In all our print publications, and this blog, we keep some serious editorial distance from the advertising side of the business. But Hemmings is fundamentally car classifieds, and with all those old cars advertised, interesting stuff comes up from time to time. When we talk about it on the blog, however, that doesn’t mean we’re saying, “go buy this.” It just means we think its neat.
Anyway, there’s some stuff hanging around right now that I think is neat, just between car lovers. I mean, look at this stuff. Wait until you see the Marendaz. The links are only there if you want more information. Pretend they aren’t. Seriously, just don’t even click on them.
The basis of the Giannini Monza is the Fiat 850.
It was brought to a high state of tune and performance by Carlo Lombardi an established tuner of Fiats and sold as the Lombardi Grand Prix with 52hp engine. The Lombardi-modified Grand Prix was in turn further modified by Domenico and Attilio Gianninis Carrozzeria Giannini who extracted something like 70 brake horsepower from the diminutive but strong little Fiat. Its dramatically restyled Targa style coachwork was the product of the Gianninis design and construction and worked a complete transformation on the chunky Fiat 850 sedan.
1969 Nissan Patrol. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person. Up yours, FJ40!
1956 Aerocar Model 1. C’mon! Flying car! $3.5 million.
1914 American Model 664. 70hp in 1914 is about the equivalent of the 604hp in a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65. Of course, the SL is about a quarter the cost. Also, I saw this car at a gas station in Pennsylvania once. I also saw it being towed once. Sorry, Dick.
There’s no age listed for this Breswter-bodied Ford, but assume c. 1934. There aren’t many, and they’re spectacular.
1965 Cheetah. “Not a kit car.” (Coincidence:Breaks your heart, doesn’t it?)
One of nine continuation cars built by Bob Auxier in the 1990s. This is an exact replication of an original Cheetah; it is not a kit car. It features carbon fiber bodywork, chrome moly chassis, fresh L-88 BBC, IDA-48 Webers, MSD, Aeroquip, M22 rock crusher, Americans, Goodyears, adjustable coilovers, etc. Many photos available, including nude photos with bodywork removed; weighs 1,980 lbs.
1972 Rectrans Discoverer. A nice tow vehicle for the Cheetah. Or your own Damnation Alley-meets-The Partridge Family Landmaster. “A truly unique design,with some interesting developmental history,for this low production model. It is powered by the original Mopar 413 V8, with automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, generator and all the housekeeping amenities.”
1904 Cameron. I’ve seen this car in person, and I want it. Cameron built a bunch of cars, through 1920, but the 1903-’04s were the first.
1982 Citroen 2CV. I have no idea what the story behind this item is. “50 state legal, genuine 57 mpg and 80 mph performance,” says the listing. Oddball homebuilt, I’m thinking.
1960 Osca. Yes, it’s a project car–a Michelotti-designed one-off Paris show project car. Hint to sellers: When your selling a six-figure coachbuilt car, don’t use your cellphone for pictures.
This is a one-off show car designed for the 1960 Turin, Geneva and Paris shows to showcase the design artistry and coachwork of Giovanni Michelotti. It is featured in his register and has not been publicly seen for almost 40 years. Currently, it is partially (very carefully) disassembled for restoration. The only parts missing are the twin carbs, which are generally available. It has it’s original 1600 twin cam drivetrain. This 3 owner car has excellent provenance and is documented with letters, factory photos of the body buck, pictures of it at the Turin Auto Salon in 1961, a period photo of this OSCA in the Michelotti studios next to a famous Ferrari and supporting correspondence directly from Michelotti.
1963 Falcon Mark III. Sole Survivor. And I don’t mean Ford.
1954 H.R.G. Twin Cam Sports Racer.
Chassis Number: 15APB 1 of 3 Built! This car was built for Peter Fletcher a Gentleman race driver from London and was supplied by Henry Ronald Godfrey (HRG). This extremely rare example is one of the three cars built and is the only car in its original condition being all its life in private collections. The HRG was well ahead of its time and the unique spider wheels meant the brakes could be changed in 15 minutes this along with the tubular chassis gave the car superb road holding as the plans were to run an HRG team at Le Mans these were important design factors. The twin cams as they became known were very expensive hand built sports cars. After 15APB left the factory the company could only produce performance parts and did not produce another car. It was the last car HRG made, except for a brief one off effort some twenty years late.
1935 Marendaz Special 15/90. What? “Needs a brave new caretaker.”
Mack 1925 AC. Oh hell yes. “Chaindrive 3-1/2 ton, all original, 4-cylinder, 4-speed.”
1958 Kellison J4R. Pure evil.
