Tag Archives: V8

1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada – REVISIT

July 24, 2014 Graham

Considered by many to be one of the prettiest GT cars ever made, the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada I wrote up in April is back up on eBay. With bidding at $200,000 but the reserve still on, there's a long way to go until this car hits market value. That market value is still substantially below what equivalent Ferraris and Lamborghinis cost these days though, so this could be one of the more reasonable classic Italian top tier GT cars you can buy. Of course, you have to win the auction first....

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada on Ebay

The below post appeared on our site originally on April 2, 2014:

The other day, I wrote up an Iso A3C; a neat and fairly rare race car from the mid 1960s that marked a period where Iso and ex-Ferrari designer Bizzarrini worked together to create the beautiful and fast race car; however, shortly after the Grifo-based A3C launched its race career, Bizzarrini and Renzo Rivolta parted ways. The result was that Bizzarrini continued to build road-going versions of the A3C, now dubbed the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada, for a few years. While more plentiful than the A3C, they're certainly not a car you come by every day - which is why it's an extra-special treat to see one pop up on Ebay:

Year: 1968
Model: 5300GT Strada
Engine: 5.4 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: Not Listed
Price: No Reserve Auction

Bizzarrini 5300 Strada, 1968
restored by Salvatore Diomante, the factory manager who never stop taking care of the Iso and Bizzarrini
350 CV, documented, alloy body
The cars who have won awards at Pebble Beach are Diomante restorations
0 km since restoration
Contact me if real interest

I have to say, it takes a large set of attachments to post such a car - likely worth close to seven figures - for sale as a no reserve auction on Ebay; my guess, though, is that if bidding doesn't go the way of the seller it will get ended early. Fully restored, this car appears to be lovely and is somewhat unusual in silver color, but there aren't many photos to document the current condition. Despite that, it's a rare car to see at all so it's certainly worth taking a look at. While probably out of the price range of anyone reading this, these cars are pretty well priced considering their history and especially when compared to similar vintage Ferraris. They're arguably as beautiful as some of their creator's other creations for the prancing horse!

-Carter

Ferrari, Modern Classic, Pininfarina

1984 Ferrari 288 GTO

May 10, 2014 Graham 6 Comments

In the heady days of the 1980s, the FIA developed a new formula to dictate production-based race cars in both rally and sports car racing. It was the time of turbocharging in Formula 1, and that turbo technology had spilled over to the World Rally Championship in the form of the revolutionary Audi Quattro. Soon, it became evident that turbocharging would be the way forward, and it seemed that each few months a new iteration of a race car was being launched with even more power. The formula created was known as "Group B" - like its prototype "Group C" brothers, it would standardize a series across various manufacturers. What the rules produced were race cars that seemed unbounded by rules; indeed, you only needed to produce 200 examples of a loosely related road going car. As a result, we saw some unreal creations - most are associated with Rally, like the 13" shortened Audi Sport Quattro and mid-engined supercharged and turbocharged Lancia Delta S4; but few remember that the rules also dictated sports car racing. As a result, notable manufacturers Porsche and Ferrari jumped at the opportunity. From Porsche, we saw the development of the legendary 959, with its twin-turbo charged, watercooled flat six, all-wheel drive, active suspension and 6-speed transmission. It was technical, complicated and totally German. Ferrari decided to go another route; back to its routes, Ferrari produced a lightweight version of the 308 GTB with a new twin-turbocharged version of the V8. Dubbed the 288, it reintroduced the world to the legendary title "GTO" - Gran Turismo Omologato. It was little more than a race car for the road:

Year: 1984
Model: 288 GTO
Engine: 2.9 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 13,000 mi
Price: $1,895,000

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1984 Ferrari 288 GTO

Description:

1984 Ferrari 288GTO, Ferrari factory Classiche certified with books, tools and service records. Car now in Yokohama, Japan, ex Switzerland and France. Swiss taxes paid. Superb example, extremely well cared for from day one. Power windows and working air conditioning. Accident-free example looks almost new with show quality repaint by Zanasi. Easily accessible to inspect. HISTORY: 2/1985, New to Crepaldi, authorized Ferrari dealer in Milano, Italy. 9/2001. To second owner in France and registered in France. 2012 Offered by Garage Zenith SA in Swiss. Classiche certified 9/2012, Sold and shipped to Japan. Prior to delivery, comprehensive maintenance performed with invoice 20,000+CF, plus new set of Michelin tires mounted. 10/2013. Registered road legal in Japan with the transportation authority. Car driven 2,000 km since major service. A superb example to show and enjoy, as it is one of the truly great driver's Ferraris.

Price: $1,895,000 obo

The E30 M3 crowd loves to pat themselves on the back with the incredible gain in value over the past year many have experienced. Frankly, they're small potatoes compared to these hot Ferraris. In the past year and a half, top value on 288 GTOs has more than doubled - from around $700,000 for a pristine example to around $1.7 million. That curve has flattened out slight in the past few months, but is still generally headed upwards. Although the GTO was ultimately eclipsed by the F40 in enthusiasts' minds, it's an important part of Ferrari history that is now recognized in value. This particular example is ahead of the curve, but not by much - and these 288s don't grow on trees. For most of us, we'll be lucky to see one in our lifetime, but the rest of the time we can dream about the awesome days of Group B and the wicked cars it spawned.

-Carter

Ferrari, Modern Classic, Pininfarina

1990 Ferrari F40

May 2, 2014 Graham

I'm guessing everyone who has seen the Ferrari F40 in person (and many that haven't) have their own personal F40 story; so, here's mine. When I was a younger lad, our local luxury dealership struck a deal with a patron to purchase two Ferrari F40s. If it sounds outrageous, it was even more outrageous how much the contract was for - at the time, several million dollars. You may remember that Ferrari lost their proverbial shirt on the 288 GTO; speculators bought up the limited production run, turned around and sold many of them at an outrageous profit - in some cases, up to 10 times the original purchase price. Determined not to have that happen again, Ferrari priced the F40 at a then outrageous $500,000 give or take, but many dealers demanded premiums up to a few million dollars. Presuming that - like the stock market - the supercar market would continue to rise to the heavens, many speculators signed up. It was a sure bet, afterall! Then the crash of 1989 occurred, and shortly thereafter the supercar market tanked. It killed many of the late 1980s and early 1990s cars entirely, and some supercar makers folded up entirely. That didn't happen to Ferrari, obviously, though it sure helped that Fiat held the checkbook at the time. In any event, the market on these cars came way back to reality, and this particular speculator - who had agreed to pay millions for the delivery of the second F40 - suddenly found said car to be worth only a fraction of his outstanding contract. He refused delivery, the dealership sued - and won. They retained the car and several million dollars, which they utilized to build a new addition to the dealership for some crazy upstart from Japan called "Lexus" - but who would be crazy enough to pay a premium for re-badged Toyotas?

Anyway, my part in the story. My father had a friend at said dealership who called him up to come see this F40. If they're not exactly commonplace now, they certainly weren't in 1989, either, yet here I was, confronted with one and being told I could sit in it. Of course, I had studied the F40 extensively, and knew the car like the back of my hand. In person, it was even more impressive than the magazines had related; it was like confronting a hurricane, tornado and tidal wave of force all wrapped in one pretty red package. The slats and vents reminded me of the 250 GTO, and like that car it was a thinly veiled race car that you could put number plates on. Glue leaked out of seams, it smelled like burnt plastic inside, the finish was horrible in places - it felt sort of cheap compared to the immaculately finished Porsches they also had at the dealer. There were no frills, and the carbon fiber doors were so wispy-thin that I got out and unintentionally slammed the door closed. Both my father and his friend gasped; the sticker price on the car, after all, was about 4 times what my father's house was worth at the time. Fast forward to today, and like the real estate market it turns out it would have been pretty smart to buy at the time, because today it's ask is about 3 times what it was when new once again - we've come full circle:

Year: 1990
Model: F40
Engine: 2.9 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 5,287 mi
Price: $1,300,000

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1990 Ferrari F40

1990 FERRARI F40

--Red with Red, 5,000 miles from new, 5-speed transmission, Tubi sport exhaust system.

This F40 is absolutely superb, fully serviced throughout and come complete with Ferrari Classiche Certification.

This F40 is immaculate in all respects, it is complete with all books, tools and records as originally delivered from the factory.

Not much more needs to be said in the description; you're not likely to be able to afford one, but they sure are pretty to look at and amazing in person. Thanks to the internet, we've gotten to see more exposure on the F40 than ever over the past few years and if anything, the legend is even bigger than when it was new. The last great car produced under the leadership of Enzo, this car was and is a monster - both in performance and design. While the price may seem outrageous now and is certainly above market value - Hagerty puts a top F40 just over 1,000,000 - I'd guess that in a few decades we'll again look back and see it wasn't so outrageous, afterall - this car will undoubtedly stand alongside such greats as the 250GTO and Daytona as one of the best Ferraris ever made.

-Carter

Classic, De Tomaso

1974 De Tomaso Pantera

March 27, 2014 Graham

There were many examples of the Italians working together with the Americans to produce some memorable cars, but perhaps the most recognizable of these conglomerations is the De Tomaso Pantera. While it wasn't the first or last, the fastest or the most expensive, the Pantera somehow grabbed the attention of the motoring public as one of the best examples of Italian design mated to American power. Perhaps that had something to do with the length of time it was produced; the Pantera had a production run that would make the Beetle blush and more modifications by the end than the 911 enjoyed. Spanning 20 years of production, several generations of gearheads witnessed the Pantera thunder its way into the collective conscious of automotive history. And while by the 1980s the design seemed fairly dated and was clearly adorned with too many spoilers, early examples such as this 1974 remind us how clean the original design was:

Year: 1974
Model: Pantera
Engine: 5.7 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 18,500 mi
Price: $67,500 Buy It Now

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1974 De Tomaso Pantera

1974 De Tomaso Pantera, A Classic Marriage of American Muscle ( Ford 351 C V-8) With the Italian coachwork of Ghia, This restored classic Pantera only has 18,500 miles and only a few hundred miles since restoration by previous owner. Refinished in Aston Martin Meterorite Silver Metallic ( originally the car was Silver metallic) with a Black original material interior. Excellent running engine with New Carb, fuel pump and delivery lines, new Ansa Exhaust, . Smooth shifting 5 speed ZF Transaxle. The Car features 2 sets of Wheels, A complete set of Original Campagnolo wheels freshly restored with correct Pirelli P7 tires front 225/50 VR-15 and the Rears 285/50 VR-15 - perfect for car show presentation , Also a Rare set of Boyd Coddington Custom 17' Campagnolo style Aluminum billet wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport fronts 235/40 ZR-17 and the Rear 335/35 ZR -17. The car also Features A/C - Vintage Blaupunkt AM-FM Cassette with power Ant. , Full original correct instruments, all working and in excellent condition. Car includes Space saver spare , Jack/Tool Roll , the original owners manual, spare keys, Ford Pantera Technical information book, 1971-74 Pantera original Ford Parts manual, and a Fitted car cover. Ready to show, drive and enjoy.Fully safety inspected.

We are a Connecticut Licensed Dealer, Connecticut residents subject to sales tax, Vehicle has a Clear Title , We charge no document fee's , and provide free 30 Day in transit plates ( out of state residents only) . Please contact use to arrange a test drive or viewing during our normal business hours. We can assist in shipping, Car is located in Berlin , CT 06037 860-438-7958

As with most exotic or semi-exotics, it's much better to buy a good example than one that's in need of a restoration. However, with the Pantera it's nice to be able to drive down to your local Ford dealer and get engine parts; try that in your Countach! This car isn't the original color but looks great in silver, and I really like the Coddington replica wheels - though I'd probably run the original Campagnolos. Overall condition is great, although it does lose some points for non-originality if you're looking for a condition 1 car. Still, it's not priced at a condition 1 level; at $67,500 it's in line with what a level 2 car would sell at and appropriately priced. Cheaper than many early Mustangs are now, this gives you a Lamborghini experience with Ford reliability and ease of sourcing parts. It's proof you don't have to spend a million dollars to look like you did!

-Carter

Maserati

1972 Maserati Indy 4.7 – REVISIT

June 24, 2013 Graham 1 Comment

The Maserati Indy 4.7 we featured last month is still for sale by it's owner Matthias. The Indy was sort of a dual purpose vehicle. Designed by Vignale, it was meant to replace the Mexico and four-door Quattroporte. These days, the Indy is a good choice for those seeking an old school V8 Maserati on a relative budget.

Year: 1972
Model: Indy
Engine: 4.7 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 18,000
Price: $61,000

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1972 Maserati Indy 4.7

Maserati Indy 1972 EUROPEAN CAR, only 18.000 originally miles, with rare 4.7 Engine, 4 webers (including original airfilter) and 5-speed ZF manual gearbox, electric windows, power steering, air conditiong etc. Fully equipped. Full documentation, clean US-Title AND Mexican Title. Car was sold new in Italy in 1972 and imported into USA/New York to a lawyer in 1977. Sold and imported to another Lawyer to Mexico-City in 1981, sold to Monterrey (Mexico) in 1986, changing owners there two times over the years and finally sold to Saltillo, Mexico to actual owner in 2006 and actual located in Laredo, Texas, USA (close to port of Houston,interesting for Export).

She is in excellent conditions because she was stripped 10 years ago down to scratch, to be repainted from base. The restauration was completed with new weatherstrips and rubbers and hoses etc. while trying to keep her as originally as possible. She is not welded! No Rust. She has never seen salty coast areas, always has lived in dry climate. Of course she never had an accident. Mechanically she is also very good due to the low kilometers and care. Interior is in excellent condition and mostly original, see pics.

She just got a "Big Inspection" with all fluids changed and all adjustments (including valveplay) made. Ready to drive. Please ask any questions in German (my origin), English or Spanish, my French is unfortunately bad 🙂

The car is sold privately and I offer you of course an independent opinion for this car, if you like 🙂 As told, the paperwork is clean and the car has a fully documentation since born. The car is sold now, because she was stored for some years in a dry garage without driving her due to family reasons, and finally this gave the idea of selling her now into good hands. It would be great to have her back on the street with someone who loves her.

Please contact Matthias Heyer: heyermatthias@gmail.com

At $61,000, this is pretty much spot on for what these vehicles are trading hands for today in decent condition. Only 1,100 of these coupes were ever produced, which gives you exclusivity that rivals some of the pricier Italian classics.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1990 Ferrari F40

April 15, 2012 Graham

We featured a Ferrari F40 about a month ago, so it was pleasantly surprising that yet another US spec version has recently come up for sale again. The F40 was the Bugatti Veyron of its day, pushing the performance envelope beyond boundaries no one had yet exceeded, forever cementing its place in supercar history and in the minds of enthusiasts for generations. With under 5,000 miles, this F40 for sale Missouri is pretty much as new.

1990 Ferrari F40

1990 Ferrari F40 in Rosso Corsa over a Red interior with just 4,527 miles! Serial number 86954 was delivered new by Shelton Ferrari on January 2nd, 1991 and has received meticulous care thru the years. Fully documented service history performed only by authorized Ferrari Dealerships. All factory campaigns have been performed and over 30 pages of service receipts are present! Complete ownership history is documented as well as a copy of the original window sticker. This F40 scored a 97.5 at a National Ferrari Concours event, the copies of the judging are included. Car #86954 has been certified with the Ferrari Classiche Program and has its recognition plaque as well as the Ferrari Classiche Presentation Book! This F40 is not only in outstanding physical and mechanical condition but is one of the most documented F40's to be available for sale in recent time. Complete with a copy of the original window sticker, books, tool kit and tire inflator.

This F40 has about 2,000 miles less than the F40 that was for sale last month, and is being offered at around a $50,000 premium. I'm not sure if $25,000 per 1,000 miles is really worth it, but I suspect this F40 may sell in the low $600,000 range, which is about the market price for these performance icons.

-Paul

Modern Classic, Uncategorized

2000 Qvale Mangusta

April 6, 2012 Graham

Originally intended to be the savoir for the DeTomaso nameplate, what was supposed to be the Biguà became the Qvale Mangusta. Short on capital, Alejandro de Tomaso teamed up with American Bruce Qvale, son of Kjell Qvale, who was the first distributor of Jaguars on the West Coast of the US. Powered by a Ford 4.6 liter V8 in a front mid-engine fashion, only 284 were produced between 2000 and 2002, with all but 18 of these sent to the US market. It was an interesting vehicle, with a lot of Ford bits in the inside and an interesting targa top with a pivoting rear section to transform this sports car into a full convertible. This example for sale in Las Vegas has covered a scant 16,000 miles and looks showroom new.

2000 Qvale Mangusta

VIN NUMBER: ZF4AH01A4YM000036. New tires, just serviced. Dealer Brochures, owners manuals, magazine articles, all keys with FOBs. Noting Missing. Complete Mangusta. Introduced in the 1996 Geneva motor show, Bigua was arguably the last new De Tomaso launched before the company ceased production. However, Bigua was never produced under the name of De Tomaso. Instead, most people knew it as “Qvale Mangusta.” The Qvale Mangusta was manufactured Modena Italy, just like Ferraris, Maserati's and Lamborghini's, and penned by Marcello Gandini who also designed the Lambo Miura, Countach, Diablo, Bugatti EB110 and various Maserati's.

Chassis: Designed by former Formula 1 designer Enrique Scalabroni, who worked for Scuderia Ferrari, Williams F1 and Dallara.
Engine: SVT Cobra Engine: Double overhead cams, all aluminium V8 32 valve displaced 4.6 litres that produces 320 hp.
Transmission: Borg-Warner 5-speed manual transmission.
Suspension: Double-wishbones suspension all round with Bilstein (adjustable)
Brakes: BREMBO four piston calipers.

Tail light covers are metal mesh like the Ferrari Challenge Grills. It has a very special roto retractable roof, which could transform the car from a coupe to convertible or Targa. Tubi exhaust system designed exclusively for the Mangusta.

At $29,500, you can look at this car two ways: either it's an affordable exotic or an expensive used Mustang. Granted, an F1 engineer did the chassis, but there's a lot of Ford bits in this car. While the Mangusta was the swan song for DeTomaso and Qvale, in an interesting twist, this car's chassis lived on in the limited production MG XPower SV.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal

April 1, 2012 Graham

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione may have seemed a bit far fetched when it appeared for sale in the US in 2008. The last new Alfa Romeo to be sold stateside was the 164 sedan, which was a competitor to the mid-sized luxury sport sedans of the world. However, this wasn't Alfa Romeo's first foray into eight cylinder sports car territory. The Montreal was originally introduced as a concept vehicle at Expo '67 in Montreal, hence its name. The ironic thing is, it was never sold in the city which bore its name. A version to comply with North American emissions requirements was never developed. With its two litre V8 engine derived from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, this was no ordinary sports coupe. From it's retracting slatted headlamp covers to the vents behind the doors, this was a wild looking machine for the era. This example is for sale in Sweden, not far from the border with Denmark.

1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal

The Alfa Romeo Montreal is a very nice GT car. This one is in very very good condition and ready to drive anywhere. There is absolutely no rust on the car and the paint is fabulous. Great power and sound from the engine. A lot of money has been spent here recently. Very original and unmolested car. Could be the best on the market today.

At almost $47,000, this represents the high end of the Montreal market. This one, however, is original and well sorted, which is important with these cars, as they can be a tad finicky, especially when you consider the complex SPICA fuel injection system. Overall though, a nice example of one of Alfa Romeo's most exotic efforts to date.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1964 Iso Rivolta GT300

February 5, 2012 Graham

American engines combined with European chassis have made for some of the most interesting vehicles over the course of automotive history. The Jensen Interceptor we featured last month was an amazing combination of American muscle, British engineering and most importantly, Italian styling. The AC Ace and Sunbeam Alpine were transformed into automotive monsters when Carroll Shelby worked his magic on them with Ford’s V8 engines. A lesser known example of American and European collaboration was the Iso Rivolta. Developed by Italian engineer Renzo Rivolta, who was famous for bringing the Isetta microcar to market, this grand touring coupe combined the 327 cubic inch V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette and two door body shell designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro during his stint at Bertone. This was a stately machine, with a presence which rivaled Maseratis of the day. Over eight years, nearly 800 were sold and are sought after today by collectors seeking something just a bit more special than your “average” Ferrari or Maserati.

1964 Iso Rivolta GT300

With maniacal care, restored perfectly. 44,308 km (~ 27,500 mi).

While no price is listed, if I had to take a stab, I’d say a car like this, fully restored, could bring anywhere between $40,000 to $70,000 in today’s market. These are not well known stateside, but those who know this car recognize it for being one of the most subtle and desirable combinations of American power and Italian coach building to emerge from the 1960s.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1976 De Tomaso Longchamp

February 1, 2012 Graham

Known best for the Pantera sports car with Ford's 351 Cleveland V8 mounted amidship, De Tomaso was also in the business of producing luxury cars in the 1970s and 1980s. Relegated to automotive obscurity these days, the Longchamp was a personal luxury coupe based off the Deauville, a sedan which carried the appearance of a squared off Jaguar XJ sedan. The Longchamp featured the same Ford 351 Cleveland motor as the Pantera and most of the 409 examples built had a Ford 3 speed automatic transmission. De Tomaso happened to own Maserati during most of the Longchamp's production run, and the Maserati Kyalami, built from 1977 through 1983, was based on this coupe. Named after the South African Grand Prix track, the Kyalami eschewed Ford's 351 Cleveland in favor of the 4.2 liter or 4.9 liter Maserati quad cam V8 engines. This example for sale has had the same owner for 15 years and looks sharp in red over tan leather.

1976 DeTomaso Longchamp

1976 De Tomaso Longchamp Red with tan interior 81,000 kilometers, or about 50,000 miles. The engine is a Ford 351 Cleveland engine that produces 330 horse power fitted with an automatic transmission. The Top speed is 149 miles per hour. Suspension is independent front and rear with coil spring and wishbone suspension. Steering is power assisted rack and pinion with vented disc brakes all around, the rear discs being positioned inboard. The interior of the car is quite luxurious and is almost fully covered with leather and this car has the original Nardi wood steering wheel.

Handsome exterior designed by Tom Tjaarda of Ghia. Only 409 examples of this car were made making this car very rare. This example has had the same owner for 15 years, he carefully cared for it doing such things as rebuilding the power steering rack and having the wheels redone. Except for some minor cosmetic flaws, the car is in very nice condition. The great thing about these cars is that you can own what is truly an exotic and rare grand touring car but because they used an American engine in the car, you don't have to worry about expensive service or engine rebuilt costs. These cars are a great value, especially at $32,500.

The first time I laid eyes on a Longchamp, it struck me as a scaled up version of a Mercedes-Benz R107 SL with the European market headlights. Coincidentally, these cars had similar production runs; both cars were produced from 1972 through 1989. While I wouldn't file this car under cheap thrills, $32,500 is a lot less coin than one would pay for a similar vintage Ferrari or Lamborghini. With its Ford engine, drivetrain maintenance would clearly be more reasonable than those aforementioned Italian exotics.

-Paul