Archive
21/09/2020
Beautiful but unlucky
This article discusses the history of the Delage V12 Labourdette, a car designed by Louis Delage and his team for the 1931 French Gran Prix. The vehicle, designed by renowned engineer Jean Andreau and powered by a 4.5-liter V12 engine built by Albert Lory.
19/09/2020
The taste of a symbol
This article traces the history of the iconic Jeep brand from its military origins in the Second World War to its civilian models, including the CJ and the Wrangler.
18/09/2020
MC 20
The article highlights the recent unveiling of Maserati's new mid-engined car, the MC20, which features a new 3-litre twin-turbo V6 powerplant capable of producing 630hp.
17/09/2020
Feverish deals
The recent Artcurial auction of the André Trigano collection saw all 167 cars offered sold, with 148 cars (over 88%) fetching prices above their estimated value. The car sales generated a remarkable €3,958,152, 177.8% of the expected total. When auction houses are given a single, large collection of cars to sell and all are offered without reserve prices, they record great revenues. The trick is to offer the cars with estimates well below their real value, only to get the prices up to normal levels during the event. At events of this kind, sellers tend to “place their bets” on certain star cars, around a dozen or so important ones, which they expect will generate the bulk of their turnover.
16/09/2020
The crossing
The article tells the story of Alejandro de Tomaso and his passion for Maserati. De Tomaso founded Automobili de Tomaso and produced competitive racing cars for both the track and the road, including the Vallelunga.
15/09/2020
RM - The old-school approach
The RM auction at Auburn took place from September 3-5, 2020, with 524 cars on sale, of which 445 were sold, resulting in a total income of $16,762,475. The most expensive car sold was a 1935 Auburn 851SC Speedster, which was sold for $770,000. The auction was held with full respect for social distancing norms, and participants had to register on the official website at least 24 hours in advance. Pick-up trucks, especially the 1991 GMC Syclone, are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, with emotional value driving prices up. Finally, a 1970 Porsche 914 and a 1957 Imperial Convertible were sold at the auction, with the former needing a bit more work than expected to be restored, and the latter in dire need of restoration.
14/09/2020
Cosmetic surgery? Far more than just that
This article discusses the Peugeot 402 N4X, a car designed by engineer Jean Andreau in 1935 to compete with Citroën Traction. The car was focused on improving efficiency in terms of performance and fuel consumption, without modifying the original engine.
13/09/2020
Bonhams: a slippery road
The article discusses the recent attempt by Bonhams to organize a physical auction in Brussels after a virtual period due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the auction did not go as planned with only 54% of the cars sold, and they only managed to bring in 37% of their estimated value. The most expensive car sold was a 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 Adenauer Cabriolet, which was the last of its dynasty of large four-door sedans with folding roofs. Other cars that went under the hammer include a 1959 Fiat 600 Multipla and a 1971 Aston Martin DBS Vantage Sports Saloon. The article highlights that there were many deals to be made at the auction, but the prices for some cars were lower than expected due to issues such as non-original engines and undisclosed modifications.
10/09/2020
Pininfarina: an aristocratic and sporty style
This article highlights the history and achievements of Pininfarina, an Italian design firm that is famous for its elegant and dynamic car designs.
09/09/2020