Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
, Aviation
by Philip Powell on March 14, 2010
Somehow this one escaped my notice, which is unfortunate if you'd like to own the "oldest original Flying Car." Unless, of course, you live in the Atlanta area where the Red Baron's ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Austin Healey
, British Cars
by philip on March 7, 2010
Way back when the Austin Healey Sprite was launched, BMC Canada loaned me one for what became the very first North American media test drive. Being young and foolish and a novice racer I persuaded the...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Chrysler
, Deusenberg
by Philip Powell on February 15, 2010
It's not unusual for several cars from one owner to appear at a classic car auction, but the consignments from the estate of John O'Quinn are so many that they've been spread between two m...
Filed in archive
American Independents
, Auctions
by Philip Powell on January 25, 2010
One of the most interesting cars at last week's Scottsdale auctions, the 1948 Tucker convertible, failed to reach its reserve price. A survivor of the windstorm that blew down Russo and Steele'...
Filed in archive
Auctions
by Philip Powell on January 21, 2010
With all the excitement and publicity surrounding the annual Scottsdale auctions it's been all too easy for us to ignore the 35th Rétromobile exhibition at Porte de Versailles from the January 22-...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
, Auto Shows
, Fun Events
by philip on January 14, 2010
If this Barrett-Jackson poster doesn't get you on the next plane to Arizona I can't imagine what would. That aside, it's a lovely painting and a step up from the rather tacky graphics that...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Fun Events
, Movies
, Romantic Notions
by philip on January 7, 2010
If you get your kicks from sitting where gorgeous screen stars once sat and if said seat also happens to be in a classic car, here's your perfect opportunity. Until noon on January 14th you can bi...
Filed in archive
American Independents
, Auctions
, Design
by philip on December 31, 2009
Few American classics can match the romantic, even mysterious image of the Tucker. Brilliantly conceived, superbly engineered, it was brought to a halt by indecent accusations of stock manipulation, b...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
, Fun Events
by philip on December 16, 2009
Ah, it's such fun when the class of the classics go head-to-head in Arizona's auction week. Hot on the heels of RM's announcement of an all-British sale the night before the big one comes ...
Filed in archive
Alfa Romeo
, Auctions
by Philip Powell on November 30, 2009
Let's face it, you can't beat e-Bay if you enjoy window shopping for cars. The imagination soars and the wallet stays where it is. Good, harmless fun, right? But every so often one jumps off the scree...
Filed in archive
Aston Martin
, Auctions
, Racers
by Philip Powell on November 23, 2009
Just as there is something very special about the British Isles, so too is there something special about British cars. So special, in fact, that RM is planning an All British evening to launch its ann...
Filed in archive
Aston Martin
, Auctions
by Philip Powell on November 4, 2009
There's no question that Canada's RM Auctions has moved to the high end of the collector car business with successful sales in Maranello and London, and with a planned event for Monaco next May. On Oc...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Racers
by Philip Powell on September 4, 2009
Each autumn the Antique Automobile Club of America holds its annual AACA Hershey Fall Meet, held in the club's hometown of historic Hershey, Pennsylvania. One of the largest and oldest antique aut...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
by Philip Powell on August 17, 2009
What first began as an elegant concours d'elegance on the golf club lawns of Pebble Beach has recently become a bonanza for collector car auctioneers. One-by-one they've muscled into the show ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, European Specials
, Famous Drivers
, French Cars
, Rare Europeans
by Philip Powell on August 10, 2009
With so many great cars on display at the 2009 Monterey classics festival and with several competing auctions happening, you wouldn't think anyone could come up with a last-minute gem. But RM Auct...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Concours
, French Cars
by Philip Powell on August 7, 2009
When close to 10,000 automotive aficionados gathered on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, Michigan this past Sunday they were treated to a magnificent array of over 230 collector cars and...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, British Cars
, Racers
, Vintage Racing
by Philip Powell on July 24, 2009
Many beautiful race cars have been designed and built in the last sixty years, their shapes answering to performance and aerodynamic needs rather than marketing demands: Thus no showroom compromises. ...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
, Buick
, Design
by Philip Powell on July 10, 2009
A few days ago I posted a blog about the styling of the post-war Buick Roadmaster (although a convertible was shown, it's the fastback that really turns my crank). It was, and still is, one of my ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Chrysler
, Design
by Philip Powell on June 3, 2009
It's not unusual to spot a Chrysler Airflow (or its DeSoto sibling) at an auction. Normally these would be 4-door sedans, much maligned for their unpopular "streamlined design." Often fo...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Vintage Racing
by Philip Powell on June 1, 2009
As Pebble Beach 2009 approaches, the great classic car show looks more and more like a competition between auctions and special events. Gooding & Company is on the pole with the Don Lyons Collecti...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Ferrari
by Philip Powell on May 13, 2009
Of all the spectacular Ferraris and Maseratis to be auctioned by RM at Maranello on May 17, one in particular attracts me and it's not at all spectacular. I love this little-known car because it i...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Ford
, Private Collections
by Philip Powell on April 29, 2009
A little over a month ago I posted a blog about the Nick Alexander Woodie collection, probably the world's greatest assembly of Ford and Mercury station wagons with wood-body trim. Remarkably, tho...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Ferrari
by Philip Powell on April 22, 2009
When the Ferrari Leggenda e Passione auction in Maranello, Italy opens on May 17 you can bet they won't be celebrating the F1 car's 2009 performance. As of this writing, not a single point ear...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auctions
, Ferrari
, Ford
by Philip Powell on April 8, 2009
I mean no offence but does the circus that has become the Monterey/Pebble Beach week really need another auction? Dana Mecum apparently thinks so, for his organisation has just announced that Mecum...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, French Cars
, Rare Europeans
by Philip Powell on February 9, 2009
In a January ClassicalDrives blog I related the tale the tale of a 1937 Type 57S Atalante that the nephews and nieces of Dr. Harold Carr discovered when they opened the doors of an old garage left to ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
by Philip Powell on February 2, 2009
After reading the optimistic press releases from the various auction firms that participated in the 2009 Scottsdale extravaganza, I'm pleased to deliver the truth, thanks to our contributor Nigel ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Chevrolet
, Oddball Autos
by Philip Powell on January 19, 2009
Among the exotic classic and sports cars at the Scottsdale auctions you can always find something totally unique. Barrett-Jackson, more than any other auction company, excels at featuring such vehicle...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Ferrari
by Philip Powell on January 18, 2009
Until now, the Barrett-Jackson folks have had a virtual monopoly on video coverage of Scottsdale auction week, with many hours live on Speed Channel followed by endless repeats throughout the year. It...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Buick
, General Motors
by Philip Powell on January 14, 2009
Looking through the Gooding Company Scottsdale catalog site is like flipping through the car cards that titilated our dreams when we were kids. The images may have been small but they became big in ou...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, Design
, European Specials
, French Cars
by Philip Powell on December 21, 2008
Sometimes it seems that every high-end classic car auction has to have a Bugatti on the block. Considering that the French marque was a low-volume sports/racing machine, one wonders how so many surviv...
