When I reviewed the Ferrari 458 Italia this past summer, I said that I thought the car may have reached a sort of apex where it would be hard to improve upon. The steering and gear shifts, and really everything else about the car, were all instantaneous, making the car feel like it was literally connected to my central nervous system.
Evidently, Ferrari has found ways of improving the 458. Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe drives it here, and seems simply blown away by the improvements that have been made. We’ll have to take his word for it for now, but hopefully I will find a way to get my hands on one of these monsters in the future to see for myself.
On my way home from Pebble Beach, I met this guy named Ron Schotland. He and I got to talking and we both realized that we lived in the tri-state area and had both attended the Pebble Beach Concours. He showed me a few pictures of his XK-120, which I was delighted to see in person at the St. Michael’s Concours down in Chesapeake, MD. In fact, I wasn’t the only one who was elated to see this clean and well-cared-for little cat–the car won 1st in its class that weekend over a 1953 model. The deep maroon finish over natural leather looked stunning against the chrome wire wheels and brilliant sunshine. Enjoy the photographs. Ron, congrats on your award–we hope to see your car at many more events in the near future. Continue reading St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance 2013: 1954 Jaguar XK-120→
Drive’s Chris Harris gets his slide-happy paws on Jaguar’s very limited XKR-S GT. Evidently, it is much more than just a standard XKR-S with a big wing strapped to the back. Enjoy the video.
Coachbuilt cars tend to attract a crowd. The name Isotta Fraschini is a well-known one inside the world of classic car connoisseurs, but not really known as well in the automotive public. This particularly pretty burgundy boat-tail coupe at Radnor Hunt is the first one I’ve gotten a good look at and I was very impressed. The brightwork looked great, the coachwork was full of great details and the car’s history offered a lot of information on just how famous this one is. Owned by a silent-film star actress by the name of Marguerite Clark and her aviation pioneer husband Harry Williams, this gorgeous convertible had only 22,000 original miles on the clock. It fully deserved its win at Radnor Hunt this year, and the owner, Peter Boyle, looked incredibly proud. Congrats to Mr. Boyle on your award-winning Isotta Fraschini, thank you for showing it at Radnor this year. Continue reading Best in Show at Radnor Hunt, 2013: 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe by Lebaron→
It would seem that Chris Harris’ popularity has made Ferrari rethink his blacklisted status as a journalist. Not only did they give him an F12 Berlinetta for this video, but they also threw in five sets of tires for him to shred. This is a fantastic review of the F12 Berlinetta, as we expect from Mr. Harris, as well as a healthy dosage of slidewayz car porn to drool over. The Drive Network does it again! Enjoy.
As soon as I arrived for the second day of the New Hope Auto Show, I found myself face-to-face with this little Porsche. I happen to love the 356 Speedster, and it’s not often that I see one in original condition. This 1954 or 1955 pre-A model was a sight to see and kept my attention for a solid amount of time among the other early Porsches around it. Less than 1300 of the pre-A Speedsters were made until 1955 and they tend to sell high at auctions–in fact, don’t be surprised to see one sell for over 200K. A red 1955 model sold by RM went for more than $250,000 at an auction this past May. This one, with its light blue exterior and timeless bathtub looks, grabbed everyone’s attention effortlessly. Enjoy the photos.
The Motorsports Reunion at the famed Laguna Seca racetrack in Monterey during Concours weekend is a place where the phrase “expect the unexpected” is more true than anywhere else in the car world. This is a place where it’s no surprise to see a older Formula One car, a Porsche Le Mans racer decked out in the classic orange Jagermeister livery, and a Trans-Am era Chevrolet Camaro in the same place. However, I wasn’t necessarily expecting to see a pristine Ferrari 250GT SWB in the paddock. Nonetheless, this bright yellow piece of Italian craftwork sat in the side of the paddock, sharing space with a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Against the gray sky and flanked by a blue Porsche racer, calling it a standout would be a bit of an understatement. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Ferrari 250GT SWB→
When The Quail came to a close, I stepped into the grassy field and stumbled upon this gorgeous piece of automotive sculpture. My skin tanned from the sunlight, but this icy green Bugatti looked frozen cold. This particular Type 57 example is built as an Aerolithe Coupe, a styling study done by Bugatti back in 1935 and lost since 1936. Very little visual information is left of the original Aerolithe coupe–there was enough technical information passed down through the years, but it took a Canadian group 5 years to build a version of the Aerolithe. This remake of that famous automobile uses 100% genuine Bugatti components. Even the tires, a set of Dunlop Ballon whitewalls, are completely correct and were custom-made for it. The color was matched through a painting made of the original to Bugatti paint chips of the era. However, by far the most impressive aspect of this breathtaking automobile is the bodywork. The body is made from a magnesium alloy, notorious for its flammability and volatility–this is why the body is riveted, not welded, together. The swoopy lines and stunning shapes of this car were more than enough to keep my attention for a solid hour or so. It was difficult for me to stop shooting pictures, even after a frantic call from Nick about Pagani allowing people to sit in the new Huayra (if that’s what it had to take to get me away from this Bugatti, then not much else would have). Enjoy the photos.
This comes on a similar note to the Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe we featured a few weeks ago. This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine was created by, Italian design house, Pinninfarina for the 1963 Paris Auto Show. Those of you who know Corvettes know that 1963 was the first year of the iconic C2 Sting Ray. While I personally believe the Stingray is the best looking Vette of all time, especially the ’63 split window coupe, the Rondine’s Italian style is breathtaking.
The Corvette Rondine was the top-spec Sting Ray underneath, with the fuel injected 327ci V8 under its hood making 360hp. There is one key difference, though, and that is the body of the car. The Rondine had a steel body whereas the Sting Ray’s was made of fiberglass. This resulted in the Rondine being a bit heavier than the standard Corvette, however I’d say it is worth it for those beautiful curves.
The Corvette Rondine marks another fantastic example of an American car being fitted with Italian styling. Whether the Rondine looks better than the Sting Ray is entirely subjective, but it certainly is a unique and interesting automobile. The Corvette Rondine recently sold for a hefty $1.6 million back at the 2008 Barret Jackson Auction, and its value is certain to keep appreciating. It is always a pleasure to see such a stunning car as this, and the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was the second time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this car in person. Enjoy the photos.
Many know Bill Caswell as the man who took a $500 Craigslist BMW rally racing and managed to do extremely well. Drive’s Mike Spinelli sits down with Bill to discuss his awesome automotive adventures over the last few years. If you are a car fanatic, this will be quite inspirational.
Mind Over Motor 