Classic Cars

 

  NEWS & FEATURES

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