All posts in “Classic Cars”

No Time to Die: James Bond’s “Goldfinger” Aston Martin DB5 Lives On

The long wait is almost over, it’s nearly 6 years since the last Bond-movie SPECTRE premiered in November 2015. On September 28th next week, the latest Bond movie will premiere in London followed by theaters worldwide, it’s Daniel Craig’s last appearance as 007. To bridge the waiting time, let’s have a look at the most iconic Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5. Last seen at the end of SPECTRE; Daniel Craig and Lea Sedoux drive away in the DB5 and first still images from No Time To Die indicate that the DB5 is part of a heavy battle scene.

No Time To Die DB5

I captured the legendary “Goldfinger” Aston Martin DB5 out in the Swiss Alps and can finally provide an in-depth look on the car and all the tech which was installed inside. There are only two of those cars from the Goldfinger movie in the world, this one belongs to a well-known Swiss car collector. David described his first encounter with this automotive pearl as follow: “On a sunny Saturday in September 2020, the timeless shape of a DB5 arrived at the legendary Kulm Hotel in St.Moritz, turning many heads of pedestrians and guests”.

To see a DB5 on public roads is a rare sight in any case, but the number plate made me curious – isn’t this the famous LU6789 from “Goldfinger” ???

And yes, except the passenger eject seat (which was never installed in any of the film cars, only on a mockup), this model is still fully functional with smoke-cannons on the rear, two machine guns coming out of the fog-lights, turning number plates and the bulletproof shield on the rear as explained by the proud owner.

The second photo gallery shows the upgrades made by “Q”, starting with pressure bottles in the trunk, pipe work to activate the various actuators inside the car, the central console with the switches and buttons and the square radar screen with a blinking red dot…

The legendary DB5 appeared in several Bond movies over the last decades – hence it’s no surprise to see the Aston Martin once more as brave battle partner of 007. This time the car chase scene was filmed in the historic centre of Matera, Italy as well as the ancient Sassi which is a UNESCO-protected cave dwelling.

NO TIME TO DIE Sassi

Some villain cars (most probably Jaguars, Range Rovers) will complete the car lineup. The trailer also provides a glimpse of the Valhalla in a scene with Ralph Fiennes as “M”.

Daniel Craig

Photos by David Kaiser and UPI for “No Time To Die” still images.

Collecting Classics: How Supercars Are The New Auction Superstars

There are many cars out there in the world that are deemed to be “classic cars,” from restored and Concours d’Elegance-level original 1930’s Fords, to modified mid-1960s Austin Healey’s and Lotuses. While all of these cars are classic in their own ways, there are several tiers of classics that are becoming the must-have items on the auction blocks around the world: the classic supercar.

So, what defines a supercar from before the 1980s, when the term was invoked for the Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40? Aggregating what most experts say about the subject, three major factors determine what is a classic supercar.

Rarity

While the original Ford Shelby GT350 Fastback is a prime example of a beautiful classic, it doesn’t count as much towards the rarity count as there were tens of thousands of the car made. However, another car that Carroll Shelby helped design is certainly valid for the rarity scale, the road homologation versions of the Ford GT40, of which only 105 were made.

Power at the Time of Production

To make this clear, we’re counting power as a combination of raw HP and torque, as well as the speeds that the car could reach. Using the Mk II and Mk III versions of the aforementioned GT40, power was from a Ford 427 V8 and reached a nominal 485 HP. The car also topped out at 201 MPH. This was faster than anything anyone was able to pump out for a homologation road car in 1965.

Value/Pedigree

To realistically be considered a supercar, the car in question must have some intrinsic value to it. It may be because it was the most expensive car on the market at the time, or was a demonstration of racing technology for the road, and had a racing pedigree that made it famous. As well, most of the cars that are considered classic supercars have appreciated in value over the years after the standard depreciation most vehicles undergo.

With this in mind, we can look back only a short way back to the mid-2010s to find a couple of classic supercars. One is the most expensive classic supercar, ever, to be sold at auction. The other is an American limited edition of a car with pedigree and history behind its marque.

The 1962 to 1964 Ferrari 250 GTOVintage Ferraris on the racetrack

In the opinion of many, the Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the, if not the, most beautiful cars ever made. Seductive curves, the classic long hood, short tail grand touring body, and one of the best V12 engines ever put in a metal body with four wheels. While there were many 250 GT’s made and sold, there were only 36 250 GTO’s… ever.

The history behind the car also adds to its overall value. Using the 250 GT SWB as a base, the Ferrari racing department got to work modifying the car to be able to enter the FIA Group 3 Grand Touring Car championship. Part of the regulations stated that at least 25 road-going versions needed to be homologated so that the race car could be certified as being based on a road-going GT.

Thus was born the GTO nameplate, which stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, or Grand Touring Homologated. Powered by the now legendary Tipo 158/62 3.0L Colombo V12, the lightweight GTO produced a respectable 296 HP and 217 lb-ft of torque. And Ferrari meant lightweight, with the body shell being made entirely out of aluminum, with a hollow oval steel chassis frame. With the engine in and all fluids topped, the 250 GTO weighed only 2,000 lbs. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Series I at the Ferrari museum

This, of course, made it ridiculously fast for the day. In fact, during the very first race outing of a 1962 250 GTO, in the 1962 12 Hours of Sebring, the car, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, came in second overall. The pedigree of the car was secured overnight, and it soon became the hot item for the wealthy of the world to drive.

However, this proved to be a bit of a problem for 99% of the wealthy, as to be allowed to buy the car, you needed to be approved by Enzo Ferrari himself. The $18,000 USD asking price was really a bit of an afterthought (equivalent to $160,000 USD in 2021), but you had to sit down with Il Commendatore himself, look him in the eye, and explain why you wanted to buy the car. If he didn’t like your reasons, you didn’t get the car.

Immediately, all three of the determining factors to name the 250 GTO a classic supercar are instantly met. It is extremely rare, it established its pedigree in the very first race it entered, and it was immensely fast with a glorious V12 3.0L engine. Of the original 36 cars, 33 were what is known as Series I, the classic, well-known body shape. Only the last 3, after redesigns of the 250 GTO to make it competitive for the 1964 Le Mans race, were given the scalloped rear window and dropped trunk, known as the LM or Series II body.

1964 Ferrari 250 GTO series II LM

A combination of its timeless beauty, racing pedigree, and the purchase process has made the car one of the most highly sought-after classic supercars of all time. In 2012, a 1963 250 GTO went across the block at $35 million USD, and a scant 5 years later, one of the first chassis made in 1962 crossed the Sotheby’s of London block for $48 million USD.

However, in 2018, at 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis number 4153GT, changed hands privately for $70 million USD. This specific chassis was actually raced, taking part in the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans where it finished fourth, and the 1964 Tour de France road race, where it won outright. It was also, at the time, owned by the Marquis Philippe de Montaigu, a very wealthy and popular gentleman racer.

1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Series I chassis #4153GT
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Series I chassis #4153GT
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Series I chassis #4153GT

Out of interest, and to give an idea of what kind of protection you would need to insure such a classic car, we contacted American Collectors Insurance, a specialist in classic supercars, collectibles, and heirloom level insurance. Following their guidelines of needing the car to be stored in a temperature-stable garage, only driven a few times a year to a Concours or such, and based on the average $50 to $70 million USD assessed value of the car, the average owner of a 250 GTO would be paying about $250,000 to $300,000 per year.

Yet, if you have the $50 to $70 million to afford the auction price of a 250 GTO, that is almost pocket change.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition

2017 Corvette C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition

Now, before you point out that this car is way too recent to be a classic supercar, hear us out. The 2017 Corvette C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition ticks off all three of the boxes required to be labeled as such. At the time of its introduction, the Collector Edition was the most expensive Corvette released by Chevrolet, often starting at $90,000 despite an official MSRP of $81.185 for the Coupe Manual version.

It is a limited series, with only 935 made, and has a special VIN code that was assigned to it. Any Grand Sport Collector Edition has a VIN that ends in 530XXXX, where XXXX is the sequence it left the production line. It also is an auction superstar, as the original Chassis #0001 was auctioned off in the 2016 Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction for $170,000. The final car, Chassis #0935, was not sold to anyone but given to the Corvette Museum.

And it has pedigree, as this specific version of the C7 Grand Sport was made to celebrate recent successes of the C6.R and C7.R in both North American and international racing events. With the production code Z25, it included a lot of exclusive features, including a special paint (Watkins Glen Gray) with Tension Blue hash marks over the front wheels. It also had a two-tone Tension Blue leather interior.

2017 Corvette C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition

It received all of the carbon fiber options that could be added to a non-Collector Edition Grand Sport, as well as a special carbon fiber flash badge and carbon-fiber instrument panel. As standard, the Z07 performance package was included, with carbon fiber ground effects and aerodynamic parts added. It could be ordered as either a coupe or convertible and the 3LT package was also a standard feature.

2017 Corvette C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition

What also made the 2017 Grand Sport Collector Edition special is that it was in 2017 that Chevrolet revealed that the next Corvette, the C8, would be mid-engined, not front-engined. This meant that many “purists” wanted to get in on the best version of the Grand Sport. It carried the same LT1 V8 engine as the base Grand Sport, producing a nominal 460 HP, but the special cosmetic and aerodynamic features made it worth pursuing in the view of many.

These days, if you look at auction listings, you will often find that if a 2017 Corvette C7 Grand Sport comes up, they usually sell between $40,000 and $65,000, depending on condition, miles, history, et al. If a Collector Edition comes up, however, you will often find that price exceeding $100,000, as year over year the waitlist for a Corvette C8 grows longer. This is driving collectors to desire one of the best versions of the C7 to both have a Corvette, as well as have a front-engine, rear-drive Corvette with a factory standard electronically controlled limited-slip differential and the Z07 performance package.

2017 Corvette C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition

Unlike many classics, however, the Collector Edition is still a viable, driveable modern supercar, and can be insured as such. However, with those looking to have low mile versions, with few if any modifications, they are also able to be registered as classics, with collector plates and insurance premiums to match. Again asking our friends at American Collectors Insurance, you would be looking at a much more reasonable $7,000 to $10,000 per year if registered as a classic collector car.

The Future Of Classic Supercars

While we have two prime examples of a truly awesome collector’s prize in the 250 GTO, and an attainable, if a bit pricey, auction superstar in the Corvette C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition, the future of collectible, classic supercars is looking a bit strange. As the push for electric vehicles surges, many manufacturers have looked at how to best harness the newest technology to keep the supercar alive, and have also created a new type of vehicle entirely with their development.

While limited series, extremely rare, and expensive cars like the Bugatti Chiron 300 or the Ferrari SF90 will certainly be considered classics, it is the hypercar that seems destined to become the new auction superstar.

2022 Lotus Evija

Take, for example, the 2022 Lotus Evija. Limited to 130 total units, the electric hypercar is made out of the latest space-age materials including carbon-titanium weave, carbon composite, and a variety of resin-impregnated organic fibers. It carries a massive 70 kWh lithium-ion battery stack where a traditional mid-mount engine would sit, and that battery powers four independent electric motors, one at each wheel, that is capable of 500 HP each. The Evija, therefore, is the first production car to come from the factory with 2,000 HP.

At over $2 million USD, each Evija is already a classic hypercar, and desirable to those that missed out on getting onto the purchase list for one. As the first real, roadgoing electric hypercar, it will certainly be gracing auction blocks in a few year’s time, after it has appreciated beyond its original cost.

Yet, there is still hope for those that prefer the internal combustion engine, with rare supercars and hypercars coming from companies such as Koenigsegg, Ferrari, McLaren, Rimac, and the American company SSC, whose Tuatara hypercar can reach the ungodly number of 1,750 HP when fueled with E85.

2021 SSC Tuatara

All of those companies specialize in limited series, low production, high-cost special supercars and hypercars, and as the world pushes more and more towards electric vehicles, it may just free up enough gas that these rare beasts, in 20 years time, will be on the auction block for tens of millions, just like the 250 GTO.

For Sale: 1956 Austin Healey 100M Le Mans – Formerly Owned By Augie Pabst

An Opportunity To Purchase Your Own Piece Of Motorsports History

Introduction

In our line of work here at supercars.net, we have the privilege of interacting with some of the automotive world’s most interesting individuals and groups (and with that, some amazing cars along the way as well). One such person is our good friend Hugh, owner of Old Stone Garage – a licensed independent dealer located in Palm Beach, Florida in the United States. Hugh specializes in sales and acquisitions of classic/collectible automobiles, and has helped clients around the world build some very notable car collections.

Recently, Old Stone Garage was able to add a very special car to its own collection – a 1956 Austin Healey 100M Le Mans – and yes, it’s up for sale! Hugh was so excited about it, that he contacted us to see if we would like to do a feature on this iconic car and share it with our international audience. We love what we do here, and when we’re given the opportunity to tell the story of a Motorsports Hall of Famer’s personal car, we can’t help but be obliged.

The Augie Pabst Story

Motorsports Career

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mr. Augie Pabst was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame America (MSHFA) in 2011. While Pabst’s racing career didn’t span over as long a period as some of his contemporaries, the impact he left on those involved with the sport was ultimately deserving of this honor.

augie pabst Ho

He first began competing during the mid-1950s ; a period when road racing was at the pinnacle of competitive sports in the United States. Pabst also owned a Triumph dealership at this time, and this is said to be the catalyst for kick-starting his career as a race car driver. He started racing a Triumph TR-3 in 1956, then made the transition to an A.C. Bristol the following season.

Before long, Pabst would be piloting a Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa he purchased for $5,000 using his own money. Powered by a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine specially built by Ferrari for Le Mans racing, Pabst was able to compete successfully against Porsches, Maseratis and other Ferraris at renown tracks such as his home turf at Road America. He would go on to win the 1959 USAC Road Racing Championship while driving the Testa Rossa, as well as a Scarab MK II.

More legendary Ferrari cars would be raced by Pabst throughout his career, where he would drive at the 1960 24H of Le Mans in a V12-powered Ferrari 250 GT SWB and then again in 1963, where he co-drove a Ferrari 250 GTO (with Roger Penske) and achieved a GT-class win at Sebring.

After Racing

After just a 10-year stint in racing, Pabst would call it quits on his illustrious motorsports career. Despite it being a relatively short one, he looks back on it with a real sense of fondness and always remarks about how fortunate he was to be surrounded by the greatest people in the industry.

Pabst was offered a job at the family-owned business, Pabst Breweries – named after his grandfather – where he would work his way up to an executive role before the company was sold. Part of the condition of his employment at Pabst Breweries was that he would have to quit racing for good, and also sell the car dealership he had continued to operate while he competed. As such, there were not even any part-time motorsports opportunities for Pabst, though he did not seem to mind.

After moving into the role of running Pabst Farms for a while, he would officially retire. More recently, Pabst rekindled his involvement with motorsports by serving on the Board of Directors at Road America – Wisconsin’s internationally renown road racing track – where he retains emeritus status.

Other Highlights & Colorful Moments

  • Pabst Blue Ribbon had been around long before Pabst started his racing career, so his association with the business was well known in the industry. However, he would eventually pilot a Scarab race car owned by Harry Heuer. This particular car was sponsored by Meister Brau – a brand under the Peter Hand Brewing group of companies, which by all accounts, was one of Pabst Breweries’ biggest rivals. He would race under the Meister Brau banner for two years, before the controversy proved too much for the partnership to continue.
  • As a successful Ferrari race car driver, Pabst was able to get an audience with Enzo Ferrari in 1964. During their meeting, Mr. Ferrari (through a translator) asked Pabst and co-driver Walt Hansgen if they could win the upcoming Road America 500 using a brand new Ferrari 250 LM. They reckoned this should be very possible, so John Mecom Jr. bought the car for them and had it shipped to Wisconsin. Pabst and Hansgen would go on to win the 1964 Road America 500 in the Ferrari 250 LM.
  • Pabst’s most famous incident away from the race track would occur in 1961, when he drove a Ford Falcon rental car into a hotel swimming pool in Monterey, California as part of a dare with Cunningham team manager Alfred Momo. Witnesses recount the event with some slight variances from person to person, but everyone agreed that Pabst certainly held his end of the bargain and was fully entitled to the wager!

1956 Austin Healey 100

Model Summary

The Austin Healey 100 was an open 2-seater sports car produced in England from 1953 to 1956.  The brainchild of Donald Healey, the 100 was originally produced in-house in a relatively small Warwick factory owned by his company, Healey motorcars. Healey used a variety of low-cost parts and components to build the car, many of which were produced by Austin.

When Healey presented a developmental version of the car (called the Healey Hundred) at the 1952 London Motor Show, the design had impressed Leonard Lord – an Austin Motor Company bigwig – so much that he was convinced that it should become the successor to Austin’s rather underwhelming A90 model.

Thus, a partnership was forged and through it, the creation of the Austin Healey 100. Assembly would be moved to Austin’s much larger factory located in Longbridge, with the body and chassis of the car provided by coachworks company Jensen Motors in West Bromwich.

The 100 was given its name due to the fact that it was able to reach 100 mph. This was before many motor companies – including Austin Healey with successive models – began to commonly derive their model nomenclature using engine displacement instead. Earlier models (1953-1955) are designated as BN1-series cars, while those produced from 1955-1956 (known as BN2) were refreshed with improvements which included a 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Other upgrades available for the BN2 included an ‘M’ kit which improved engine performance. These parts were available as part of the Le Mans package and could be ordered and installed on any Healey 100.

In total, 14,634 Austin Healey 100 examples were produced over its 3-year production run which concluded in July 1956. Of these, 4,604 are BN2-series cars.

100M ‘Le Mans’

Following the release of the competition-spec 100S variant, Austin Healey would produce an upgraded version of their road-going model known as the 100M, with the privateer racer as its target customer. This upgrade package (known as the Le Mans package) mainly consisted of engine modifications which raised power from 90 bhp to 110 bhp, even exceeding the performance of 6-cylinder models the company would go on to produce.

To achieve this modest power increase, a high-lift camshaft was fitted, along with larger carburetors, higher-compression pistons, a free-flow intake manifold, a special distributor and a cold air box. Other upgrades included larger anti-roll bars, while the louvered bonnet was retained by a Le Mans-spec leather strap. Available for the first time was an optional two-tone package which paired White-Black, Reno Red-Black, Healey Blue-White, Black-Reno Red and Florida Green-White.

Only 640 examples of the factory-built 100M were produced and of these, 544 were shipped to the United States. These are distinct from 100 models which had the Le Mans package added to them after-the-fact (usually through the dealer) – such cars do not contribute towards this total.

What a 100M Le Mans Typically Trades For Today

After scouring the online classifieds sections at some of the more renown auction/consignment establishments, values appear to vary quite substantially. Some examples are asking well under US$100,000, while just as many crest over the US$200,000 mark. Both median and mean asking prices appear to be hovering around the mid-high $100k mark.

We’re the first to admit that we’re no experts when it comes to appraising classic cars, so we refer to Hugh of Old Stone Garage for his expertise and insight:

“When looking into values, they appear all over the place. This is because you had dealers in the period install the 100M Le Mans kit (or individual upgrades) on regular 100 models, and these sell for half the price of a real 1 of 640 factory example. They range from $160k-$240k depending on condition.”

Naturally, factory-built 100M examples are considered much more desirable and command at the higher range of prices as outlined above by Hugh. Fully and properly restored factory-built examples like this 1956 Austin Healey 100M ‘Le Mans’ fall within that category.

The lower priced “100M” examples you may come across, are most likely to be (the much less sought after) dealer-installed versions. As mentioned earlier, dealer-installed versions are not part of the count which determined that only 640 units of Le Mans versions were ever built from the factory. Furthermore, those with asking prices at the very bottom of the curve tend to be afflicted by sub-par restoration jobs or are in a generally poor state.

Unique Character of the “Augie Pabst” 100M

Factory-built 100M ‘Le Mans’

As mentioned earlier, the factory-built Austin Healey 100M ‘Le Mans’ models are the most rare of any of the 100 models. The “Augie Pabst” 100M is indeed a factory-built example, being just 1 of 640 ever built (and only 1 of the 544 that made it to US shores). This in itself makes it a very unique automobile, even if you put aside the fact that it was once owned by Pabst himself.

A Real Connection to Augie Pabst

Pabst never raced this 100M (even though it comes with a racing harness), as it served him as his personal car during the time he owned it; unfortunately, there won’t be any photos of him bombing it around Road America! However, there is documentation – which will be provided to the new owner – confirming that he owned this particular example. The car has been serviced throughout its lifetime by Tom Kovacs of Fourintune –  an Austin Healey specialist located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin – who is familiar with the car and confirms that it was serviced at Fourintune a number of times while it was owned by Pabst.

The Restoration Story

This Austin Healey 100M was acquired by its current owner on the Father’s Day weekend of 2016. He happened upon it at a classic car auction which was running concurrently with a vintage Alfa Romeo racing event he was participating in. Remembering the car vividly from his high school days, he was immediately drawn to it and would soon discover that it was owned by Augie Pabst.

The car’s more recent history would reveal that it was owned, at the time, by Robert Pass of Passport Transport, who had successfully completed the inaugural edition of the Colorado Grand in 1989 while driving this 100M (plus the following year’s event as well). The moment arrived for the 100M to go up on the block, and before long, the current owner won the right to purchase the car from Pass.

While the car showed well as-is, he felt that it was overdue for a restoration. So in the fall of 2016, the 100M was sent back to Tom Kovacs and his team at Fourintune to undertake this project. The current owner opted for the car to be presented in a bolder “motorsports” theme, which most notably adds rally lights and the removal of the original chrome front bumper (which also lends itself to the car’s distinctive “stealth” appearance).

On the performance side of things, larger brakes were fitted along with a dual-electric fuel pump system to ensure that the car would be ready for the demands of vintage driving events, and for a general improvement in reliability and safety. All of these changes are 100% reversible back to factory-spec, as was required in order to obtain a FIVA ‘passport’ – which has already been done (more on that later).

When it came time for the paint job, the current owner and Fourintune were initially perplexed on how they should proceed. That’s because the original build sheet for this 100M indicated that the car was “Black with Reno Red trim” from the factory. Kovacs advised that this most likely meant that the original car wore a black exterior over a red interior (including the trunk trim).

What was casting some doubt over this, was the fact that in the condition it was purchased, the car also had the lower flanks painted in red. We reckon that car liveries were often modified during the era to fit in with the popular looks of the time, and that this might’ve been the case with this example.

Mystery Solved

Wanting to stay true to the original state of the car for this aspect of the restoration, the current owner decided to do some digging. Being a friend of the Pabst family was certainly a good head start, so he contacted Augie Pabst III (Pabst’s son) to see if he could provide any insight. Unfortunately, Pabst himself was not able to recall the details personally, so Pabst III tried to find some color photos that could be used as a reference, but to no avail.

The current owner would eventually find his answer after running into his friend, Bill Wuesthoff, who also happens to be Augie’s former racing teammate and close friend. Over casual chit chat, the pair would eventually discuss the current owner’s Austin Healey restoration project. Upon being told that the car once belonged to Pabst, Wuesthoff distinctly remembered this particular 100M and shared his own experience with it; one he retells with a great fondness.

Wuesthoff really wanted to impress his future wife-to-be for what was at the time, their first date. He felt he needed something special – something along the lines of a beautiful sports car – to pull this off with aplomb. So he borrowed Pabst’s Austin Healey 100M; and the rest as they say, is history. To the current owner’s delight, even the finest details of this once-in-a-lifetime event were so vividly recalled by Wuesthoff. “Jet black with a gorgeous red interior” he declared without hesitation. Off to the paint booth it went.

Instant Success

As the photos accurately depict, the car was thus restored in a beautiful black exterior finish with a deep-red leather interior, which really pops. The current owner also decided to paint the wheels gloss black, to further accentuate the car’s stealthy motorsports-derived silhouette. It is quite simply, a stunning work of art. This sentiment is shared with vintage car experts too, having received distinctions beginning at the very first show it attended.

This would be a class-win at the 2018 “Gather on the Green” Concours d’Elegance event, which took place on the back lawn of the Osthoff resort. The trophy was presented by former rally and formula one race car driver, ‘Quick Vic’ Elford. In 2019, the current owner returned to Road America and had the 100M shown at the Vintage Concours d’Elegance taking place at nearby Elkhart Lake. The car would secure another win in its class, and also advanced to the “Peoples Choice and Best in Class” awards the following day where it won Best of Show!

Proliferation of Classic Car Ownership

Why You Should Consider a Classic Car (Like This 1956 Austin Healey 100M) As Your Next Purchase

The typical modern supercar and hypercar owner these days faces a conundrum; driving their 6-figure-valued (sometimes, even 7-figure) cars on the city streets often yields very little enjoyment in relation to what was spent to acquire the car. There’s no doubt that newer automobiles such as these do offer a redeemable level of “bang-for-buck” when it comes to the outstanding performance these advanced machines have on tap, but therein also lies the problem. Collectors are a bit of a different story, but the principle still applies.
It doesn’t take long before some of these owners start wondering why they’ve tied up all those funds to drive a car at 5% of its performance potential, 99% of the time. Cars like this are invariably pigeon-holed by road laws and infrastructure that has remained static for many decades, originally made to cater to the available technology at the time when they were first introduced or built. While limits can be explored on race tracks, most (if not, too many) owners opt not to; or at best, they are content with a few parade laps around a local raceway once every so often. This is usually done with the intention to preserve resale values and minimize additional costs, which nevertheless makes things difficult to justify.
There may be a shift in thinking that is starting to gain momentum, however. It has been noted that a growing demographic of younger car enthusiasts are picking up classic cars to enjoy, drive and exhibit. In the recent past, younger buyers with the means would almost always gloss over opportunities to purchase anything that wasn’t the latest and most flashy Lamborghini or Ferrari. Now, the nuance, appeal, benefits and advantages of classic car ownership are starting to catch the eye of this demographic for the aforementioned reasons – and also because cars like this 1956 Austin Healey 100M exist.

Particularly with the relatively younger crowd – who have had little to no opportunity to enjoy cars of more vintage and simple technologies – this 100M would be a breath of fresh air and in many ways, an entirely new and eye-opening experience. Many classic cars of this ilk can be driven spiritedly and rewardingly, without having to be egregious with public road laws and speed limits. Free of the countless electronic aids needed to tether the typical 600+ hp modern sports car, this 1956 Austin Healey 100M offers one of the most pure driving experiences a car enthusiast could possibly have; dare we say it could be life-changing and forever transform one’s perspective (for the better).

Not a Garage Queen!

What we love about this Healey – aside from its storied history – is that it is ready for a new owner who will have no qualms driving it, as any car is meant to be. With a proven and documented history of being roadworthy, this properly built and cared-for 100M is as “turn-key” as it gets, with many more memorable and exciting miles lying ahead.
It has already obtained a FIVA ‘passport’, which also allows it to participate in the largest and most recognized historic car events around the globe. The sections below provide more detail on the benefits this 100M has as a FIVA-certified vehicle, and the process it had to go through to achieve this status.
This provides plenty of incentive for the new owner to take this 100M on some road trips and truly enjoy the car – as it has been by all of its previous owners, including Augie Pabst. This 100M has already successfully participated in events such as the Colorado Grand charity car tour.

Mille Miglia

As the Austin Healy 100 was raced in the original Mille Miglia endurance series – which took place between 1927 and 1957 in Italy – this 100M is also eligible for the famous 1000 Miglia event. This immersive experience is essentially a re-enactment of that race (known as the Red Arrow), which has been an annual tradition since 1977. It is not a competitive series, but rather a ‘regularity race’ reserved for classic and vintage cars produced no later than 1957. The route for the 1000 Miglia event is similar to that of the original race, which traverses through a variety of beautiful Italian landscapes as part of a round-trip between Brescia and Rome.

“The 2021 competition will follow the tradition of the route, from Brescia to Rome and back, with legs in Viareggio and Bologna, but this edition will introduce an absolute novelty for the re-enactment of the 1000 Miglia: for the first time ever, the competition will take place in the opposite direction of the recent editions, taking up the counter-clockwise direction of many editions of the original speed race. From Brescia, the crews will head towards the Tyrrhenian coast and stop in Viareggio, leaving the next day for Rome. The third leg will start there, go up north and end beyond the Apennines, in Bologna. The fourth and last leg, from Bologna, will take to the traditional arrival in Brescia. A new route will lead the crews to face, for the first time, three mountain passes: Passo della Cisa in the first leg and Passi di Futa e Raticosa in the third day of the race. A new feature that will satisfy many fans of the competition.” –  from 1000 Miglia website

This year’s edition of the 1000 Miglia took place from June 16 to June 19, so you’ve just missed it; that provides plenty of time to plan for next year’s trip, however.

FIVA Card*

The FIVA Identity Card is an international vehicle ‘passport’ issued by the international federation of historic vehicles, FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens), that applies to mechanically driven vehicles built at least 30 years ago and are in a historically correct condition.

FIVA’s primary objective is to encourage the safe use of self-propelled, mechanical vehicles, more than thirty years old, on the roads for the benefit of both their owners, dedicated enthusiasts and the general public. To that end FIVA, through its Events’ Commission, has devised its own code for the safe promotion of rallies or mildly competitive events, and in concert with the European Commission, has recently published a Drivers’ Code for more general guidance of historic vehicle users, which can be downloaded from the link below.

Vehicles and issued FIVA-Card data are stored in a unique encrypted and well-protected database. Furthermore, each vehicle is allocated a FIVA Registration Number – FRN, generated from that vehicle’s individual parameters and unique to the vehicle for its lifetime.

Top events for which your vehicle requires a FIVA identity card before it can compete include Concorso d‘Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Mille Miglia and the Peking-to-Paris Motor Challenge.

For a full list of International FIVA-sanctioned events requiring an ID card, click here.

*from FIVA website

Certification Process*

A team of independent specialists, usually Concours judges who possess significant historical and technical skills, will be inspecting, documenting and confirming that the vehicle’s configuration, physical condition, chassis, engine and body serial numbers match the documentation provided. If there are modifications, the scrutineer will typically require proof that they can be easily reversible to original.

If the forms have been completed as required, the process should typically be completed in 30 minutes. The scrutineers will also examine and appreciate any relevant documentation that the vehicle owner has (photocopies are always greatly appreciated). It is an informal and friendly experience, unlike the nerve-wracking experience of Sunday morning on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach.

1975 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman for Sale – $2.6 Million Price Tag

Not everyday you come across a Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman for sale, especially a rare 4-door model like the one above. They only made 304 of these 4-door versions, only a few remain intact as most were shipped off to wealthy buyers all over the world.

The Mercedes-Benz 600 was a highly publicized model of the 70s and 80s, it was available as a 4-door SWB, a 6-door LWB and a 4-door LWB like the one for sale here, the LWB version was aptly named “Pullman” and became very popular with kings, queens, presidents and even dictators.

The 1975 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman for sale here is offered through Auto Leitner in The Netherlands, and has undergone extensive restoration in and out. Mercedes-Benz Classic was heavily involved in the restoration that lasted 7 years from 2007-2014. The interior has been updated to match modern times, featuring parts from the Maybach such as the glass dimmable panoramic roof. Other additions include electric seats, a refrigerator with mini bar, heated seats, Swarovski diamonds embedded on the roof and more. The total cost of restoration amounted to 3,000,000 Euros!

The car still has the original engine and gearbox with matching numbers, and thus retaining the oldtimer admission (H-Kennzeichen). The engine is a 6.3 L M100 V8 paired with a 4 speed automatic gearbox. Some of the features like adjustable air suspension were ahead of its time. A 150 bar hydraulic pressure system was responsible for most of the automated tasks in the car including but not limited to automatic closing doors, boot lid and sunroof.

GTO Engineering Unveils ’60s Inspired V12 ‘Moderna’

Restomods are fun, funky and all the fashion. From the Singer 911, Automobili Amos Integrale and the Eagle E-Type, there is something inherently cool and edgy about taking an old school icon and updating and upgrading the visuals and mechanicals to blend the best of old and new. Ground up continuations such as the Aston Martin DB4 GT and revivals based on original chassis such as the GTO Engineering 250 SWB, which we recently drove, are in high demand.

Since the early ’80s, GTO engineering have been manufacturing parts, servicing and restoring Ferraris, now they have made the decision to take their accrued knowledge to create an all-new sports car designed to encompass the finest traits of 1960s classics. From a glance at early design sketches it is clear to that Ferraris have inspired the Moderna’s design. The traditional tubular steel chassis will be used with the addition of lightweight but high strength aluminium subframes, and the Moderna will, for the first time, incorporate carbon fibre for the car’s shell. The new car will feature motorsport derived components and utilise independent independent all-round suspension as well as large diameter wheels to incorporate lightweight yet powerful brakes.

GTO Engineering 250 SWB

“We’ve learnt from building the 250 SWB Revival, and working on a range of Ferraris, that a car’s weight and engine are two of the key ingredients to make a good sports car. So, we knew that this car should be under a tonne and powered by a quad-cam V12 – an engine format we are familiar with and developing in-house. To accomplish the desired light weight, carbon fibre will be used, which obviously wasn’t available in the Sixties but a composite we will utilise alongside other materials. For example, the doors and bonnet feel and ‘weight’ when you open them, was something we knew we wanted to keep and that’s why they’ll be made in aluminium – they’ll be lightweight but still give that ‘reassuring’ close and feel of a classic when the driver or passenger gets in and out, as well as opening and closing the bonnet”, explains GTO Engineering Managing Director Mark Lyon.

Project Moderna owners will be as personal and customisable to its owner as possible – from paint, trim and accessory options offered to more major components such as suspension and gearbox options, the new car can be tailor made to each owner’s specific requirements. From the power output to the number of ratios in the gearbox the characteristics of how the car drives will be made to suit the owners profile. We look forward to seeing how Project Moderna progresses.

BMW 530 MLE Fully Restored: First M Model Unofficially

At the start of the year, we brought you a story about how BMW South Africa had located one of 110 Type 1 530 MLE. The MLE is an important part of BMW Motorsport history. Built to homologate a BMW race car, it was the first road-going BMW built by BMW Motorsport and the first ‘M-car’.

The restoration is finally complete with the restored BMW 530 MLE unveiled at the “Home of BMW Legends”, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn. The grand unveiling of the MLE took place in front of four BMW Group South Africa employees who were on hand to build the original more than four decades ago.

The BMW 530 Motorsport Limited Edition was produced on the southern tip of Africa as part of a limited production run. BMW were keen to compete in the flagship Modified Production Series in South Africa. Starting in 1976, BMW South Africa ran a car in the Series, achieving fifteen wins from 15 consecutive starts and 3 championship titles in three consecutive years. BMW eventually retired the 530 MLE in 1985 as the most successful racing BMW 5 Series in history.

In order to compete in the series, it was necessary for BMW to homologate the 530 MLE. 110 units of the Type 1 530 MLE were produced in 1976, with a further 117 versions of the Type 2 530 MLE built on the production line at the BMW Group Plant, Rosslyn in 1977. Very few of these cars are still on the road.

The car is quite special in its own right. It has a 3.0 litre straight six which originally produced around 197 bhp together with 277 Nm of torque, a 208 km/h top speed and a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 9.3 seconds. In the context of modern performance, this might not seem a huge amount of pace, in the mid-1970’s it would have been class-leading! The BMW 530 Motorsport Limited Edition also featured weight-reduction measures that included bodywork and pedals drilled by hand, manual windows with no air conditioning, and Mahle wheels.

GTSPIRIT NEWSLETTER

10 Cool Cars From the 2000s Sure to Become Future Classics

Automotive nostalgia for the Nineties is having a moment. (Call it the Radwood effect.) After all, fawning over rad Japanese tuner cars from those days is more fun than reconciling ourselves with the fact that it’s been 25 years since Weezer’s self-titled blue album came out.

But all this enthusiasm for the 1990s had us wondering: Could the 2000s be next? Prices for cars from that era are still reasonable. And the defining features of many fun cars of the era — manual transmissions, naturally aspirated engines, not being crossovers — should age well moving forward.

Here, then, are 10 future classics for your consideration (and potential investment in).

BMW M3 (2000-2006)

There are the uber-purists who believe BMW lost its way in the early 1990s. For everyone else, the early 2000s were the halcyon days for BMW, with that era’s cars being a perfect fusion of modern engineering, classic BMW driving dynamics, and somewhat-conservative styling.

The E46-generation M3 may be, simply, the best car BMW has ever built. It packed the S54 3.2-liter naturally aspirated inline-six engine, with 338 horsepower and an 8,000 rpm redline. Whether it would come with a six-speed manual was a question one need not bother asking.

Honda S2000 (1999-2009)

The Honda S2000 may be the ultimate purists’ roadster. The original version had a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter VTEC putting out 247 hp — an impressive 123 hp per liter. It (only) had a six-speed manual, 50/50 weight distribution, and rear-wheel drive. With a 9,000 rpm redline and a power curve that topped out right near that limit, it was built to be driven hard. It’s also not bad to look at, whether it’s from before or after the 2004 facelift.

Audi TT (1998-2006)

The Audi TT was one of the most stunning, innovative concept cars ever — and it made it to production with its sleek Bauhaus look intact. The TT Mk1 was far more of a cruiser than a track car; the first models had to be recalled for dangerous handling at high speed. But a 225-hp engine, a smooth Audi six-speed stick, and baseball-stitched leather made it a fun car for most drivers. The best testament to the TT may be how many owners have pushed them past 150,000 miles.

Dodge Viper (1996-2002)

The Dodge Viper was the proud antithesis of the modern sports car. It had a stupidly large engine, a manual transmission, and no driving aids whatsoever. (Look out for trees.) The second-generation SR II had an 8.0-liter V10 putting out 450 hp and a six-speed manual. It kept the distinctive styling and stripped-down feel of the original, but in addition to a power upgrade, the later model added features like airbags, standard AC, and anti-lock brakes — things any sane driver would want.

Ford Mustang (2005-2014)

With the S197 — better known as the fifth-generation model — Ford decided the Mustang should look like the Mustang again. The company emulated the boxier style of the first generation and produced its best-looking Mustang since the original. It was not a mind-blowing performance upgrade over the fourth-gen, but it held true to Ford’s initial vision for a car that looked awesome, made a lot of noise and came at a price nearly everyone could afford. Indeed, it may have been too affordable: Ford opted to axe an independent rear suspension that would have improved the ride significantly but made it much more expensive.

Jaguar XK (2007-2014)

The Jaguar XK was Jaguar’s 2+2 grand tourer. Famed designer Ian Callum penned the second generation, and it was one of the cars that helped reestablish Jaguar as a sporty, sexy car manufacturer. There was no manual option, only a six-speed ZF automatic, but the XK makes up for it by offering three variants: naturally aspirated V8, supercharged V8, and even beefier supercharged V8. This wasn’t a Bond car, but it’s a car that can make you feel like James Bond on a budget: Even well-kept performance XKR versions with low mileage gavel for less than $30,000 on Bring a Trailer.

Volkswagen Golf R32 (2004)

The R32 is among the standouts from the Volkswagen Golf line. It was VW’s halo Golf for the Mk4 generation, and only sold in the U.S. for the 2004 model year. The R32 had every option and a massive (for a hot hatch) 3.2-liter VR6 engine putting out 238 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It also came with two excellent transmission options, a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch transmission — the first to appear in a production car.

Saab 9-5 Aero (2000-2009)

Saabs were quirky, comfortable and Swedish — before the fallout of the GM bankruptcy made the brand all but defunct in the early 2010s. The 9-5 Aero was a performance version of the 9-5 executive sedan. It was a Saab that could haul ass — to a degree. The torque-heavy 2.3-liter turbo four’s output figures of 250 hp and 258 lb-ft were reportedly significantly understated. It could also be fitted with a five-speed manual.

Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG (2003-2006)

The second-generation Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG was the precursor to the E63 AMG. It came as both a sedan and a wagon, and its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 produced 469 hp and 516 lb-ft. When new, it was the fastest four-door vehicle in the world: It accelerated from 0-100 mph in less than 10 seconds, more than a second quicker than the Audi RS6 and faster than a Corvette Z06. It only offered a five-speed automatic, because Mercedes’ seven-speed at that time could not handle the torque.

Pontiac Solstice GXP (2007-2009)

GM gave the Pontiac brand the boot during its restructuring — sadly, just as it was producing fun, intriguing cars. The Solstice was a classic two-seater, available as a coupe or a convertible. The GXP version had a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four putting out 260 hp and 260 lb-ft (though it could be tuned beyond that at the dealer) and an available five-speed manual. It weighed less than 3,000 pounds, and accelerated from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The car’s production also included some period-perfect GM cost-cutting measures, but we won’t hold that against it.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS

Auction block fever is in full swing as several upcoming events are teasing us with their stellar lineup. Pony cars always earn a special place among automotive enthusiasts and we are excited to showcase one classy ride. This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS sports a beautiful white and Rallye Green colorway. Motorcar Gallery is offering this beauty that is an absolute collector’s item. What makes it so special is that it’s one of only 311 L89 Camaros manufactured in 1969.

You won’t find a muscle car like this in impressive condition and with such low mileage. The restoration job on this classic is likewise top-notch, which will make it a coveted item for gearheads everywhere. One lucky buyer will have all the bragging rights alongside an awesome old-school machine. As indicated above, this vintage automobile runs on an L89 V8 engine that churns out 375 horsepower at 7,200 RPM. This setup is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission to give you absolute control when you’re cruising down the highway.

Other than the eye-catching coat of the exterior, the polished chrome elements enhance the overall aesthetics. Now that you know it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to turning heads, the interior deserves a special mention. Inside the coupe is a rosewood steering wheel that matches the dash console. Furthermore, the fabric and leather upholstery in white just looks remarkable. It’s not every day that a pony car like this becomes available. Finally, the $144,500 price tag will still attract a lot of buyers hoping to own a rare 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS.

Make it yours now

Images courtesy of Motorcar Gallery

1972 Nissan C10 Skyline On Auction

We have something that’s a little bit different from the recent surplus of classic vehicles that are from of American and European lineage. You already know that certain vintage models from Japanese automakers became crowd-pleasers as well. Presently, a lot of auto geeks will immediately point out the latest Nissan GT-R as the poster boy of Japanese supercars. Therefore, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to appreciate one model from its ancestry–a 1972 Nissan C10 Skyline

Here we have a classy ride that might appear on the blocky side at first. Yet, don’t let the body fool you. During its prime, it was definitely a showstopper. This coupe was restored and modified to resemble its GTR cousin. Moreover, the labor that went into its design is amazing. This particular model was a Japan-only release that made its trip to the USA about three years ago. Despite its classic looks, sufficient upgrades and modifications will make it a dream to drive.

Within its Limestone Grey Metallic-clad shell beats a Rebello Racing 3.2-liter straight-six engine. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox—sourced from an R31 Skyline. It sits on a set of Watanabe 8-spoke R-type alloys paired with a brand new set of Toyo R888 Proxes.  Other improvements include front brakes taken from an R32 Skyline, Recaro LX racing seats with fishnet headrests, a custom-made 4-point roll bar, and more. Please note that the original owner opted to keep the original driving system configuration intact—thus the coupe remains a right-hand drive unit.

1972 Nissan C10 Skyline

Photos courtesy of Bring A Trailer

Dusty Lamborghini Countach uncovered after decades

Check the attic carefully, because your grandparent’s just might have an Italian supercar hidden in plain site. That seems to be the case with this Reddit user – who goes by the name egriegin – when she posted a photo of one very dusty Lamborghini Countach, with the intriguing headline “Despite the dust and rush, grandma’s 1981 Lamborghini Countach is the coolest.” So what’s the story? Well, don’t get too excited, because the car is not for sale (yet).

Ferris Bueller Ferrari replica is so choice, and now it can be yours

If you have the means, we highly recommend you consider picking up this replica Ferrari GT Spyder California that had a starring role in 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Granted, Ferris Bueller (played by Matthew Broderick) and his friend Cameron Frye (played by Alan Ruck) ended up completely destroying the car in the movie – don’t worry, this wasn’t the one that went careening backwards out of a garage. This car, one of three built for the film, is fully restored and is in complete working order, according to Mecum Auctions.

Set to go under the auction hammer later this month during Monterey Car Week, the ‘Ferris Bueller Ferrari‘ is a cinematic and photogenic gem, despite the fact that, ahem, it’s not an actual classic Ferrari. If it was, trust us, the price would be far in excess of the pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$300,000, which Mecum has placed on the car.

For reference, back in 2012, a true 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder found a new home after someone handed over more than $8-million dollars to buy it. So, all in all, this phony Ferrari could be the steal of century, as long as you don’t mind a 5.0-liter V8 engine under the hood, versus a screaming Ferrari V12.

Originally built in 1985 by a California company called Modena Design and Development, this car is based around a steel-tube frame and comes powered by a V8 fitted with four Weber carburetors. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. Design touches to make the car appear authentic include a Ferrari grille, chrome side vents and wire-spoke wheels, Jaeger gauges across the dash, toggle switches, tan leather seats, a wooden steering wheel and period-correct AM/FM radio. Interestingly, the car is also fitted with air conditioning.

The car is fresh from a nine-month restoration, carries its original VIN, and has apparently covered only 1,520 miles since new.

Related Video:

1963 Aston Martin DP215

Monterey, California is the place to be on 24-25 August, if you want to witness the auction of a truly legendary race car–the 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Competition Prototype. One of four ever built, this is the first vehicle in history to officially break the 300 km/h (186 mph) barrier at the famous Le Mans competition.

Touted as the most significant one-off Works Aston Martin, the DP215 boasts a build quality that’s superior to virtually any other competition car of the period.

The stunner shown here has been painstakingly restored with the consultation of Tedd Cutting, the original designer. As a result, the vehicle comes in its glory-days condition, including the perfectly-shaped body crafted from high-strength Hiduminium alloy, original seats, and rebuilt Indianapolis Cooper-Aston 4.2L V8 engine paired with a sophisticated S532-type gearbox that contains over 1000 parts!

Looking toward a fresh start, this exceptional piece of Aston Martin racing heritage clocks in at only 300 miles on the odometer and is said to run as comfortable at 40 mph as it does at 180 mph-plus. Expected to fetch north of $20 Million.

Learn More From RM Sotheby’s

Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

1972 Nissan Fairlady 240ZG

Coming to the Monterey Auction on August 24 is an exceptionally rare example of one of Japan’s first homologated sports cars–the 1972 Nissan Fairlady 240ZG.

The 240ZG is a legend in Japan thanks to its 1972 Fuji Grand Champion Series win, among other races. With its striking long hood and short tail proportions, the car is said to be highly appreciated for its balanced handling and torquey engine.

Believed to be one of only a handful in the US, the factory-original JDM unicorn you see here is powered by an inline-6 cylinder with a cast iron block, producing 151-hp. Race-oriented features include independent front & rear suspension, riveted fender flares, a rear spoiler that reduces lift at high speeds, aerodynamic headlight covers, and fender-mounted rear-view mirrors.

Recently refurbished (including the paintwork in a glorious Grande Prix Maroon original shade), this exceptional vehicle arrives with the original black vinyl interior, Datsun racing steering wheel, and even a period-correct Nissan AM radio fitted low on the dashboard.

Bid Here

Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Custom E.C.D. Range Rover Classic

This Custom Range Rover Classic (dubbed ‘Project Alpha’) built by our friends over at E.C.D., is a thoroughly rebuilt classic with tasteful details, modern tech, and serious power.

The off-roader packs a reliable 6.2 liter Corvette LS3 V8 and it features a restored powder-coated frame, an elegant dark gray paintwork, upgraded axles, new suspension system, 6-speed automatic gearbox, upgraded steering, and high-performance brakes.

Rebuilt seats covered in Spinneybeck leather and accent trim in piano black adorn the elegant interior, while an 8-speaker JLAudio system, Apple CarPlay, front & rear AC, plus other modern treats provide superior enjoyment.

If you like what you see, hit the guys at E.C.D. up for a chat and get a classic Range Rover tailor-made to suit your own needs and taste.

Learn More From E.C.D. Automotive Design

Photos Courtesy of E.C.D. Automotive Design

1966 Ford GT40 Le Mans

Coming to auction this August at Monterey, California, is a true motorsport legend–one of the three Fords that won for the first time the gruesome Le Mans Race, in 1966.

Expected to fetch a cool $9 Million – $12 Million, this 1966 Ford GT40 chassis no. P/1016 bears the number 5 and a beautiful gold livery. Powered by a race-tuned 7.0L V8 engine that could deliver speeds of 200 mph, the vehicle came in third in the famous French endurance race, ahead of other solid contenders such as Ferrari and Porsche.

Considered as one of the few “gold standards” by specialists, the car that changed the history of motorsport arrives meticulously restored to the condition it raced in.

Bid Here

Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

1967 Toyota 2000GT Roadster

One of only two ever built, the 1967 Toyota 2000GT Roadster is the most collectible (and expensive) Japanese car of all time. What’s more, this fantastic piece of mechanical engineering was also James Bond’s ride of choice in the film You Only Live Twice.

Built in collaboration with Yamaha, the vehicle was intended to compete with the highly-coveted Jaguar E-Type and the Porsche 911. It had a lightweight aluminum body construction and an inline-6 cylinder Toyota engine with 150-bhp (top speed of 135 mph), sending power to the rear wheels via a 5-speed gearbox and a limited slip differential, plus power-assisted disc brakes all around. Although the pristine example you see here is not for sale, it can be admired at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Learn More From Petersen Automotive Museum

Images courtesy of The Petersen Automotive Museum

Icon 1965 Jeep Wagoneer

Based on a first-gen “shovel-nose” model, Icon’s 1965 Jeep Wagoneer is the perfect American beach ride for the family, packing modern precision and reliability in a handsome timeless package.

The project started with a “nice old example in respectable condition,” which has been blasted to raw metal. The team at Icon 4×4 then fitted the truck with high-performing parts such as a U.S. steel chassis by Art Morrison (powder coat finish), four-bar rear suspension, radius arm front suspension, Eibach coils and Fox Racing shocks, Dynatrac Dana axle assemblies, Brembo brakes, and a no-nonsense large stainless steel TIG welded fuel tank. Serious power comes from a fuel injected 420HP LS3 V8.

Inside, the offroader sports a cleaner dash with cool metal knobs inspired from the originals, a restored steering wheel, Bluetooth audio system, interior cargo lights, and quilted-pattern seats in high-quality Knoll fabrics. Finished with a fresh coat of paint and a sweet-looking side trim and wood insert, this truck oozes pure vintage style and is ready to put many more miles under its wheels.

Learn More From Icon

Photos Courtesy of Icon 4×4



1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 NART Spyder

If you have an extra million dollars laying around and you’d like to invest in an ultra-rare piece of automotive history, this is your chance. One of three ever made, this street-ready 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 NART Spyder is up for sale, arriving in “exceptional and highly original condition.”

Built by Giovanni Michelotti–one of the most prolific sports car designers of the 70s, the unrestored Daytona wears many of its original features including the striking metallic blue body paintwork, Cibie Iode fog lamps, ANSA exhaust, Michelotti badging and hard top. The Arancia tan leather interior with bespoke dash and unique seats is in outstanding original condition, the only thing that’s not stock being an aftermarket radio.

Fully functioning, the unique Ferrari has electric windows, air conditioning, a properly-fitted soft top, and a fat Momo steering wheel. It rolls on magnesium alloy Cromodora knock-off wheels wrapped in period correct Michelin XWX tires.

Mechanically, the NART Daytona is also in excellent condition. It’s said to run strong and feel “even more aggressive than a standard car – perhaps due to the lighter coachwork.” Having seen only limited use, the car retains its original engine with six Weber 40 DCN 21 carburetors and even includes the original toolkit as well as the jack bag with jack and wheel tools.

Buy From Hyman $995,000

9:11 Magazine and 70 Years of Porsche Sportscars

On the 8th June 2018 Porsche celebrates the 70th anniversary of their very first operating license. The 356-001 was the first Porsche prototype to be officially registered and street legal. To celebrate 70 years of the Porsche sportscar, Porsche is running several exhibitions around the globe this year. One of them is in the heart of Germany’s capital Berlin, the DRIVE: Volkswagen Group Forum.

Porsche is celebrating this by displaying a selection of their milestones. Right after the entrance you will see a beautiful recreation of the 356-001. One of the oldest cars displayed is the legendary ’71 “Dicke Berta”, which is a one-off modified combination of the short- and longtail Porsche 917 that ran at the 24 hours of Le Mans. It got this nickname from its pink livery, showing meat parts. One of the most underrated but for Porsche important cars is the Boxster concept car. Back in the 90s, the Boxster brought Porsche back into a successful company. Of course, Porsche also displays their interpretation of what the automotive near future will look like by presenting the Mission E, which will be the first electric Porsche production car starting in 2019.

The exhibition in Berlin stays until the end of May, if you’re around, check it out!

The Porsche 9:11 Magazine is a video magazine from Porsche and to quote Dr. Josef Arweck, Vice President Communications at Porsche, they couldn’t find the correct video format, so they’ve build their own. The videos are 9 minutes and 11 seconds each and show perfectly, how different but equal the Porsche enthusiast is. We attended the presentation of the sixth episode and had the chance to listen and talk to the protagonists of the first episodes. As Porsche fan, you should head over to http://911-magazine.porsche.com and take a look at the episodes.

Words by Norbert Arndt

1957 Ferrari 250 T Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’

Nicknamed after the ‘Tour de France’ rally where it became a champion multiple times, Ferrari’s 250 GT Berlinetta is known as the finest competition car of the 1950s. Produced in a modest quantity of 72 examples, this pure breed racer is highly sought after today not only for its significant past but also for the admirable lightweight coachwork and advanced racing mechanicals it featured.

The splendid 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’ you see here is even rarer. Number 15 out of 17 cars built with the beautiful three-louver Scaglietti coachwork and covered headlights, this vehicle retains its original 258 bhp v12 engine (rebuilt in 1968) with competition camshafts and high-compression pistons.

It went through a painstaking restoration process that took nearly 20 years to complete, and in its racing career, it entered 22 events, claiming 11 victories along the way. The vehicle never crashed, and, with just two custodians looking after it over the last 45 years, this makes for a particularly pure and impressive example of a Ferrari competition legend. Coming to RM Sotheby’s auction in Monaco, on 12 May 2018.

Bid Here

Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s