Marque1

A PROUD MOMENT IN HISTORY FOR YOUR MARQUE1 HOST

The photo above is from the ancient history department. I didn't know it existed until a friend e-mailed the image to me a few weeks ago. There's no real excuse to reveal it here except this moment in time was an interesting and fun experience that I'd like to share.

The date was early September, 1961. The location was the St. Eugene race track, located in Ontario on the Quebec border, built on the bones of a former WW2 air base. It was a day of sports car racing operated by a Montreal car club. One of the races was for a mix of unmodified sports cars and sedans. This is the front row of that event. You couldn't have asked for a more eclectic group than the three cars sitting on the starting line.

The first turn curved to the right and so pole position had been taken by, of all things, a slant-six Valiant sedan. I knew the driver and suspected he may have made some mods to the suspension but that didn't bother me although the car was fast in a straight line. Next to him, barely visible in red, was a Fiat Abarth coupe, a hot little car that had been picking up trophies all season long. On the outside was yours truly in a Porsche 356B, stock except for a de-cambered rear suspension. That's Maggie, my ex, smiling nearby.

An MGA is peeking its nose into the photo. Behind us was another Porsche 356, a Speedster, and a gaggle of small-class sports cars and sedans. I recall few of the driver's names except for Bill MacDonald in the Abarth and Jim Muzzin in the other Porsche. I should, but don't, remember the name of the Valiant driver as we were both radio announcers, him in Montreal and me in Toronto. What I do recall, though, was his comment to me when he wandered over prior to the start.

"Whatever you do, don't try to pass me on the first turn. This thing takes a lot of road when it drifts through the corners and there won't be room for both of us!"

The car that worried me, however, was the Abarth, more of a real racer than the 356B and with a very talented driver. Sure enough, he took the lead out of turn one. As for the Valiant, well... a race driver's a race driver. I ignored my friend's advice and passed him through the turn, which put me in second place. For three laps Bill MacDonald pulled away but suddenly, on the fast turn one, he drifted too wide, slid into the grass, and rolled over.

I saw this out of the corner of my eye and thought the race might be stopped but Bill had crawled out unhurt and the car was not a danger to the other drivers so we carried on. For the first time in my brief driving career I was running first overall! Racing a very fast VW in modified sedan events the previous year I'd won a class championship but never had the pleasure of being in front of the pack as at least a half-dozen of the competition had driven bigger, faster cars. So to find myself out in front was a welcome novelty.

The Valiant fell back and was passed by Jim Muzzin's Speedster but I kept pulling away and by the end of the 20-lap race was ahead by the length of the start-finish straight. In those years it was normal for the winning car to stop in the pits and pick up a passenger who'd hold the chequered flag out the window for a slow victory lap. That was almost as much a thrill for Maggie as winning was for me. From such little things come precious memories.

COLLECTOR'S ALERT: SEVEN GREAT CLASSICS TO WATCH IN 2014

It's that time of year when everyone in the media business makes a list, either celebrating the past or predicting the future. I've not made mine yet (nor have I made any New Year's resolutions) so here's one I'd like to recommend to well-heeled individuals heading for the Arizona auctions. The emminent British car magazine Classic Driver has prepared a list of seven cars to watch in 2014. Wisely, the editors have chosen experts to make the selection. With little comment necessary from me, a guy who'd be at Barrett-Jackson looking for the best car under $15,000, herewith the list.

LAMBORGHINI MIURA
Up top is the Lamborghini Miura, as chosen by Max Girardo, RM's lead auctioneer. He says "I'll take all the Ferraris out of the equation and stick my neck out a little by going for something different. I think the Lamborghini Miura represents great value for money at current prices. It's from that era of cars that everyone understands and loves, it's from a great brand, it's got a 12-cylinder engine, and it looks great... "

ASTON MARTIN DB6
Jonathan Kaiser of Hexagon Classics believes "Aston Martin DB6 prices in 2014 are too inexpensive at the moment. They're selling for around half the price of a DB5, but they're not half the car. We've sold a lot of DB6s during 2013 because people don't want to spend half a million pounds plus on a concours DB5."

FERRARI 512 BB
James Cottingham of Ferrari specialist DK Engineering sees a potential rise in interest in the Berlinetta Boxer Ferraris, in particular the 512 BB. "I think they've been tremendously underrated for a long time, and they're a true classic, produced in the mid-70s and early 80s. They're relatively rare compared with what other manufacturers were producing at the same time, and in the Ferrari world they look like tremendous value for money." (I love this car, having driven a Boxer over some lovely Swiss mountain roads back in '79.)

PORSCHE 911 (996) GT3
Wilfried Hallier, owner of Hallier Classic Cars, sees real potential in the 911 GT3 road/race car, particularly the much-overlooked 996 series. "The 996 GT3 goes back to the original philosophy of Porsche. This civilian racing car allows private owners to test their abilities, and I'd recommend a 996 GT3 or GT3 RS to those with little racing experience."

BUGATTI EB110 SUPER SPORT
Think modern: Dylan Miles of Fiskens will be monitoring the success of the Veyron's predecessor in 2014. "Should any of the 30-or-so EB110 Super Sports come up for sale this year, I can see them doing well. Just think – a quad-turbo, quad-cam V12, 600bhp, four-wheel drive and one of the most illustrious badges in the business, all for one-eighth of the price of a McLaren F1."

LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH
Simon Kidston believes that alongside the Miura, Lamborghini's show-stopping Countach will also enjoy success in 2014. "I would say a Countach is one of the 'cars to watch' in 2014, particularly the early examples. It seems there's a generational change underway, and cars from the 70s, 80s and 90s are beginning to enjoy their period in the limelight."

ASTON MARTIN V8
Karl-Helmut Larkamp of E. Thiesen Berlin singles out the post-DB6 Astons for their potential, in particular the DBS and AM V8. "These high-quality vehicles are completely undervalued and now that DB6s are barely affordable, the later cars look like they might enjoy an enormous increase in demand in the near future."

With thanks to Classic Driver for the article inspiration and the quotes in this authoritative list. Click here to see the complete article. [Photo credits: Tim Scott for RM Auctions, Aston Martin, DK Engineering, Hallier Classic Cars, Kidston SA, Bugatti]

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER SKIING ACCIDENT

UPDATE JAN 01, 2014:

Michael Schumacher’s condition was stable but still critical overnight as he remained unconscious following a brain injury suffered in a skiing accident, his manager said Wednesday.

Sabine Kehm told reporters that his condition has not changed since doctors said he showed small signs of improvement on Tuesday, following his second operation.

DEC 30, 2013:

I've interrupted this morning's planned blog after hearing of Michael Schumaker's dreadful accident. The seven-times World Driving Champion remains in critical condition in hospital following a skiing accident in the French Alps.

The 44-year-old German was understood to have hit his head after falling during a family skiing trip at the Meribel resort on Sunday morning. A statement issued by the hospital in which Schumacher is being treated said he had suffered "a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required neurosurgical intervention immediately." An accomplished skier, he was wearing a helmet but had hit his head on a rock after falling.

Early reports that day had said Schumaker was hurt but didn't indicate the severity of his condition. I learned that sad news while sitting in a Tim Horton's shop, of all places, staring at a TV screen. And I knew that when I came home it had to be priority on today's Marque1.

I've had the privilege of watching Michael Schumaker live and in every televised F1 event since he moved up to the top level of auto racing. And like so many fans I tired of Ferrari's and Schumaker's domination in race after race. But I also knew this was the most successful car/driver team in the history of the sport and this extraordinary athlete would join Ayrton Senna, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Tazio Nuvolari in any list of all-time greats. Perhaps at the very top. My only regret was that he tried making a comeback after retiring.

It is not unusual for race drivers to participate in other forms of speed sport after they've stopped competing. They enjoy going fast. They love the challenge. So we've seen them racing powerboats, riding motorcycles, flying airplanes and, like Michael Schumaker, skiing. Sadly, these activities have sometimes resulted in tragic accidents. Speed, in any form, is potentially dangerous.

Millions of race fans all over the world will be watching the daily reports, hoping for signs of recovery. I'm writing this on Sunday evening and perhaps, when you read these words, the hospital will be issuing some positive news. Michael Schumaker is still young and healthy, and deserves to be with us for many more years.

[Photo credit: fanpop.com]

FILM STAR MEETS ITALIAN BEAUTIES IN ARIZONA

With the 2014 Arizona Auction Week just a month away the auction houses are releasing photos of their most spectacular and costly consignments. From a business point of view I understand that. But I sometimes wish they'd include cars of lesser status because I know from visiting Phoenix in years past that all sorts of fascinating vehicles come up for sale at very affordable prices. We stay-at-homes just never get to see them. That said, there's no denying the cars shown here meet all the requirements of rarity, design, and historical interest.

You'd be forgiven if you thought the automobile up top was a Ferrari or some other Italian supercar. Well, super it may be, but this is actually a Fiat. A 1954 Fiat 8V Coupe with body by Ghia. It is one of just 114 beautiful sports cars made during a brief period when the company wavered a little from its normal job of creating cars for the average Italian motorist. Power is supplied by a unique 1996 cc ohv V-8 capable of 118 mph. It was also the first Fiat to feature an all-independent suspension, in this case by wishbones and coil springs. To be sold by RM at its Phoenix auction.

If you loved Driving Miss Daisy (and who didn't?) you might want to bid on the actual car that starred in the award-winning movie. The 1949 Hudson Commodore Custom Eight sedan was driven, first, by Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy), then through most of the film by her chauffeur Hoke (Morgan Freeman). It features the innovative "step-down" design and full envelope bodywork that made this Hudson a sensation when it was introduced. It comes equipped with a 3-speed transmission, turn signals, radio, heater, large hubcaps with trim rings, white wall tires, grille guard and rear fender skirts. I'd be delighted to own this car, not just for its role in the movie but because I've been a fan of those step-down Hudsons since I first rode in one. And yes, that was long, long ago. See it at the Barrett-Jackson auction.

Alfa Romeo is Italy's oldest sporting marque, dating back to 1910. Over the decades it gained a great racing reputation and even though the firm eventually became a mass production automobile it never stopped offering sports cars of extraordinary beauty. The auction car is a 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Touring Berlinetta, one of 13 examples built by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan between 1930 and 1940. In 1990, it was acquired by Charlie Morse and Malcolm Harris, a world renowned Alfa Romeo expert who commissioned a restoration by a number of Seattle-area craftsmen beginning in 1994.

Completed just before the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it won a Second in Class as well as the Most Elegant Closed Car Award. At the 2004 Ironstone Concours, and the 2004 Kirkland Concours, it was again given the Most Elegant Closed Car award and finally, at the 2012 Quail Motorsports Gathering, it garnered the Best Pre-War Alfa Romeo prize. Also to be offered by Barrett-Jackson.

CONCORSO ITALIANO LOOKS TO BLOSSOM IN THE DESERT

For many years Concorso Italiano has added something different to California's Monterey extravaganza, second only to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for its collection of glamorous cars. Albeit, most are Italian in origin but considering that Italy has given us some of the world's quickest and most beautiful automobiles, this could hardly be viewed as a disadvantage.

This spring a sister show, created by the same organisers, will take place in Palm Desert. The event, appropriately named the Desert Concorso, will happen on Sunday, March 30th, at the Shadow Mountain Resort, only a few blocks away from the elegant shops on El Paseo Drive, commonly referred to as "the Rodeo Drive of the desert". (For those of you unfamiliar with the town, Palm Desert is adjacent to the east side of Palm Springs.)

To date, no mention has been made of which cars will appear but we anticipate seeing some very special automobiles from California, nearby Arizona, and even beyond. It wouldn't surprise me if a few of our Canadian friends use this as an excuse to make the trip, as Palm Springs is a popular vacation destination for those of us in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, our winters are mild but that warm sun and spectacular desert scenery can be irresistable after months of grey skies.

As at Monterey, the Desert Concorso will welcome special interest sports cars from the UK, Germany, and France. It will also include a few selected American hot rods with exceptional engineering and/or design qualities such as those built by Boyd Coddington, Roy Brizio and Steve Moal.

The addition of Desert Concorso to the Palm Springs events schedule is an exciting bonus for the good folks who live in the area or spend winters there. In February the annual Desert Classic Concours returns, celebrating 100 years of Maserati history in conjunction with the Legends of Riverside and Riverside International Automotive Museum. This three-day event also includes the Tour Classique, a picturesque drive through the area, in which concours entrants are invited to participate.

I'll readily admit to an affection for all things Italian, especially the food and the cars. So adding a little desert magic to the mix is enough to convince me that the Desert Concorso should be on my calendar and yours, too, if you share my enthusiasm.

RAISE YOUR GLASS TO THE CARS OF MANHATTAN. AND THE MONEY.

RM and Sotheby's are celebrating (with champagne, I hope) their New York Art of the Automobile auction, which generated $62,797,500 in just two hours on Thursday, November 21st. Some remarkable prices were generated by a well-heeled audience that included international buyers bidding by telephone.

Three that caught my eye while watching the show live on my computer screen are shown here, beginning with the top money-earner, a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Carrozzeria Scaglietti (above). One of the finest examples of Ferrari’s first mid-engined car, it finished 8th overall and 1st in class at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona. RM described it as "a time capsule that is being publicly seen and offered for the first time in decades." Sold for a record-breaking $14,300,000.

For sheer beauty it would be difficult to match this 1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupé by Carrosserie Figoni et Falaschi. The last of six built in 1936 on the short Type 135 chassis, it was engineered for racing, including a 4-speed manual transmission, outside-mounted rear springs, lowered engine, oil cooler below the radiator, and a race-style fuel tank with dual fillers. The body is unique from the other five, with a slightly different hood and a single row of louvers. It is the only known Type 135 with headlamps faired into the front fenders. Sold for $2,420,000.

A one-of-a-kind, the 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II ‘Supersonic’ by Carrozzeria Ghia is the 15th and last of a series of cars individually created by Ghia to variations on a race-bred Giovanni Savonuzzi design. It is the only one built on an Aston Martin chassis. Originally driven by American GP driver Harry Schell, it has a fascinating history of former owners, including the Vanderbilt family. The powerful Mk II chassis and drivetrain has been completely restored to Aston Martin factory specifications and the body returned to its original Ghia glory. Sold for $2,310,000.

To view all the cars (and some rare automobilia) on sale in this auction, complete with a detailed history of each, click here. I promise an entertaining half hour and it won't cost you a penny. Unless you're sipping champagne.

[Photos: Courtesy RM]

 

THE ART OF ITALIAN SPEED: 2013 MARQUE1 AWARD WINNER

The scene you're gazing at is a fantasy. It never happened. But it could, if someone were to bring that sleek-looking aircraft out of the Italian Air Force Museum where it resides, near Rome, and set it down in Venice.

The 1933 Macchi Castoldi MC 72 still holds the world record for seaplanes, having been built to compete in the final Schneider Trophy race, an annual event matching the world's fastest. Unfortunately engine problems prevented the Italian aircraft from competing but with national pride at stake an attempt was made to achieve a record-breaking speed. It certainly had the power: the M.C. 72 used double contra-rotating propellers driven by a supercharged FIAT AS-6 engine V-24 engine generating between 1,900-2,300 kW (2,500-3,100 hp).

On 23 October 1934 Francesco Agello piloted the M.C. 72 for an average speed of 709 km/h (440 mph). The record has never been broken and it was five years before a wheeled aircraft, even without the drag caused by the pontoons, could fly faster.

It might be easier to obtain the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante (flying saucer) for this fantasy setting. First built as a concept, it went into production in 1952, based on Alfa Romeo 1900 mechanicals in a tubular space frame, with bodies from Touring. The modified engine produced 158 hp and with the aid of wind tunnel aerodynamics, gave a top speed of 140 mph. One open cockpit and two different coupé styles were made. They were not particularly successful in racing but one did win the Gran Premio Supercortemaggiore. The unique 3.5-liter car seen above is preserved in the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile in Turin.

I have two reasons for featuring this work of art. First, because I think it is absolutely stunning and therefore gets the unofficial Marque1 award for the most beautiful automotive painting of 2013. Second, because Federico Bozzano's work has inspired a Fantasy Gallery at CarArt.us which includes "dreamworks" by more than a dozen renowned artists.

The gallery describes Bozzano as a "visual effects maestro who brings fantasy worlds to life on the big screen. If you enjoyed Avatar, then you have already appreciated the vivid imagination of our new artist." If you fancy having a print on your living room wall there are two opportunities: Choose from a 39" x 59" giclée on paper for $450.00 (60 available), or a 28" x 39" giclée on paper for $320.00 (100 available). To order just go to the CarArt.us online site. Oh... and if you happen to be heading to Italy, you might consider a trip to those museums.

SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN PEBBLE BEACH BEST OF SHOW?

Most of the automobile Web sites have provided excellent photo coverage of the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance but one you may have missed is Wallpaper Magazine. Which, I should explain, is not a car magazine. However the editors at Wallpaper do have exquisite taste when it comes to design, that being the magazine's mantra. Appropriately, it covers all aspects from fashion to furniture to architecture and, occasionally, cars.

With its flawless eye for design, Wallpaper focussed its camera on classics the car mags may have missed, one of which is shown above. I'll quote from the magazine, as they were there and I wasn't: '2013 Best in Show' at Pebble Beach may have gone to an immaculate 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria, but if it was up to us, we would have given the gong to the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe design study, which, legend has it, was given to Hollywood film star Errol Flynn by his friend Henry Ford II. Orange cars have seldom looked as good (inside and out).

To be honest I'd forgotten this car existed but when I saw the photo I thought "Wow! It's beautiful." So even though I didn't get to see it up close and live, I'm in complete agreement with Wallpaper; the Boano Coupe would have been my choice, too. It's very unlike the Italian sports coupes of the period, having typical Detroit styling hints, but after all, it is a Lincoln. Makes an interesting contrast to the Hudson Italia featured in yesterday's blog which has some similarities but ended up a design disaster.

So thanks, Wallpaper, for bringing this to our attention. You can see the rest of the magazine's choices by clicking here.

[Photos: Wallpaper Magazine]

 

 

 

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG HERE? FERRARI SELLS FOR $27,500,000 AT AUCTION

My good buddy and Marque1 contributor Nigel Matthews sent me an e-mail from Monterey where he was attending the various activities on behalf of Hagerty Insurance and also judging at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The e-mail contained only five words: "The world has gone nuts!" Nigel was referring to the sale at RM Auctions of an ultra-rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T Spyder, which went for an astounding $27,500,000. It thus became the second most expensive car ever to be sold at public auction and the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction.

By way of comparison the 2012 Pebble Beach Best of Show-winning 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster sold for $8,250,000 at RM and over at Gooding & Company the show-stopper was a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT 14-Louver Berlinetta that set a world record for a Ferrari 250 Tour de France at $9,460,000. Yes, Nigel, the world has indeed gone nuts. Even allowing for the fact that rich guys will always pay outrageous prices for collectibles of any kind it's hard not to think of all the hungry people out there and how many meals this kind of money can buy.

Fortunately all proceeds from the sale of the N.A.R.T. Ferrari will be donated to charitable causes close to the heart of the late owner, Mr. Eddie Smith Sr. Perhaps it might include organisations that provide food to children. Still, it's hard to accept the logic in paying that much money for a car, no matter how rare.

I'm not an old grouch and I do appreciate Ferraris both for their appearance and performance. My memory is still mesmerised by the sound of a V-12 Testa Rossa screaming up the hill at Mosport with Pedro Rodriguez at the wheel (I was announcing the race for CBC radio). I've been privileged to have had the use of a Ferrari 400i for a week in France and Italy. And I can still remember being in the Chinetti showroom in Manhattan when merely setting a foot inside was an honour. It was the Chinettis, the American importers, who created the North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T) to promote the Ferrari name in America.

N.A.R.T. competed only at the world's premiere endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 1967 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder was a convertible version of the 275 GTB/4 as requested by Luigi Chinetti. The original order of 25 cars was never fulfilled, as only 10 were delivered from the Maranello factory. Which accounts for the rarity of the auction car, which had been owned by one family since new. Such things matter to collectors for whom money is no object, though an object can be money.

You may, upon reading this, think I'm a socialist. I'm not. I just happen to agree with Nigel that when someone pays $27,500,000 for a car, even a Ferrari, "the world has gone nuts."

LAMBORGHINI AT 50, AN ARTIST'S DELIGHT

It's been 50 years since the raging bull roared into the ring, sending Enzo's torreadors scattering in every direction. Of course the great matador was not so easily frightened and today Ferrari and Lamborghini still challenge each other for the most extravagant supercar on the planet. I saw my first Countach some 36 years ago at the Monaco Grand Prix when it did a few parade laps and have yet to recover from the shock. It was sports car design at its most outrageous. Impractical yet sensational at the same time.

Of course a gorgeous bit of sculpture like the Countach, or any Lamborghini for that matter, makes an enticing subject for the automotive artist. And appropriately Peter Aylett at CarArt.us has chosen several from his stable of international painters, each quite different in style. I've selected three that should satisfy your viewing pleasure, all available for purchase online. By the way, the Miura and Espada, both designed by Marcello Ghandini, were the first car pictures Peter ever hung on his wall. In hindsight, he says, they were the seeds of Car Art, Inc., some 35 years later.

Przemek Wiecek, whose passions include supercars and travel, ranks as one of my favorites. He paints scenes of exotic cars on old city streets, just as he noticed them during his travels around Europe. That appeals to me as I like seeing cars portrayed in their natural environment. Up top is Wiecek's "Gallardo in Warsaw," which also includes a glimpse of a Ferrari F430 behind the Lamborghini. You can purchase the original, mixed media on paper, sized 11" X 16," for $500. A giclée on satin paper, 16" X 23," costs $99.

 

For something totally different but no less spectacular, you may prefer the 2002 Murciélago by Alan Scott Greene, which he appropriately titled "Triple Threat." Those colors would look fabulous on anyone's walls and you can have a Giclée print on canvas, 24" X 36," at $299, or a slightly smaller giclée on textured art paper, 13" X 19," for $159.

 

I couldn't possibly wrap up this blog without including a Lamborghini Miura, designed by Gandini and one of the most beautiful cars ever created. Artist Roger Hector calls it "Bull in the Barn." A paper giclée in your barn, garage, den, or living room, 22" X 32," can be had for a reasonable $290. But, like all the works shown here, it's a limited edition and with the focus on Lamborghini in 2013, could easily be sold out. So if you'd care to acquire one or more, and I can't imagine you wouldn't, contact CarArt.us online, or to view the other desireable paintings in the Lamborghini Gallery, just click here.