John Benz will admit it. He doesn’t really remember the unusual Chrysler TC when it first came out back in 1989. He’s not alone in that admission, as most car folks seemed to miss the TC—it came and went pretty quickly.

“No, I really don’t remember them,” chuckles Benz, a resident of Wautoma, Wis. “There is probably only another four or so in Wisconsin. They made about 7,000 of them and about 3,000 got imported to the States. So whatever is left is left…”

Benz eventually started seeing the handsome convertibles now and then at car shows. He liked the idea of having something unique, and the fact that the TCs—short for “touring convertible”—was part Chrysler and part Maserati certainly made them different. For their time they were expensive, a little exotic, and they were droptops in an era when convertibles were few and far between. They also only lasted for three model years (1989 to ’91), which makes them a little obscure 30-some years later.

When Benz stumbled on a low-mileage example for a reasonable price online, he figured he had nothing to lose. “I had Googled ‘Chrysler TC by Maserati’ and found this one out in Arizona,” says Benz, admiring his pristine 1990 TC. “So I had a friend of mine out there take a look at it, and he said, ‘If you don’t buy it, I’m gonna.’ Se we ended up buying it and flying out to Arizona and driving it all the way home, my wife and I.

“It had only about 14,000 miles on it and there’s 20,000 on it now … A gentleman and his wife had it and they lived in the state of Washington, but they also had a place in Arizona, where they would come for the winters. The only place they really drove it was from Washington down to Arizona. He would take it to parades and stuff like that, and now I take it to car shows.”

Benz’s car was originally ordered by a man named George Shoemaker, an adventurous retired career Army officer. He basically hardly touched the car during the years he owned it. Shoemaker wound up putting only about 500 miles a year on the TC.

“This one has a plaque on it from the original owner. If you did order it, they had the plaque made before they shipped it over [from Italy],” Benz noted. “And it came with all the necessary paperwork and the operating manuals and repair manual … All that stuff came with the car. The tires were brand new. He had just put new tires on it. The top was in great shape, and all the upholstery is great. All in all, it starts good, runs good, stops good. I have no complaints at all!”

An Italian American

The stylish, droptop Chrysler TC by Maserati, its official name, was similar in appearance to the Maserati Spyder. It toured the U.S. auto show circuit in 1986 and 1987 amid promises that it would soon be in showrooms. Some three years passed before it actually went on sale, which may be part of the reason for its short lifespan. The TC rode on a 93-inch wheelbase and carried a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 160 hp in 1989. It sold for $35,500, but importation came to a halt in the spring of 1990 (all cars sold as 1991s were built in 1990).

Developers envisioned the TC as a “grand tourer,” taking on competition such as the $50,000-plus Cadillac Allanté and Buick Reatta. At the time, Chrysler owned a 5 percent stake in Maserati and Chrysler boss Lee Iacooca had forged a working relationship with Alejandro de Tomaso in which they’d build 7,300 TCs. The pair had previously worked together while Iacocca was at Ford where he launched the short-lived De Tamaso Pantera. The second time around, in 1989, they built the TC, which debuted with a slightly de-tuned 160-hp turbo four-cylinder from the Dodge Daytona known as the Turbo II. The Turbo II was then replaced by a Mitsubishi 3.0-liter V-6 with 142 hp for the TC’s 1990 and 1991 model years, with the automatic three-speed transaxle being swapped out for a four-speed A604. There was also an optional Maserati 200-hp, 16-valve 2.2-liter turbo four-cylinder mated to a Getrag five-speed manual. Only 500 TCs were built with this drivetrain.

The TC featured both a manually folding convertible top—either tan or black—and a detachable hardtop with porthole-ish “opera windows” utilizing a six-point latching system. Initially, the cars available in yellow, red or cabernet, but black or white exterior colors were added a year later, along with a new black leather interior.

The TC’s upholstery was all fancied up with hand-stitched Italian leather. There was a storage compartment with goodies such as an umbrella, tool kit and small spare tire. That meant that the trunk was full-sized even with the top down. Standard equipment included anti-lock brakes, 15×6 cast-aluminum wheels, power windows, 6-way power seats, power door and trunk locks, 10-speaker Infinity AM/FM cassette stereo, cruise control and a tilt steering wheel. The only option was a plug-in CD player.

The TC was only sold at 300 select U.S. Chrysler dealerships. A total of 3,764 were built for the debut 1989 year, but that modest number declined quickly to 1,900 in 1990 and just 1,636 in 1991. By that time, the price of the TC had ballooned to $37,000, which was about double the cost of Chrysler’s own LeBaron convertible.

Critics panned the TC as a gloried LeBaron and chirped about its “whatever’s in the parts bin” assembly. In truth, the TC was a very good-looking, nice-riding car with good performance for its time … and hey, it was a convertible with two tops! But the timing when it came to buying tastes was bad, and the American economy wasn’t great, either.

Almost New, 34 Years Later

Benz had a Chrysler dealership in Phoenix check out his TC before he made the long drive back to Wisconsin. The dealer put in a fresh battery and a new fuel filter. That’s the only thing Benz has done to the car. The most work he’s put in on the car is probably rigging up a little holder/hoist for the removable hardtop that now hangs from the rafters above the TC. Benz has just stuck with the folding convertible top so far.

“The hardtop… it is cool, just something different that you don’t see everywhere else. Most cars don’t have removable hardtops,” he says. “I rigged up the hoist here to keep it off the ground and make it easier to take on and off. It’s not real hard to take on and off, but I like of like the convertible top during the summer. It’s pretty tight; you don’t really hear and wind noise. It’s got power steering, power brakes and everything, so it’s pretty smooth and nice on the road.

“It’s great to drive. It’s got the V-6, full-size trunk; the spare is behind the front seats, so there is a little storage there. The radio and stereo and all that works. It’s kind of a joy to bomb around in!”

It’s also easy to see why plenty of folks mistake Benz’s TC for a LeBaron, particularly from a distance. Benz has retold the tale of the TC and where it came from more times than he can remember.

“People really don’t remember them. They look at ’em in awe and say, ‘What is that?’ They see the Chrysler emblem and the Maserati emblem in the middle and they say, ‘What in the world is going on?’ But I have a little placard that I put out at car shows so people can read all about it.”

The TC convertible turned out to be a bad idea for Chrysler. Getting the cars into production, built and shipped was an expensive process, and the company lost millions before pulling the plug on the idea of offering a pseudo-European convertible to Americans. The good news for enthusiasts these days is that the cars are relative bargains. They pop up for sale regularly and can be had for modest prices, considering their original cost was more than $80,000 in current U.S. dollars.

“Truthfully, I just like the appearance of it. I just like the way it looks!” Benz concludes. “I like to take it out and let people see it and let them learn about a car they never knew about.

“And it was different. It was made in Milan and if I go to car shows I can put it in the Import Class, if I need to. All in all, it’s been a really nice car and it doesn’t have many miles on it.” 

Dig cars from the ’80s and ’90s? Here are a few more articles for your reading enjoyment. 

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The 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT3 was driven by Andrea De Adamich and Nino Vaccarella to finish fourth overall in that year’s endurance race, which was won by Henri Pescaloro and Graham Hill for Matra.

One of three works Alfa Romeos run by Autodelta, this car was built from a new all-steel spaceframe tubular chassis, mated with a potent high-revving quad-cam, 36-valve V8 engine producing 440bhp, a new five-speed gearbox and new safety fuel tanks.

The Alfa duo in car number 18 overcame various incidents over the 307 laps, including a clutch issue and a spin which required the fitting of a new nose cone. Although Alfa Romeo retired from Le Mans, this car campaigned selected events with subsequent private owners, who included Steven O’Rourke, manager of British rock band Pink Floyd, himself a Le Mans racer, and three important Japanese collections: Hayashi Collection, Yamaguchi and finally Takeshi Fujita.

Continually maintained and restored by Tipo 33/3 specialists, this Tipo is eligible for the world’s greatest historic races and concours events, including the Le Mans Classic race which it last contested in 2018.

Another Tipo from an earlier era will also be racing into the Bonhams saleroom. A 1928 Maserati Tipo 26B 2.1-Litre Sports, Gran Premio and Formule Libre Racing Two-Seater.

This example’s bright red livery and 150bhp performance is matched by its exotic provenance. It was the first Maserati to be imported into Argentina by its first owner, rancher and weekend racing driver Juan Augusto (John) Malcolm, an Argentinian of Scottish descent, whose career overlapped with the great Juan Manuel Fangio.

Malcolm ordered ‘number 35’, while racing in Northern Italy, and the car was originally finished in blue and white – Scotland’s sporting colors – rather than the blue and yellow Argentine racing livery. Campaigned by Malcolm for the next decade, it was later converted for more comfortable road use and was kept by the family until the late 1980s.

The trio of Italian racers is completed by a 1957-type Ferrari Dino 246/60 historic racing Formula 1 single-seater, estimate £900,000 – 1,300,000. This well-presented front-engined 2.4-litre V6 Dino was campaigned in Historic racing, including the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, during the 1980s by leading Italian classic car dealer Corrado Cupellini.

Ones for the Road

The Festival of Speed Sale also presents an array of production high-performance sports cars and grand tourers, from the finest sporting marques such as Aston Martin, AC, Bentley and, of course, Ferrari, including the ex-Peter Sellers, The Earl of Snowdon/HRH Princess Margaret, Viscount Linley 1964 Aston Martin DB5 convertible.

Other highlights include:

1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta. Ferrari’s 40th birthday gift to itself was the last motor car to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari and the first production passenger car with a top speed of more than 200mph. The Pininfarina penned mid-engined sportscar was also one of the last ‘analogue’ supercars, devoid of electronic aids such as paddle-shift automatic transmission. This example was first owned by gentleman racer Sir Paul Vestey, who travelled to Italy to collect it. 

1966 Aston Martin DB5 Sports Saloon. The ultimate Aston Martin and ‘Gentleman’s Express’, as driven by the cinematic James Bond. This example left the factory after the last car had been produced, one of fewer than 900 coupés made. Restored in the 1980s, this Autumn Gold DB5 has merely covered 6,700 miles since and has been in the ownership of the vendor’s family since 1995. 

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta, coachwork by Carrozzeria Ellena. The 250 GT represented a new benchmark for Ferrari as the first refined high-performance tourer offering a quieter, more luxurious interior with a softer ride and light steering. Only 50 examples were built by Carrozzeria Ellena, driven by the likes of Golden Boy Mike Hawthorn, Formula 1 World Champion for Ferrari in 1958. This Ferrari Classiche-certified example, formerly part of the Tunick Collection in the USA, was imported to the UK and treated to a three-year ‘body off’ restoration in the late Noughties. 

The Bonhams Festival of Speed Sale will be a traditional live auction on Friday, July 9th, with bids accepted from clients in the room (respecting social distancing and all local COVID-related guidelines)and will be livestreamed via bonhams.com and goodwood.com.

Sale: The Festival of Speed Sale
Location: Goodwood, Chichester
Date: Friday, July 9, 2021

The sale will also be available on the Bonhams App, which provides registered bidders the opportunity to bid in real time online via Bonhams.com while watching the auctioneer and videos of cars on offer. Absentee and telephone bids are also encouraged.

Pre-sale viewing of all lots will take place at Goodwood on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 July. Contact ukcars@bonhams.com for further details and to register.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.

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^“Sir, you can’t just pull a Maserati out of a field and expect to drive it.” Oh, but you can, as Tyler Manchester discovered when he answered a Facebook Marketplace ad offering a 1985 Biturbo for a small handful of Lira. The car ran, if barely, and the interior had been removed. But the “Trident Marque” is seductive and Tyler took the plunge.

It’s been said that the only thing Maserati club members loathe more than a Chrysler TC by Maserati is a Biturbo (pronounced bee-turbo). Happily, this petty snobbery helps throttle prices for those of us who are lean of purse but rich in enthusiasm. It’s a genu-wine, top-shelf Negroni at a Wild Turkey price.

The Biturbo was designed to be sold in volumes that no previous Trident car had been, and indeed it was, at least at first. The production run lasted from 1981 until 1994 with around 38,000 units produced, 5000 of which ended up stateside. The model debuted as a grand touring coupe, but sedans and convertibles would eventually join the lineup. Biturbos were offered in the U.S. market between 1983 and 1991. Cars destined for American buyers were ES-spec with a larger displacement and other detail changes. Retail price when new was around $25,000, putting the Biturbo in the same bracket as an entry-level Mercedes. For 1985, your junk bond profits bought 185 bhp, and torque figures circa 225 lb.-ft. It’s worth mentioning that another 25 bhp is available if one jettisons the catalytic converter (assuming you live somewhere it’s legal to modify emissions systems).

“I spent a lot of time tuning the carburetor and fuel settings because it was very finicky when the turbos started spooling,” notes Tyler with amazing nonchalance. Fuel is delivered by a single twin-choke Weber carburetor which is housed in a chic-looking, cast-alloy plenum atop the 2.5-litre V-6. The plenum is pressurized by the two IHI turbochargers from whence the model takes its name. A pair of quick-spooling small turbos were used to help mitigate lag. The engine has a 90-degree V-angle. Each cylinder head houses a single belt-driven camshaft that actuates three valves per cylinder. Turbo boost is managed with a computer-controlled wastegate; maximum boost is 11 lbs. Most Biturbos, including Tyler’s example, have a ZF five-speed transmission, though a three-speed automatic was offered on later models.

Biturbo suspension is by MacPherson struts, coil springs and an anti-roll bar in front. Semi-trailing links and coil springs are used in the rear. The factory never fitted a rear anti-roll bar. Rack-and-pinion steering was not power-assisted on early cars.

Parallels are often drawn between the Biturbo’s styling and the BMW 3 Series of the same vintage. There’s a feeling of tension and urgency in the Maserti’s lines that makes its German counterpart seem sober and sensible. The “Maser” is a muscular abbreviated wedge; it gives the impression of great power concentrated in a modestly sized car. The rear three-quarter aspect shows it at its best angle, emphasizing the pert rear overhang that’s bobbed like a Manx cat’s tail. Relative to the body, the greenhouse is low. If there’s a disappointing angle, it’s the front view or “down the road graphics,” as it’s known in the trade. Other than the grille with its widow’s peak and trident, the front of the Biturbo could belong to many mid-1980s vehicles.

After getting the engine running sweetly and reinstalling the interior. Tyler uses the car regularly. Nearly two years later, it starts when asked and drips hardly anything at all. This isn’t to say it’s flawless; there have been some electrical issues, but most of these have been traced to corroded connections and grounding problems. All par for the course for a car that’s been left in a field.

Tyler gets a great deal of pleasure from his bargain exotic executive express. Torque peaks at 3000 revs, making for powerful midrange punch. However, the lack of a rear anti-roll bar means you have to drive with skill. Once you’ve picked your line, hold it and keep the loud pedal down. Lifting off mid corner is, shall we say, inadvisable.

“The whole experience is exhilarating” says Tyler. “With the V-6 singing and the turbos spooled up, it keeps you engaged the whole time.”

If you want to travel Biturbo style, there are some caveats. While the cars might not be the nightmare their reputation would suggest, it should be borne in mind that they’re still limited-production exotics. That means some parts are very hard to come by or costly, and maintenance is not of the Caprice or Camry variety. Neglect can cost you dearly. One California-based Maserati expert recommends changing timing belts every 6000 miles. Earlier cars are known to develop cracks in rear subframes, and differentials can be a weak spot. That beautiful intake plenum can crack if it’s torqued down too tightly. The finned oil sump hangs low and is prone to damage, so make sure you get under the car and inspect it. Wheel bearings should be packed yearly. Engines are said to be tough, but a routine valve job requires the use of shims. The starter motor is particularly hard to access. Rust is always something to watch for in spite of anti-corrosion treatment during manufacture. Check doors, the cowl or anywhere there’s a drainage channel.

The Biturbo had myriad changes during its production run and it would be impossible to cover all of them in this article. In general, later fuel-injected cars are the most trouble-free, but earlier examples such as Tyler’s 1985 offer superb value. If you can, find a car on which the previous owner has already lavished large sums so you can enjoy the fruits of their largess while they take the hit. Tyler has shown that the care and feeding of a Biturbo is within the realm of a skilled home mechanic. But if you’re not inclined that way, do your research, learn as much as you can about the car, then pull the trigger. An ounce of education is worth a pound of repair bills.

To some, the Biturbo represents cheap backdoor entry into Maserati ownership, but that view completely overlooks the car’s true raison d’etre. With its charismatic force-fed V-6, lively rear-wheel-drive handling and lush interior, the Biturbo offers a thoroughbred driving experience that few cars can match, regardless of price.

Bryan Raab Davis is the cofounder of the popular Facebook group “Malaise Motors” featuring cars built from 1972-1995.

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GREENWICH, Conn. – Celebrating its 24th year of showcasing significant cars, motorcycles and one-off automotive creations, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance will feature the custom coachwork of Zagato on May 31-June 2, 2019. The Greenwich Concours will honor the centennial of the famous Italian atelier with displays of more than 20 significant cars bodied by Zagato.

The Concours continues its tradition of holding two unique Concours back-to-back, with American cars and motorcycles on Saturday, June 1, and foreign marques on Sunday, June 2. The event takes place at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park overlooking the Greenwich, Conn., harbor on Long Island Sound. 

Andrea Zagato, grandson of founder Ugo Zagato, and his wife Marella Rivolta Zagato, will represent the Zagato marque and are this year’s Concours honorees. Marella is the granddaughter of Iso’s founder Renzo Rivolta, and works closely with Andrea at the Zagato family business in Rho, Italy.

One of the more compelling Zagato-bodied cars to be featured at the Concours is the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Spider originally built to order in 1933 for race-car driver Tazio Nuvolari. It was prepared by Raymond Sommer for the 1933 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Sommer and Nuvolari placed first overall. Three weeks later, it was driven by Sommer and Henri Stoffel to second overall in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Barron Collier became its next owner, winning the Mt. Washington (N.H.) Hillclimb in 1937. It was subsequently raced by various owners in the U.S. until the early 1950s. It will be shown at the Concours by its current owner, Scuderia N.E.

Other cars on the field designed by Zagato will include those of Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati, Lancia, Jaguar, Nissan, Porsche, and Aston Martin. Also displayed will be examples of the rare Alfa Romeo Tubolare Zagato, a 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ1, a 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ2, and a 2012 Alfa Romeo TZ3. 

To honor Marella Rivolta Zagato, there will be a special Iso class, featuring such cars as a 1970 Iso Rivolta Lele and a 1973 Iso Grifo.

“We are honored that Andrea Zagato and Marella Rivolta Zagato will celebrate this very special anniversary with us at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance,” said Concours Chairman Mary Wennerstrom. “We will have a great variety of cars built by all three generations of Zagato, from the 1930s to the modern day. We also are pleased to honor Marella’s heritage with a special class of cars from Iso.” 

The weekend will also feature cars of Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt, a Chicago industrialist who began importing foreign cars in the 1950s to the U.S. Although sold as American cars, the cars were true hybrids, with British mechanicals, Italian bodywork, and U.S. sales and distribution. A fortuitous meeting with Bertone at the Turin Auto Show in 1952 resulted in four collaborative efforts between Arnolt and Bertone. 

His son, Michael Arnolt, will be an Honorary Judge at the Concours and will bring his Arnolt-Bristol Bolide. Arnolt-MGs, Arnolt-Bristols and Arnolt-Aston Martins will come to the Concours from as far away as New Mexico and Arizona.

American Orphan Marques and American Supercharged Cars are the special classes on Saturday. Cars of interest include a 1948 Tucker and a 1954 Kaiser in the orphan class. A 1952 one-off Packard Macauley Speedster with a McCulloch-supercharged 359-cu.in. straight-eight engine will be in the supercharged class.

Sunday’s Concours will host a special display of cars from the Bentley Driver’s Club in honor of the marque’s 100th anniversary, including models from the early W.O. Bentley and Derby Bentley eras, up to post-war and modern examples.

The weekend will also showcase orphan motorcycle marques. American Iron Magazine publisher Buzz Kanter will showcase limited production marques that no longer exist including a 1938 Mandille et Roux D2 “Passe-Partout,” a 1971 Münch Mammoth, and a 1950 Vincent Black Shadow Series C.

The Concours will again benefit Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. The Stamford, Conn.-based organization is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies.

A silent auction will be held to raise money for The Hometown Foundation, of Cheshire, Conn., which honors and assists five distinct areas of interest including Animal Welfare, Emergency Response Personnel, Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or in Need, Major Illness and Military. 

• Advance tickets for both days are available online at $30 per day or $50 for both days and include early entry at 9:30 a.m. and event program.
• VIP Admission is $150 per day or $250 for both days and includes early entry at 8 a.m., breakfast and lunch with the car collectors, entrance to Bonhams cocktail party on Friday night, poster, lapel pin, event program and VIP lanyard.
• Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $40 per day or $60 for both days
• Gates open at 10 a.m. for general admission 
• Children 12 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult
• Saturday Night Gala tickets are available for $175
• Tickets can be purchased at http://www.greenwichconcours.com/visitors/tickets/

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New York – Bonhams is proud to announce that in April it will have the privilege of auctioning the renowned Tupelo Automobile Museum Collection.

Built by TV and telecommunications pioneer, Frank K. Spain, the famed Mississippi collection comprises more than 160 automobiles from every decade of motoring, beginning from the 1890s through the 1990s. Highlighted by major American classics, such as a 1948 Tucker that was one of the original Indianapolis test cars and a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Sedan, prestigious British and European marques are also represented, such as Bentley and Lagonda, and Hispano-Suiza and Talbot-Lago, to name a few.

With a lifelong passion for automobiles, Spain began building his extensive collection from the early 1970s until his passing in 2006. Predating the modern era of the internet, his searches were done the old-fashioned way, following-up on tips, responding to obscure advertisements in newspapers, and attending local, national and international events, including the famed Harrah Collection sales. 

Says Rupert Banner, Bonhams Vice President of Motoring, “The collection is a cornucopia of wonderful machines, telling the story of the development of the automobile and charting the various ways in which manufacturers pioneered self-propelled vehicles. The scale, breadth and presentation of Spain’s museum is just extremely impressive.” 

With so many rare, original and pioneering vehicles, the collection is already internationally renowned. To give some idea of the degree to which the history of the automobile is covered, represented marques include: Allard, Alvis, AMC, Amphicar, Apperson, Aston Martin, Auburn, Benz, BMW, Bricklin, Brush, Buick, Cadillac, Cartercar, Chalmers, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Cord, Delaunay-Belleville, Desoto, Detroit Electric, De Lorean, Dodge, Firestone, Ford, Franklin, Gardner, Glide, Graham, Hupmobile, International, Jaguar, Jensen, Kaiser, La Salle, Leslie, Lozier, Marmon, Martin, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Messerschmitt, MG, Minerva, Mitchell, Morgan, Nash, Oldsmobile, Opel, Owen Magnetic, Packard, Paterson, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Plymouth, Pontiac, Porsche, Queen, REO, Rolls-Royce, Saxon, Sears, Stanley, Studebaker, Stutz, Sunbeam, Talbot-Lago, Toyota, Triton, Trumbull, Triumph, Tucker, Volkswagen, Westcott, White and Winton.

And with Tupelo being the birthplace of Elvis Presley, there’s a 1976 Lincoln Continental Mk IV purchased by Elvis, complete with a copy of the check Elvis wrote and his famous “TCB” (Taking Care of Business) logo etched into the side windows. Additionally, the extensive collection of motoring signs decorating the museum walls will also be sold.

Bonhams will be taking care of business on April 26th and 27th, when the doors of the Tupelo Automobile Museum will open for one last time, with previewing taking place on April 25th. 

Jane Spain, Frank’s wife and partner in their car collecting journey, said, “For more than a decade it has been the greatest pleasure to honor my husband and to see people come to his home town to appreciate the collection he enjoyed building. Ultimately, I feel that the greatest legacy of his passion for engineering, design and the motorcar is for them to be shared with other collectors and for that reason I’ve made the difficult decision to part with this collection. In selling the group, the proceeds will go to a charitable educational foundation. I hope that others will enjoy acquiring and owning them as much as he did.”

More information about this historic sale will be posted in the coming weeks at Bonhams.com/Tupelo.

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Monterey, Calif. – The 33rd annual Concorso Italiano, exotic and luxury Italian car show, announced a 1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport, the last 6C cabriolet ever built, won the coveted Best in Show award. The show, which hosted a record number of attendees, celebrated more than 1,000 works of Italian automotive art on the sprawling, picturesque greens of the Black Horse Golf Course.

Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini Head of Design, presented Herb and Rose Wysard of Fullerton, CA with a custom sculpture for the Best in Show award, which honors the event’s star vehicle.

Automotive enthusiasts were able to explore coveted autos from private collections from around the world. There were ten featured classes on display for 2018, which included: Alfa Romeo, De Tomaso, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso & Bizzarrini, Lamborghini, Lancia, Maserati, as well as a special coachworks and a global exotics collection, both comprised of non-Italian marques.

One of the most exciting examples displayed at this year’s show was the New Stratos, which made one of its first U.S. appearances. Based on the Ferrari F430, the New Stratos pays homage to the renowned Lancia Stratos, which is the undisputed king of rally championships of its time. Additionally, ATS Automobili Turismo Sport brought its ATS GT to the grounds. One of the best V8-powered GT on the market, the ATS GT’s shape was born from Emanuele Bomboi and is a true testament to Italian GT heritage.

As it is Concorso tradition to honor Italian milestones, this year’s event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari Daytona, as well as the Lamborghini Espada and Islero. Event organizers also toasted the Alfa Romeo Giulia Super and four-door sedans, which included the Berlina, Alfetta, Milano, 164 and Giulia models.

Other honors bestowed this year included the prestigious “La Bella Macchina” hall-of-fame award, which was presented to Egidio Reali, CEO and founder of MR Collection Group. The Doug Magnon Preservation award was presented to Don and Sandi Treadwell for their 1974 Maserati Merak, and the Valentino Balboni award was presented to Steve Girard and his 1971 Lamborghini Espada II. He was gifted an automotive art piece by Luca Raimondi, an Italian artist from Sant’Agata Bolognese.

About Concorso Italiano

Concorso Italiano is a multi-faceted luxury lifestyle event held on the Monterey Bay Peninsula in California every August and is part of the world’s most prestigious automotive weekend. In its 33rd year, Concorso Italiano is a must-attend convergence of sophistication, taste and fun that embraces cultural elements of Italian style, including music, cuisine, fashion, products, and travel. The event is centered on as many as 1,000 of the most unique luxury and exotic Italian automobiles and motorcycles.

http://concorso.com

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LONDON, England  – A collection of six rare Maseratis will be individually available for bidding at RM Sotheby’s London auction on September 5th. Each of the six cars provide enthusiasts with the opportunity to acquire an exclusive piece of Maserati’s automotive history, many of which are in excellent, fully restored condition.

Headlining the collection is an Allemano-bodied 1962 Maserati 5000 GT, presented in red with a black leather interior. Chassis number AM103 026, with matching engine numbers, was originally sold in 1964 to Alfredo Belponer, the owner and president of the Scuderia Brescia Corse Racing team. Belponer used the car to drive to the Italian Grand Prix that year and soon after, it was sold to Italian singer, Antonio Ciacci, otherwise known as ‘Little Tony’. In the 1970s, the 5000 GT was understood to have been owned by Joe Walsh, star of rock band, The Eagles. Ken McBride of Seattle acquired the car 1988 for restoration and went on to display the car at Pebble Beach in 1999. From McBride this 5000 GT was sold in 2002 to Hong Kong based collector Ian Wade, who kept it as part of a magnificent collection in the U.K, before passing to the current owner. In addition to Pebble Beach, the 5000 GT has been presented at Salon Privé in 2010, and the Maserati Centennial Gathering in September 2014 (Est. £1,000,000 – £1,200,000).

A 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS 4.9 Spyder is also sure to attract interest in London. Extremely rare as a factory right-hand-drive example, chassis number AM115/S49 1251 – with its original engine – is understood to be one of only four such cars built. Originally delivered to the former Emir of Qatar and multi-billionaire Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, this stunning Spyder benefits from a world class concours-standard restoration which has just been completed by McGrath Maserati. (Est. £850,000 – £1,150,000).

Offered alongside the Spyder in London are a pair of Ghibli SS 4.9 Coupes. A 1970 model, owned by various well-known Australian car collectors including long term owner Peter Garret, is finished in Rosso Rubino and underwent an exacting restoration in 1994,followed by another substantial recent restoration by marque experts McGrath Maserati, and is now wonderfully presented in its original left-hand-drive configuration (Est. £200,000 – £240,000). The other Ghibli SS 4.9 Coupe is a rare, 1971 factory right-hand-drive model and is finished in its distinct, original ‘Verde Gemma’ color with tan interior. This Ghibli SS 4.9 Coupe has undergone a restoration at McGrath Maserati and is estimated to sell between £220,000 to £260,000 at RM Sotheby’s London.

A 1974 Maserati Quattroporte with Coachwork by Frua, delivered new to the Aga Khan, current Imam of Nizari Ismailism, also features in the Maserati Collection. Built to special order for the millionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader, the Maserati factory in Modena, Italy, had the car transported to coachbuilder Pietro Frua where designers spent six months building the bespoke Quattroporte body, of which only two were produced (Est. £150,000 – £200,000). The sixth car in the collection is a ‘Rosso’ red 1972 Maserati Bora, with a 4.7-liter engine. Chassis number AM117 161, with matching engine numbers, is a right-hand drive example, and carries a pre-sale estimate of £125,000 – £175,000.

Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Auction Manager & Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s Europe, said: “This year’s London auction will be all the more diverse thanks to this great range of rare Maserati models. This private collection of Italian exotica offers collectors the chance to acquire something truly rare from Maserati’s unique history. Some models were once owned by royals, rock stars and racing drivers, adding real character to the group. We are especially excited to see how the Maserati collection performs as collectors continue to embrace classic models from the Italian brand as true investment opportunities.”

Alongside the Maserati collection consigned for London, a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P 400 S – once owned by pop and rock legend Rod Stewart, will be joined by a 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT. The Aston Martin appeared alongside English actor and comedian, Peter Sellers, in the 1963 comedy film “The Wrong Arm of the Law”. Other notable cars include the Lotus Elite Super 95 gifted to race driver Jim Clark by Colin Chapman in lieu of a salary.

For further information on RM Sotheby’s London sale, including an updated list of entries, please visitrmsothebys.com. Collectors interested in discussing consignment opportunities for the London sale are invited to call RM Sotheby’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 to speak with a car specialist.

About RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is the world’s largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With more than 35 years’ experience in the collector car industry, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from private treaty sales and auctions (including both RM Sotheby’s and RM Auctions events) to estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market.In February 2015, RM formed a strategic partnership with Sotheby’s, uniting the two companies for the full calendar of future automobile auctions. For further information, visitrmsothebys.com.

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Cars like Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes, Audi, McLaren, Maserati, Camaro, Mustang plus wild machinery like Panoz, Ginetta, KTM and Sin Car GT4 make up one of the coolest collection of racing sports cars in the world. And they won’t look as pretty after racing 50 minutes in a flat-out sprint race.

The banging and rubbing of the cars as the talented drivers attempt to negotiate the tough four-mile, 14-turn road circuit is an exciting difference from the high-speed missiles of the Verizon IndyCar Series.

But don’t discount the racing and the likes of international driving stars such as Alvaro Parente, Michael Christensen, Toni Vilander, Scott Hargrove and youngsters Rodrigo Baptista, Alec Udell and Parker Chase in the GT division. Plus American stars such as Lawson Aschenbach, James Sofronas, George Kurtz, Jade Buford and 18-year-old Harry Gottsacker.

It’s not unusual to see cars three or four wide entering turn five at Road America and amazingly, they all continue to battle through the circuit in a doubleheader (races on Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24) for the popular Pirelli World Challenge sports car series. 

Former Pirelli World Challenge GT point champion Alvaro Parente of Portugal is considered to be one of the favorites when the green flag drops on Saturday and Sunday. Now driving the all-new No. 9 K-PAX Racing Bentley Continental GT3 sports car, Parente has captured 11 features in the last two and a half PWC campaigns including an impressive win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last month. 

“Alvaro is special,” said Jim Haughey, team principal for K-PAX Racing. “He has a great combination of experience, skill, humbleness, and not too much ego but, enough to kick your butt on track when he has the car to get it done. Alvaro is a pleasure to work with so yes, we all wanted him back and feel fortunate to have him in the Bentley after two years in the McLaren.”

“It has been a tremendous opportunity to race in North America and with a top team like K-PAX Racing,” said Parente. “They helped me adapt to the new tracks and we had a great season with the championship. Last year, we fought hard until the end and just lost out for the title. Now, coming back with K-PAX and the new Bentley GT3 car is exciting for me and the whole team. The Bentley is a different challenge for us, but we believe we can race for another championship. Watch the K-PAX Racing Bentleys in 2018.” 

European stars Christensen, in the No. 24 Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, and Vilander, in the popular No. 61 RFerri Motorsports Ferrari 488 GT3, have been successful drivers around the world in sports car competition but make their debuts in the Pirelli World Challenge this season. Canada’s Hargrove, a stellar open-wheel star, brings his Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R this weekend. 

The young contingent for the GT events will be led by Parente’s K-PAX Racing teammate, Baptista, the Brazilian native who was impressive in his rookie season in GTS. Udell, the Clemson University mechanical engineering student, moved up to the GT category. Chase, just 17, has shown sensational talent in the GTS division and now drives the TruSpeed Audi R8 LMS sports car. Former GTA series titleholder Martin Fuentes of Mexico City returns to Road America this weekend in his No. 07 Ferrari 488 GT3.

Similar to the GT and GTA divisions, the highly-competitive GTS class hosts a spectacular group of machinery and a strong driver lineup.

Five-time Pirelli World Challenge champion Lawson Aschenbach of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., in the popular No. 1 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, returns as the winningest driver in the GTS class and seeks a repeat of his 2017 title run. The Vanderbilt University grad again teams with longtime PWC veteran Tony Gaples of Libertyville, Ill., in the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevy Camaro GT4.R.

Gottsacker, a recently awarded Eagle Scout, is another serious contender in GTS in the Racer’s Edge Motorsports/FRAM Sin Car GT4.

Former PWC race winners James Sofronas, a two-time 2017 PWC series champion, in the No.14 GMG Audi R8 LMS GT4, George Kurtz, the 2017 GTSA champion, in the No. 04 CrowdStrike/GMG Audi R8 LMS GT4, Ian James in the No. 50 Team Panoz Racing Panoz Avezzano GT and Jake Buford in the No. 55 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4 are veterans in the mix this weekend along with Florida’s Shane Lewis and Gar Robinson in the Robinson Racing Mercedes AMG GT4, Mike Hedlund in the Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS GT4, Jeff Courtney of Milwaukee in the JCR Motorsports Maserati Grand Turismo and Drew Staveley in the No. 13 G3 Racing Ginetta G55.

Other GTSA contenders for the Road America doubleheader races include another 2016 GTSA race winner Jason Bell of Tampa, Fla., in the No. 2 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4; Orey Fidani of Etobicoke, Ont., Canada in the No. 13 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR; Marko Radisic of Belgrade, Serbia in the No. 22 Precision Driving BMW M4 GT4; Adam Merzon of Greenwich, Conn., in the No. 23 Case●It Racing by Flying Lizard Audi R8 LMS; Frank Gannett of Steamboat Springs, Colo., in the No. 24 Ian Lacy Racing Ginetta G55; James Pesek of Harrisonville, Mo., in the No. 40 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4 and Steve Burns of Park City, Utah in the No. 43 VP Fuels/Ian Lacy Racing Ginetta G55. 

Veteran PWC racer Mike Hedlund of Redwood City, Calif., is another top GTSA challenger this weekend at Road America in the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Audi R8 LMS along with former GT SprintX winner Preston Calvert of Potomac, Md., in the No. 51 Team Panoz Racing Panoz Avezanno GT; COTA GTS Overall race winner Alan Brynjolfsson of Tampa, Fla., in the No. 77 Volt Racing Ford Mustang GT4; James Clay of Blacksburg, Va., in the No. 83 Bimmer World BMW M4 GT4; Fred Roberts of Toronto, Ont., in the No. 89 JCR Motorsports Maserati Grand Turismo GT4 and multi-time pole winner Jeff Courtney of Milwaukee, Wis., in the No. 99 JCR Motorsports Maserati Grand Turismo GT4.

Courtney is also racing for the charity, Patriot Education Fund, this weekend in the two GTS events to raise money to help military personnel with their college educations following their service for the country. 

Qualifying:

Saturday, June 23

9:20 AM – 9:35 AM, GT/GTA Qualifying

9:40 AM – 9:55 AM, GTS/GTSA Qualifying

Race Lengths:

50 minutes (GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS/GTSA)
Live Internet Telecast (on world-challenge.com):

Races:

Saturday, June 23

4:35 PM – 5:35 PM GT/GTA/GT Cup/GTS/GTSA Race # 1

Sunday, June 24

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM GTS/GTSA/GT Cup/GTS/GTSA Race # 2

Tickets for the KOHLER Grand Prix and Pirelli World Challenge are still available and additional details, including ticket pricing, an event schedule and camping information can be found at www.roadamerica.com or by calling 800-365-7223. Anyone 16-years-old and under are FREE with a paying adult at the gate. All races will run rain or shine.

About Road America

Established in 1955, Road America is located midway between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 60 years. The 640-acre, park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, fantastic concessions and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers a variety of group event programs, the CTECH Manufacturing Motorplex for karting and supermoto, and the Road America Motorcycle and Advanced Driving Schools. For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on www.facebook.com/RoadAmerica and on Twitter: @roadamerica or call 800-365-7223.

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The Saratoga Automobile Museum invites you to the 23rd Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Bus Trip on Sunday, June 3, 2018. 

2018 will be a celebration of Briggs Cunningham at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance with a special display of Cunningham production cars and team race cars. As a special tribute, they will have all of the Cunningham cars displayed along the waterfront on Sunday.

On Sunday, a special display of Jaguars, with a focus on the prewar SS Cars, prewar MGs, and competition motorcycles will be shown. Bonhams has been selected by the estate of Carroll Shelby to offer for sale two dozen cars from the personal collection of the late racer and designer. The Bonhams auction begins at noon on Sunday and requires a separate admission – or you can watch through the open side of the tent.

Over the concours weekend David Hobbs will be signing his memoir, Hobbo, in the Road & Track tent. Wayne Carini will be filming an episode of Chasing Classic Cars and hosting a presentation of special cars on the field.

Surrounding the show field will be displays of new cars, including BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln, Tesla, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Karma and Miller Motorcars – with Ferrari, Bugatti, Pagani, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley and Maserati. There are even opportunities to test drive some of these amazing new vehicles. We will also have incredible yachts displayed at the Delamar Hotel docks.

Bust Trip Information:

• Leave the Saratoga Automobile Museum at 7 a.m. and arrive in Greenwich around 10 a.m.
• Leave Greenwich at 4 p.m. and arrive at the Saratoga Automobile Museum around 7 p.m.
• This trip is open to all Saratoga Automobile Museum Members and the general public.
• General Admission* and Transportation: $125.00 per person
• *General Admission includes entry into the Concours only
• Click here to register online

*Bonhams Auction tickets can be purchased on site day of.

Saratoga Automobile Museum | 518.587.1935 | E-mail | Website

110 Ave of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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Peter Kumar has been working in the car business since he was 14 years old and began running his own dealership in 1988. The inventory at his Gullwing Motor Cars operation in Astoria, Queens, is a testament to Kumar’s work ethic and his love for old iron. His building is packed nearly bumper to bumper with a dizzying display of European collector cars, including the company’s namesake, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Kumar is always on the go, scouring the country for interesting vehicles that he can buy and sell.

Kumar has been around long enough to see plenty of peaks and valleys in the oldcarbusiness, but like a disciplined stock market investor, he has kept the faith and stayed the course.

Recently we caught up with Kumar and fired some questions his way regarding the state of the old car hobby and his high-profile place in it.

Has business been busy this spring?

Yes, I just bought a couple cars today. I just bought a 1969 [Mercedes-Benz] 280SE convertible here locally this morning. I’ve been running around to Massachusetts, California, other states, everywhere. A lot of cars I can go check on myself. If I can drive it in 200 miles or so, I drive. Or else I fly.

What has the import market been like lately for you?

It’s been steady. I’ve been dealing with a lot of European cars: Lamborghini, Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati… It’s been steady, not bad; not booming, but still going steady… It seems like there should be less and less cars around, but they are still coming. I used to think 15, 20 years ago that “This will be the last XKE I will ever be buying,” but they are still coming around. I bought 45 cars already this month, and two cars just today.

What has been the biggest reason for your staying power in the collector car business?

I would say, not bragging about myself, but it’s important to have a good reputation. We’ve been around 30 years … If I say I’m going to do something, I do it. We pay a fair price for the car and our margins our not big margins. We buy at a fair price and sell at a fair price. When we look at a car, we make a decision within 5 minutes, then we wire them the money. If we get a phone call [about a car], we move.

How many cars do you like to have in your inventory?

I like to have no more than 100 to 120 cars. Sometimes they don’t sell fast enough, sometimes we sell them within one hour, sometimes the cars sit for a year. You never know. Right now I have 175 cars. That’s a lot of cars — more cars than the room I have.

Everybody probably likes to ask the question: What’s hot right now?

Porsches are hot; 911 Porsches … 356s are hot. Old Jaguar XKEs are hot. All old Mercedes are good. The Gullwing, never in my dreams did I think it would go to a million, but it has surpassed that. Right now we have five in stock — two Gullwings and three SL roadsters.

What’s cooled off recently?

Some of the million dollar Ferraris, the prices have been cooling off. The $500,000 Ferraris have cooled off a little bit. That has surprised me a little, but I have seen it before. They cycle up and down, but they have been going up for seven, eight years.

Why the Gullwing Motor Cars name?

That’s my favorite car. That’s my dream car. A lot of times I wind up buying them because of my company name. People think of a Gullwing, they think Gullwing Motor Cars and we do have at least one all the time.

Besides Gullwings, what else to you consider your bread-and-butter cars?

I like everything, but I like the more original cars [best]. I like them original, but sometimes with the cars we are dealing with, you don’t have much for choices … Most of them were built before ’74, so they stopped building them more than 40 years ago. You don’t have much choice… I like the XKEs…any older Maseratis, Austin-Healeys, older Lamborghinis… any older cars.

Do you get involved much with auctions, either buying or selling?

I go to auctions mostly to meet people. I go to Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Hershey, Scottsdale, but it’s mostly to see people. I buy sometimes, but not usually.

How long do you plan to continue on?

As long as I can go — as long as I have energy and good health. We started in ’88 … it’s been almost 30 years. You’ve got to love what you do, otherwise it gets boring. I’m into old cars. It’s a passion.

When you’re buying a Honda or Toyota or even a new Mercedes, they are boring. The old cars are much more interesting. And you always meet nice people in this business.

Phone: 718-545-0500
Fax: 718-545-8125
Email: sales@gullwingmotorcars.com
www.gullwingmotorcars.com

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