AC Cobra

Rare Ferraris, Bentleys, Astons & More at Gooding's Amelia Island Sale

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist

Ferraris, Bentleys, Astons and More at Gooding's Amelia Island Sale

Back in December my colleague Noah Joseph previewed some of the notable early consignments at Gooding & Company's Amelia Island sale. Now with the auction date of March 11 looming we have details on starring lots added in the interim. Recent additions to the stunning lineup include an extraordinary "barn find" 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner; a highly-original and unrestored 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV; and a 1962 AC Cobra. They join other incredible offerings including a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Prototype, a 1963 Lotus 23B and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (above).

"A true connoisseur's car, the Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback has a place in the world's finest collections," says David Gooding, President and founder. "This recently-discovered, two-owner R-Type is the ultimate collector's Bentley for its role in luxury motoring history and sophisticated performance specification." Gooding have not released estimates for the Bentley or Miura, but expect the bidding to be fierce. Meanwhile the Aston Martin's estimate is $425,000 - $475,000; the AC Cobra $450,000 - $550,000; the Lotus $175,000 - $225,000; and the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso $600,000 - $750,000.

Gallery: Gooding & Co. Amelia Island 2011

1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback

Tags: AC Cobra, Amelia Island, Aston Martin, Aston Martin DB4, Bentley, car auction, classic cars, collector cars, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GT, Gooding Company, Gooding and Co., Gooding and Company, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Miura, Lotus, luxury cars

Classic Cars, Fine Wine & Cool Design: The Duncan Quinn Appellation Rally

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Events, Men's Style, The Classicist

Classic Cars, Fine Wine & Cool Design: The Duncan Quinn Appellation Rally

Dashing designer Duncan Quinn, known for his roguish take on Savile Row style, is hosting the ultimate gentleman's getaway on Saturday, March 26 for those who appreciate classic cars, fine wine and gourmet meals as much as razor-sharp threads. The Duncan Quinn Appellation Rally features a fleet of wicked wheels from Manhattan's Classic Car Club – including a 1968 Porsche 911, an AC Cobra, Austin Mini (think The Italian Job), Jaguar E-Type roadster, and Ferrari Dino (above) – leaving the city for an overnight jaunt to a 2,500 acre spread in upstate New York via scenic byways and state parks in one hell of a stylish convoy.

There guests will be treated to cocktails followed by an impressive meal from celebrated chef Neil Ferguson accompanied an amazing selection of vintage wines, retiring afterwards to rustic suites. Following breakfast on Sunday also by Ferguson there will be a spot of skeet shooting before another scenic drive back to town. "Tweeds are an option, but style is a must," Quinn tells us. There are only 14 spots on the list, and several have already been filled; the price is $2,000 for singles and $3,000 per couple including the cars and everything except gas and speeding tickets. Call the designer's New York store at 212 226-7030 to reserve.

Gallery: Duncan Quinn Appellation Rally March 2011

Tags: AC Cobra, chef, Classic Car Club, classic cars, cool+classic+cars, coolclassiccars, Duncan Quinn, events, Ferrari, Jaguar E-Type, luxury cars, mens style, neil+ferguson+chef, neilfergusonchef, New York, Porsche, rally, Savile Row, skeet shooting, sporting, vintage+car, vintagecar

Driving the 2012 Iconic AC Roadster

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

All the latest surveys tell us that the luxury goods market is coming back strong. The stock market is improving. Wall Street bonuses are making a comeback. The people who have money and great paying jobs are getting back in the mood to spend.

It is into that groundswell of economic recovery among the elite that Iconic Motors is launching a very exclusive AC Roadster in early 2010. Much more than a kit car or mere Cobra knockoff, the AC Roadster, which will start at $475,000, has a start of the art chassis and electronics, as well as exclusivity since only about 100 will be hand-built.

Built in Livonia, MI, in the shadows of GM and Ford by former Big Three engineers, the AC is hell on wheels, but perfectly capable of handling daily commuting provided you are in sunshine and relative warmth. Having had the chance to drive the car at Ford's Dearborn, MI proving ground (leased by Iconic), I can attest that the 3.0-second 0-to-60-mph time is perfectly achievable. The difficulty may be in hearing yourself scream "Yee-Ha" over the roar of engine.

The V8 engine is built by Ernie Elliott in Dawsonville, Ga., having started out in life as an aluminum 427-cid Ford NASCAR block, with mostly forged steel guts. The fuel injection and intake manifold were developed by Iconic. It all produces 750 horsepower at the rear wheels. But beware if you attend one of Iconic's ride and drive events at a racetrack. There are no electronic stability electronics and no anti-lock brakes. This is wide-open driving fun.

Tags: AC cars, ac cobra, AC Roadster, Claudio Ballard, Ernie Elliott, Iconic Motors, luxist drives, Veedims

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MkVI AC Cobra Unveiled at Top Marques Monaco

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, The Classicist

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That's what they say, but the inverse might as well be true when it comes to the latest AC Cobra. The iconic roadster that originally went into production in 1961 and immortalized by the legendary Carroll Shelby is still around, its latest version scheduled to be unveiled shortly at the prestigious Top Marques show in Monte Carlo. Only instead of being built in England with a big-block Ford engine, it's now being built in Germany with a Chevy small-block.

The AC Cobra MkVI is available in two versions: the GT with an enormous 437 horsepower, or the GTS with an unfathomable 647. Keeping all that power in check are a set of Porsche brakes (vented discs with four-piston calipers), which is good because the GTS will hit 60 in a heartbeat over three seconds. Since it's being built now by Gullwing GmbH, the latest Cobra comes with a removable hard-top with gull-wing doors to ease access. Click on the thumbnail images below to view in high resolution.

Source

Tags: 289 Cobra, 289Cobra, 427 Cobra, 427Cobra, ac, ac cars, ac cobra, AcCars, AcCobra, Carroll Shelby, CarrollShelby, cobra, gull wing, gull-wing, gullwing, gullwing gmbh, GullwingGmbh, monaco, Shelby Cobra, ShelbyCobra

Classic Ferraris & More in Amelia Island Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Events

On Saturday, March 14, RM Auctions is staging its Automobiles of Amelia Island sale at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Florida, featuring several gorgeous vintage Ferraris, Bugattis and more. The auction coincides with the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and features some of the event's former prizewinners. The down economy is reflected in significantly lower estimates, a boon to collectors who still have some cash, as the rarity of the vehicles means they're more than likely to increase in value.

The top draw is a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider, estimated at $2.4 million - $2.9 million, one of only 50 made. There's also a beautiful 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (above), estimated at only $700,000 - $900,000. Among the Bugattis on offer is a 1939 Type 57 C Faux Cabriolet 'Charmaine', est. at $550,000 - $750,000, and a 1936 Type 57 Stelvio, est. at $350,000 - $450,000. Also worth noting is the ex-Le Mans 1963 AC Cobra, est. at $1 million - $1.4 million. See the gallery for pix.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Amelia Island 2009