Ferrari 1956 250 GT Competizione Berlinetta

Ferrari 1956 250 GT Competizione Berlinetta, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

This is only one of 8 Scaglietti Competition Berlinettas built in 1956. It was known as the “Tour De France” in honor of the domination of the great French event, with four outright victories.

The 250 GT Comp cars were the true forerunners of the series of race cars which established Ferrari as a major force in Sports Car Racing.

This #0555 has an extensive race history including seventh overall in the 1957 Mille Miglia, 1st GT in the Targa Florio and numerous other victories from 1956 through 1961.

Taken at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

 

Ford Cobra 1962 CSX 2001 – The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

Ford Cobra 1962 CSX 2001 – The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

Serial # 1 – the first production Shelby Cobra and among the initial 75 delivered to the dealers in 1962.

This car was originally fitted with a Ford Zephyr straight six-cylinder engine, but was removed and shipped from AC Bristol to Venice, CA where Shelby American dropped in a new 260 V8 and took the car for shake–down runs looking for Corvette owners to humiliate.

The Cobra was bought by Lloyd “Lucky” Casner, Comoradi Racing, to race at the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hour.

The car was modified with a 289 cubic-inch engine and updated to full FIA standards by Ford Racing in France. From 1964-1966, the car was campaigned in Europe and racked-up many victories across the continent. It is the only Cobra to race in the 1964 Tour de France.

The Cobra remained in Europe until 2006, when it was bought by the current owner and returned to the USA. It was restored by Mike McCluskey in Torrance, CA. The aluminum body, chassis and interior remain in their original well preserved state.

 

Cadillac 1948 Series 63 Saoutchik Cabriolet – The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

Cadillac 1948 Series 63 Saoutchik Cabriolet – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2012, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

This custom Cadillac is one of two cars bodied by Jaques Sauotchik of Paris, France. Sauotchik was known for designs, taking many risks with sweeping shapes and copious amounts of chrome.

The genius of Sauotchik’s design on such a large chassis demonstrated his ability to minimize the overall scale of the car by concealing the size of the wheels as well as using painted lines to reduce the height of the cowl.

The early owners of this car included Paul Kassoff and Louis Ritter. Mr. Ritter was the founder of Ritter Brothers Furriers of New York. He was known for his extravagant wealth, flamboyant lifestyle and eccentric taste.

Taken at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

 

Ferrari 1962 330 LMB – The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

Ferrari 1962 330 LMB – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2012, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

There were four 330 LMBs specifically built to compete in long distance events like Le Mans and were designed around an extended chassis just for these cars. The unique Tipo 574 chassis was also fitted with a dry sump system, which allowed the engine to sit lower leading to a lower coefficient of drag. Built in the same prototype shop as the GTO, serial number 4725 is the last of four 330 LMBs built and featured lightening techniques such as Plexiglas side and rear windows. Based on the 400 SA engine the Tipo 163 variant was a V12 with 3,967 cc displacement, six weber carburetors and an output of 400 bhp at 7,500, which was a good 50-80 bhp than the GTOs.

The LMB ran in the prototype class at Le Mans in 1963 for Maranello Concessionaires driven by Jack Sears and Mike Salmon to finish 5th overall. This car was the only LMB of the four that finished the race. Lorenzo Bandini drove it later in the United Kingdom. The LMB is also known as the first car to reach 180 mph down the Mulsanne straight at the Le Mans the same year eclipsing the 250P and the GTO.

Taken at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

 

Duesenberg 1933 SJN Arlington Torpedo Sedan – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2011

Duesenburg 1933 SJN Arlington Torpedo Sedan – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2011 , originally uploaded by John E Adams.

In 1933, Duesenberg raised the standard of automotive design with a car so spectacular that it commanded the unheard of price of $20,000. The Arlington Torpedo Sedan was designed by legendary stylist, Gordon Mille Buehring. It was placed atop a Supercharged SJ chassis by Rollston, INC. of New York. The vehicle was built for a display at the Century of Progress Exposition, better known as the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933-34.

This car received more attention to chassis fit and finish than any other Duesenberg ever constructed. When acquired by the current owners in 1978, Mr. Buehring and former Duesenburg president Harold Ames were both consulted on, to ensure an accurate restoration. The car emerged from the shop at San Sylmar exactly as it appeared the day it left the factory for the World’s Fair.

This spectacular example of wheeled sculpture usually resides in the Grand Salon of the Nethercutt Collection in Slymar, California.

 

From The West

Spotted this while running some errands downtown this week -;0)

 

1938 Gulf Miller Special – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2011

Following the first-ever appearance by a rear-engine car at Indianapolis during practice in 1937, the legendary Harry Miller was commissioned by the Gulf Oil Company to build three such cars. Extremely futuristic for the time they featured four-wheel drive and a six cylinder supercharged Miller engine, titled over at an angle. Only one arrived in 1938, too late to qualify. Of three in 1939, only George Bailey was able to qualify, although he did so in sixth place, the first rear-engine car ever in the Indy 500 race-day lineup. Of the handful of starts by these cars between 1939 and 1947, none traveled further than Bailey’s 47 laps in 1939. Originally intended to run on pump gasoline, they featured side mounted pontoon tanks, which proved to be very dangerous. After a pair of serious fires, the cars appeared in 1941 minus the pontoon tanks.

 

You may purchase a copy of this print here!

 

1928 Chevrolet Beach Racer – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2011

This Beach racer was built in Jacksonville, Florida by Bert Moyer. He utilized a 1928 Chevrolet engine, rear axle, front axle and brakes. The rest of the running gear is a 1926 Chevrolet. The body was so rusty it was duplicated in Jacksonville, FL by Jimmy Britts and painted by Steve Pisano.

The car raced in northern Florida and southern Georgia in the 1930’s. Bert raced in Atlanta against Ralph DePalma (1915 Indy 500 Winner) among other drivers.

The car was found in Mrs. Sally Moyer’s garage in Jacksonville in 2006. She is the daughter-in-law of Bert Moyer. The car was restored in Jacksonville by Randy Kimberly and was unveiled at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours.

You may purchase a copy of these prints here!