I think I’ll always be a 550 man but the subtler 356 Carrera 2 might be the better package for the 547 powerplant. It may not be as race-winning, but if you pull into town for dinner with this Carrera 2 you might be seen as charming, perhaps even old-fashioned.. and you’ll still have that 4-cam monster ready for the twisties on the way home. These are the little fantasies I concoct for myself.
Someone was able to make that fantasy a reality in the March Open Roads online auction hosted by RM Sotheby’s—where she sold for less than the estimate for €355,000. What a lovely way to start the summer.
Now I just need the delightful pink house to go with it.
I said these words aloud when I saw this lot at Sotheby’s Open Roads auction listings. Designed in by the miraculous John Tojeiro in the late ’50s but built much later, this was one of John’s last front-engined hurrahs… and wow. It’s amazing.
A little bit 250 Ferrari, a little bit Porsche 550, a little bit Lotus 11…. I.. wow.. I never would have thought those three would make a great combination.. but .. wow.. it’s beautiful.
This remarkably clean and documented Porsche 910 is currently of offer by the Ascott Collection.
There were only 28 Porsche 910s built and it remains one of my favorite of their mid-60s developments during a crucial decade when Porsche transformed from the Giant Killer to the giant. It was a period in which Porsche’s increasing dominance began to take hold in sports car racing; a period when their cars matured from 4-bangers to 6 and 12 cylinder variants of the still air-cooled flat boxer layout. The 910 was a crucial stepping stone from the earlier small-displacement racers to what would become the utter dominance of the 917 throughout the 1970s.
Porsche 910 027 at the 1968 Nurburgring
This example, chassis 027, spent much of that period in the hands of the Hart Ski Racing Team. After a short stint as a factory racer, Hart Ski campaigned her at the Nürburgring 1000, Spa 1000, and a handful of events around Germany culminating in an outright victory at the 1970 Hockenheim 6 Hours race.
She’s absolutely stunning and if you’ve only experienced these mid to late 60’s racers in photos you’ll be absolutely gobsmacked by their dimunitive size when you get up close. Retromobile is always a trip worth taking, but being able to stand near this gorgeous little machine when Ascott displays her will really drive home her elegance and fragility, and remind you of the menace that lurks underneath.
The sale on most people’s lips from last weekend’s RM|Sotheby’s auction at the Petersen Museum was (justifiably) the $22Million sale of a 1956 Ferrari 290MM by Scaglietti. The weekend was a success with almost 90% of the lots selling but, amazingly, that single Ferrari made up more than half the dollar value the auction’s total sales. By comparison there were some bargains to be had, and besides it’s always worth pointing out some of the amazing lots that didn’t make headlines.
1964 Messerschmitt KR 200
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Zagato
289 Cobra
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV
1966 Toyota 2000GT
1981 Lamborghini Countach
1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
That $30,000 sale has to be the highest price I’ve seen seen a Vespa command—even for one as rare as the Calessino.
These are amazing. Sure. I guess I like Piloti Racing Shoes as much as the next guy, but their aesthetics are a far cry from the simple honesty of these deadstock 1960’s Les Leston Grand Prix vintage racing boots. Les Leston was a racer himself that started a popular car accessory shop on London’s High Holborn street and outfitted racers with custom steering wheels, fire suits, helmets, and the like. But these boots are just on another level.
I’m sure they’re not fire safe. I’m sure they won’t stand up to much abuse outside of the car. I’m sure they’re gorgeous. Now if only I could find a way to cram my 10½ EE feet into this pair of 7½ boots. Available on eBay at a price appropriate to their amazingness. Thanks for alerting us to this one, Paul!
The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering always draws out many of the best vintage racing cars on the planet—so it only makes sense that Bonham’s auction at the event will follow suit. From Duesenbergs to McLarens, there are too many amazing sports and racing cars coming across that magnificent auction block to list them all. I do want to point out a few personal favorites. Some of these may not be the cars that command the high-end bids. They are just some that made me smile as I perused the auction catalog.
1953 Bandini 750 Sport Siluro
1970 Alfa Romeo GTA 1300
1965 Shelby Cobra 289 – I far prefer it’s curves to the 427
1964 Cheetah GT Coupe
1959 Autobianchi Bianchina Transformable
1955 Austin-Healey 100 BN1. I can’t believe that adjustable racing windscreen didn’t get more widely adopted.
1951 Allard J2
1934 Riley 12/4 Special
Ex-Howe, Ex-Nuvolari 1931 Bugatti Type 51 2-Seater Grand Prix Racer
I’ve received enough emails about the Jackie Stewart Tyrrell shirt that we’re printing a second run of them. After seeing that iconic photo of Sir Jackie holding a model of his GP car, I became mildly obsessed. I looked high and low for someone making this but since I couldn’t find one, I decided to make it. Pre-Orders are up for the next week so get ’em while you can. Available at Teespring.
By now we’ve already done all the drooling we can over the impending sale of several of Jerry’s Porsches at the upcoming Gooding Amelia Island auction. But let’s at least take a moment to listen to the man himself introducing us to his 1959 Porsche 718 RSK in the style he’s made famous on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. I’d be happy to join him for a cup if we can take this there.
This Kickstarter for an Alfa-Romeo Alfetta GT inspired chrono by Straton Watch Co has already achieved more than 7 times it’s $15,500 goal, but there’s still time to get in on it for your own Vintage Driver Chrono. Even a few of the special Backers Editions are still available. Whenever we peek into the world of watches we start to enter an environment with a fastidiousness to put Pebble Beach concours judges to shame with near religious adherence to particular movements, countries of origin, and grades of metals. The Straton Vintage Driver Chrono uses the Seiko-developed Mecha-Quartz movement which combines quartz’ accuracy with a mechanical chronograph that represents what I think is a good compromise (at this price point) between purists and casual fans of wristwatches.
Only at the Pebble Beach auctions does a car with a $250,000-$300,000 estimate qualify as “under the radar”. I don’t really know how it’s possible though. On auction at Gooding & Co. is one of three works team MGAs For the 1960 Sebring Endurance race (Chassis YD2/2571) and it is stupefyingly gorgeous. Initially slated to participate in the 1959 Sebring, this example ultimately didn’t make the trip to Florida until the following year, at which time it got a brace of factory updates including: lightweight Vanden Plas aluminum hardtops and a special cockpit tonneau panel to accommodate a suitcase—a new FIA requirement for 1960. The one year wait was worth it, with this car bringing in 4th in Class and 29th Overall.
The car has some light SCCA history in its post-Sebring history, but has surprisingly few modifications; giving it a wonderfully preserved appearance and largely untouched (well maintained but not crazy updated) internals.
What an amazing machine. I can’t wait to see how the bidding goes. More information on Gooding’s Lot Detail Page.
