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2015-08-31: 2015 Monterey Auction recap with 180-shot gallery and new Ferrari GT racer ...
For many years the support acts to the main events to the major events on the Monterey Peninsula, the annual auctions now make the most headlines, courtesy of the recent record breaking years. The trend continued this year with impressive results by big players RM Sotheby's, Bonhams and Gooding. Grabbing particular attention this year was the 'Pinnacle Portfolio' offered by RM Sotheby's on a dedicated, third day. This consisted of around two dozen cars collected by the same person with the sole intent to serve as an investment. Judging from the results, his investment paid off but we do hope this will not be a new trend. In between covering the events on the Monterey Peninsula, we also visited the viewing days of the auctions and have created a 180-shot gallery, which serves to illustrate a brief recap of the three major auctions.
Over the weekend the very first images of the all-new Ferrari 488 GTE broke cover courtesy of our friend John Brooks. Although there is little known about the car yet, it has been confirmed that the 488 GTE will feature a version of the twin-turbo V8 engine that also powers the 488 GTB road car introduced in Geneva back in March. |
2015-08-26: 2015 The Quail report and gallery, and very striking Ferrari 412 P ...
One of the most exclusive events during the Monterey Car week is the annual The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering. Hosted by the Quail Lodge in the Carmel Valley, the event combines a display of fabulous modern and classic cars with a choice of gourmet food and drinks. At this year's edition competition cars took centre stage, while further highlights included a special display celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ford's 1-2-3 Le Mans win. Among the new cars on display was the all-new Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster, while the only Koenigsegg One:1 destined for North America also made an appearance. Our photographers captured the event in its entirety, resulting in this concise report, illustrated by a 190-shot gallery.
One of the cars that captured our attention at 'The Quail' was this Ferrari 412 P, which was freshly restored. One of just two built by Ferrari in 1967 for their preferred customer team, it combined the chassis and drivetrain of the 330 P3 with the striking lines of the new 330 P4, which was raced by the factory team. The example on display was campaigned in period by the British Maranello Concessionaires team. |
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2015-08-24: 2015 Monterey Motorsports Reunion report and 300-shot gallery ...
One of the major events of the annual car week on the Monterey Peninsula is the annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Staged since the early 1970s at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the event attracts a wide variety of historic competition cars, which competed in a total of 15 different races. At this year's edition, the fields were even more diverse with the inclusion of Formula 5000 cars for the very first time. Among the other highlights were a special race to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Mustang GT350, an interesting array of North American specials and factory efforts by the likes of Acura, BMW, Mazda and Nissan.
Our photographers were at the fabulous Laguna Seca circuit for two weekends to capture both the Pre-Reunion and the subsequent Reunion. The result of their work is a concise report, illustrated by a 300-shot gallery of the Reunion, complemented by the 220-shot Pre-Reunion gallery published earlier. |
2015-08-21: News round-up with new Lamborghini, BMWs, Lotus and more ...
Preoccupied with capturing all the events on the Monterey Peninsula, we could not keep tabs on all the news, so before we continue with our reports, we today take a look at six new cars announced during the last couple of weeks. Actually making its debut in the Monterey area was the new Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster. Powered by the same 750 hp engine as the coupe counterpart, this is the first open Lamborghini to receive the Super Veloce moniker. Like the coupe, production of the SV Roadster will be limited to just 500 examples.
BMW was also present at the Monterey Peninsula to showcase the 3.0 CSL Hommage R to celebrate 40 years of BMW Motorsport in North America. Another new BMW show car is the Concept M4 GTS; a preview of the upcoming hardcore version of the M4. Among the new features is the inclusion of water injection. Lotus, meanwhile, debuted the limited production Exige 360 Cup. Compared to the model it replaces, it is lighter and slightly more powerful. One of the highlights of the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) will undoubtedly be this Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe. The range topping model is powered by a 510 hp version the fabulous four-litre AMG V8 engine. Also due in Frankfurt is the Audi e-tron quattro concept; an all-electric SUV show car. |
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2015-08-19: 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance report and 370-shot gallery ...
On Sunday, the 65th annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance formed the traditional Grande Finale of the Monterey Peninsula Car week. In addition to the familiar classes, among the featured marques and anniversaries were Cunningham, Pope, duPont, Mercury Customs, Carrozzeria Touring, 50 years of the Shelby Mustang and 75 years of the Lincoln Continental. Ferraris also took centre stage with no fewer than four different classes. Special for this year were a class for Ferraris that raced at the Pebble Beach Road Races between 1950 and 1956, and a Preservation class, which included the 250 LM that scored Ferrari's final outright Le Mans win, exactly 50 years ago this year.
As always, the activities kicked off on Thursday with the Tour d'Elegance, which saw a vast majority of the entrants drive down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Our photographers were at the famous Pebble Beach golf links throughout the event and have returned with a class-by-class 320-shot gallery of the Concours d'Elegance and a 50-shot gallery of the Tour d'Elegance, both of which serve to illustrate a concise report, describing this year's highlights. As always, more detailed features on individual cars will follow in the coming weeks, as will reports on the other events and auctions of this year's car week. |
2015-08-17: 2015 Pebble Beach Best of Show winning Isotta Fraschini ...
Yesterday, the Monterey Car Week culminated with the 65th annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and more specifically the presentation of the Best of Show. Chosen from the day's class winners, this award is one of the, if not the most coveted in the classic car world. This year, the honour was bestowed on Jim Patterson and his fabulous Isotta Fraschini 8A Worblaufen Cabriolet. The striking body with a dramatically long nose was actually built a few years after the chassis was completed in Italy. The work of Swiss coach-builder Ramseier, the car made its debut in its current guise at the 1932 Geneva Motor Show and was later also awarded the Grand Prix d'Honneur in the Cannes Concours d'Elegance. From 1960s, it was consecutively owned by two famous French collectors, until Patterson acquired the car at auction early in 2014. It was immediately entrusted to Canadian experts RM Restorations, who worked their magic in record time. The result of their work can be admired in this 19-shot gallery, which also includes one 'before' shot from when it was offered at auction during the 2014 Retromobile.
A full report and class-by-class gallery of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will follow later in the week. |
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2015-08-13: Fantastic Ferrari and Packard due to cross the block at Gooding ...
Last week, we already had a first look at the unique Ferrari 250 GT SWB Bertone Berlinetta due to cross the block at Gooding this weekend. For us the one-off show car was one of the cars we looked forward to most and yesterday we had an opportunity to examine the Bertone Berlinetta more closely. The result is this expanded 23-shot gallery of the Ferrari inside the Gooding marquee.
Another star lot on offer at Gooding is this Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Sport Sedan. One of only three known survivors, it is the production version of the headline-grabbing Packard show car displayed at the Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago. Built to order, these cars were finished by Dietrich under the 'Individual Custom' program, which represented the range-topping Packard models. The featured Twelve boasts the typical V-shape windshield, a chrome radiator and a polished belt moulding. Considered as one of the most elegant closed Packards, this car was owned by legendary collectors like J.B. Nethercutt, William H. Harrah and Lee Herrington. The Sport Sedan is estimated to change hands for $2-3 million. |
2015-08-11: 2015 Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion 220-shot gallery ...
This weekend the annual car week on the Monterey Peninsula kicked off at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion. As the name suggests, it is a pre-event to the upcoming Rolex Motorsports Reunion that will start on Thursday run through to Sunday. It gives the owners/drivers the opportunity to explore the track ahead of the big weekend, and an impressive number of entrants make good use of this chance. As a result, the Pre-Reunion usually has an entry list that could rival most other events of its type and this year was certainly no exception. We were particularly taken by the large turn-out of Formula 5000 cars, which will race in the main event for the first time ever. In addition to the colourful field of American-entered cars, there was also a strong presence from Australia and New Zeeland, where F5000 racing is very popular. Also grabbing our attention were a selection of North American specials, including the unique Sadler Mk4 that has just been restored by Bill Sadler himself. Well in his 80s now, he also drove the car, still finished in a fitting primer paint-scheme.
These, and many more highlights can be found in our action-packed 220-shot gallery. Keep a close eye on this place as more reports from the Monterey Peninsula will be added in the coming days and weeks. |
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2015-08-07: Ferraris and McLaren headline RM Sotheby's Monterey Sale ...
At next week's RM Sotheby's Monterey Sale Ferraris and a very special McLaren look set to grab centre stage. Our favourite car in the auction is this Ferrari 250 GT Competizione Scaglietti Coupe, which is one of just nine examples built in 1956. Arguably it is also the most important as it is the very car that was driven to outright victory in the 1956 Tour de France by Alfonso de Portago. It was this win that earned the subsequent Ferrari 250 GT competition cars the nickname 'Tour de France' or 'TdF'. The 250 GT Competizione only changed ownership a handful of times, most recently 23 years ago when it was acquired by the late Lorenzo Zambrano from whose estate it will be offered. Among the other Ferraris offered in the auction is a no-stories 250 LM, which is offered from the mysterious Pinnacle Collection. This spectacular collection of 26 high profile machines will cross the block on Thursday, starting with an alloy-bodied Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
Also on offer is a very special McLaren F1. The second to last built, it was a 'regular' production model until it was extensively modified by McLaren themselves. Among the upgrades was the addition of an LM-specification V12 and the installation of the high-downforce body-kit. Today it was one of only two McLaren F1s fitted with the uprated, competition inspired LM engine. |
2015-08-05: Awesome Aston Martin DBR2 and new Audi S8 plus ...
In a quest for outright victories in sprint races on the British Isles but also in the continental endurance races, Aston Martin created the DBR2 for the 1957 season. It joined the three-litre DBR1 in the British manufacturer's competition line-up but it was far from a larger engined derivative. Instead it was actually based on the never used second generation Lagonda V12 chassis, which was beefier and accordingly capable of bearing the additional loads. During the 1957 season, Aston Martin campaigned the two DBR2s with mixed success. Reliability issues thwarted the continental outings but in Britain, both Stirling Moss and Roy Salvadori scored wins at Goodwood and Silverstone respectively. A rule change rendered the DBR2 obsolete for international events in 1958 but loaned to North American racers and fitted with ever larger versions of the familiar straight six, the two examples built continued to be campaigned with considerable success. Both examples still survive and despite their mesmerising value are still regularly campaigned as can be seen in our 75-shot gallery, which serves to illustrate our new detailed article. In fact the second example built, raced with great success by both Salvadori and Moss, will be out for the upcoming Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. We will be there as well, so you can expect detailed reports from all the major events on the Monterey Peninsula in the following days and weeks.
Audi has further raised the bar with the new S8 plus. As the name suggests, it is an improved version of the already impressive S8 introduced a few years ago. It comes equipped with a 605 hp version of the twin-turbo, direct-injection V8 and comes equipped as standard with carbon ceramic brakes. For owners desiring a true wolf in sheep's clothing experience, the S8 plus can also be fitted with the 'standard' S8 bodykit. Only available in short wheelbase form, the S8 plus will be ready for delivery before the end of the year. |
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2015-08-02: One-off Bertone Ferrari and other Gooding Pebble Beach Auctions highlights ...
For the auctioneer's upcoming flagship Pebble Beach sale, Gooding & Co. has once again managed to consign a superb collection of cars, which are due to cross the block in two weeks time. The absolute headliner and our personal favourite as well is the unique Ferrari 250 GT SWB Bertone Berlinetta. First shown at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show, the car was a pet project of Nuccio Bertone himself as he was determined to show Enzo Ferrari he was wrong to exclusively use the services or rival carrozzeria Pininfarina. Tasked with the design was the very young but hugely talented Giorgietto Giugiaro. Fitted with a very striking 'sharknose', the one-off 250 GT SWB received universal acclaim but sadly, it was not acknowledged by Ferrari until recently when it received the coveted Classiche certificate. Originally owned by Bertone himself, it was later by an American professional drummer as his daily driver for decade, accumulating around 100,000 miles. Since 1980, it has been the crown jewel in the late Lorenzo Zambrano's fabulous collection. The unique Bertone Ferrari is now available for the first time in 35 years and we think bids may well exceed Gooding's top estimate of $16 million.
Among the many other stars in the sale are other fantastic Ferraris, including prime examples of the equally stunning 500 Superfast and 206 S Dino Spyder, the latter of which will be offered without reserve. Also included in the two-day auction are an actual Le Mans winning Porsche 956 and an ex-works Porsche 904 GTS from the same collection. Further highlights include a rally prepared Maserati A6G/54 2000 Allemano Coupe and an ex-Team Penske / Mark Donohue Lola T70 Mk2 Spyder. |
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