The celebrations were the ideal opportunity to unveil the latest modes in the Maserati range: Maserati GT2 Stradale and the new Maserati GranTurismo 110 ANNIVERSARIO special series. Maserati GT2 Stradale is an ode to the most extraordinary and exclusive sportiness – the result of a technical and stylistic partnership between the Maserati GT2, a masterpiece of performance created for the Brand’s return to GT competitions – and Maserati MC20.

The Maserati GranTurismo “110 ANNIVERSARIO” special series comes in a limited edition of the same number of units as the years of the House of the Trident, symbol of an ideal bridge between the Brand’s past, present and future. The mission at Maserati is to write the future of mobility in the luxury segment, focusing on its customers’ requests. It is A mission that continues even 110 years later and finds its impetus through all the models, looking ahead to the future and taking Italian luxury all over the world.

Santo Ficili, Maserati CEO

“I am proud to celebrate 110 years of innovation and passion. Every Maserati tells a story, and as we reach this significant anniversary, we celebrate the countless journeys taken in our cars. We are taking this opportunity to bring together our community of enthusiasts and showcase the beautiful evolution of our Brand. As we honor our rich history, we look eagerly towards the future, committed to delivering a unique blend of Italian luxury and performance”.

Maserati Trident Experience – Modena, Italy

Starting from November 30, an exclusive two-day event was held, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Modena, the Brand’s historic home. The Trident Experience catered for a selected group of guests, including members of the Maserati Italia Club, the Panini family, the grandchildren of Ettore Maserati, and the actress Matilda De Angelis.

Some of the event’s most notable moments included the highly anticipated unveiling of the Maserati GranTurismo 110 ANNIVERSARIO and a grand parade showcasing 110 Maseratis, featuring both contemporary models and classic cars. The program also encompassed a series of institutional moments and enriching cultural visits, with a luxurious Gala Dinner at Massimo Bottura’s renowned Casa Maria Luigia.

“Celebrazione dei 110 Anni di Maserati” – Tokyo, Japan

On 1 December, Maserati Japan marked the 110th anniversary with a grand celebration in Tokyo, hosted at the luxurious Prince Hotel. The prestigious event showcased an impressive line-up of 110 Maserati vehicles, representing the Brand’s esteemed community of passionate owners. The festivities included a scenic convoy tour that took participants from the streets of Tokyo to the picturesque landscapes of Chiba, creating a memorable experience for all the attendees. Dubbed “Celebrazione dei 110 Anni di Maserati”, the event culminated in a spectacular finale, the highlight of which was an impressive fireworks display.

The new GT2 Stradale was unveiled and introduced by Takayuki Kimura, CEO of Maserati Japan, who expressed his pride in commemorating the Brand’s 110th anniversary alongside many distinguished guests. He also took the opportunity to emphasize the steadfast dedication of Maserati enthusiasts in Japan, underscoring their long-standing relationship with the Brand and ultimately highlighting Maserati’s commitment to building its future.

110th Anniversary Celebrations – Seoul, South Korea

On December 12, at a prestigious gathering at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador to Seoul, Maserati proudly welcomed 160 guests including media and dealers to celebrate its anniversary. The event showcased Maserati’s rich heritage alongside its unwavering commitment to innovation, again highlighted by the unveiling of the GT2 Stradale.

The Collection’s GT110 Gala – Miami, FL, USA

On December 5, The Collection, one of Maserati’s dealers in the Miami area, organized a gala in collaboration with the Concours Club, to coincide with Miami Design Week. The event brought together more than 100 top dealer clients and distinguished members of the Concours Club for an evening packed with luxury, creativity, and Italian tradition.

The attendees were impressed by the display of Maserati’s legendary cars, including the 8CTF, Maserati MC20 Icona, MC20 Cielo, and MCXtrema. During the gala dinner, the Maserati GranTurismo 110 ANNIVERSARIO was in the spotlight to pay homage to Maserati’s iconic heritage.

Maserati 110th Anniversary Celebrations –Shanghai & Beijing, China

On 8 December, Maserati proudly welcomed to Shanghai and Beijing representatives from 108 media outlets, including 38 esteemed judges from the CCOY and She Power organizations. The aim of the remarkable two-day gathering was to commemorate two major milestones: Maserati’s 110th anniversary and the 20th anniversary in China. To do so, a parade was held on the streets of Shanghai, alongside an LED light show at both Shanghai Sinar Mas Plaza and Shanghai International Port.

Above content © 2024 Maserati S.p.A. reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

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This is the tale of a wonderful old racing machine, now fast approaching its 100^th birthday but still enjoying an active competition life in the hands of vintage racing enthusiast and collector Andrew Larson.

The post The 1927 Bugatti Type 37A Was Everyman’s Racecar appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

In the vast universe of Southern California car culture, the quest for a unique “car gathering” has become near impossible. When Bugatti Veyron and McLaren Senna sightings are commonplace at Saturday morning Cars & Coffee, how do you invent something worthy of attention? After attending the second iteration of Macchinissima, I was duly impressed, which is why it gets my #1 vote for 2024. A celebration of Italian machinery, read on as I share what was truly a refreshing experience.

The vision

For years, Italian car enthusiasts Bronson Page and Mike Baum had been attending A-list car shows. Bronson explains, “We found Pebble and Quail too stodgy and commercial. So many events we attended were in boring locations, dusty parks, or hot parking lots. We knew we could do better.” Mike agreed: “Bronson and I had the idea for years about a different Italian car event that is more engaging. I have been going to car shows for over 20 years, and we felt that the usual formats are stale. We were missing a more curated experience, a younger audience, and just having a good party around the cars we love.”

The post Best car show of 2024: Macchinissima II appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

In Italy, a country that’s home to numerous small, specialized companies making exotic sports and racing cars, few can compete with SVA in their combination of obscurity with exotic engineering. Turin’s SVA flourished briefly at the end of the 1940s and produced at maximum two cars and a few more chassis. Yet the dazzling design of one of them, a single-seater, well-deserved its presentation by leading publications around the world.

SVA can best be viewed as a spiritual offshoot of Turin’s Cisitalia. That company, brainchild of industrialist and passionate car enthusiast Piero Dusio, created a sensation with its thrusting initiatives at a time when Italy’s major carmakers were struggling to recover from the privations of the wartime years. With its 1,100-cc single-seaters and sports cars Cisitalia was a shining star, attracting the best drivers of the day including Germany’s Hans Stuck and the unforgettable Tazio Nuvolari.

The post Savonuzzi and His Spectacular SVA appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

For the burgeoning Formula Two category for 1½-liter cars, French star driver Jean Behra based a new racing car of his own on Porsche components. In 1959, it showed its class by beating the factory Porsches in the year’s biggest F2 race.

Built in Modena, Italy, in 1959, for French racing champion Jean Behra, the Behra-Porsche was a handsomer and, in its time, more successful car than Porsche’s own first open-wheeled effort. “I like Porsches very much, above all because I had such great successes with them last year,” said Behra, explaining why Ferrari’s number one team driver would take the trouble to build his own car. “I’d like to try out a few things I’ve thought up on the basis of my racing experience in recent years. This project with the Formula Two car is tremendous fun for me!”

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Fed up with seeing their major races won by the Germans in the 1930s, the Italians allowed only 1½-liter entries in their 1939 races to eliminate their opposition. They reckoned without the astonishing skills of the Daimler-Benz Racing Department.

The most glamorous Grand Prix race of the 1930s was not at Monaco, not at Dubai, not at Singapore. It was in Northern Africa in the Italian colony of Libya, at Tripoli. To the racing teams, especially those emerging from winter in rainy France or foggy Germany, sailing to Tripoli in May was a liberating journey to a paradise of Arabian opulence under the sun and palms. Only when the hot, salty ghibli blew from the sea, stirring up red sand and biting fleas, was this exotic land less than hospitable to its distinguished guests?

The post V for Voiturette: A Look at the 1939 Mercedes-Benz W165 appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

In the midst of Britain’s post-war turmoil engineer Reid Railton was freshly out of a job at the beginning of 1923. So was his friend Henry Spurrier III, although he  was still working at Leyland Motors but on a reduced salary. Born in June of 1898, Henry Spurrier “Junior” was three years less eight days younger than Reid Railton. “A great deal of both work and leisure time was spent in each other’s company,” wrote Hugh Tours. Spurrier and Railton, close in years, became life-long friends.

Unfinished business remained at Leyland. The company’s directors, wrote Miles Thomas in The Motor, “have come to the decision to investigate the question of the market for a small and cheap chassis suitable alternatively for a light car and a 10 to 15 cwt. van. It is intended at first to produce the chassis in very small numbers in the experimental shops of the company.”

The post A Look Back at Reid Railton and the Arabs appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

In 1977, Porsche’s “improvised” Type 936/77 took on the full-court press of four Renaults at Le Mans. Retirements and technical troubles suggested that winning was out of the question. But neither its drivers nor Porsche number 4 believed that.

Against strong opposition from Alpine-Renault and Alfa Romeo, Porsche took the world sports car championship in 1976 with its 936. This was a car it had “improvised,” said Ernst Fuhrmann, made from parts from one car and another, “just to stop others from having it too easy.”

The post Against All Odds: Porsche’s 1977 Le Mans Victory appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

The glamorous life

By 1966, the careers and the relationship of the recently married film director Roger Vadim Plemiannikov and Hollywood starlet Jane Fonda were on the rise. The pair had met while filming La Ronde in 1963, officially becoming a couple later that year. Married in Las Vegas in August of 1965, the pair lived a glamorous trans-Atlantic lifestyle between Vadim’s native France and Southern California. Attractive, wealthy, talented, and eager for more success, the pair seemingly lived an idyllic lifestyle that anyone would have been envious of, including what they drove.

Ferrari 275 GTB chassis  08641

After having sold his Ferrari 250 California SWB Spider, chassis number 2175 GT, Vadim purchased the 275 GTB on offer here, chassis number 08641, on 15 June 1966. Finished in Azzuro (106-A-32) over a full leather Nero (VM 8500) interior, the car was built to left-hand drive specifications for use in France. Chassis number 08641 falls late in the production run of the 275 GTB, and was fitted with long-nose steel bodywork, torque tube, and three Weber carburetors. It was sold to him through Franco-Britannic Autos of Paris, Ferrari’s official distributor and the car was subsequently registered in Vadim’s name (as Roger Plemiannikov) under registration number 64 SW 75. Later that summer, the registration documents were transferred to Fonda, keeping the same number.

The pair kept their 275 GTB for about two and a half years and during this time, they were photographed with the car frequently, as one would expect for a pair of A-list celebrities. In August of 1966, the pair were photographed emerging from the car in Saint-Tropez, Vadim sporting swimming trunks and attracting a crowd of onlookers, clearly star stuck by their celebrity sighting, and perhaps the 275 GTB as well. Another color photo exists in the history file of Fonda in the passenger seat in October of 1968, departing the hospital for the first time with their newborn daughter Vanessa, a much more personal moment.

In November of 1968, the 275 GTB returned to Franco-Britannic Autos and was reregistered 1404 W 75 (trade plate) and then subsequently purchased by a Mr. Tamalet in Lyon. In short order, the car was repainted red and registered under the name of his company as 1191 DG 69 according to Ferrari historian Marcel Massini. By April of 1972, chassis number 08641 had passed to Christian and Anne Baverey in Lyon. In their ownership, the car saw a bit of action on the track. It appeared at Pierre Bardinon’s famous Mas du Clos circuit, which was driven by Jean-Claude Killy, a former World Cup ski racer and triple Olympic Champion at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. Anne Baverey would take to the wheel next at the Limonest-Mont Verdun hillclimb near Lyon and later the Coup des Dames at Mas du Clos, in September and October of 1974, respectively.

Chassis Highlights

• Originally owned by Roger Vadim Plemiannikov and then-wife Jane Fonda
• Used by the couple in France through 1968
• Late-production long-nose, torque tube, 275 GTB with triple carburettors
• Recently restored to its original colour scheme
• Ferrari Classiche certified, retains its original chassis, engine and gearbox

On 16 April 1980, chassis 08641 passed to Michel Ferry, director of the Société des Bains de Mer in Monaco. The car was still painted red at this time, although the chromed front grille guard had been removed and it sported yellow headlights for use in France. Briefly reregistered in Monaco, the 275 GTB was subsequently sold to a collector in Toulouse who drove the car in a series of local events and rallies, reregistering the car as 275 TM 31. Sold to French dealer and collector Jean Guikas, in 1988, it passed through him to another French owner before finding its way to the consignor roughly twenty years ago.

In the last five years, chassis 08641 was subject to a full restoration seeking to bring the car back to its original colour scheme of Azzurro over Nero, just as when Fonda and Vadim owned it. Afterward, the car received Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming that it retains its original chassis, engine, and gearbox.

In period, the 275 GTB was a favorite of many of the Hollywood jet set and in addition to Fonda and Vadim, 275 GTBs found their way into the garages of other celebrities in period, including Steve McQueen, and Miles Davis who had a 275 GTB/4. Vadim was clearly a fan of the Ferrari for some time, having previously owned a 250 California Spider (chassis number 2175 GT). Interestingly Fonda also had previous experiences with a California Spider alongside the car owned by fellow actor Alain Delon (chassis number 2935 GT). Both no stranger to Ferrari as a marque, it is easy to understand why the pair were drawn to the 275 GTB and it is clear that the car played an important role in their lives early on in their marriage and a time when it looked like the sky was the limit for the couple.

Presented today exactly as it was when it was delivered to Fonda and Vadim, chassis number 08641 sits amongst the upper echelon of 275 GTBs, with its celebrity ownership only adding to its known history, and Classiche certification. It would be at home on a concours lawn anywhere in the world, but would perhaps be most at home cruising the roads of the south of France in unrivaled style as it did with its first owners.

Private Sale Information

Go HERE

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My wife made an offer on a house in New Zealand while vacationing there with her family a few years ago. She is a realtor, and not an impulsive person, so I did not object, especially after she mentioned that it had a four-car garage. I was a bit apprehensive on the flight over though, wondering what we were getting ourselves into.

A couple of hours after arrival, we were driving up a lush green hill, overlooking the ocean on a beautiful warm summer day—in January. The seasons are reversed here. We wound up and around and came to a park in which there were six or seven Jowett Javelins and Jupiters along with a couple of tiny Bradford trucks also built by Jowett. I asked the cabbie to stop, and walked over to a red 1951 Jupiter to get a closer look. I had only ever seen pictures of them.

The post The Major’s Jupiter: A Look at the 1951 Jowett Jupiter appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

From 1947 to 1952, Enzo Ferrari focused on building his newly established Ferrari marque into a racing powerhouse. In 1947, he unveiled the Ferrari 125 S, the first car to bear his name, powered by a V12 engine designed by Gioachino Colombo. Success came quickly, with victories in various Italian races, but Ferrari’s ambitions extended to international competitions. The early years were marked by fierce competition with established brands like Maserati and Alfa Romeo. In 1952, Ferrari’s efforts paid off when Alberto Ascari won the Formula One World Championship, securing the first of many titles for Ferrari and cementing the brand’s legacy in motorsport.

World-class product

Without question, this early era of Ferrari establishing his brand can now be looked back upon as the foundation from which the storied marque was built upon. It has been said many times, “A picture is worth a thousand words” could not be a more appropriate phrase for understanding the significance of the book, Millanta on Ferrari – 1947–1952. For this project, the author, Alessandro Silva, had exclusive access to one of the most special photo archives in the automotive field, with photos of great quality and significance.

Photographer Corrado Millanta

The photographer Corrado Millanta, who died in 1983 at the age of 74, was a trained industrial designer and engineer. One of his great passions was photography. As a result, he developed close friendships with automotive designers, engineers, and racing drivers, which gave him exceptional access and special proximity to racing departments, design studios, test drives, and races.

This high-quality illustrated book beautifully summarizes Millanta’s view of Ferrari from 1947-1952. Rare and very private photographs from the factory premises, from the construction of the cars, test drives and races give an unprecedented insight into the early years of the Scuderia and Enzo Ferrari’s work.

Technical Data

• Language:            English
• Pages:                   352
• Size:                       300 x 370 mm / ca. 11.8” x 14.6”
• Author:                 Alessandro Silva
• Foreword:           Piero Ferrari and MariaTeresa Millanta
• Photos:                 338 b/w and 8 color photographs
• ISBN:                     978-3945390184
• Release:                April 2024

Limited edition

• Limited to 550 numbered copies
• Configuration:   Clothbound hardcover and slipcase with embossing, high-quality offset and silk screen print.

Collector’s edition

• Limited to 75 numbered copies, signed by MariaTeresa Millanta and Alessandro Silva.
• Configuration:   Clothbound hardcover and slipcase with embossing, high-quality offset and silk screen print in a decorative collector’s box together with a b/w-photo print on baryte.

Ferrari edition

• Limited to 47 numbered copies, signed by Piero Ferrari
• Configuration:   Clothbound hardcover and slipcase with high-quality offset and silk screen print in a decorative collector’s box

Available now

All editions are available at www.sportfahrer-zentrale.com

Images above © 2024 The Klemantaski Collection, Sportfahrer Verlag, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

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“Who painted this D-Type red?” was my thought when I first laid eyes on this legendary machine. Most of the Jaguar competition cars are BRG— British Racing Green—a livery thought by many to be “proper” for a car of this ilk. Sure a few black, blue, or even white cars are out there, but a bright red car stands out like a low-cut sequin cocktail dress at the Queen’s tea party. In answer to my question: it was born that way.

Yes, Jaguar made this car and one other D-Type, bright red with matching red seats. One theory is that it was intended to be sold new in Italy, where red is the color of preference for Italian racers, but the real reason for the color remains a mystery, adding to the mystique of one of the greatest racing car designs ever created.

The post Driving One of Only Two Factory-Red 1956 Jaguar D-Type XKD 518s appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

A tiny red car is mixing it up at the Monterey Historic Races with 356 Porsches, Morgans, Corvettes, Lotuses and Alfas on the track. “What is that thing?” a fellow racer with a Ferrari on the pre-grid says. The same question has been asked at different racing events around the globe for the last five decades. The mystery car is diminutive in size and its features are not exactly what one would call beautiful. To many, it is as puzzling to identify today as it was when these cars first hit the track over 50 years ago. However, the Mini Marcos is legendary and coveted by those in the know. A fierce competitor in period, as it is today in vintage racing.

The story of the Mini Marcos began in 1959, in Dolgellau, North Wales, when Jem Marsh and Frank Costin founded Marcos Engineering. The name Marcos is derived from a contraction of the founder’s surnames (MARsh and COStin). Jem Marsh was an engineer, and his Luton, England based company, Speedex Castings and Accessories Ltd, manufactured and provided parts for Austin Sevens, based on Marsh’s successful Speedex 750 racing special.

The post A Look at “Elmo”, the Marvelous 1967 Mini Marcos appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

During the late ’50s and early ’60s American racers were doing battle in a wide variety of homebuilt racecars and Specials. Taking production car engines and chassis and creating their own unique take on a competition car. They may have been quick, but many had a look only a mother (their creator) could love. This wasn’t the case with a car built by John Sabel.

Sabel was from the San Francisco Bay Area and like his friends, and many others, he fell under the spell of the automobile. Saving his money from odd jobs he finally scraped enough together to buy himself a Ford Model A. That car and successive others were his means of transportation. Sabel eventually picked up a hot-rodded ’29 coupe that was owned by Joe Huffaker and became, dare I say it, “fast friends.” They both became members of the Marin Coupe and Roadster Club.

The post Smooth as Sabel: A Look at the 1964 Sabel Porsche Special appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

Global Time Attack

Eight cars will hit the track in a Global Time Attack class throughout the weekend as these high-horsepower machines compete to set new track and class records. In addition to entries in the Unlimited, Limited, Street and Enthusiast classes, Northern California native Scott Speed will join the competition with Subaru Motorsports USA’s “WRX: Project Midnight,” while Formula Drift driver Ryan Tuerck will compete in his Judd 4GV V10-powered Mobil 1 Toyota Supra. Race Service’s James Kirkham will also hit the track in the Mercedes AMG GTS ‘Raw Spec.’ All three cars will be featured alongside a collection of Time Attack cars on track and in a main paddock display.

Group B and Rally Car Ride Alongs

Velocity Invitational attendees have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride along with professional drivers in raucous rally cars during the motorsports festival. New for 2024, the lineup of DirtFish Rally experiences will include rides in Group B and modern-day rally cars. The lineup of Group B rally cars will include a 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2, a 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Corsa and the no. C206 1986 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. Gravel Rally Car experiences, which include a ride with a professional rally driver in a rally-tuned DirtFish Subaru BRZ on a complete gravel rally stage built on the grounds at Sonoma Raceway, are also available for purchase.

Sonoma Raceway Hill Climb

Nearly a dozen cars, including Subaru’s “Project Midnight,” will tackle a brand-new Velocity Invitational Hill Climb at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday. This challenging circuit, which travels counter-course from Sonoma Raceway’s start/finish line up to Turn 4, will host an all-out battle for supremacy as competitors tackle more than 10 stories of elevation change.

Featured Race Groups

In addition to eight popular historic race groups, Velocity Invitational will host two featured race groups: historic NASCAR stock cars and a celebration of 70 years of the Jaguar D-Type. The NASCAR group will include 18 stock cars ranging from 1980 through 2013, including Dale Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet and Clint Bowyer’s Sonoma-winning No. 15 Toyota Camry. The Jaguar class will host eight cars celebrating the creation and racing success of the factory D-Types with a focus on the West Coast. Formula 1 champion Jenson Button will join the class with his 1952 Jaguar C-Type.

Hot Shoes

In addition, drivers from Arrow McLaren’s INDYCAR Series drivers Tony Kanaan, Christian Lundgaard (who will join the team for 2025) and Nolan Siegel will hit the track in historic McLaren race cars, including the 1974 M16C/D “Black Label” driven by David Hobbs, the Gatorade-sponsored 1975 M16E originally driven by Johnny Rutherford and the “Red Roof” 1978 M24. Formula 1 and INDYCAR driver Romain Grosjean will also compete throughout the weekend.

Drift Demonstrations

Professional drift drivers, including Travis Pastrana and Tuerck, will get smoky and sideways on the road course throughout the weekend. Pastrana will delight attendees with demonstration drift laps in the 1983 Subaru GL Family Huckster on Sunday, while Tuerck will drift his 650-horsepower 1966 Toyota Stout twice each day on Saturday and Sunday.

Tyler Florence Appearances

Celebrated chef and Food Network TV star Tyler Florence will join the event for food demonstrations and book signings on Saturday (2:30 p.m.) and Sunday (11:45 a.m.). Florence, who lives in nearby Marin County, will meet with guests and sign his cookbook “American Grill.”

Women in Motorsports Events, Presented by Mobil 1

Velocity and DirtFish will host a series of Women in Motorsport events presented by Mobil 1 on Saturday and Sunday. Trailblazing women in motorsports, including INDYCAR Series and sports car driver Pippa Mann, Trans-Am driver Michele Abbate, professional driver and mechanical engineer Sabré Cook, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America racer Ashley Freiberg and Josie Rimmer, head of strategy and women in motorsport coordinator at DirtFish, will take part in panel discussions, autograph sessions, on-camera interviews and special meet and greets at the Mobil 1 booth

Autograph Sessions

Meet your favorite professional drivers at autograph sessions in the Event Plaza throughout the weekend. Sessions will feature Arrow McLaren INDYCAR drivers Kanaan, Lundgaard and Siegel, as well as Kirkham, Grosjean and Button, Subaru stars Speed and Pastrana and Rally legend Markko Märtin.

Sip & Savor Pavilion

The Sip & Savor Pavilion features tasting booths from local wine, spirits and food vendors, plus live entertainment, all in an incredible trackside location. Pair charcuterie and delicious snacks from Taylor Farms with wine tastings from 16 local wineries. Access to the Sip & Savor Pavilion is included in the Wine Experience and Driver’s Experience packages and is limited to guests 21 and older. The pavilion will be open on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Williams F1 Simulators Sponsored by Catalyst

Experience the iconic feel of racing a Williams F1 car from the cockpit of the Williams F1 e-sports simulator sleds. Located in the Catalyst booth in the Event Plaza all weekend, guests can virtually get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

General admission tickets and premium packages for the 5th annual Velocity Invitational are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit velocityinvitational.com. Stay up to date on event news on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Above content © 2024 Velocity Invitational, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Previous Highlights

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The Petersen Automotive Museum’s newest exhibit, “Driven to Win: The Automobile in Competition,” is now open in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery. The display showcases over 100 years of motorsport history across various competitive disciplines and highlights the technologies that propelled winning race cars across the finish line.

Vehicles on display include iconic racers, such as the 1946 Kurtis-Miller Ross Page Special, the 1968 AAR Eagle 68 driven by Denny Hulme, the 2018 McLaren MCL33, the 1966 Lola T70 MKII Spyder, and the 1993 AAR Toyota Eagle MKIII, which achieved 21 wins in 27 IMSA races. Also on display is the 1913 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, considered one of the U.S.’s first sports cars.

The exhibit also features the 1957 Teverbaugh & Kirkland Bonneville Special, a land speed racer that was the first equipped with a parachute, the 1957 Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan “Black Widow” by SEDCO, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona raced by Buddy Baker in 1969 and 1970 when he became the first driver to achieve 200 mph on a closed course, the 1972 Alpine A110 1800 Group IV that competed in the inaugural World Rally Championship and the 2010 John Force Racing Ford Mustang driven by Force to his 15th NHRA Nitro Funny Car Championship.

Director Terry Karges comments

“Motorsports is a significant part of automotive history, and this display represents the ever-evolving journey of racing,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “We hope our guests enjoy a look at how auto racing has evolved over the last century.”

Race cars by year

• 1913 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, considered one of the U.S.’s first sports cars
• 1946 Kurtis-Miller Ross Page Special
• 1957 Teverbaugh & Kirkland Bonneville Special, land speed racer that was the first car equipped with a parachute
• 1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty Utility Sedan “Black Widow” by SEDCO
• 1966 Lola T70 MKII Spyder
• 1968 AAR Eagle 68 driven by Denny Hulme
• 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona raced by Buddy Baker in 1969 and 1970 when he became the first driver to achieve 200 mph on a closed course
• 1972 Alpine A110 1800 Group IV, competed in the inaugural World Rally Championship
• 1986 Porsche 962, competed in 22 IMSA races, achieving seven wins
• 2010 John Force Racing Ford Mustang driven by John Force to his 15th NHRA Nitro Funny Car Championship
• 2018 McLaren MCL33

“Driven to Win: The Automobile in Competition” will be displayed until 2025.

Museum information HERE

Gallery

The post Driven to Win is a winner appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

For Example…

This year’s Quail showcased cutting-edge automotive technology and design, featuring 21 vehicle debuts and demonstrations from top manufacturers and designers. Among the global unveilings were the Lamborghini Temerario, Maserati GT2 Stradale, Rimac Nevera R, Cadillac Opulent Velocity Concept, Acura Performance EV Concept, Integra Type S HRC Prototype, and the Hennessey F5 Stealth Series. Other highlights included the Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla, Automobili Pininfarina B95 Gotham and Battista Targamerica, Pagani Utopia Roadster, Porsche Sonderwunsch 993 Speedster, RUF Rodeo, GuntherWerks GWR, Touring Superleggera Veloce12, Karma Automotive Ivara, Meyers Manx 3-Cylinder Radial Engine, and the KALMAR Automotive 9×9. The Bugatti Tourbillion and Gordon Murray T.50s Niki Lauda and T.33 Spider also made their North American debuts at the show.

Celebrating Automotive Icons

The event also featured four special classes that added to the celebration. The 30th Anniversary of Koenigsegg highlighted the brand’s commitment to building some of the fastest and most advanced hypercars in the world. The 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 Turbo (930) honored the German sports car that changed the industry. The 100th Anniversary of MG celebrated the British brand that helped shape modern sports cars. The Tribute to World Rally Cars brought attention to the legendary rally machines from one of the most challenging racing series in motorsport. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, also included seven traditional classes that displayed vehicles from the past and present, as well as futuristic concept cars.

And, of course, Best of Show

A 1937 Delahaye Type 135 earned “Best of Show” at the 2024 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Owned by Sam and Emily Mann, the winning vehicle was inducted into the prestigious Rolex Circle of Champions on the pristine greens of The Quail Golf Club. At the 21st annual event were automotive enthusiasts, significant industry figures, and other motorsport greats. The 1937 Delahaye Type 135 was joined by dozens of individual class winners who highlighted diverse vehicles from various brands and eras.

The 1937 Delahaye Type 135 was originally constructed as an open-wheel race car to challenge contenders from Mercedes and other European marques. The vehicle’s revolutionary 12-cylinder engine was capable of 240 horsepower, and is believed by Delahaye Club historian Andre Vaucourt to be the car driven by Renee Dreyfus in the Prix du Million, 1938 Pau Grand Prix and Cork Grand Prix. It was later sold to Marius Franay to have new sports car coachwork built on the racer chassis, completely enclosing its original racing mechanicals. After its completion, the vehicle later won the “Prix du Honneur” at the 1947 Paris Salon.

Sports Car Digest Gallery

Award Recipients

Rolex Circle of Champions Best of Show

• Car: 1937 Delahaye Type 135
• Owner: Sam & Emily Mann

Spirit of The Quail

• Car: 1949 MG TC/PBS & Sons
• Owner: Aaron Shelby

Hagerty Drivers Foundation Award

• 1963 Jaguar E-Type FHC
• Buzz & Julia Lynn

30th Anniversary of Koenigsegg Automobile

• Car: 2005 Koenigsegg CCR
• Owner: Glenn Yuen

50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 Turbo Type 930

• Car: 1975 Porsche 911 Turbo Type 930
• Owner: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

100 Years of MG

• Car: 1925 Morris MG 14/28 Bullnose Supersports
• Owner: Michael Dacre

Tribute to World Rally Cars

• Car: 1985 Audi S1 E2
• Owner: Stephen Rimmer

The Evolution of the Supercar

• Car: 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR FASTRRR
• Owner: Damon Sueter

The Great Ferraris

• Car: 1952 340 Mexico
• Owner: Brian Ross

Pre-War Sports and Racing

• Car: Bugatti Type 57
• Owner: Bernard Kress

Post-War Racing

• Car: 2001 Chrysler Viper GTS-R
• Owner: Florent Moulin

Post-War Sports 1961-1975

• Car: 1967 Lamborghini Muira
• Owner: Tom Price

Post-War Sports 1945-1960

• Car: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SC
• Owner: Vin DiBona

Custom Coachwork

• Car: 1934 Ford Model 40 5 Window
• Owner: Coby Gewertz

Sports and Racing Motorcycles

• Motorcycle: 1930 Indian Four Cylinder
• Owner: Mike Lynch

ArtCenter College of Design Award

• 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale
• Owner: Scott Leibow

The Art of Bespoke Award presented by Magneto Magazine

• 1975 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 Croisette Shooting Brake by Felber
• Owner: Andreas Wuest

Kai Lermen, Director, comments

“The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is the epicenter of automotive excellence and luxury, and the diversity of our featured and traditional classes showcases our commitment to honoring all aspects of the industry. I’m proud to say that this was the best one yet,” said Kai Lermen, managing director of The Quail Golf Club. “We thank our sponsors, entrants, vendors, and beloved guests who travel from all over the world for their support in making The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering the most anticipated event of Monterey Car Week.”

Culinary Globe Trotting & more

Guests also enjoyed various culinary delights from five gourmet pavilions, award-winning wine and champagne vendors, and live music and entertainment. The popular Fireside Chat, moderated by Philip Kadoorie, featured renowned car collector and enthusiast Magnus Walker. Attendees were also invited to attend the 27th Annual Bonhams “The Quail Auction,” the longest-standing auction held during Monterey Car Week.

Bonus Gallery

Looking Ahead

The 2025 edition of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, is scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025. Please visit the event website for more information and follow The Quail Events on Facebook and Instagram to stay current on the event activities and announcements.

KSBW Coverage

The post The Quail – Putting the “Panache” on the lawns in 2024 appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

Events

• Immaculately restored 1961 S2 Drophead Coupe becomes first Bentley-entered car into Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
• New Continental GT Speed coupe and Convertible make US public at Monterey Car Week
• Speed Six Continuation Series makes on-road debut
• Bentley Environmental Foundation announces new kelp forest initiative with partner SeaTrees

Debut

The new, fourth-generation Continental GT Speed made its US debut at the event, with a personalized example from Bentley’s bespoke and coachbuilding division, Mulliner, spearheading a fleet of more than 30 pre-production examples at the event. Journalists and customers could sample the new GT Speed on the road for the first time anywhere globally, ahead of demonstrators being made available across Bentley’s worldwide retailer network.

The Continental GT Speed was not the only Bentley Grand Tourer making a debut at Monterey Car Week. Following a two-year, bare-metal restoration, Bentley’s own 1961 S2 Drophead Coupe – one of just 15 examples created by Mulliner in the 1960s – became the first Bentley ever entered into the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance by the marque itself. Monterey Car Week was the first time the car, registration UFF 366, has been presented by Bentley after a painstaking rebuild as part of the three-year rejuvenation of Bentley’s Heritage Collection.

The S2 Drophead Coupe is a forebear of the new Continental GT Speed Convertible that also appeared in the US for the first time in two distinct ways. The new Continental GT Speed family utilizes Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain – created around an all-new V8 engine paired to an electric motor – becoming the next member of a Bentley V8 bloodline that started with the S2, which introduced a 6.23-liter V8 to replace the straight-six engine of the S1.

Meanwhile, the new GT Speed returns Bentley’s design DNA to a clean pair of large headlamps, replacing the previous use of four smaller units that have defined the face of the Continental family – and indeed every mainstream Bentley – since 1963. The S2 was the last Bentley to use this elegant design.

One of Twelve

The latest project from Mulliner’s Classic division, the Speed Six Continuation Series, was also used on the road for the first time. An exact continuation of the Speed Six which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1930, Speed Six ‘Car Zero’ is a newly-built example crafted by hand to the original drawings, original materials and using original manufacturing techniques. The car has been driven for several thousand miles during engineering development and sign-off ahead of the trip to Monterey to offer an authentic Speed Six experience to Mulliner customers who have ordered one of the 12 examples to be created.

Bentley’s presence at Monterey Car Week continues to be one of the most comprehensive of any brand. Nearly 90 Bentleys were brought together on the Peninsula for the week, and Bentley hosted more than 3,000 customers and friends across different events and evenings. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering formalized the arrival of the new Continental GT Speed in the USA, alongside a new Bentayga S Black Edition finished in satin silver with orange accents. The Friday evening saw Bentley return to Seal Rock for its iconic Beach Dinner, in conjunction with brand partner The Macallan, at which it was announced that the Bentley Environmental Foundation will fund a US kelp forest initiative with its partner SeaTrees, restoring vital CO2-absorbing kelp forests along key coastal sites.

Pebble Beach

Several hundred VIPs joined Bentley’s famous Signature Party on Saturday night, and Bentley again guests at The Bench for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday – where a small group of Bentley executives served as Honorary Judges and the 1961 S2 Drophead was showcased, while a new Continental GTC Speed appeared on the Concept Lawn. Meanwhile, a pair of Mulliner designers hosted specification sessions with clients across the events, with scores of new Bentleys imagined.

UFF 366

The Bentley S2, which succeeded the first-generation S-Type, was hailed as one of the world’s most luxurious and innovative saloons at its launch in 1959. On this platform, Mulliner created the rarest version – the S2 Drophead Coupe, of which only 15 examples were built. Bentley’s S2 Drophead Coupe was acquired from a French owner in 2022, as part of the work to rebuild the in-house Heritage Collection. However, the car was in poor condition and needed two years of restoration work with Bentley Heritage partners P&A Wood to bring it to Concours condition.

UFF366 was originally delivered in 1961, finished in Regal Red with a tan interior and a gold fine line. While originally being built as right-hand drive, at some time in its life the car was converted to left-hand operation and repainted in dark blue. During the restoration, the body was stripped to bare metal, and previous poor-quality repairs were cut out and rebuilt correctly. Meanwhile, the engine, gearbox, and rear axle were completely stripped, worn parts replaced, and the systems rebuilt. The wiring was rebuilt from scratch, using the original drawings and even identically colored wires as per the original specification.

Specialists restored the wood set, while the interior was retrimmed in Connolly Vaumol leather to match the original light tan using a shade called Fawn. The decision was taken to keep the car blue but repaint it in an original 1960s Bentley color—the lustrous Ming Blue. The original gold fine line was then reapplied by hand, along with blue and gold trims to the hub caps.

Pebble Beach Concours Highlights

The post Bentleys old and new grace Monterey Car Week appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

Five Decades of Historic Motorsport

It’s a bit daunting to think five decades have past since the first Monterey Historics occurred in 1974. Laguna Seca wasn’t even 20 years old when vintage car enthusiast Steve Earle organized the first Historics at Laguna Seca, a race track built on property once part of U.S. Army’s Fort Ord. I once had an in-depth phone conversation with Steve about the impetus behind his first gathering, to which he commented, “Cars belong on the track, not the lawn.” It was this belief and passion that resulted in decades of phenomenal vintage racing that set a benchmark for the sport in North America.

The post 2024 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

By the late 1950s, sports racing cars were becoming increasingly sophisticated, transitioning from traditional front-engine production-based cars to a new generation of highly specialized purpose-built mid-engine machines. Faced with the challenging task of designing an all-new sports car on a shoestring budget, Alfieri courageously created the last of the great front-engine sports racers – and what is today regarded as a masterpiece of industrial design.

The genius of Alfieri’s design lay in its intricate space-frame chassis – an engineering marvel constructed from approximately 200 small-diameter chromoly steel tubes, welded in triangular formations and reinforced in highstress areas. Weighing less than 70 pounds, this chassis earned the new Maserati its “Birdcage” nickname and provided an extremely lightweight platform with exceptional torsional rigidity.

While its chassis represented a radical new direction, the rest of the Birdcage design made use of tried-and-true Maserati components. The car’s independent front suspension and De Dion rear axle were derived from the highly successful 250F Formula 1 car, as was its rear-mounted, five-speed transaxle. Advances in sports car design allowed Alfieri to utilize four-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and Koni telescopic dampers at each corner, giving the featherweight Birdcage unmatched cornering and stopping power. This remarkable mechanical package was clothed in equally daring Allegretti coachwork, characterized by its low body line, protruding wheel arches, aerodynamically effective Kamm tail, and steeply raked windscreen, which not only complied with strict FIA regulations, but also offered a glimpse into the Birdcage’s complex inner workings.

As the Tipo 60 was intended for customer use, Alfieri decided to use the proven two-liter, four-cylinder engine from the earlier 200S. To lower the car’s center of gravity, the engine was mounted well behind the front axle, converted to dry sump lubrication, and canted over 45º to the right. After early tests showed that the chassis was capable of handling significantly more power, Alfieri decided to produce a 2.9-liter version of the Birdcage – with 50 additional horsepower – called the Tipo 61. The larger capacity Tipo 61 was extremely popular in North America and gave Maserati a real contender in the FIA World Sportscar Championship, where the Birdcage’s clever design provided an instant advantage on tight, technical circuits.

As Maserati had shuttered its factory racing program after the 1957 season, the fate of the Birdcage was left in the hands of well-heeled privateers like Briggs Cunningham and Lloyd “Lucky” Casner’s Camoradi Racing Team.

Despite the lack of factory backing, the Birdcage proved itself at the highest levels of sports car racing, dominating the Italian hill climb championship, winning the Nürburgring 1000 Km in 1960 and 1961, and capturing the 1960 SCCA D-Modified National Championship. Not only was the Birdcage successful in competition, but its outstanding dynamic qualities made it a favorite among amateur and professional racers alike.

Highlights

• Among the Most Iconic and Sought-After of All Maserati Racing Cars
• Ultimate-Specification Tipo 61 Birdcage – One of Only 17 Examples Built
• Campaigned by American Racers Loyal Katskee and Don Skogmo Through 1963
• Raced in Period at the Cuban Grand Prix, Bahamas Speed Week, and Pikes Peak Hill Climb
• Formerly Owned by Noted European Collectors Giulio Dubbini and Carlo Vögele
• Maserati Classiche Certified; Accompanied by Period Tipo 61 Engine (Disassembled) and Spare Reproduction Engine

Technical Specs

• 2,890 CC DOHC Twin-Plug Inline 4-cylinder Engine
• Twin Weber 45 DCO3 Carburetors
• Estimated 250 BHP at 6,800 RPM
• 5-Speed Manual Transaxle
• 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes
• Front Independent Suspension with Coil Springs
• Rear De Dion Axle with Transverse Leaf Spring

Chassis 2454

According to Maserati records, this Tipo 61, chassis 2454, was completed on November 9, 1959, making it the third of just 17 examples built. Originally finished in black with red upholstery, the Birdcage was sold new to Loyal Katskee, an Omaha, Nebraska-based British car dealer, who had been campaigning a Ferrari 750 Monza since 1956.

On November 13, 1959, #2454 was flown from Italy to Miami, Florida, arriving in time for Katskee to debut the spectacular new Maserati at the annual Bahamas Speed Week in Nassau. Despite the new car suffering from a failing De Dion bridge, Katskee managed to place 11th Overall in the Governor’s Trophy and 16th Overall in the Nassau Trophy.

After Nassau, Katskee repainted the Birdcage white with fluorescent orange racing numbers. In February 1960, he entered it in the first La Libertad Grand Prix in Havana, Cuba. Facing a competitive field that included several Porsche 718 Spiders, a Ferrari TR59 driven by Pedro Rodriguez, and another Tipo 61 Maserati driven by Stirling Moss, Katskee had 2454 running in 4th Place when an engine failure forced his retirement after just 16 laps.

Throughout the remainder of the 1960 season, Katskee campaigned his Birdcage in USAC races across North America, beginning with Continental Divide in June and finishing the season that October following the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix at Riverside and the USAC Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. His best result with 2454 occurred at Road America, where he placed 3rd Overall behind two long-tail Birdcages.

Following the 1960 season, Katskee sold 2454 to Donald Skogmo of Minneapolis, an heir to the Gamble-Skogmo merchandising chain. Skogmo, who already owned another Birdcage and would go on to acquire at least two others, campaigned his fleet of Maseratis under the “Dirty Bird Racing Team” banner throughout the early 1960s.

For 1961, Skogmo installed a new engine in 2454 and entered it in a variety of events, from local SCCA races to the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, finishing the racing season at Nassau. After two additional Birdcages joined Skogmo’s team for the 1962 season, 2454 was primarily kept as a backup car, taking part in a few additional SCCA races throughout the Midwest and one final edition of the Bahamas Speed Week before retiring after the 1963 season.

Racing History

• Nassau Governor’s Trophy, 1959, Katskee, No. 12 (11th Overall)
• Cuban Grand Prix, February 1960, Katskee, No. 17 (DNF)
• USAC Continental Divide, Colorado, June 1960, Katskee, No. 12 (DNF)
• USAC Road America, Wisconsin, July 1960, Katskee, No. 12 (3rd Overall)
• USAC Los Angeles Times Grand Prix, October 1960, Katskee, No. 12 (DNF)
• USAC Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, Heat 1, October 1960, Katskee, No. 12 (14th Overall)
• USAC Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, Heat 2, October 1960, Katskee, No. 12 (DNF)
• SCCA Wilmot Hills, Wisconsin, May 1961, Skogmo (2nd Overall)
• USAC Hoosier Grand Prix, Heat 1, June 1961, Skogmo, No. 31 (11th Overall)
• USAC Hoosier Grand Prix, Heat 2, June 1961, Skogmo, No. 31 (8th Overall)
• USAC Continental Divide, Heat 1, Colorado, July 1961, Skogmo, No. 31 (7th Overall)
• USAC Continental Divide, Heat 2, Colorado, July 1961, Skogmo, No. 31 (DNF)
• USAC Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, July 1961, Skogmo, No. 31 (8th in Class)
• SCCA Metropolitan Stadium, Minnesota, July 1961, Skogmo, No. 3 (1st Overall)
• Nassau Governor’s Trophy Prelim, December 1961, Skogmo, No. 61 (13th Overall)
• Nassau Governor’s Trophy, December 1961, Skogmo, No. 61 (8th Overall)
• Nassau International Trophy, December 1961, Skogmo, No. 61 (16th Overall)
• SCCA Road America June Sprints, Wisconsin, June 1962, Skogmo, No. 31 (15th Overall)
• SCCA Road America 500, Wisconsin, September 1962, Skogmo/Beckett, No. 31 (DNF)
• SCCA Rosemount, Minnesota, June 1963, Skogmo (1st Overall)
• SCCA Road America June Sprints, Wisconsin, June 1963, Skogmo, No. 34 (DNF)
• SCCA Lynndale Farms, Wisconsin, September 1963, Skogmo, No. 32 (6th Overall)
• Nassau Governor’s Trophy, December 1963, Skogmo, No. 31 (DNF)

Second Life

In 1965, Don Skogmo advertised 2454 for sale, asking $2,300 for the Maserati, which, by this point, had neither an engine nor transaxle fitted. The aging Tipo 61 was sold to a new owner in Florida, then passed through a subsequent owner in New York, before being purchased by an Englishman around 1970. Under his ownership, 2454 received a sympathetic restoration and was fitted with a two-liter engine and four-speed transaxle from a Maserati 300S. In the mid-1970s, the Birdcage was sold back to the US; renowned Italian collector Giulio Dubbini acquired it from there in 1978.

Based in Padova, Italy, Dubbini was well known for his impressive stable of sports and racing cars, which included important Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, and many of the finest Ferraris, including a 250 Testa Rossa, 250 MM Berlinetta, 500 TRC, and 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. In addition to his extraordinary automotive holdings, Dubbini was an avid enthusiast who helped organize many historic events including the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti Storica. Chassis 2454 remained in his impressive collection for the next decade, during which time it was fitted with a correct-type Tipo 61 engine and five-speed transaxle.

In 1989, after Mr. Dubbini’s passing, 2454 was sold to Swiss collector Karl Blöchle. An avid car collector and fine artist specializing in automotive models, Mr. Blöchle campaigned the Tipo 61 in European historic events through 1997, when it was sold to German collector Hein Gericke.

In 2000, respected Swiss collector and historic racer Carlo Vögele acquired 2454. Under his ownership, the Maserati was entrusted to Capricorn Group, the German engineering company well known for producing high-quality restorations and reproduction racing engines. The restoration of the Tipo 61 was performed with the goal of competing at the highest levels of historic racing and Mr. Vögele did just that, entering it in several rounds of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge.

During his ownership, Mr. Vögele also had 2454 inspected and certified by Maserati Classiche. According to the accompanying Maserati Classiche Certificazione di Autenticità, this Birdcage retains its original chassis and bodywork, and has a correct-type engine and transaxle. It is believed that this Tipo 61 is one of as few as two examples certified by Maserati Classiche before the company ended the program.

Mr. Vögele owned 2454 until 2011, when it was sold to German collector Klaus Werner, who continued to race it in historic events at Spa, Nürburgring, and Goodwood.

Since 2012, the Birdcage has been a fixture in a prominent North American collection, benefiting from meticulous maintenance and sparing use. Soon after acquiring the Maserati, the consignor sent it to the renowned Canepa Motorsport of Scotts Valley, California, for a thorough inspection and race preparation. Detailed photos and invoices on file confirm that 2454 was carefully disassembled, inspected, and repaired as needed to prepare it for its debut at the 2014 Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca. For vintage racing purposes, the Birdcage is currently fitted with a reproduction engine built by UK-based Maserati specialist Steve Hart. Another reproduction race engine and the disassembled period Tipo 61 engine, no. 2477, accompany the car at auction.

Gooding & Co

Go HERE for more information.

Above content © 2024 Gooding & Co reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

The post 1959 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage appeared first on Sports Car Digest.

Car Highlights

• Features Sublimely Beautiful Scaglietti Coachwork with Distinctive Tail Fin
• The Last of Just Four 857 Sports Built
• Multiple Podium Finishes in 1956 with Carroll Shelby and Jack McAfee
• Additionally, Driven by Olivier Gendebien, Richie Ginther, Masten Gregory, and Other Racing Luminaries
• Exactingly Restored in 2011 by the Renowned DK Engineering
• An Extremely Significant Competition Ferrari with Matching-Numbers Engine

Overview

Never resting on its laurels, Ferrari sought to improve upon the four-cylinder race cars that had won them the 1954 World Sportscar Championship. The 500 Mondial and 750 Monza would soon face new competition, including the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. In response, Ferrari developed new, larger engines, including the Lampredi-designed 3.5 liter in the 857 Sport.

The 857 Sport debuted at the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy in Ireland, and Scuderia Ferrari entered three new works 857s to compete with Mercedes-Benz. Included in the lineup was this example, chassis 0588 M, the last of the four 857 Sports built. On September 14, 1955, Ferrari’s new team driver, Olivier Gendebien, entered the circuit in 0588 M for Thursday morning practice and, unfortunately, crashed and rolled the Ferrari before the end of practice. Days later, chassis 0588 M was returned to Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modena for repairs, during which Scaglietti fitted a tail fin to the headrest, giving the car its distinctive appearance. As with many ex-Scuderia Ferrari cars, 0588 M was sold to the US to partake in the country’s flourishing sports car racing scene.

Noted sports car team owner John Edgar of Hollywood, California, had amassed a group of significant Ferraris, including a 275 Sport Barchetta, 340 America, and the former Le Mans-winning 375 MM Plus. After seeing Phil Hill’s win for Ferrari in the 3.5-liter 857 S in Nassau, Edgar decided he needed a large-displacement four-cylinder for the upcoming season.

In 1956, Edgar placed an order with Luigi Chinetti in New York, and soon, he received 0588 M, as well as an invoice for $17,500. Once prepped, the team headed to Palm Springs, California, with the 857. On the starting grid, Edgar’s driver, Jack McAfee, sat poised in his new mount across from Carroll Shelby in Scuderia Parravano’s 410 S. Quickly after the start the two Ferraris pulled past a D-Type to take the lead, but McAfee could not keep up with Shelby on the Palm Springs circuit. Regardless, the 857 Sport’s first competitive outing brought the car a commendable 2nd Overall.

Several weeks later, at the Stockton Road Races, McAfee piloted the 3.5-liter Ferrari to a 1st Overall victory over another D-Type and John von Neumann in his Monza. With the finned Ferrari gaining popularity throughout California, fans were delighted to see the car lined up that April for the 7th Annual SCCA Pebble Beach Road Races. The grid included a full mix of four- and six-cylinder Ferraris in the hands of Hill, Shelby, and Ernie McAfee. Unfortunately for Ernie McAfee, it would be his last race and, as a result of his death, the last year of road races in the forest at Pebble Beach. Despite the dark air that day, Jack McAfee took the 857 Sport to a 3rd Overall.

From there, Jack McAfee took the car to a 6th Place finish at the SCCA National at Eagle Mountain Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, but at Road America, on June 24, 1956, McAfee failed to finish. In July, McAfee managed a 5th Overall at the race at Beverly prior to the car’s return to the West Coast. For the SCCA National Seafair Road Races outside of Seattle, Edgar entrusted Masten Gregory to pilot the 857, although gearbox trouble ended his race.

The 857 Sport was quickly flown to New York in order to fix the gearbox prior to the race at Montgomery on August 19. McAfee had enjoyed continued success in the Porsche 550, and by now Carroll Shelby had come to join the team. For the New York race, Shelby would pilot the 857 for the first time, with fantastic results. In race four, he won outright and repeated the result in race nine ahead of a Maserati 300S and three Cunningham D-Types.

At Thompson Raceway the following month, Shelby ended up in the dirt after the Ferrari’s brakes failed. Back in the hands of McAfee that November, the car came in 5th Overall at the 1st Annual Palm Springs National Championship Races. In December, four starts at Nassau, piloted by Richie Ginther, yielded no podiums, and likewise for Shelby at Pomona to round out the year. However, the 857 S had served the team well in the 1956 season, and Edgar subsequently sold it to Stan Sugarman of Scottsdale, Arizona.

In April 1957, Jack McAfee drove it in the 2nd Annual Palm Springs National Championship Races where he took 5th Place. In November, McAfee took 4th, and then 5th in the main event. Later that month, Richie Ginther finished 5th in the main event at the inaugural race at Laguna Seca.

A few more outings over the next year brought an 8th Overall at Riverside and a 3rd Overall in Palm Springs, but by 1958 Mr. Sugarman knew he had an old race car. That year he replaced the four-cylinder Ferrari engine with that of a Chevrolet Corvette V-8. During the late 1950s, the car found its way to Texas, and by 1962, Jim Hall facilitated the purchase of 0588 M to the admired enthusiast Oscar Koveleski of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Koveleski fitted yet another Corvette V-8 engine and over the next three years went racing and brought home a few podium finishes from small events in the Northeast.

In 1966, the 857 Sport was sold to pop artist Andy Warhol. An unusual owner for an old racing Ferrari, Mr. Warhol wanted to make a parody of the film The Yellow Rolls-Royce. Chassis 0588 M was subsequently painted yellow with black wheels and a black grille. The film was never produced and the Ferrari was said to have been driven by Mr. Warhol’s agent around the streets of New York.

The car eventually passed to Tiny Gould, still finished in yellow and black, prior to its return to Italy. In the early 1970s, Christopher Renwick sold the car to Luigi P. Rezzonico Castelbarco of Imbersago, Italy, more commonly known as “Count Bobily”. During his ownership, the 857 S appeared at the 1973 Le Mans Historics driven by Corrado Cupellini, who later owned the car, eventually selling it to the respected collector Jean-Claude Bajol.

Meanwhile, by 1982, a Los Angeles attorney was offering the engine and gearbox of a so-called “Super Monza” out of Australia. During an inspection of the components, the engine was found to be 0588 M – the original 3.5-liter four-cylinder unit from this 857 S. After some negotiation, the engine and gearbox were sold to David Cottingham of DK Engineering in the UK.

After 13 years in his ownership, M. Bajol sold the Ferrari to Mr. Cottingham who had persistently tried to buy the car, intending to restore and reunite it with its original engine.

In 2011, the 857 S was disassembled and inspected prior to an extensive restoration by DK Engineering. The body was found to be exceptionally original and was expertly refinished. The original engine and transaxle were rebuilt and reunited with the chassis after more than 50 years apart. By September 2011, the 857 S was returned to its John Edgar livery and debuted at the Goodwood Revival.

In 2012, chassis 0588 M joined the collection of its current owner, where it has taken its place among a score of world-class competition Ferraris and has been maintained by his expert staff of caretakers. Today, in superb mechanical and cosmetic order, the 857 Sport represents a supremely finished example of a very significant and pure four-cylinder Ferrari. Having started life as a Scuderia Ferrari works car, the subsequent race record in the ownership of John Edgar marks a successful spell in the hands of both Jack McAfee and Carroll Shelby. Additionally owned by Oscar Koveleski, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Claude Bajol, 0588 M is certainly a unique example.

Furthermore, 0588 M boasts gorgeous and unique Scaglietti coachwork, a matching-numbers engine, and an exceptional history, having been raced by some of the greatest drivers of the era. This is quite possibly the best 857 in existence and one of the most important four-cylinder Ferraris ever produced. Beautifully restored and likely the finest of its kind, this is a chance to own one of the most compelling Ferrari sports racing cars of the 1950s.

Technical Specs

• 3,421 CC DOHC Tipo 129 4-Cylinder Engine
• Twin Weber 58 DCOA3 Carburetors
• 276 BHP at 6,000 RPM
• 4-Speed Manual Gearbox
• 4-Wheel Drum Brakes
• Front Independent Double-Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs
• Rear De Dion Axle with Transverse Leaf Spring

Ownership

• Scuderia Ferrari (retained for racing)
• John Edgar, Sherman Oaks, California (acquired from the above via Luigi Chinetti in 1956)
• Stan Sugarman, Phoenix, Arizona (acquired from the above in 1957)
• Jim Hall, Dallas, Texas (acquired from the above in 1961)
• Oscar Koveleski, Scranton, Pennsylvania (acquired from the above in 1962)
• Andy Warhol, Long Island, New York (acquired from the above in 1966)
• Tiny Gould, New York, New York (acquired in late 1960s)
• Anthony Bamford, UK (acquired in 1970s)
• Luigi P. Rezzonico Castelbarco, Count Bobily Imbersago, Italy (acquired via Christopher Renwick in early 1970s)
• Giulio Dubbini, Padova, Italy (acquired circa early 1970s)
• Corrado Cupellini, Italy (acquired circa 1973)
• Jean-Claude Bajol, Toulouse, France (acquired in 1997)
• David Cottingham, Chorleywood, UK (acquired from the above via Jean Guikas in 2011)
• Current Owner (acquired from the above in 2012)

Race Highlights

• RAC Tourist Trophy, Ireland, 1955, Gendebien/Gregory, No. 9 (DNS)
• Palm Springs National Championship, Race 2, February 1956, McAfee, No. 98 (2nd Overall, 2nd in Class)
• Stockton Road Races, March 1956, McAfee, No. 98 (1st Overall)
• SCCA Pebble Beach Road Races, April 1956, McAfee, No. 98 (3rd Overall, 2nd in Class)
• SCCA National, Cumberland Hillclimb, May 1956, McAfee, No. 98 (DNS)
• SCCA National, Eagle Mountain, June 1956, McAfee, No. 79 (6th Place)
• SCCA National, Road America, June 1956, McAfee, No. 198 (DNF)
• SCCA National, Beverly, July 1956, McAfee, No. 93 (5th Overall)
• SCCA National Seafair Road Races, August 1956, Gregory, No. 23 (DNF)
• SCCA Regional, Montgomery, Race 4, August 1956, Shelby, No. 141 (1st Place)
• SCCA Regional, Montgomery, Race 9, August 1956, Shelby, No. 141 (1st Place)
• SCCA National, Thompson, September 1956, Shelby, No. 141 (DNF)
• SCCA National, 1 Hour Thompson, September 1956, Shelby, No. 141 (DNF)
• SCCA National, Palm Springs, November 1956, McAfee, No. 99 (5th Overall)
• Governor’s Trophy, Nassau, December 1956, Ginther, No. 88 (6th Place)
• Preliminary, Nassau, Sports over 2-Liter, December 1956, Ginther, No. 88 (DNF)
• Nassau, Ferrari Class, December 1956, Ginther, No. 88 (9th Place)
• Nassau Trophy, December 1956, Ginther, No. 88 (39th Place)
• Preliminary Pomona, January 1956, Shelby, No. 88 (DNF)
• Pomona, Sports, January 1956, Shelby, No. 88 (DNQ)
• Palm Springs National Championship, April 1957, McAfee, No. 58 (4th Overall)
• SCCA National, Palm Springs, November 1957, McAfee, No. 8 (5th Place)
• SCCA National, Laguna Seca, November 1957, Ginther, No. 190 (5th Place)

Above content © 2024 Gooding and Co reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Gooding & Co Pebble Beach Auction

Please go HERE for more information on the auction of this vehicle.

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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, celebrating its golden milestone, will welcome more than 400 meticulously restored cars for four days of racing and displays. Established in 1974 as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, the inaugural edition featured 66 entries. Today, the hundreds of selected entrants are presented with a coveted letter of acceptance, affirming their vehicle’s prestigious heritage. The event reunites motor racing heroes with the machines that drove them to success throughout their career. Over the decades, all five Rolex motor sport Testimonees – Sir Jackie Stewart, Tom Kristensen, Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Jamie Chadwick – have driven an array of cars at the track.

Button, the 2009 FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion, returns this year to drive his 1952 Jaguar C-Type, once owned by Juan Manuel Fangio. Eagerly anticipating the event, Button says: “Laguna Seca is a fantastic circuit to drive. It’s a fast-flowing and particularly challenging track given the elevation changes and the legendary corkscrew corner. Even when you’re in a car from the 1950s, circuits like Laguna Seca feel incredibly fast and I’m looking forward to racing my C-Type there next week. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a spectacular event that offers some of the best racing you’ll ever see in historic cars.”

Rolex Testimonee Jenson Button behind the wheel of his 1952 Jaguar C-Type. Photo Credit: ©Rolex/Adam Warner

Pebble Beach Tour D’Elegance® Presented by Rolex

Held on the morning of Thursday 15 August, the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex captivates motoring and watch aficionados alike. Often referred to as a rolling museum, the convoy traverses sections of the iconic 17-Mile Drive, showcasing the meticulous restoration and refinement of the historic vehicles.

A prelude to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the Tour provides the first glimpse of competing vehicles ahead of Sunday’s judging. Since 2007, Rolex has proudly supported this exhibition of timeless automotive excellence as the event’s Official Timepiece and Presenting Partner.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering exemplifies automotive sophistication and beauty. Here, esteemed manufacturers and coachbuilders unveil their visionary models and prototypes amid a display of vintage automobiles.Taking place on Friday 16 August, this year’s gathering commemorates significant milestones for several marques: the centennial of British icon MG, the 30-year anniversary of Swedish innovator Koenigsegg Automotive, and the enduring legacy of the Porsche 911 Turbo (930), which marks its 50th year. As the event draws to a close, class winners and the overall Rolex Best of Show are welcomed into the Rolex Circle of Champions. In 2005, the Swiss watchmaker became Official Timepiece of the event, which honours the motoring heritage that shapes the future of modern engineering.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®

Enthusiasts will gather at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® for the grand finale on Sunday 18 August to witness an array of pristine historic automobiles spanning across the centuries, from 1898 to 2023. The 73rd edition of this renowned showcase celebrates the Italian heritage of Maserati and Pietro Frua, the 125th birthday of the famed Packard marque, the GT racing greats of the 1990s, along with the contemporary Wedge-shaped concept cars. Set amid the greens and fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links® – a course steeped in the legacy of Rolex icons such as Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods – the vehicles on display embody timeless beauty and prestige. In recognition of the commitment to excellence and the meticulous preservation of automotive heritage, Rolex will present a specially engraved timepiece to the Best of Show recipient.

Sir Jackie Stewart, a Rolex Testimonee for more than 55 years and three-time FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion, shares his enthusiasm for the celebrations in California: “The atmosphere and genuine appreciation for cars is unparalleled and Rolex’s involvement throughout the week adds to the unique charm and culture of excellence. The brand only partners the best events at the best venues, and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Monterey Car Week as a whole, are no exception. The 50th anniversary of historic racing at Laguna Seca is a truly wonderful milestone. I have a lot of special memories at the track from throughout my career. It isn’t only a showcase of the most remarkable vehicles in motor sport but also the drivers.”

Rolex and Motorsport

Rolex’s close ties with motor sport date back to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s World Land Speed Record successes in the 1930s, when he became the first driver to break the 300 mph barrier (483 km/h) at the wheel of his car, Bluebird. Since then, Rolex’s presence in motor racing has grown steadily, its support extending to revered endurance events such as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2013, Rolex became associated with Formula 1®, the pinnacle of motor sport, having supported Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart since 1968. The three-time FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion has been joined by fellow high achievers from the world of motor sport: Tom Kristensen, the record nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Mark Webber, the multiple Formula 1® race winner and 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion, and Jenson Button, the 2009 FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion. Most recently, Jamie Chadwick, Indy NXT driver, three-time W Series Champion and the sport’s most exciting young female talent, became part of the Rolex family. The brand also has a global appreciation for classic automotive events steeped in elegance, beauty and tradition, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the Goodwood Revival.

2023 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Highlights

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As would be expected of a $15,000 Italian thoroughbred, the 330 GTS was built to the highest standards by old-world craftsmen. The cockpit was beautifully finished with bucket seats trimmed in Connolly leather, a wood-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel, and an attractive wood-veneer fascia with the full complement of Veglia instruments. When Road & Track tested the 330 GTS in August 1968, they found that the new model offered a healthy improvement in all-out performance when compared to the 275 GTS. Although it did not accelerate quite as fast as the 275 GTS/4 NART Spider (their test car was one of two alloy-bodied examples), it reached a higher top speed, had better low-end torque, and was more refined. The editors were so impressed with the new Ferrari that they encouraged readers to “go ahead, give yourself a treat, buy one.”

Completed in 1967 and finished in Rosso Cina (China Red) with black leather upholstery, this 330 GTS, chassis 10703, was delivered through US distributor Luigi Chinetti Motors to its first owner, Emil Martini Jr., of New Jersey.

Car Highlights

• A Rare and Exclusive Open Ferrari; One of Only 99 Examples Built
• Originally Delivered to the US with Known Provenance from New
• Striking Appearance in Black with Green Upholstery and Borrani Wire Wheels
• Retains Matching-Numbers Engine and Features Optional Air-Conditioning
• Recent Service by Rod Drew’s Francorchamps of America Inc.
• Offered with Tool Roll, Records, and Massini Report

Technical Specs

• 3,967 CC SOHC Tipo 209/66 V-12 Engine
• Three Weber 40 DCZ6 Carburetors
• 300 BHP at 6,600 RPM
• 5-Speed Manual Transaxle
• 4-Wheel Ventilated Girling Disc Brakes
• 4-Wheel Independent-Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers

Ownership trail

President of the Bergen Brunswig Corporation, one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical distributors, Mr. Martini was an avid Ferrari enthusiast who owned several desirable models, including a 365 GTB/4 Daytona and a Dino 246 GTS. He kept this 330 GTS until 1974, when it was sold to his brother, Robert, then living in Hillsdale, New Jersey. A photograph of 10703 is featured on Robert Martini’s profile page in the 1975–1976 Ferrari Owners Club membership roster.

In 1976, Robert Martini sold the Ferrari to FAF Motorcars in Tucker, Georgia, which paid $11,923 for the car, and noted that it featured air-conditioning – a rare and desirable option for the 330 GTS. Later that year, the car was sold to James L. Shuman of Atlanta, who displayed it that June at the FCA Southeast Regional Meeting in Pine Isle, Georgia. The Ferrari remained in the Atlanta area until the late 1980s, when it was sold to Carlo Perego’s Auto Avenir SA in Switzerland. In the early 1990s, Mr. Perego sold 10703 to Kamel Braik, a banker in Geneva, and from there, the car passed to Claude De Marche of Lausanne.

In 1994, the Ferrari returned to the US when East Coast collector Peter Hosmer acquired it. At the time of his acquisition, the Ferrari was well-kept, still finished in red, and reportedly showing just over 20,000 original miles. Remarkably, the 330 GTS remained in Mr. Hosmer’s care for over 20 years. During that time, it was refinished in its current color scheme of black with green leather upholstery – a handsome combination perfectly suited to the Pininfarina design.

Since joining a prominent Southern California collection in early 2018, this Ferrari has benefited from thorough detailing and professional maintenance, including recent services carried out by Rod Drew’s renowned Francorchamps of America Inc. Invoices for this work, and other cosmetic and mechanical attention overseen by Beverly Hills Hi Line Inc., are included in the car’s ample documentation file.

Offered with a tool roll, service records, correspondence, and a history report produced by Marcel Massini, 10703 is sure to impress the discerning Ferrari collector. Refined and elegant, this 330 GTS is the ideal mid-century open sports car – perfectly suited for a variety of events, from prestigious Concours to the most selective tours.

Limited Production

Classic twelve-cylinder Ferraris with open coachwork, disc brakes, and the refined torque-tube driveline are a rare breed, comprised solely of the 330 GTS, 365 GTS, 275 GTS/4 NART Spider, and 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider. The combined total production of these models is just over 250 individual cars.

Without a doubt, the 330 GTS is among the most sought-after sports cars of the 1960s; fast, beautiful, and rare, these Ferraris embody the finest qualities of classic Italian sports cars. The car presented here is a truly outstanding example, one worthy of serious consideration.

Now Available

Now available from Gooding & Co at this year’s Pebble Beach Auction, go HERE for more information.

Above content © 2024 Gooding & Co, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

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New exhibits

Alternating Currents: The Fall and Rise of Electric Vehicles

This exhibit, supported by BMW and Clarios, will showcase the progression of electric vehicles from the late 1800s to modern concepts. Located in the Propulsion Gallery on the second floor, “Alternating Currents” traces the evolution of electric vehicle production and use from the early days to the modern resurgence and future advancements.

Highlighted vehicles on display include 1896 Riker electric roadster, 1928 Auto Red Bug electric roadster, 1969 GM XP 512E, 1970s Zagato Zele 1000, 1981 HMV FreeWay, 1991 BMW E2 concept, 1992 GM Impact, 1996 AC Propulsion tZero, 2009 Mini E and 2021 Lanark DS Roadster. The exhibit will also feature the Clarios x OPTIMA Batteries Rivian R1T and OPTIMA Power Station, a custom Turtleback Trailer designed to power the camp and provide level 2 charging for the Rivian.

From leading the largest EV ride – OPTIMA Unplugged powered by Clarios – through the treacherous terrain of Johnson Valley to scaling the summit of Pikes Peak, this Rivian has elevated EV adventuring to an unprecedented level. Clarios is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of low-voltage batteries and solutions and their batteries are found in one in three vehicles on the road globally.

Modern Concepts: Future Visions from the Recent Past

Modern Concepts delves into the past marvels of concept cars produced since Petersen’s opening in 1994. Notable vehicles on display include the 2002 XENO III, 1999 Ford 021C, 1995 Ford GT90, 2002 Cadillac Cien, 2004 Chrysler ME Four-Twelve and 2008 Honda FC Sport.

Super/Hyper: The Ultimate Automobiles

The museum will celebrate the pinnacle of automotive performance with a rotating display of iconic supercars and hypercars, including some of the fastest, most powerful and most audacious models from the 1960s to the present day. Highlighted vehicles in will include a Bugatti Divo and Koenigsegg CCXR.

Driven by Possibility: Waymo’s Road to Autonomous Transport

This exhibit will focus on Waymo’s groundbreaking advancements in autonomous driving technology, from its beginnings as the Google self-driving car project to its status as a global leader in autonomous ride-hailing. Located in the Production Gallery, visitors can catch a glimpse behind the scenes of Waymo’s development process through never-before-seen objects.

Featured vehicles include Waymo’s Firefly prototype, the first autonomous vehicle to pilot a passenger without an accompanying driver, a prototype version of Waymo’s next-generation Zeekr platform, and the Terregator, a six-wheeled mobile robot built by the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute in 1984.

Petersen’s Executive Director Terry L. Karges comments

“This near-simultaneous launch of four incredibly diverse exhibits marks a milestone for our museum,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “We are committed to showcasing all elements of the automotive world–past, present and future–and this collection of unique vehicles will bring that experience to life for our guests.”

Online tickets

Go HERE for more information.

Above content © 2024 Kahn Media / Petersen Automobile Museum reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Petersen Highlights

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Subaru Motorsports USA’s “WRX: Project Midnight,” the standout entry at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, will make its North American appearance at the 5th annual Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway, Oct. 4-6, 2024.

Fastest WRX ever

The quickest and fastest ever WRX race car from Subaru Motorsports USA, which placed second at the 2024 Festival of Speed Timed Shootout, will tackle Sonoma Raceway’s 12-turn road course throughout the weekend.

Hot Shoe Scott Speed

Piloted by Scott Speed, a Northern California native, Project Midnight takes things to a new level with a singular directive: outright speed. Project Midnight features ultra-wide aerodynamic bodywork and a radically enlarged version of the wing found on the team’s WRX ARA24 gravel rally car. The carbon fiber body and a significantly lightened chassis give it a curb weight of well under 2,500 pounds – nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than a standard WRX. Under the hood, a turbocharged and inter-cooled 2.0-liter flat-four engine produces 670 hp and 680 lb-ft of torque, revving to 9500 rpm and spitting flames from its hood-exit exhaust. The powerplant is the most recent and top-performing evolution of Subaru Motorsports USA’s highly successful rallycross engine that helped Speed earn Subaru the Nitro Rallycross Teams Championship in 2021.

“Watching Scott put Project Midnight through its paces at Goodwood was incredible, and I’m thrilled we can bring this ground-breaking machine to our guests,” said Velocity Invitational Founder Jeff O’Neill.  “Partnering with a brand like Subaru and hosting world-class cars like Project Midnight highlights the exceptional caliber of entertainment we will feature this year as we celebrate our fifth annual event.”

Velocity Invitational

This year’s Velocity Invitational will feature an unparalleled lineup of the world’s rarest cars, including modern hypercars, a Jaguar D-Type anniversary class, a historic NASCAR class, historic Formula 1 race cars, and other popular historic racing groups. The three-day event will also feature local cuisine and beverage options, such as a variety of wines from local vintners, in a luxurious, family-friendly setting.

General admission tickets and premium packages, including the opportunity to ride along in a Group B Rally Car, are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit velocityinvitational.com. Stay up to date on event news on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Above content © 2024 Velocity Invitational/Kahn Media, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Goodwood Appearance

Highlights from 2023

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When the Frankfurt Motor Show opened in late 1955, the principal BMW attractions were two sporting variations of the V-8-powered 502: the 503 and the 507. Though both models were designed by Count Albrecht von Goertz, it was the spectacular 507 Roadster that stole the show.

BMW’s striking roadster was so pure and perfect from all angles that it immediately took its place among the all-time great automotive designs. Possessing sweeping, harmonious lines, a purposeful revision of the classic kidney grille, uniquely styled side vents, and aggressive rear haunches, the 507’s lightweight aluminum body appeared to be stretched over its mechanical underpinnings and evoked speed and efficiency even at rest.

Initially intended to fill the gap between the low-priced English imports and Mercedes-Benz’s expensive 300 SL Roadster, the 507 commanded a princely $8,988 in the US and 26,500 deutsche marks in Germany, making it one of the costliest cars of its day. Production of the 507 commenced in November 1956 and ended in May 1959, after just 254 examples were built. While it was never intended as a long-term, commercially viable endeavor, the 507 certainly accomplished the goal of raising BMW’s profile. Today, the limited-production V-8 roadster is undoubtedly the most desirable postwar model built by the Munichbased company.

Car Highlights

• Concours-Level Restoration Performed by BMW Classic
• Finished in Original Colors of Papyrus over Blue Leather
• Sequestered in 40-Year Northern California Ownership
• One of Very Few 507s with Period Racing History
• Equipped with Factory Hardtop and Rudge-Style Knock-Off Wheels
• Among the Finest Restored Examples of BMW’s Most Revered Model

Technical Specs

• 3,168 CC OHV Alloy V-8 Engine
• Twin Zenith 32 NDIX Carburetors
• 150 BHP at 5,000 RPM
• 4-Speed ZF Manual Gearbox
• Front Hydraulic Disc, Rear Drum Brakes
• Front Independent Suspension with Parallel Wishbones and Torsion Bars
• Rear Live Axle with Torsion Bars, Panhard Rod, and Transverse A-Arm

Race History

• Alpen-Bergpreis Rossfeld Hill Climb, Race 2, Germany, May 1958, Glöckler, No. 24 (3rd Place)
• Freiburg-Schauinsland Hill Climb, Germany, July 1958, Glöckler, No. 81 (3rd Place)
• Alpen-Bergpreis Wallberg Hill Climb, Germany, May 1959 Glöckler, (2nd Place)
• Alpen-Bergpreis Rossfeld Hill Climb, Race 2, Germany, June 1959, Glöckler, No. 101 (4th Place)
• Freiburg-Schauinsland Hill Climb, Germany, July 1959, Glöckler, No. 141

Chassis 70089

This BMW 507, chassis 70089, an early second-series example, was completed at the BMW factory on October 16, 1957, finished in Papyrus with a blue leather interior and, according to BMW records on file, the following month it was displayed at the BMW Pavilion in Munich. In early 1958, the 507 made its way to Autohaus Wilhelm Glöckler in Frankfurt and was retained by the dealership for some time.

In Glöckler’s possession, 70089 competed in several hill climb events in southern Germany during the 1958 and 1959 racing seasons. Ex-Porsche factory driver and Wilhelm’s son, Helm Glöckler, campaigned 70089 in events on the scenic roads of the Alpen-Bergpreis, near Salzburg, Austria, and the epic, 127-corner circuit of Freiburg-Schauinsland in the Black Forest. It was at these events that 70089 first became associated with another 507, chassis 70079, that would play an important role in its future decades later. Competing against Glöckler in several of these events was the famed Grand Prix driver and “King of the Mountains,” Hans Stuck Sr. Having struck an agreement to drive for BMW in early 1957, Stuck was issued a 507, chassis 70079, and on the whole, placed a bit higher than Glöckler, creating a friendly rivalry. Notably, following its racing days with Stuck during 1958, 70079 was later sold to Elvis Presley.

American residency

Following time with owners in Germany, 70089 was purchased by Nat A. Kalt of San Antonio, Texas, by 1968 and was shipped across the Atlantic. Mr. Kalt owned as many as three 507s and kept two at once at his Texas home. For reasons lost to time, Mr. Kalt exchanged the engines between the 507s, and 70089 continues to be fitted with the engine of his other 507, chassis 70247, to this day.

In 1974, 70089 was sold to Dick McGraw of Carmel, California, and it has resided in California ever since. Mr. McGraw quickly sold it on to Jack Castor and his brother Tom of nearby Santa Clara. Incredibly, Jack Castor had purchased 70089’s former racing rival, 70079, six years prior. After just a couple of years on the road, 70089, now finished in dark metallic blue, was placed in storage with the aspirations of someday restoring both cars to their former splendor. Over the ensuing decades, scores of letters and emails with the BMW factory and 507 historians revealed not only the competition history that very few 507s can claim but also the fact that the cars had raced together, by drivers with now legendary automotive names.

Following years of protracted negotiation between Jack Castor and BMW, an agreement was finally made in 2014. Both cars would be flown to the factory in Germany and restored in the newly opened BMW Classic workshops, with the long-term plan that 70079 would remain with BMW for public display and 70089 would be returned to Jack Castor in California for his enjoyment. While, sadly, Mr. Castor did not live to see the cars completed, one of his heirs has maintained the factory-fresh 507 since 2016, when both cars were sent to Pebble Beach and took part in numerous press events and exhibitions for their official unveiling to an elated public. During the restoration, 70089, in addition to being returned to its as-delivered colors, was also fitted with an NOS Becker Mexico radio, the later-optional front disc brakes, and a new set of Rudge-style knock-off wheels.

In the years since the public fanfare of the two cars’ re-emergence, 70089 has mostly led a quiet, pampered life on the Monterey Peninsula, with only about 900 km having been added to the factory restoration. Some of those kilometers were driven on camera when Jerry Seinfeld selected it to be featured on his television series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee as the perfect automotive pairing to his guest, the Academy Award®-winning Austrian actor Christoph Waltz.

Now Available

This very special 507 is being offered publicly for the first time in over 50 years by Gooding & Co at the Pebble Beach Auctions. With its fascinating history file, BMW Classic restoration, status as one of a minuscule number of 507s to have raced in period, and eligibility for nearly every automotive event worldwide, 70089 represents an opportunity essentially impossible to repeat.

Go HERE for details.

Above content © 2024 Gooding & Co reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Gooding & Co Highlights from 2023 Pebble Beach CA

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Lamborghini’s Miura S, an iconic masterpiece of automotive design, was conceived by Marcello Gandini of Bertone. Gandini’s genius is evident in the Miura S’s aesthetics and non-traditional drivetrain layout. Introduced in 1968, the Miura S represents a significant evolution from its predecessor, the Miura P400, both in terms of performance and refinement. The car’s design, characterized by its low-slung profile, flowing curves, and distinctive “eyelash” headlights, epitomizes Italian automotive design.

Why follow the rules?

One of the most unique features of the Miura S is its transversely mounted mid-engine layout. The 4.0-liter V12 engine, producing 370 horsepower, was placed just behind the driver and passenger seats. This configuration provided exceptional weight distribution, enhancing the car’s handling and performance. The Miura S could achieve a top speed of 170 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just under six seconds, remarkable statistics for its time.

Upon its release, the Miura S received acclaim from automotive magazines. Road & Track praised its “combination of speed, style, and technical sophistication,” noting its ability to “redefine the boundaries of high-performance sports cars.” Motor Trend echoed this sentiment, highlighting the Miura S’s “exquisite design and exhilarating driving experience” and calling it “a testament to Lamborghini’s commitment to pushing the envelope of automotive engineering.”

Blue-chip collectible

The Miura S’s blend of engineering and stunning design has contributed to its status as a highly collectible sports car. Its pioneering mid-engine design set a precedent for future supercars, and its performance capabilities remain impressive even by modern standards. The limited production numbers further add to its allure, with only 338 units produced, making it a rare and sought-after gem among collectors.

Moreover, the Miura S embodies the spirit of the golden era of sports car design, a period marked innovation and widely varied design approaches. Its legacy endures as a symbol of Lamborghini’s dedication to creating extraordinary machines that transcend mere transportation, offering an unparalleled driving experience and a timeless work of art. As such, the Lamborghini Miura S remains a cherished asset among car enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

Chassis 4614

This 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S, chassis 4614, is an especially exciting discovery in recent memory, freshly unearthed in Long Island, New York, where it was kept in its long-term owner’s living room for over 35 years. This late-series Miura S benefits from the myriad improvements made during the original production run, including a strengthened chassis, revised suspension, and ventilated braking system – making for the ultimate narrow-bodied Miura. This unrestored, Bertone-bodied example is presented in its striking original color of Luci del Bosco, complimented with two-tone beige and cloth upholstery. Retaining its matching-numbers engine and stamped body panels per factory documentation, 4614 presents a unique opportunity to acquire an unrestored, previously unknown Miura S in a wonderful color combination strongly evocative of the period from which it originates.

Available now

Go HERE for more information.

Photos © 2024 Mike Maez. Above text © 2024 Gooding & Co reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Related Content

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Countach, the one and only

This Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S was produced forty-five years ago in November 1979. With a Nero (black) exterior and Senape (mustard) interior, this Countach was shipped to the then SEA dealership in Rome and, from there, it was most likely sold directly in the US, ending up in Florida. Its owner was a friend of the movie’s director and was signed on to begin its legend that led it to capture a place in American history.

As “stage make-up”, it was given a wing and two full-beam headlights on the nose, a spoiler, three antennas and 12 exhaust pipes in back, along with two supplementary fake instruments in front of the passenger’s seat. After the filming ended, the Countach was returned to its legitimate owner, but didn’t shed its unique transformations especially made for it. In 2009, the car found a new owner, Jeff Ippoliti, an enthusiast originally from New York but now living in Florida who, as a boy, when watching the opening scene of the movie in 1981 never imagined that he would one day own the same car that had made him dream on the screen. “I had always been crazy about cars,” Ippoliti recalled, “but the opening of the movie was the first time I got to see and hear the Countach in motion, and I was captivated! I didn’t see it in person for the first time until twenty-six years later, and it took me another eighteen months of negotiations before I managed to take it home.”

The movie

“The Cannonball Run” was inspired by the actual Cannonball race, in which the participating cars had to cross the United States, starting off from New York and finishing in Los Angeles, in the shortest possible time. To say the least, the movie’s cast was outstanding, with actors such as Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Jackie Chan, and actresses such as Farrah Fawcett, Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman. The latter two played the race’s only all-female crew and drove the Countach, which won the race. Among the most memorable scenes is the initial three-minute police chase, in which the Countach’s 12-cylinder engine fitted with carburetors was added to the soundtrack. Also during the movie’s opening is a scene in which the Countach stops abruptly and the passenger gets out of the cockpit to spray-paint an “X” on a road sign. These scenes became a legendary reference among car lovers, so much so they became part of American tradition and ensured the Countach would become one of the very few cars “registered” at the Library of Congress.

The US Library of Congress

Any artifact that is the fruit of human genius can be registered so that all the knowledge connected to it is filed to remain available, protected for future generations, in one of the most respected and traditional institutions of the United States of America, the Library of Congress. To do so, however, it must first be acknowledged as an object of extraordinary importance for American history, society and tradition. Once this recognition has been obtained – and as of today there are just over 30 cars that have achieved it – all the knowledge linked to that specific car, from the construction design to the photos, from the original documents to those that relate its history, are preserved and archived in the halls of the Library of Congress. The Countach LP 400 S of the movie was deemed worthy of this honor and became the 30th car to receive it in 2021, the year when the movie’s 40th anniversary was celebrated.

Memories of the stars

They hadn’t met in person since they acted in the movie together in 1981. This is why the interview and account given by the stars Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman can be considered extraordinary. The same Countach that they had driven back then, serving as the backdrop, made it all even more fascinating. And their memories began to surface. They admit that neither one had seen, or much less driven, a Lamborghini before. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be forgotten that at the time Lamborghini produced little more than fifty cars a year. “I immediately thought it was beautiful, simply beautiful, and it still is,” began Adrienne Barbeau, who played the part of Marcie Thatcher in the movie. “We had the best car and it was definitely the most beautiful of all,” added Tara Buckman, who was Jill Rivers in the movie. On why it was precisely the Countach chosen to win the race, Barbeau said, “I think that the Countach has the look of a winner, none of the others could have won. They were not in its league. And then the opening scene, with that soundtrack and the sight of the Countach racing along and playing hide-and-seek with the police car. Only the Countach could achieve an effect like that.”

Success exceeds expectations

In answer to the question of whether they ever would have expected the movie to arrive at the legendary status that surrounds it today, they both said, “Never, not even for a second, and not just us. No one during the filming would have expected this incredible, long-lasting success!”

“I had never realized how successful the movie was until when people started to ask me for my autograph. Still today,” Barbeau added, “in spite of my success as an actress in horror movies and playing Cat Woman in the Batman movie, people ask me above all to autograph Countach model cars.”

“It’s impossible for me, too, to remember how many times I signed a photo or a model car of the Countach!,” Buckman added.

A few of their favorite scenes: “The one where Tara gets out of the car and sprays an X on the road sign,” said Barbeau. Whereas for Tara Buckman it was, “the opening scene, with the police car chasing the Countach. There are lots of movies with great opening scenes, but this is definitely one of the best ever.”

When asked how they thought this movie has impacted American culture and society, Barbeau replied, “Everyone knows it. And everyone knows this Lamborghini.” “Not only that. Everyone also knows the two girls in the Lamborghini. We are inextricably tied to that role,” Buckman added.

Lamborghini Polo Storico

Lamborghini Polo Storico is the in-house department of Automobili Lamborghini in charge of the company’s historical heritage, managing and studying the company’s archive, and restoring and certifying historical Lamborghinis. Inaugurated in spring 2015 at the headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini Polo Storico is the point of reference for collectors of classic Lamborghinis coming from all over the world, and it takes care of models from the first 350 GTV of 1963 up to the last Diablo produced in 2001.

Polo Storico’s activities focus on three main areas: the Archives, consisting of Automobili Lamborghini’s historical patrimony of technical and commercial information and documents; Certifications, representing the culmination of an in-depth process of documentary, archival and technical analyses of the car, concluding with the issue of a dedicated book certifying the authenticity of the car examined; and Restorations, carried out in full observance of the originality of the cars by a team of specialized technicians who work mostly in the Polo Storico workshop.

Alessandro Farmeschi, After Sales Director of Automobili Lamborghini, commented, “As far back as when I was working for Lamborghini in the US, I had the opportunity to get to know this Countach LP 400 S and its extraordinary history. It’s a car that ignited a passion for the Lamborghini brand and for the Countach model in many young enthusiasts who, after growing up, came to us as customers of our brand and our cars. Although its specifications are not exactly the same as when it left the factory, it is undoubtedly historically important for Automobili Lamborghini and, as its entry into the Library of Congress certifies, for automotive culture and beyond, for the culture of an entire nation. As Lamborghini, we can only be filled with pride and we are happy to celebrate its 45th anniversary by reuniting the car with its unforgettable crew from the “Cannonball” movie”.

Above content © 2024 Automobili Lamborghini reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee

Movie Intro

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On behalf of everyone at Sports Car Digest, Happy Birthday Karl!  As most of you know, Karl Ludvigsen is a prominent figure in the world of automotive journalism and history, and we are very fortunate to have him as one of our treasured contributors. With a career spanning over five decades, Ludvigsen has made significant contributions to the understanding and documentation of automotive history, particularly focusing on the engineering aspects of automobiles.

Karl Ludvigsen’s SCD Features

Karl has contributed over 25 features to Sports Car Digest. If you enjoy in-depth stories combining historical motorsport racing and the people behind the cars, you’ll want to check out some of the following features including:

• The Four That Flew – Ferrari’s Monza
• In the Beginning—The Story of the First Porsche
• The Car That Made Aston Martin—1933 Aston Martin Le Mans
• Many more exciting features

Ludvigsen’s work is characterized by its depth and meticulous research. He has authored numerous books on automotive subjects, covering a wide range of topics from the histories of specific manufacturers to the technical innovations that have shaped the industry. His writing often delves into the intricacies of automotive engineering, offering insights into the design, development, and performance of various vehicles.

One of Ludvigsen’s notable contributions is his comprehensive biographies of key figures in automotive history, such as Ferdinand Porsche and Enzo Ferrari. Through these biographies, he provides readers with a nuanced understanding of the individuals behind some of the most iconic automotive brands.

In addition to his books, Ludvigsen has contributed articles to various automotive publications and has served as an editor for industry journals. He is also recognized for his expertise as a consultant, advising companies and organizations on automotive-related matters.

Overall, Karl Ludvigsen’s body of work has had a significant impact on automotive scholarship, providing enthusiasts, historians, and industry professionals alike with valuable insights into the evolution of the automobile. His dedication to accuracy and his passion for the subject shine through in his writing, making him a respected authority in the field. From everyone here at SCD, keep up the great work Karl!

Karl’s Porsche masterpiece “Excellence was Expected”

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The early 1950s found Enzo Ferrari’s burgeoning company quickly climbing the steep end of the power curve. His sports and racing cars, powered by the company’s now signature V12 engine in its various displacements, were proving successful not only on the racetracks of the world, but commercially with customers as well. While Ferrari’s 2-liter V12 showed great success in Formula Two, by 1950 competition from four-cylinder power plants like the Alta engine in the HWM was beginning to give the Prancing Stallion a run for its money. Added to this was the decision by the FIA ultimately to do away with the 1.5-liter supercharged or 4.5-liter naturally aspirated formula, but strangely, not until the 1954 season. With almost two intervening years of a “lame duck” formula, it seemed highly unlikely that any manufacturer would invest money in an engine or program with only a one or two year shelf life. With a new 2.5-liter, normally aspirated formula on the horizon for 1954, it made more sense for teams to bide their time and prepare for the new formula.

Four for the Future

During this same period of time, Enzo Ferrari had two primary engine designers in his employ, Gioacchino Colombo and Aurelio Lampredi. Colombo had been the primary architect of the smaller displacement 2-liter V12 engine being utilized in Ferrari’s then current F2 car. However, looking toward the future, Lampredi argued that a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine would benefit from being smaller, having more torque, fewer moving parts and less internal frictional loss. Ultimately, Ferrari agreed to let him prove his hypothesis, and by the beginning of 1951, Lampredi had the first of his 2-liter, four-cylinder power plants on the dyno in Modena. Using a 90-mm bore and 78-mm stroke, Lampredi’s four-banger produced a solid 170-hp right out of the box, giving it a 10-hp advantage over the existing 2-liter, Colombo-designed V12.

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