The failed merger in 1963 between Ford and Ferrari and the subsequent return to competition motorsport at the highest level by the American company is motoring lore. After their rejection by Ferrari, Lee Iacocca and Leo Bebee formed Ford Advanced Vehicles and went shopping for a Le Mans winner. Following […]
Author: Michael Duffey
1957-68 Lotus Seven S1 and S2
The dual-purpose road/race car that could be built from a kit of parts pretty much characterizes the early efforts by Colin Chapman and Lotus. The concept came more clearly into focus with the Six, but after more than 100 cars, the swing-axle front suspension became antiquated and the bodywork expensive […]
1976 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB “Boxer”
When the Lamborghini Miura appeared, high-performance coupes with engines in front of the driver began to look quite old fashioned to some observers. Stung by outspoken criticism of their front-engined Daytona models, Ferrari unveiled at the 1971 Turin Motor Show the aggressive 365 BB flat-twelve, mid-engined Boxer Berlinetta. At this […]
1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Roadster
{vsig}2000-8_1882{/vsig} America was sadly without a true sports car until Chevrolet introduced the Corvette at the 1953 Motorama show and started production that year. The early Corvettes were lower and sportier than any other domestic car on the market but they lacked the innovative technology necessary to break open the […]
1965 Shelby GT 350
The marriage between Carroll Shelby and the Ford Motor Company began in early 1965 when Ford wanted to take a shot at the performance market dominated by GM’s Corvette. Unveiled by Shelby on January 27, 1965, the modified Mustang fastback had a few subtle exterior changes: a fiberglass hood with […]
1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder
Introduced at the 1968 Paris Salon, the 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” was an obvious winner from the start, and a noteworthy successor to the 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta it had replaced. The Daytona used underpinnings similar to the 275 GTB’s chassis and suspension, but with vastly improved braking. Ferrari finally dispensed with […]
1951 Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta
The example shown here is a very rare “Export” model intended for racing in the GT and Sports classes. Chassis number 0141/T is unique, being the only 212 to have been built with a “Tuboscocca” type chassis, an early attempt by Ferrari to give three-dimensional rigidity to the ladder-type chassis. […]
1951 Simca 8 Super Sport
Simca first appeared in 1934, making Fiat cars under license in their factory at Nanterre which had previously produced the Donnet cars. For many years the fortunes of Simca were closely linked to those of the tuning wizard Amédée Gordini and many competition successes were achieved including class wins in […]
1972 McLaren M8 E/F Can-Am
In 1966, a new form of racing started in the US and Canada. This was the famous Can-Am series, short for the Canadian-American Trophy. John Surtees won the first Can-Am title in a Lola T-70 in 1966 but after this, McLarens in the hands of Bruce McLaren himself and Denny […]
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
This immensely desirable and highly usable Ferrari 275 GTB/C is the third of only 12 such Berlinetta Competizione models produced by the world-famous Maranello factory, and is absolutely not to be confused with the normal, standard production GTB models. Here was a purebred endurance-racing competition car whose fundamental bodyshape and […]