By Rick Carey, Auction Editor “Paper”, in the collector sense, is a term that describes the original, physical, written, history of an object. Most times “paper” is a mundane succession of registrations and titles, records that describe a car’s ownership history. “Paper” in that sense may translate to “provenance”, the succession of recognized collectors and museums through which it has passed and reinforce … [Read more...]
Reviews of books, model cars and automobilia, plus stories and information about other automotive collectibles.
Andy Warhol Mercedes-Benz W196 Painting Offered
Christie's is offering Andy Warhol's Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Grand Prix Car at its upcoming Post-War and Contemporary Art sale, scheduled for November 12, 2013 in New York City. This work of nearly fourteen feet tall, utilizing synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas, was produced for the Daimler Art Collection on the occasion of the automobile’s centenary in 1986. It is estimated to sell for $12 to $16 … [Read more...]
The MotorBinder Photo Book Project
As keepers of the flame here at Sports Car Digest, we relish in the glory of cataloging and sharing classic sports car imagery. Some would argue that digital technology makes our jobs easy. Digital tools are certainly taken for granted these days. Imagine then, what it was like in the late 1950’s to mid 1960’s for Bev Spencer, a prominent San Francisco car dealer. Bev had the forethought to document the golden era … [Read more...]
Suixtil Apparel and Gear – Product Review
They say time machines don't exist. Perhaps they don't understand the classic sports car phenomenon or perhaps they should hitch a ride on the Mille Miglia, Colorado Grand, California Mille or Targa Florio. As far as we're concerned, time machines are real. Of course the vintage driving experience includes divinely mechanical sounds, the sensation of speed, and the scent of old leather. A premium … [Read more...]
Automobilia Monterey 2013 Information
The Automobilia Monterey 2013 will be held Tuesday, August 13th and Wednesday, August 14th at the Embassy Suites in Seaside, California. Long a mainstay of Monterey Classic Car Week, the 11th annual Automobilia Monterey is the preeminent North America event for collectors of original, vintage automotive collectibles. … [Read more...]
Mercedes-Benz SL Model Cars Through the Years
Fascination with miniature versions of something grand, like an automobile, may seem frivolous, silly even. Items like this, arguably little more than trinkets, serve very little if any practical purpose. While they may be faithful recreations of something larger, they are just that, recreations. By the same token, though, our ceaseless and at times almost obsessive fascination with the larger automobiles themselves … [Read more...]
The Stewardship of Historically Important Automobiles – Book Review
Review by Rick Carey, Auction Editor Everyone involved in the collector car hobby – mechanics, restorers, parts suppliers, archivists, judges, historians, concours organizers, transporters and most especially owners, even (and maybe most importantly) owners of mass-produced Model As and Chevy 3100 pickups – should acquire, read and contemplate this book. “Stewardship” is, like the cars it talks about, that … [Read more...]
The Little Red Racing Car Interview
As the father of two young boys and the publisher of what I consider my other baby (but obviously not as important as my real children), Sports Car Digest, I hope that by sharing my affinity for classic cars with my kids and their future children, they will in turn become part of the larger classic car community. Thus, I am constantly searching for new ways to help kindle that interest. Queue Dwight Knowlton, a … [Read more...]
The Definitive Shelby Mustang Guide – Book Review
Review by Wallace Wyss Now that even the 1966 Shelby GT350 is worth over $150,000 it is more important than ever that there be a single source to carry around to "authenticate" Shelby Mustangs that come up for sale through private sales or public auctions. Greg Kolasa’s new book The Definitive Shelby Mustang Guide: 1965-1970 by CarTech goes a long way toward being that one book you can carry around events. And … [Read more...]
Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2011-2012 – Book Review
Review by Rick Carey, Auction Editor In the fast-changing world of collector car values it’s good to reflect from time-to-time on where the market has been, where it is and where it is going. The annual Classic Car Auction Yearbook rings that bell with a yearly recap of the top sales in the collector car market. Published in mid-fall, the Classic Car Auction Yearbook recaps the 12-month period from August … [Read more...]
Photographer Supports Teenage Cancer Trust
A motorsport photographer has raised £7,000 for charity in the last 18 months, by donating the profits from the sale of his books, which feature much of the action from two historic motor racing series run by Motor Racing Legends. Photographer John Retter is a stalwart supporter of Teenage Cancer Trust and, over the last two years, he has created a limited-edition series of books of his photography of the Royal … [Read more...]
Strong Support for Automobilia Monterey 2012
The Automobilia Monterey 2012 was held Tuesday, August 14th and Wednesday, August 15th at the Embassy Suites in Seaside, California. Long a mainstay of Monterey Classic Car Week, the 10th annual Automobilia Monterey again demonstrated why it's considered by many to be the preeminent show in North America for collectors of original, vintage automotive collectibles. Tony Singer, the driving force behind Automobilia … [Read more...]
Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography – Book Review
Review by Wallace Wyss It was a long time coming; a near complete authorized biography of a giant in American sports car circles, Carroll Hall Shelby. The author is a surprising choice, British author Rinsey Mills, surprising only because in a couple of his earlier books on Shelby he seemed of the opinion that the British side of the AC Cobra story wasn't being given due credit, a common failing among … [Read more...]
Andy Warhol Cars Exhibition Featured
An exhibition examining Andy Warhol's fascination with automotive vehicles as products of American consumer society is on display until May 13, 2012 at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Warhol and Cars: American Icons exhibit features more than forty drawings, paintings, photographs and related archival material spanning from 1946 to 1986. The exhibition traces the development of Warhol’s … [Read more...]
Ralph Lauren Car Collection For Sale
Several prominent cars from the famed Ralph Lauren Collection are currently offered for sale, and at prices that will make you jump for your wallet. For a mere $9,500, you can have your choice between the Ferrari 250 GTO, Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, McLaren F1 GTR or Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. The only catch is that they are offered in 1:8 scale... The headline cars in Mr. Lauren's private collection were each … [Read more...]
