwide. Such a limousine was a flight of fancy for any non-Mercedes-Benz company before the 1980s, but BMW led the assault on the S-Class stronghold. With the V12’s launch in the late 1980s, BMW cemented its rightful place in the luxury sports limo category. This is, after all, the V12 whose 627 horsepower propelled the McLaren F1 to such great heights. This is the engine below in testing, with image credit to BMWblog.com McLaren F1 Engine Testing Image Credit: http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/06/28/bugatti-veyron-and-mclaren-f1-comparing-the-incomparable/ The rest, as they say, is …

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IDx NISMO

Nissan Taps Skyline Bloodlines for Future IDx Rear-Drive Compact Range

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All hail, the IDx NISMO Concept. Along with its Freeflow sibling, these twins reclaim some of Nissan’s proudest – and most stylish – historical moments. Just a brief thumb through the Nissan Heritage archives shows the huge strides made by Nissan between 1965 and 1975. The cars went from down-sized, durable and cute bubbles into sedan shapes with much blockier lines. The BMW M Division, AMG or NISMO strategy is long-established with the Skyline range, which has come in all flavors: from luke-warm four-doors all the way to extreme fastback coupes. But in the Nissan back catalog, there is a …

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RM Auctions and Sotheby’s Triple Pre-Sale Estimates at NY Gala

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The landmark collaboration between auto experts RM Auctions and artful Sotheby’s set new heights with November 2013’s “Art of the Automobile.” The week-long extravaganza sounds like it went perfectly, at least in terms of the pricing delivered to sellers and the variety of exceptional cars on display. This might have been one of those weeks in a city like Manhattan. Where millions of people walk by a dark building without a clue how much majesty is just a few feet away through the bricks. The cars were on display for pre-sale viewings, making this a bit of a secret garden …

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1964 Chevrolet CERV II7 ANIMATED GIF

RM Auctions and Sotheby's Triple Pre-Sale Estimates at NY Gala

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The landmark collaboration between auto experts RM Auctions and artful Sotheby’s set new heights with November 2013’s “Art of the Automobile.” The week-long extravaganza sounds like it went perfectly, at least in terms of the pricing delivered to sellers and the variety of exceptional cars on display. This might have been one of those weeks in a city like Manhattan. Where millions of people walk by a dark building without a clue how much majesty is just a few feet away through the bricks. The cars were on display for pre-sale viewings, making this a bit of a secret garden …

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Eagle Low Drag GT Finished! Only Two More Chassis Available…

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Eagle Low Drag GT Launches New Website Since discovering Eagle’s latest project a few months ago, the anticipation of the finished car has been palpable. After hitting the lawns of Buckingham Palace with the St James’s Concours d’Elegance in early September, it appears that the car is in finished form for the latest photos on http://www.lowdrag-gt.com/ Secrets Secrets While the pricing and the buyer for this first Eagle Low Drag GT are very private, Mr. Brace let us know that the single car has been in progress for more than the last five years. He also hinted that there is …

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1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Carrozzeria Scaglietti7

Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions and Sotheby’s NY Gala

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Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions/Sotheby’s NY Gala The art world is in a frenzy. From Gurlitt to Rothko to Warhol, checks are being cut in denominations so large they might need an official escort. This certainly extends to cars. Beautiful dry weather brought out the big spenders all spring an summer. Even versus a three-pack of masters, the $50-million-plus recent Ferrari total is unbelievably huge. It is particularly interesting that such a sale was so public, in some regards. Typically, buyers in that type of market are not browsing the night of the auction. Closed-doors deals …

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1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Carrozzeria Scaglietti7

Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions and Sotheby’s NY Gala

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Record Prices Expected at This Week’s 2013 RM Auctions/Sotheby’s NY Gala The art world is in a frenzy. From Gurlitt to Rothko to Warhol, checks are being cut in denominations so large they might need an official escort. This certainly extends to cars. Beautiful dry weather brought out the big spenders all spring an summer. Even versus a three-pack of masters, the $50-million-plus recent Ferrari total is unbelievably huge. It is particularly interesting that such a sale was so public, in some regards. Typically, buyers in that type of market are not browsing the night of the auction. Closed-doors deals …

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1985 Porsche 959 Vorserie [pilot] from RM Auctions – Fun Car Gifs

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1985 Porsche 959 Vorserie [pilot] from RM Auctions – Fun Car Gifs Enjoy this slow-motion GIF of the all-time hero 959 from 1985. Vorserie indicates pre-production, so this was one of the first customer-ready cars from this incredible series. This 959 sold for $737,000 in 2013 by RM auctions, and is worth every penny.   As always, right-click to download like any other image! Here is a shorter version that is under 2MB.                 Original images thanks: RM Auctions

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Iconic Classic Showcase: Porsche 959 Komfort and 959 Vorserie from RM Auctions

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Iconic Classic Showcase: 1985 Porsche 959 Vorserie This start-up sequence video from RM Auctions must be the most blissful 30 seconds ever recorded. Plus, the 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort  from RM Auctions Sometimes I find it helpful to look at two pristine examples of a classic masterpiece when prepping these articles. All the variations in styling, specification and lifestyle really cannot be summed up with one car. Unless it only came in Rosso Corsa red and had a twin-turbocharged V-8 mounted mod-ship, that is. The 959 has always been a beguilingly brilliant exercise in refined aerodynamics, among its other achievements. …

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Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia

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Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia If it seems like we have an unhealthy fascination for the Mullin Automotive Museum, you might be right. The cars inside this collection just… write their own stories. I have a dozen more that I would like to feature, but we must start at the true nexus – or “Xenia” perhaps – of the art of French coach-building by Jacques Saoutchik and his contemporaries. How all these cars got to sunny California is no accident. In many cases – the cars in the collection were painstakingly built – sometimes from only drawings – …

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1960s Classics Changing Hands At Record Prices - And Frequency5

1960s Classics Changing Hands At Record Prices – And Frequency

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1960s Classics Changing Hands At Record Prices – And Frequency Throughout 2013 Springtime is auction season, and this year things were hotter than ever in the market for early 1960s exotica. Last weekend, Bonhams sold a one-off 1960 Bertone DB4 GT Jet for $4.9 million at a special event by the AM Works Service based at the old factory in Newport Pagnell. This weekend, a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico is on the block the RM Auctions Lake Cuomo event. The rush of car buying in Pebble Beach in August also reached a fever pitch this year, but …

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