Following WWII, Gabriel Voisin felt the market was ready for a small vehicle suitable for two passengers that could be driven without a license. With the chassis and bodywork made out of lightweight aluminum, the Biscooter was a low-cost, low-maintenance vehicle. With a basic hood and adjustable windscreen, the minimalist style reflected Voisin’..
Featuring a semi-monocoque chassis, front independent and rear semi-independent suspension, and generously sized, hydraulically actuated Lockheed brakes, Delahaye’s 175 was among the most modern and advanced cars built anywhere in the world upon its 1948 introduction. The 175 utilized a variant of the 135’s Le Mans-proven, overhead-valve straigh..
First seen in 1935, Delahaye’s 135 model signaled the exclusive French marque’s intent to imbue their highly regarded luxury cars with more sportiness. History shows this endeavor to have been quite successful, with the 135 securing many important period rally and endurance competition victories, including an outright win at the 1937 Monte Carlo..
When Pinin Farina’s prototype for a 250 GT Coupe debuted at Geneva in March 1956, it was announced that this model would be produced by its designer and Mario Boano’s carrozzeria would manufacture a limited series of bespoke cabriolets. However, due to what many historians claim was an inadequate production capacity at Pinin Farina, Fer..
In 1955, less than a year after the 356 Speedster model was introduced, Porsche built the first example equipped with the competition-derived four-cam Carrera engine. The result was a brilliant dual-purpose sports car, and the Carrera Speedster continued to be improved and refined over the course of production.
For 1957, Porsche began t..
Named at the suggestion of US importer Max Hoffman, the rare, one-year-only 356 Continental marks a fascinating moment during Porsche’s earliest years in the American marketplace. Unwittingly, Porsche’s marketing efforts attracted the attention of the mighty Ford Motor Company, which had already established the Continental Division as its flagsh..
In the mid-1950s, enthusiasts who were considering purchasing a small, open sports car found themselves presented with a compelling new choice: Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta Spider. It featured gorgeous Pinin Farina styling, twin overhead-cam alloy engine, outstanding ride quality, and weather protection equal to that of more expensive sports cars. Tod..
In December 1953, Ferrari unveiled its first four-cylinder production sports car – the 500 Mondial, named in honor of Alberto Ascari’s back-to-back World Championships.
Like Ascari’s 500 F2 Monoposto, the Mondial featured a two-liter, twin-cam, four-cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. Known internally as the tipo 110, this eng..
In March 1957, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the 300 SL Roadster, employing a host of mechanical advancements and stylistic revisions to create a new, open version of the successful Gullwing. Chief among these were a new rear-axle design and a modified space-frame chassis that allowed for conventionally hinged doors. The Roadster offered easier ingress..
According to former owner John Staluppi, this glamorous 1954 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible was purchased new from Swisher Cadillac of Mansfield, Ohio, by the owner of the local taxi company branch who desired a Cadillac convertible to match the color of his cabs. Four subsequent owners were also from Mansfield, prior to the Cadillac’s acquisiti..