’59 STINGRAY: TRIBUTE TO A MASTERPIECE!

It’s “the Sting of Inspiration’ blogs CarGuyChronicles’ Jim Palam, who succumbed to the magnetic appeal of the Fiberfab Centurion. Bill Mitchell's real XP-87 Stingray, top, photographed with two other Corvette legends - SR-2 and the iconic Grand Sport coupe - by Marty Schorr at the GM Proving Ground. Jim Palam's photo of the Fiberfab Centurion, above. In 1959 GM design chief Bill Mitchell  wasn't buying into the ban on manufacturer-sponsored racing proposed by the Automobile Manufactu...
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MONTEREY MADNESS: JET CENTER REVIVAL!

Mike Matune never misses a party – even when he’s covering Monterey Car Week. Twenty-five years ago Molly & Gordon McCall invited a few like-minded friends to a gathering of car people to kick off Monterey’s Car Week. Begun as a shop party with a collection of cars, it grew from one hanger to another and then another. Along the way aircraft were incorporated along with the finest in cuisine and spirits. Today Motorworks Revival is still going strong with no signs of slowing. Far more th...
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MONTEREY MADNESS: SALES DOWN; EXHILARATION UP!

Here are Jim Palam’s top ten picks, just a fraction of the magnificent exotica that populated the Monterey Peninsula during Car Week.  1953 Ferrari 250MM Vignale Spider ‘Pebble Car’ on Ocean Avenue in Carmel. If you were among the many thousands of automobile enthusiasts zipping around the auctions, races, shows and events in the Monterey Peninsula this August, you may have been struck by this of many befuddlements: $49 hotel rooms renting for $549! Plus Lengthy hikes from your car to e...
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PEBBLE BEACH 2015: SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS!

Staged on the scenic fairway of the 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, the grand finale of the Monterey Classic Car Week - the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance - hosted 200 outstanding collector cars. After another scorching day at one of the most sunny Monterey Weeks of recent years, the Concours judges finally delivered their verdict on the coveted ‘Best of Show': the ‘24 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A owned by Jim Patterson of Louisville, Kentucky took the top award. This beautiful class...
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CELEBRATE: MONTEREY CLASSIC CAR WEEK!

Historic racecars rev it up from track to city streets to kick off the  annual Monterey Madness.  The heart of historic downtown Monterey, CA will be transformed into an outdoor motorsports museum when historic racecars line Alvarado Street between 5 and 7 p.m. on Friday, August 7. That’s when Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca kicks off the annual Monterey Classic Car Week.
 
 The racecar show lines the street, allowing visitors to freely walk among the racecars, take pictures beside...
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’15 JAGUAR F-TYPE: PROJECT 7!

Named in honor of Jaguar’s seven wins at Le Mans, Project 7 is a road-legal two-seater inspired by the Jaguar D-Type. After its global debut at Goodwood, Project 7 is making its first U.S. reveal in Monterey this week. Created by the Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team, F-TYPE  Project 7 is a limited production vehicle powered by a 575-horsepower 5.0-liter  supercharged V8. It’s capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and boasts  an electr...
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PORSCHE 550 SPYDER: AMAZING STREET/RACER!

Stephen Cox blogs about Porsche’s multi-million-dollar spectacular Spyder. I confess that I am a muscle car guy.Can't help it. I grew up cruising Mustangs and Torino's on Saturday night and Sundays at the strip. But after watching Mecum Auctions sell Porsche 550-0077, right, for over 3.7 million dollars at Monterey last weekend, I couldn't help but be impressed with the little machine. The 550 was Porsche's first race-specific design. Introduced in Paris in 1953, the 550 was famously mo...
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PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS: BEST OF THE BEST!

The best just keeps on getting better: 63rd Concours d’Elegance showcased 248 cars, including 48 from abroad, and ambiance second to none. Joseph and Margie Cassini III, West Orange, NJ took home Best of Show honors for their stunning ‘34 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria. The Packard, above, also participated in the Tour d'Elegance. The competition at the 63rd Concours included cars from 36 states and 12 countries, and raised $1,277,007 for charity. "This Packard is the e...
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