Sunday, September 27, 2009

1930 4.5-Litre Bentley

This 1930 Bentley is a classic example of the winning cars of Le Mans from 1927 to 1930. Needing a little extra speed because of their large bodies, Bentley put 4.5-litre engines under the hood. Later, they increased the power even more with the "Blower" Bentleys, but these were the cars which were most race worthy.
These cars dominated the race track for a number of years. This car has a lot of race history through the 1930s and is currently available at Fiskens.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

1912 Bugatti T16 5 Litre

Many who know Bugattis are familiar with the light blue sports cars of the late 1920s and early 1930s. They were engineering specimens which did not use any gaskets...which meant perfectly flat surfaces and airtight engine compartments. This 1912 Bugatti is the oldest known racing Bugatti in existence with all of its ownership well documented. It's tall hood, slender radiator, and long tail are how this car was raced back in the day. The big engine creates a massive amount of torque for the chain-drive, allowing it to cruise at 80-90mph. In 1980, the car was actually clocked at 108mph.
Bugattis are magnificent cars to drive, but this specific one may be the best early example in existence. Anything chain-driven is going to sell for a lot of money, and this car is no exception. Having sold a sister car (created just after this) for over $2.5 million in 2009, Bohnams has the car estimated to go between $2.6 and $3.5 million.

Friday, September 25, 2009

1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe

RM has a September auction with a lot of ugly hot rod stuff. There are a few quality cars, but this 1936 Ford is by far the best. Once owned by the retired Vice President of Hot Wheels, the coupe was once featured in Hop Up magazine. The top has been chopped 1 1/2 inches and the car was lowered 5 inches. A car dropped that much might sound like it was a lowrider, but it sits perfectly over the red wheels and white wall tires. Under the hood is a flathead with just about every add-on to pull more horsepower. This is a classic looking hot rod with very clean lines. It's available at RM Auctions starting September 26.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

1955 Porsche 356A Speedster

The Porsche 356A Speedster is one of the most sought after Porsches ever built. Much of its desire is from the chopped look that the smaller windshield and rudimentary top give the car. Owners of this particular car first replaced the original engine with a 1600cc and Super 90 Heads, which is common practice to bust its power. It has recently been rebuilt with a 1750cc big bore kit, to extract even more performance.

Even with the extra power in the trunk (remember, Porsche engines are located in the rear), this car's matching white wheels and body give it a "cute" look. Its red interior looks just as nice as the rest of the car. If the cute bunny rabbit look isn't wanted, put the top up and add the side curtains and this car turns into a pretty wild automobile. It's currently being offered at Fantasy Junction for just under $150,000.

Monday, September 21, 2009

1953 Jaguar C-Type


When the average person thinks of the Jaguar brand, they often think of spoiled soccer moms from the 1980s in her gaudy convertible. What a lot of people don't realize is that Jaguar has an amazing racing history. They produced some of the most beautiful cars in the last 100 years. Slightly older than its younger brother the D-Type, the C-Type is considered one of the prettiest machines created. As the 39th 1953 C-Type manufactured, this car has extensive racing history (#33 in the image below). It's ownership is closely documented including its most prominent owner, racing legend Sterling Moss.

The right-hand drive looks great with the small windshield, an addition which was probably added after its racing days. It would be great if the car still had its racing numbers, but only if they were on the original paint. Either way, the car is a gorgeous example of the classic C-Type. More pictures and racing history are available at Fiskens.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

1951 Ferrari 340 Berlinetta

What is right about this Ferrari? Just about everything. The classic Ferrari red bodes well with its muscular design. This coupe has great lines, from the large grille to its narrowed tail. At $1,250,000, this 4.1-liter is cheaper than a recently sold 3-liter Ferrari that went for $2,200,000 in a 2008 Gooding auction. It seems there are a few paint and windshield imperfections, but that makes this car more drivable.


The look of this Ferrari is exactly what Lexington Garage enjoys about a car. Not only is it beautiful, but it has an engine which would put you in the back of your seat. Although pricey, if you were to get the engine purring through the trees of a nice driving road, you'd find it well worth it. Check it out on Fantasy Junction.