Archive
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
02/06/2020
Who killed Ettore Bugatti?
Ettore Bugatti was an aristocratic Italian engineer who founded Bugatti and created some of the most beautiful and innovative cars of his time.
01/06/2020