Archive

Renault Avantime. A name, a destiny image

12/06/2020

Renault Avantime. A name, a destiny

The Renault Avantime was a concept car presented in 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show and launched on the market in 2001. It combined the bodywork of a three-door coupé with the practicality of an MPV and boasted bold new style features.
1992-1995 Porsche 968. A forgotten jewel image

11/06/2020

1992-1995 Porsche 968. A forgotten jewel

The Porsche 968, the final evolution of the transaxle concept introduced in 1974, is often overlooked by collectors despite being considered by many as one of the best cars ever produced in Stuttgart.
USD 55,975 – the price of a meal with Ettore Bugatti and Enzo Ferrari image

10/06/2020

USD 55,975 – the price of a meal with Ettore Bugatti and Enzo Ferrari

This article talks about four objects whose history is more valuable than their economic worth. The first object is a prototype of Nike shoes developed by Bill Bowerman, the athletics coach at the University of Oregon, and Phil Knight in 1969. The shoes were sold for USD 437,500 at Sotheby's auction. The article then discusses a racing suit worn by Ayrton Senna during the 1987 season and his go-kart sold at RM Sotheby's in 2018. Another item is the Porsche engine for helicopters sold for USD 14,400, which was used for the first drone in history. The article concludes by talking about the sale of concrete panels installed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race to show drivers their location, which were sold for USD 12,000 and EUR 11,050 at different auctions, respectively. These panels were removed in the 1960s, and many of them had Michelin's road signs under the kilometers marking. Lastly, the article talks about Ferrari Cavallino Porcelain Dinnerware Set by Richard Ginori sold for $18,400, commissioned by Beppe Neri, the late manager of the ‘Ristorante Cavallino,’ located directly opposite Ferrari’s historic entrance.
993 GT2 The ‘Widowmaker’ image

09/06/2020

993 GT2 The ‘Widowmaker’

The Porsche 993 GT2 is a rare and legendary car, known as the "widowmaker" due to its uncompromising nature. With a stripped-down design and no electronic assistance, it is considered one of the most challenging and thrilling cars to drive.
Claveau 9CV The MPV that had everything. Except customers image

08/06/2020

Claveau 9CV The MPV that had everything. Except customers

Emile Claveau's 9CV was a revolutionary car designed in the 1920s, with a focus on increasing safety and reducing consumption through aerodynamics. Despite its advanced features, the market was not ready for it.
Great artists on the track. The victory goes to BMW in any case image

07/06/2020

Great artists on the track. The victory goes to BMW in any case

BMW broke into the art world in the late 1970s, linking its extreme competition models to the names of key artists of the time. This resulted in five art cars, each unique and a true representation of the artist's distinctive style.
Enzo Ferrari: that victory with a car that never raced image

06/06/2020

Enzo Ferrari: that victory with a car that never raced

Enzo Ferrari's fascination with the Indianapolis 500 race is highlighted in two instances - the first in 1952, when he modified the 375 F1 car to participate in the race, and the second in 1986.
Ape Piaggio extralusso or E-Type Jaguar Roadster? image

05/06/2020

Ape Piaggio extralusso or E-Type Jaguar Roadster?

The author shares their favorite picks from the RM auction "Driving into the Summer," all of which are under $100,000. They include a 1964 Jaguar E-Type S1 Roadster Bouillot Helsel, a Maserati Mistral, a 1990 BMW M3 Coupe "E30," a 1991 Acura NSX, a Lucra LC470 Roadster, and a Piaggio Ape Limousine version coached by Pavesi. The author provides details about each car, including unique features and prices.
“Fan car”? Try again Gordon. image

04/06/2020

“Fan car”? Try again Gordon.

In the 1970s, the use of downforce in automobiles was discovered and studied, leading to the development of the Chaparral 2J, which used fans to create a low-pressure zone and increase downforce.
Online auctions grow image

03/06/2020

Online auctions grow

At the recent RM auction, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé by Ellena sold for $671,000, answering important questions about the online sale of older cars. The three modern Ferrari hypercars also sold well, but the Ferrari F50 failed to reach enough offers to sell. The auction also showed a trend of early bidding for some lots, with final raises made hours before the lot closed, indicating a mature market that knows the value of a car without getting into a bidding war.

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