Classic Automobiles: Classic Car Information, Classic Car News from Business Week Online

NEWS & FEATURES

Mercedes' Revolutionary Roadster

The 1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL replaced the Gullwing, and was technologically superior to anything else produced in the '50s and early '60s

The Last of the MGAs

Originally priced at $2,449, this 1962 MGA 1600 MK II Roadster sold at auction for $36,300 in August

Bella Bugatti

The 1927 Type 35 Bugatti embodied all of Ettore Bugatti's experience, skill, talent, and aesthetic sense

Post-War Italian Beauty

The 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Spider Nuvolari was gorgeous and fast, but poor management prevented the company from becoming another Ferrari

Prototype Porsche

This is a prototype of the 1972 Porsche 911 RS, regarded today as one of the top five sports cars to emerge from the 1970's

Wishful Lincoln

The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis by Boano was an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind concept car that recently for $1.375 million

Super Speed Six

The 1929 Bentley Speed Six Cadogan four-seater was the Ferrari of its day

Jaguar's Dramatic D-Type

The D-type was one of the most impressive, most innovative—and perhaps above all most beautiful of Jaguar’s 1950s cars

Mondial Tone

Mechanical woes and radical looks polarized Ferrari fans—you either loved or hated the Mondial

Lancia Time

The 1964 Lancia Flaminia 3C 2800 Super Sport was one of the Italian maker’s post-War high points

Antique Aston

The 1938 Aston Martin 15/98 Short-Chassis represents the ultimate development of the marque before the war

BMW Batmobile

The 1973 BMW 3.0CSL looked funky but its improved aerodynamics made it a winner on the track

1955 Maserati 300S

Following a meticulous restoration, chassis no. 3057 came with a colorful history when it sold at auction for nearly $2 million

Bandit Mobile

Screaming chicken and T-Top notwithstanding, this disco era Trans Am is now a classic example of late American muscle

$100,000 Austin

This 1967 Austin-Healy 3000 recently sold at auction for a record $99,875

Ageless Autos

Christie’s annual Exceptional Motor Cars auction in Monterey, Calif., is one of the classic car world’s premier events and this year offers some real beauties
Plus: Slide Show

Get Tanked

Who needs a Hummer when you can have your very own tank? This WWII-era M3A1 Stuart Light Tank recently sold at auction for $34,339

Record Ferrari 250 GT

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTL Lusso is considered one of the most beautiful of all Pininfarina's creations. This one sold in Monte Carlo for a record $595,400

Rare Impala

The '58 Chevy Impala convertible's extravagant one-year-only styling has come to represent the risk-taking, change-making zeitgeist of the late '50s and early '60s

Classic Countach

For a generation of sports car lovers, the Countach is the embodiment of everything Lamborghini stands for

Pininfarina's Pinnacle

The 1979 Ferrari 308 GTB was about balance and quality, its virtue being a lack of flaws

Playboy Toy

The 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast was the preferred car of playboys like the Shah of Iran and the Aga Khan

Buick Beauty

Designed by Harley Earl, this limited edition 1954 Buick Skylark, originally priced at $4,355, recently sold at auction for $181,500

Classic '50s Porsche

In the current market, beauty and condition matter, which explains why this lovingly restored 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 S Speedster sold for $121,000

Most Valuable Bentley

The 1947 Bentley Mk VI Franay Drophead Coupe bears no resemblance to a standard steel Mark VI and sold earlier this year for $1,728,000

Family Ferrari

Cheap and durable by Ferrari standards, the 1970 365 2+2 came with a rare rear seat to accommodate kids or friends

1952 Jaguar C-type Ecurie Ecosse

The needle of the rev counter can be wound to the red zone, and each gear takes the car into a new dimension

1940 Buick Limited Model 91 Formal Sedan

Before WWII, Cadillac wasn’t the only GM brand that wore the prestige auto crown

The VW Story

A look back at the successes and flops of Europe’s biggest car maker
Slide Show: VW in the U.S: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

The Lowdown on Classic Car Insurance

Insurers of classic cars work on a case by case basis, leaving some car owners unsure of how well they're really covered

1948 Tucker 48

The name Tucker strikes a chord in the heart of every true car enthusiast. This car sold for $495,000 at the RM Arizona auction in January 2004

1966 Lamborghini 400GT Monza

Intended as an alternative Lamborghini model, this tantalizing one-off disappeared from view for almost four decades

1920 Pan Touring Car

On the wrong road

Ultimate '68 'Vette

One of the most beautiful Corvettes of all time barely made it off the drawing board

Car Restoration: Do Your Homework

When admirers ask who restored your classic auto, imagine answering, "I did it myself." Here's what to consider before taking the plunge

Auto Gems from Every Era

Australia's annual Magnificent Collector's Cars auction brings together vehicles from the dawn of the car age, as well as recent speedsters
Slide Show: Royal Blood: Collector's Cars at Auction

Car Clubs That Share Classy Wheels

Members of these increasingly popular organizations get to drive fantasy cars, without the hassles of actually owning them
Slide Show: A Luxury Take on Ride-Sharing

The Alfa Romeo Spider is Back

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, this classic is affordable but doesn't skimp on style

The Opel GT Revives a Classic

The legendary sports car is making a comeback and has its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show

The 120th Birthday of the Automobile

A look back at the first patented motor car and how it came to be
Slide Show: The Automobile Turns 120

BMW's Z8: Structurally Shaky?

Speculation that the $160,000 sports car's aluminum undercarriage may be liable to distortion has the company investigating -- and some owners up in arms

The Hottest Vintage Wheels of 2005

Have a look at the top 20 most expensive cars sold at auction last year

BUYING A CLASSIC

So, You Want to Buy a Collector Car?

Sports Car Market's Rob Sass details the precautionary steps to take before -- and after -- purchasing your first vintage car

Car Collecting Is Burning Rubber

Thanks to wealthy baby boomers trying to regain a piece of their long-lost youth, aspirational cars are selling for increasingly high sums

The Smart Way to Shop for a Classic

Learn how to protect your investment, your wallet, and your ego when buying a piece of automotive history

Are Your Ready to Own a Vintage Auto?

When to shop, what to look for, and how to store and maintain an older vehicle

AUCTIONS & EVENTS

Famous Postwar Bentleys on Sale

The collection slated for the auction block in Palm Beach includes a 1947 Mark VI Cabriolet with a frog-skin interior

Retromobiles on the Block

Bidders, start your engines: Christie's Feb. 11 Paris auction features 35 vintage cars, many with distinguished ownership and racing histories
Slide Show: Once Around the Auto Auction Block

Muscle Cars Roar Onto the Block

Motorheads are making vintage gas guzzlers the new stars of the auction scene
Slide Show: Cars of the Famous -- and Infamous
Slide Show: Pumped-Up Prices for Vintage Muscle

Concept Cars: The Hottest New Collectibles

Vehicles that have showcased new technology -- like electric windows -- are fetching prices in the six- and seven-figure range
Slide Show: Collecting Concepts

Portrait of a Classic Car Buyer

At the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, the bidders are mostly white, middle-aged men, and they're overwhelmingly entrepreneurial

An Auto Auction's Bumper Crop

American beauties like a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville got high prices at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. But top dollar went to a weird GM Futurliner bus
Plus: Slide Show

Gentlemen, Start Your Lines of Credit

The beginning of Arizona's Barrett-Jackson auction shows no letup in buyer interest, with thousands pursuing the collector cars of their dreams

MUSCLE CARS

This GTO Needs More Retro

Pontiac's redo of a classic has muscle to spare and many captivating features, but it falls short in recreating the aura of the original

1965 Shelby GT 350

If you're shopping for a '65 Shelby, you want to buy a car with the battery in the trunk, a shoddy hood, and as low a serial number as you can find

1976 Trans Am

Pontiac marked the Bicentennial with the last of the true muscle cars -- complete with a 455-cubic-inch engine

UPKEEP & MAINTENANCE

The Man Behind the Restored Hudsons

Al's Hudson Company doesn't advertise and the business doesn't even have an official name. But enthusiasts know where to find it
Slide Show: Al's Hudson Company

Diamonds in the Rust

Max Davis remembers the days when owning a vehicle meant knowing how to fix it. Now, he's turning his hobby of rebuilding cars into a small business

Classic Cars

This Carroll Shelby-designed 1963 Cobra 289 Le Mans recently sold for $1,650,000

A case for radial tires on your classic car

Here's a preview of the Martin Rating System for Collectible Cars from Sports Car Market. They've selected 100 cars, each with something different to offer to a collector, and rated them in five categories

The world's foremost motor sport event celebrates a century of grand prix racing this summer. Here's a look at some of the race's history

Recognizing an underserved youth market in the 1960s, a Ford engineer named Iacocca led the campaign for something small and sporty Plus: Slide Show > >

How to see the Empire State's finest

The sleek Chevy Impala started off the '60s Brawn Age and has been around the block several times since. Here's a look at its evolution

The 1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL replaced the Gullwing, and was technologically superior to anything else produced in the '50s and early '60s

Originally priced at $2,449, this 1962 MGA 1600 MK II Roadster sold at auction for $36,300 in August

The 1927 Type 35 Bugatti embodied all of Ettore Bugatti's experience, skill, talent, and aesthetic sense

The 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Spider Nuvolari was gorgeous and fast, but poor management prevented the company from becoming another Ferrari

This is a prototype of the 1972 Porsche 911 RS, regarded today as one of the top five sports cars to emerge from the 1970's

The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis by Boano was an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind concept car that recently for $1.375 million

The 1929 Bentley Speed Six Cadogan four-seater was the Ferrari of its day

The D-type was one of the most impressive, most innovative—and perhaps above all most beautiful of Jaguar’s 1950s cars

Mechanical woes and radical looks polarized Ferrari fans—you either loved or hated the Mondial

The 1964 Lancia Flaminia 3C 2800 Super Sport was one of the Italian maker’s post-War high points

The 1938 Aston Martin 15/98 Short-Chassis represents the ultimate development of the marque before the war

The 1973 BMW 3.0CSL looked funky but its improved aerodynamics made it a winner on the track

Following a meticulous restoration, chassis no. 3057 came with a colorful history when it sold at auction for nearly $2 million

Screaming chicken and T-Top notwithstanding, this disco era Trans Am is now a classic example of late American muscle

This 1967 Austin-Healy 3000 recently sold at auction for a record $99,875

Christie’s annual Exceptional Motor Cars auction in Monterey, Calif., is one of the classic car world’s premier events and this year offers some real beauties Plus: Slide Show

Who needs a Hummer when you can have your very own tank? This WWII-era M3A1 Stuart Light Tank recently sold at auction for $34,339

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTL Lusso is considered one of the most beautiful of all Pininfarina's creations. This one sold in Monte Carlo for a record $595,400

The '58 Chevy Impala convertible's extravagant one-year-only styling has come to represent the risk-taking, change-making zeitgeist of the late '50s and early '60s

For a generation of sports car lovers, the Countach is the embodiment of everything Lamborghini stands for

The 1979 Ferrari 308 GTB was about balance and quality, its virtue being a lack of flaws

The 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast was the preferred car of playboys like the Shah of Iran and the Aga Khan

Designed by Harley Earl, this limited edition 1954 Buick Skylark, originally priced at $4,355, recently sold at auction for $181,500

In the current market, beauty and condition matter, which explains why this lovingly restored 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 S Speedster sold for $121,000

The 1947 Bentley Mk VI Franay Drophead Coupe bears no resemblance to a standard steel Mark VI and sold earlier this year for $1,728,000

Cheap and durable by Ferrari standards, the 1970 365 2+2 came with a rare rear seat to accommodate kids or friends

The needle of the rev counter can be wound to the red zone, and each gear takes the car into a new dimension

Before WWII, Cadillac wasn’t the only GM brand that wore the prestige auto crown

A look back at the successes and flops of Europe’s biggest car maker Slide Show: VW in the U.S: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Insurers of classic cars work on a case by case basis, leaving some car owners unsure of how well they're really covered

The name Tucker strikes a chord in the heart of every true car enthusiast. This car sold for $495,000 at the RM Arizona auction in January 2004

Intended as an alternative Lamborghini model, this tantalizing one-off disappeared from view for almost four decades

On the wrong road

One of the most beautiful Corvettes of all time barely made it off the drawing board

When admirers ask who restored your classic auto, imagine answering, "I did it myself." Here's what to consider before taking the plunge

Australia's annual Magnificent Collector's Cars auction brings together vehicles from the dawn of the car age, as well as recent speedsters Slide Show: Royal Blood: Collector's Cars at Auction

Members of these increasingly popular organizations get to drive fantasy cars, without the hassles of actually owning them Slide Show: A Luxury Take on Ride-Sharing

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, this classic is affordable but doesn't skimp on style

The legendary sports car is making a comeback and has its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show

A look back at the first patented motor car and how it came to be Slide Show: The Automobile Turns 120

Speculation that the $160,000 sports car's aluminum undercarriage may be liable to distortion has the company investigating -- and some owners up in arms

Have a look at the top 20 most expensive cars sold at auction last year

Sports Car Market's Rob Sass details the precautionary steps to take before -- and after -- purchasing your first vintage car

Thanks to wealthy baby boomers trying to regain a piece of their long-lost youth, aspirational cars are selling for increasingly high sums

Learn how to protect your investment, your wallet, and your ego when buying a piece of automotive history

When to shop, what to look for, and how to store and maintain an older vehicle

The collection slated for the auction block in Palm Beach includes a 1947 Mark VI Cabriolet with a frog-skin interior

Bidders, start your engines: Christie's Feb. 11 Paris auction features 35 vintage cars, many with distinguished ownership and racing histories Slide Show: Once Around the Auto Auction Block

Motorheads are making vintage gas guzzlers the new stars of the auction scene Slide Show: Cars of the Famous -- and Infamous Slide Show: Pumped-Up Prices for Vintage Muscle

Vehicles that have showcased new technology -- like electric windows -- are fetching prices in the six- and seven-figure range Slide Show: Collecting Concepts

At the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, the bidders are mostly white, middle-aged men, and they're overwhelmingly entrepreneurial

American beauties like a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville got high prices at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. But top dollar went to a weird GM Futurliner bus Plus: Slide Show

The beginning of Arizona's Barrett-Jackson auction shows no letup in buyer interest, with thousands pursuing the collector cars of their dreams

Pontiac's redo of a classic has muscle to spare and many captivating features, but it falls short in recreating the aura of the original

If you're shopping for a '65 Shelby, you want to buy a car with the battery in the trunk, a shoddy hood, and as low a serial number as you can find

Pontiac marked the Bicentennial with the last of the true muscle cars -- complete with a 455-cubic-inch engine

Al's Hudson Company doesn't advertise and the business doesn't even have an official name. But enthusiasts know where to find it Slide Show: Al's Hudson Company

Max Davis remembers the days when owning a vehicle meant knowing how to fix it. Now, he's turning his hobby of rebuilding cars into a small business

Advertising | Special Sections | MarketPlace | Knowledge Centers Terms of Use | Privacy Notice | Ethics Code | Contact Us Copyright 2000- 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.

Recognizing an underserved youth market in the 1960s, a Ford engineer named Iacocca led the campaign for something small and sporty
Plus: Slide Show > >

Christie’s annual Exceptional Motor Cars auction in Monterey, Calif., is one of the classic car world’s premier events and this year offers some real beauties
Plus: Slide Show

A look back at the successes and flops of Europe’s biggest car maker
Slide Show: VW in the U.S: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Australia's annual Magnificent Collector's Cars auction brings together vehicles from the dawn of the car age, as well as recent speedsters
Slide Show: Royal Blood: Collector's Cars at Auction

Members of these increasingly popular organizations get to drive fantasy cars, without the hassles of actually owning them
Slide Show: A Luxury Take on Ride-Sharing

A look back at the first patented motor car and how it came to be
Slide Show: The Automobile Turns 120

Bidders, start your engines: Christie's Feb. 11 Paris auction features 35 vintage cars, many with distinguished ownership and racing histories
Slide Show: Once Around the Auto Auction Block

Motorheads are making vintage gas guzzlers the new stars of the auction scene
Slide Show: Cars of the Famous -- and Infamous
Slide Show: Pumped-Up Prices for Vintage Muscle

Vehicles that have showcased new technology -- like electric windows -- are fetching prices in the six- and seven-figure range
Slide Show: Collecting Concepts

American beauties like a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville got high prices at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. But top dollar went to a weird GM Futurliner bus
Plus: Slide Show

Al's Hudson Company doesn't advertise and the business doesn't even have an official name. But enthusiasts know where to find it
Slide Show: Al's Hudson Company

Advertising | Special Sections | MarketPlace | Knowledge Centers

Terms of Use | Privacy Notice | Ethics Code | Contact Us

Copyright 2000- 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
All rights reserved.