Saturday, August 31, 2019

2020 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster

Lamborghini introduced the new Aventador SVJ roadster at the 2019 Geneva motor show. The SVJ stands for "SuperVeloce Jota"

It packs a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine that delivers 759 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed single-clutch automatic transmission that spins all four wheels. Like the fixed-roof version, the roadster is touted as sprinting from 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and being capable of a top speed just over 217 mph.
The roof is removable and can be stored under the front hood.The Aventador SVJ Roadster employs a range of aero devices. The redesigned underbody sports vortex generators that work in conjunction with the front splitter and rear diffuser to improve downforce, while also reducing turbulence thanks to the airfoil and side winglets. The SVJ Roadster tips the scales at only 3,472 pounds.
0 to 62 mph takes only 2.9 seconds in the SVJ Roadster, only a tenth-second slower than the coupe. Hitting 124 mph takes 8.8 seconds, two tenths slower than the coupe.

Deliveries of 800 examples are being offered globally with prices starting at $573,966.

Top Cars at Auction in 2018

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO by Scaglietti. The third of 36 GTOs built; considered by marque experts to be one of the most authentic and original of all GTO examples. One of 3 factory converted to 'Series II'.

As was widely predicted, it made a princely $48.4m. The price achieved by the car is over $10m more than the previous world record auction 250 GTO, sold by Bonhams in 2014.
Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg “SSJ” was the star of the Gooding and Company's Pebble Beach 2018 auction. The Duesenberg realized $22m.

This record price makes the car the most valuable American collector car ever sold.

A 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, chassis 0628, sold for $22m at RM Sotheby’s auction at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It is one of only four cars built and one of three survivors.
1963 Aston Martin DP215 Competition Prototype. It was the first car to hit 300kph (186mph) down the famous Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans du ring practice ahead of the 1963 race. The DP215 was 12 seconds per lap quicker than the Ferrari 250 GTO but was forced to retire that year after just 29 laps due to gearbox issues. This car made $21,455,000.

The current record for an Aston Martin sold at auction is $22.5m, paid for the 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 in 2017.
Bonhams sold this 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato July 13th for £10,081,500, making it the most valuable British car ever sold at European auction. It is one of just 19 examples.

A 1966 Ford GT 40 Mk II, chassis P/1016 achieved $9.8m at RM Sotheby’s Monterey.

A 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale, chassis 06437, sold for $8m. Top result at the Gooding Scottsdale sale.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, chassis 0905 GT, sold for $6.6m at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2018 sale.

$6,067,210 for an ex-Scuderia Ferrari 1932-4 Alfa-Romeo Tipo B Grand Prix Monoposto. Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale 2018.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

1958 250GT LWB California Spider leads at Gooding & Company - $9.9m

A 1958 250GT LWB California Spider was top lot at Gooding & Company, bringing $9.9m.

Since 2008, eight Ferrari 250 GT California Spiders have sold for more than $10m, with the highest price doubling that.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 California SWB Spider did not change hands at RM Sotheby's
1. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – $9,905,000
2. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet – $6,800,000
3. 1975 Ferrari 312T – $6,000,000
4. 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT – $3,600,000
5. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France – $5,100,000
6. 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupe – $2,755,000
7. 1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM – $2,645,000
8. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline – $2,040,000
9. 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS – $1,765,000
10. 1993 Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8 – $1,710,000
11. 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe – $1,600,000
12. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB – $1,572,500
13. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing – $1,435,000
14. 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante – $1,325,000
15. 1941 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A – $1,297,500

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

1986 Ford RS200 Evolution

The Ford RS200 is a mid-engined, four-wheel drive sports car that was produced by Ford Europe from 1984 to 1986. The road-going RS200 was based on Ford's Group B rally car and was designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations. The new vehicle's design featured a plastic-fiberglass composite body designed by Ghia, a mid-mounted engine and four-wheel drive. To aid weight distribution, designers mounted the transmission at the front of the car, which required that power from the mid-mounted engine go first up to the front wheels and then be run back to the rear, creating a complex drive train setup.
Power came from a 1.8 litre, single turbocharged Ford-Cosworth "BDT" engine producing 250 horsepower in road-going trim, and between 350 and 450 horsepower in racing trim. A total of 24 of the 200 original cars were later converted to the high performance "Evolution" models
Able to run with (and often leave behind) more prestigious and expensive supercars of the day, the RS200 Evolution remains a highly sought-after collectible.

In 2015 a 1986 Ford RS200 Evolution was sold for $539,000 by Gooding.

2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Series - $1.05m

Bonhams offered a 2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Series, the first of 138 examples of the car that the automaker produced for the 2017 model year. The limited-production '66 Heritage Edition was announced in June 2016 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the overall win at Le Mans by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at the wheel of a GT40 Mark II, part of Ford's historic 1-2-3 sweep. Showing 120 miles, it was naturally of interest to collectors.

The end to the two year Ford prohibition on reselling the GT means speculators are looking to cash out. Bonhams provided an estimate between $1,250,000 and $1,900,000.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

1966 Shelby GT350 carryover - $291k

A 1966 Shelby GT350 carryover, one of 252 produced, with fewer than 16,500 original miles sold recently for $291k, and that might be a bargain. As production of the 1965 Shelby GT-350s wound down, Shelby American began work on the 1966 version.

In order for them to continue operations, Shelby American ordered 250 “K” Code 1965 Mustangs toward the end of the 1965 Mustang production run.

The cars would be available to “carry-over” the Shelby American plant.
Those 250 cars, plus the two 1966 prototypes, make a total of 252 cars that started life as 1965 Mustangs, but were converted into 1966 GT-350s. The white 2+2 fastbacks were fitted with the high performance 289 V8 rated at 271hp, then massaged with an aluminum high-rise intake manifold, Holley four-barrel carburetor, Tri-Y headers, and a glasspack dual exhaust system to produce 306hp and 329 ft-lb of torque. A Borg Warner four-speed put that power to the rear wheels, and the 2,800-pound car could sprint to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, with a top end of 126 mph.
This ultra top end example made $440k in January.

McLaren F1 Le Mans Spec package - $19.8m

The McLaren F1 holds a hallowed place in the supercar universe. 106 of them were built with 64 being legally allowed to drive on public roads. Chassis 018 is even more special. It’s one of two to have been called back to the factory following the F1’s win at Le Mans in 1995 and fitted with a GTR racing engine and High-Downforce Kit (HDK).
This ultra-rare McLaren F1 is the 'best of the best' and those bragging rights don't come cheap.
The car appeared at Monterey and made $ 19.8m against an estimate of $21m to $23m.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Lamborghini Miura SV/J

When the Lamborghini Miura debuted in 1966, it was a sensation with its radical mid-engine chassis and gorgeous looks. It had the performance too but it wasn't without its faults. The Miura became notorious for generating front-end lift at high speeds. Making it worse, the fuel tank was located just behind the front axle, meaning the nose would get even lighter as fuel was expended. Effort to fix the Miura's shortcomings helped create the Miura SVJ.
There are six examples of the Miura SV/J known to be built by the factory, while the Miura was still in production. One was built new (chassis #5090) and five were converted from existing SVs (chassis #4934, #4860, #4892, #4990 & #5084).

Any Miura is a beautiful car to behold, but the SVJ takes the Miura to the next level. This 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV/J hammered for $ 1.9m in 2015.
385 hp, 3,929 cc DOHC transverse V-12 engine, four Weber carburetors, five-speed manual transaxle, independent front and rear suspension by coil springs and unequal length wishbones, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype - $7.6m

The first of five GT40 roadsters built, the eighth of twelve GT40 prototypes. Built for Shelby American as a test and development car. One of two GT40 chassis used by Kar Kraft for J and X series development.

One of the finest, most original, and rarest examples of Ford’s iconic race car.
The GT Competition Prototype Roadster is a forerunner to all of the glory that Ford garnered in its historic run to four consecutive overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 through 1969. The genesis of the Ford GT program is that Henry Ford II, known popularly as “The Deuce,” thought he had a deal with Enzo Ferrari to purchase the famous Italian automaker in 1963. Ferrari angered Ford at their meeting to close the deal. Ford famously declared war on Ferrari.
12 prototypes were built by Ford between January 1964 and April 1965. Ford’s first international sports car, it is considered by most to be the world’s first supercar.
In 2014 the car hammered for $6.9m.

That number was $7.6m in 2019.