Lamborghini Miura

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

The Classicist: Steal a Classic Ferrari & More at Monterey Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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

On August 13th - 15th Russo & Steele will stage their Monterey Sports & Muscle sale in California, offering some incredible deals on classic Ferraris and more. We've written plenty about the multimillion-dollar auctions taking place but the R&S sale looks like a great place to grab a bargain. On the high end is this 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, with an estimate of $1 million – $1.1 million. As we noted earlier this year, this model is widely considered to be one of the world's most beautiful Ferraris. Formerly in the collection of racing legend Skip Barber, the car has not only been impeccably restored but tuned up for maximum driving pleasure.

Somewhat less expensive but no less appealing is a 1960 Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet finished in a deep maroon over tan hides and a black cloth convertible top. It was imported when new by Vilem B. Haan, one of the pioneers of the American sports car aftermarket and known to readers of period automotive magazines for his catchy advertising and unique offerings. The car remains in show-quality condition, most recently on display just this past fall at the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance. It's estimated at only $550,000 - $650,000.

For a real steal, how about the 1970 Ferrari 365 GT2+2? Estimated at only $125,000 - $150,000, it sports a fresh full-leather interior and contains all the period correct items including the vintage Blaupunkt radio, owner's manual with pouch and warranty card and a completely-correct and authentic tool kit. It even has period-correct Michelin XWX tires on the gorgeous Borrani wire wheels. The car has won several Ferrari Club of American Concours Class Awards. Read on for more great cars after the jump.

Gallery: Russo & Steele Monterey '09

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, BMW, California, classic cars, ClassicCars, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Miura, LamborghiniMiura, Russo Steele, RussoSteele

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Angry Chef Trashes Rock Star's Ferrari Enzo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay's $1.4 million Ferrari Enzo (above) was trashed by an enraged chef at a seaside resort where the rock star had gone for a little R&R earlier this week. Kay had driven the supercar to the 3-star Brudenell Hotel on England's Suffolk Coast and was staying there when his over-the-top attitude angered the hotel's chef, Aaron Billington, the UK AutoTrader reports. Apparently it was Billington's night off, and he and others were socializing with Kay in the hotel's bar. After several rounds of drinks it seems Kay made some derogatory remarks - according to one report he ridiculed the others' lesser vehicles, bragging about the Enzo parked outside - angering Billington.

The chef was later seen throwing rocks at the Enzo, shattering the windscreen and smashing the driver's side window. The damage was estimated at £30,000 or about $42,000. Billington later told the local court he committed the crime in a "moment of madness" after becoming upset by Kay's "offensive" remarks. Asked to comment, Kay, 39, remarked, "It's disappointing. It says something about the British psyche." Kay, who appears on the hit British TV show Top Gear, has an amazing collection of supercars among which the beautiful black Enzo is his prized possession. His fleet includes a Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a selection of classic cars including a Lamborghini Miura, Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster and an Aston Martin DB5.

Gallery: Jay Kay's Cars

Tags: Celebrity, Chef, England, Enzo, Ferrari, Ferrari Enzo, FerrariEnzo, Hotel, jamiroquai, Jay Kay, JayKay, Lamborghini Miura, LamborghiniMiura, Rock star, RockStar, Suffolk

The Classicist: The Holy Grail of Lamborghinis

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, The Classicist

Between 1966 and 1972, Lamborghini built what has come to be known as the "Holy Grail" of its many famous sportscars: the legendary Miura. Named after a Spanish ranch famed for its ferocious bulls, the Miura's (pronounced me-you-rra) flamboyance and engineering astounded the public when it was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1965. It quickly became the supercar of choice for the coolest of the cool and richest of the rich - members of royal families and two of the world's most famous and stylish musicians owned one, for starters.

Miles Davis is said to have driven his Miura around with a .357 Magnum stashed under the seat and enjoyed outrunning police cars while terrified passengers like Jimi Hendrix held on for dear life. He crashed the car in 1972, breaking both ankles in the process, and immediately ordered another. Frank Sinatra arrived at the Lamborghini factory outside carrying a roll of specially tanned wild boar skin with which he instructed the workmen to upholster the interior. He chose orange metallic paint for the exterior and matching shag carpet within.

So why are we talking about the Miura now? Because Joe Sackey, the world's leading authority on the vehicle, has just published the definitive volume on it - aptly titled The Lamborghini Miura Bible - after 20 years of diligent research. Sackey makes the case that the Miura is nothing short of "The Most Beautiful Sports Car of The Postwar Era." Having himself himself owned, maintained and restored five Miuras, he knows whereof he speaks. "The Miura is not a car without its flaws," Sackey notes. "But, what a benchmark post-war classic! A special car, it is to be enjoyed and indeed put on a pedestal. In terms of reliability and utility, it may not be the ultimate example of a sports car, but for sheer charisma and emotion the Miura is hard to beat."

Gallery: Lamborghini Miura