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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 08, 2022

RM Sotheby's Auctions $46 Million In One Day At Amelia Is...

Over $46 million in a single day made for an auction like no other. Amelia Island, Florida is home to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, one of the world’s premier car events, where people with incredible cars, and an even more incredible passion for cars gather to show, celebrate, and sell the gorgeous machines that they and everyone else at the event love so much. One of the most anticipated parts of the entire event is the RM Sotheby’s auction, and based on the results of the sale, it was anticipated for a reason. In only one day, the auction sold over $46 million worth of cars, 11 of which sold for over $1 million. The top spot belongs to a 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich, which after nearly 90 years, is one of just three known examples of the car remaining, and at the Concours, it won First in Class, and was runner-up to Best of Show. For those reasons, it fetched an incredible price of over $4.1 million. MUST READ: Broad Arrow Announces Inaugural Live Auction Not far behind was a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, which is known as one of the Holy Trinity of hybrid hypercars from the mid 2010s, and also as the most powerful production Ferrari ever made, and it sold for $3.6 million. A 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy sold for $3.5 million, taking third place. Two modern cars followed to round out the top five, with the fourth-place 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport selling for $3.3 million, and a 2020 McLaren Speedtail selling for $2.7 million. Two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs followed, with a 1955 300 SL Gullwing and a 1962 300 SL Roadster selling for $2 million and $1.5 million respectively. A 1953 Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet by Vignale sold for 1.2 million, taking eighth place, and a 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra sold for $1.1 million. The tenth highest selling car was a 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S ‘Package,’ selling for an incredible $1.1 million, and while it completes the top ten sellers, many more incredible cars like a Ferrari Testarossa and a Jaguar XJ220 made the auction an incredible experience and success as well. With the wind of this success at its back, RM Sotheby’s looks forward to auctions in Fort Lauderdale, Monaco, and Monterey. Source: RM Sotheby's

By Edward Jones – March 08, 2022

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster at Mecum Glendale 2022 A...

Presented by Mecum Auctions. By the end of model year 1953, Chevrolet had sold only 183 of the first 300 Corvettes built at Chevrolet’s Plant No. 35 facility in Flint, Michigan, but production for 1954 was moved as originally planned to a newly renovated facility in St. Louis, Missouri, with production beginning in December 1953. The St. Louis plant was designed to produce 10,000 Corvettes each year, a figure that far exceeded the eventual total of 3,640 1954 models and would not be realized until 1961. Efforts to increase sales for 1954 were few but significant for this new American sports car. To answer faltering early demand, Chevrolet targeted performance and options to attract buyers. A new camshaft introduced during early production increased horsepower in the Blue Flame Six to 155 HP, and the chromed dual exhaust tips extending from inside the rear bumperettes were lengthened to reduce staining on the surrounding rear bodywork. Chevrolet also offered a wider choice of exterior and interior colors. Not surprisingly, the signature combination of Polo White paint, a red interior and beige top accounted for 3,230 units, followed by 300 in new Pennant Blue with a beige interior and 100 in Sportsman Red on red. Just four were produced combining black with a red interior and beige soft top, one of which is offered here in beautifully restored condition. Sold new at White-Allen Chevrolet in Dayton, Ohio, it retains its 235 CI Blue Flame Six engine featuring triple side-draft Carter carburetors fitted with early production style, chromed “bullet” air cleaners. Like all early Corvettes, this rare black example was equipped with the floor-shifted Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission, windshield washers, courtesy light, heater, tachometer and gauges, dual exhaust and wide whitewall tires on red-painted steel wheels with full spinner wheel covers. With only four ever produced, this black 1954 Corvette will add a healthy measure of exclusivity to any collection of classic Corvettes. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 07, 2022

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 at Mecum Glendale 2022 Auction

Presented by Mecum Auctions. As Ferrari’s last dual-purpose grand touring model, the four-cam 275 GTB/4 is the most potent and highly developed evolution of the legendary 275 series. Debuted at the October 1966 Paris Salon, the 275 GTB/4 featured unprecedented competition specifications for road cars—even those from Ferrari—with a DOHC V-12 powerplant rated at 300 HP and equipped with dry-sump oiling and six twin-choke Weber carburetors. Just 330 were produced, and this example, Chassis No. 09495, clearly benefits from the maintenance and care of noted collectors and restorers throughout its lifetime, with excellent history compiled and documented by marque experts Tony Willis and Marcel Massini. Originally, this 275 GTB/4 was purchased by Giuseppe Pagni—an ex-AC Milan and Fanfulla footballer residing in Milan—for 6.5 million Italian Lire through the official Ferrari dealer M.G. Crepaldi Automobili. Ferrari Classiche documentation confirms that during Pagni’s ownership, Chassis 09495 returned to the Ferrari Factory, where the engine block was replaced with a new, unused unit and stamped for classification purposes with the correct number pertaining only to this vehicle. Believed one of only two Tipo 226 V-12 engines assembled by Ferrari as spare units, this replacement engine was installed at the Factory in the late 1960s. The car left Italy in 1971 to reside in the U.S. until 1979, when it returned to Europe and was registered in Switzerland to noted dealer and collector Albrecht Guggisberg of Oldtimer-Garage Ltd., who drove 09495 at the Grand Prix of Gollion, Switzerland, in 1987. A longtime presence in the collector car world, Guggisberg owned many of the important examples over the years and had a particularly keen interest in Ferrari. At this time, Oldtimer-Garage was a veritable Mecca for enthusiasts, and many other industry players relied on Guggisberg for his knowledge and technical expertise. Guggisberg retained 09495 until 2002, when he sold the Ferrari to Gaspare Barresi, a businessman based in Bern, Switzerland. Upon delivery, he commissioned a full restoration by SD Autocostruzioni in Torino, Italy, where it was refinished in red over tan and retrofitted with a cleverly hidden air conditioning system. He campaigned 09495 at the Montreux Grand Prix races in July 2006, where he earned a third-place podium. In August 2011, the 275 GTB/4 passed through UK classic-vehicle dealer Tom Hartley to Matthew Munson, who registered it on English plates and had it refinished in Grigio Ferro (Gunmetal Grey) at XK Engineering, followed by an interior retrim in Bordeaux leather by the legendary Luppi of Modena and further refurbishment at UK restorer Bob Houghton, with all work completed during the last quarter of 2011. Certification by Ferrari Classiche was awarded in June 2013, with Factory Certificate of Authenticity #267 F issued, confirming the Tipo 226 engine fitted by the factory during the late 1960s (Internal No. 1572) and its serial-number stamping. Following its Ferrari Classiche certification, Munson sold 09495 to Graeme Earl, who enjoyed the car for a few years before selling it in late 2017 to Tom Walduck. A prolific collector of the greatest sports cars, Walduck participated in the Mille Miglia and numerous editions of the Cento Ore and Tour Auto classic rallies. Following Walduck’s passing in September 2018, the Ferrari was acquired by its most recent owner and in September 2020, it was shown at the Hampton Court Concours d’Elegance, followed in May 2021 by display at the Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance at Blenheim Palace. Unquestionably rare and desirable as a pristine example of the ultimate 275 GTB evolution, 09495 is simply outstanding throughout and retains exceptionally original integrity. Accompanying items include its original tool roll, a full set of books/manuals and, of course, its corresponding Ferrari Classiche Red Book. As offered, 09495 offers an excellent opportunity to acquire a beautifully restored example of one of Ferrari’s ultimate Enzo Ferrari-era V-12 Sports/GT cars with outstanding provenance and fabulous presentation. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 04, 2022

2020 Ford GT at Mecum Glendale 2022 Auction

Presented by Mecum Auctions. Ford shocked the motoring world—including all but 12 of its own employees—when it unveiled the all-new GT at the North American International Auto Show in January 2015. Designed and developed in secret by a dozen hand-picked engineers and stylists in the basement of the Ford Design Center in Dearborn, Michigan, the second-generation Ford GT was targeted at winning the LM GTE-Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, exactly 50 years to the day after a trio of Ford GT40 Mk IIs famously terminated Ferrari’s stranglehold on the French endurance classic. That the new GT would also be offered to a lucky few for road and track use was a secondary aim, but that did not prevent the design team (including development partner and manufacturer Multimatic Motorsports in Ontario, Canada) from creating the most incredible and expensive road car in Ford’s glorious history, a wonderful example of which is now slated to cross the Mecum auction block this March at Glendale 2022. The new Ford GT’s central purpose, victory at Le Mans, dictated the team’s approach to its design, which focused primarily on aerodynamic efficiency. Ford Performance Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi explained the thinking behind the process: “If anyone knows anything about Le Mans, it’s always low downforce that’s efficient. I think that’s what makes the Ford GT more special than the Ferrari or McLaren is that the purpose of this car, and the efficiency of the racing, goes right down to the very core of its existence. For example, the powertrain selection was unusual because it was a secondary criteria to the main aerodynamic signature of the car. The aerodynamics were developed first, and then we picked the most efficient EcoBoost engine that we could find for that package.” And Ford certainly got the aerodynamics right, even while preserving the iconic features that leave no doubt about the GT’s historic lineage. The squared headlight frames, twin front air vents, wraparound windshield and round taillights flanking central twin exhaust outlets were all faithfully maintained, but following the GT’s lines toward the rear of the car reveals the modern teardrop fuselage long common to Le Mans prototypes, with an added flourish in the flying buttresses and pontoon rear fenders that guide airflow around and through the rear. Even the afterburner-look tail lights get into the aero act, exhausting the heated air that is channeled through twin intakes in the GT’s lower front bodywork in service to both cooling and downforce. The resulting overall effect is pure aerodynamic efficiency that, not coincidentally, is accompanied by an arresting beauty in both general form and details. Practically speaking, the Ford GT is packaged as tightly as physical dictates such as passenger room and drivetrain dimensions would allow. Again, efficiency dictated that the GT relinquish the V-8 component of its heritage in favor of the physically smaller 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6, the most powerful EcoBoost ever at 647 HP. The compact V-6 facilitated the car’s tapering fuselage while allowing for the dual-clutch 7-speed automatic transmission and cavernous rear diffuser. The GT’s tub and body are almost entirely composed of carbon fiber, with aluminum front and rear subframes and an FIA-spec roll cage integrated into the overall structure. The Multimatic-designed suspension typifies that company’s advanced techniques with upper and lower control arms, pushrod-actuated torsion bars, coil springs and the electrically adjustable spool valve shock absorbers it supplies to Formula 1 and Prototype teams around the world. Carbon ceramic disc brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires combined with optional carbon fiber 20-inch wheels and titanium lugs facilitate the GT’s otherworldly handling and braking capabilities, necessary strengths for a car capable of almost 220 MPH. Driving modes can be changed between Wet, Normal, Sport, Track and V-Max with a simple turn of the steering wheel-mounted dial. Often described as snug, the two-place cockpit is nonetheless comfortable, employing bolstered, Alcantara-covered Sparco seats that are mounted directly to the monocoque for maximum road feel; the pedals and multifunction steering wheel are adjustable to accommodate differing physiques. Barely wide enough to accommodate a cell phone, the central tunnel holds the red start button and shifter dial, while the remaining controls are located on either the steering wheel or the highly configurable instrument panel directly behind it. Delivered new to Suburban Ford in Sandy, Oregon, this electrifying 2020 Ford GT was produced with a Triple Yellow Tri Coat exterior finish with Shadow Black overtop stripes complemented by gloss exposed carbon fiber 20-inch wheels, options that added $37,500 to the GT’s $509,200 MSRP. Add another $1,250 for red-painted brake calipers, $250 for a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an additional $30,000 for the Dark Energy interior upgrade package, and one is left with the most technologically advanced, stunningly capable and beautiful automobile ever to wear the Blue Oval. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 03, 2022

2005 Porsche Carrera GT at Mecum Glendale 2022 Auction

Presented by Mecum Auctions. Porsche astonished the motoring world when it unveiled its all-new Carrera GT prototype at the Louvre in Paris on September 28, 2000. The occasion was a surprisingly encouraging one to Porschephiles, who had long noted Porsche’s absence from the burgeoning worldwide race for supercar supremacy. The battle had reached new heights with the 1992 McLaren F1 and rocketed into the stratosphere as other manufacturers joined the fray. By the late 1990s it seemed Porsche was stalled in its competitors’ wake, but the Carrera GT changed all of that with a clean-sheet design that proved Porsche’s resolve to maintain supremacy against all challengers. By the end of production in May 2006, sales of the Carrera GT had surpassed those of the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda models combined, a noteworthy achievement in the heady world of automotive exotica that led Porsche to label it the “the most successful supercar in history.” Like the epochal Porsche 959 before it, the Carrera GT had its origins in the company’s racing program. There were no design restrictions, and no requirement to use existing components from other programs. Drawing from other programs was not prohibited, however, so Porsche’s racing engineers made use of the 5.5L V-10 engine and associated driveline components developed for the canceled 2000 Le Mans prototype program. With displacement increased to 5.7L, the Carrera GT’s normally aspirated V-10 uses Nikasil coated bores, forged titanium connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, Porsche’s VarioCam timing system and a two-chamber stainless steel exhaust system to generate 605 HP and 435 lb-ft of torque. That output is transferred through Porsche's Ceramic Composite Clutch (PCCC). Only 6.65 inches in diameter, the PCCC effortlessly handles the V-10’s power while allowing the entire driveline, including the clutch and 6-speed transverse manual gearbox, to sit lower in the GT’s chassis for a lower center of gravity. The Carrera GT’s extensive use of advanced materials earned it Popular Science Magazine’s “Best of What’s New” award in 2003. The car’s monocoque chassis, the first of its kind in a production car, features a racing-style reinforced cockpit safety design. It combines bonded layers of carbon fiber, resin and aluminum with plastic honeycomb reinforcements to form an extremely lightweight structure that provides a solid foundation for its carbon-reinforced plastic driveline cradle, pushrod-actuated all-independent suspension, forged magnesium wheels and Porsche Ceramic Composite (PCCB) disc brake system. The Carrera GT’s advanced aerodynamic sculpting includes a speed-actuated rear spoiler and a ground effects under-floor that flows back to a rear diffuser. The result of all this advanced engineering is the ultimate in Porsche performance. Accelerating from a standing start, the Carrera GT reaches 60 MPH in just 3.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 205 MPH. Yet, the Carrera GT also remains faithful to Porsche’s reputation for matching searing performance with everyday drivability, something that escapes many competing exotics. Driven just 182 miles since new, this 2005 Carrera GT is No. 940 of 1,270 produced through the model’s production run. One of only 64 North American Carrera GTs finished in Seal Grey Metallic, it presents with a desirable Terracotta leather interior featuring a galvanized magnesium center console, XT bucket seats and a 917-inspired birch and ash wood shift lever knob. Removable carbon fiber roof panels, covered Xenon headlamps, traction control, air conditioning, Porsche Online Pro CD stereo sound, books, a car cover and a fitted matching leather luggage set are all included with this revolutionary Porsche supercar. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2022

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta at Mecum Glendale 2022 A...

Presented by Mecum Auctions. Driven a scant 98 miles since new, this 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta is one of just 499 produced for the worldwide market. The ultimate derivation of the most powerful, beautiful and technologically advanced mid-engined V-8 Berlinetta in the company’s history, the 458 Speciale Aperta features a reworked version of the 4.5L/597 HP V-8 with revised intake tracts, higher-lift cams, reduced-friction internals and an increase in compression. The 458’s already lightning-quick, 7-speed, dual-clutch transmission was also reprogrammed for even quicker shifts. Suspension upgrades, a new generation of carbon-ceramic brakes and improved Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires fill out the Aperta’s list of track-oriented enhancements. Chassis No. 213621, this exquisite 458 Special Aperta dazzles with Bianco Avus paint with Nero stripes, Scuderia Ferrari cloisonné fender shields, AFS lighting system, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires on featherweight 5-spoke alloy wheels and Ferrari Brembo carbon ceramic disc brakes with yellow-painted calipers. It boasts a wide range of additional options totaling $32,354, including titanium exhaust and extensive use of exterior carbon fiber trim in the front intake flaps, rear valence outlet flaps, side nolders, and wheel center caps. The 458 Speciale Aperta provides all the interior features that allow the driver to take full advantage of its power and technology in the style befitting its Ferrari nameplate. Nero leather with yellow stitching accents covers the Daytona-style bucket seats, with yellow embroidered Prancing Horse emblems decorating the headrests. The same material is used on the upper dash, door panels, passenger protection padding, instrument pod, lower tunnel and steering wheel grips, which also share Alcantara trim and carbon fiber accents. The Nero carpeting is protected by colored floor mats decorated with the 458 Speciale A logo. Further equipped with cruise control, navigation, Bluetooth and programmable suspension lift feature, this is the definitive mid-engine V-8 Ferrari. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2022

Broad Arrow Announces Inaugural Live Auction

Presented by Broad Arrow Group. Broad Arrow Auctions, a Broad Arrow Group Company, is hosting its first live auction during the world class Motorworks Revival in partnership with Hagerty at the Monterey Jet Center during this year’s Monterey Car Week. The boutique auction will be executed by Broad Arrow’s team of auction industry veterans and will feature approximately 80 exceptional motor cars. "We are thrilled to announce our inaugural live auction this August, working in partnership with Hagerty to execute a truly world-class event during the Monterey Car Week. Broad Arrow Auctions, our new live auction company, will focus on offering highly curated and significant collector cars. Our focus is delivering unparalleled client service with emphasis on quality and experience. We want to provide a welcoming and enjoyable experience for our clients and attendees, whether as bidders or simply experiencing a collector car auction. We are excited to partner with Hagerty and their recently acquired Motorworks Revival for our first-ever live auction event. The Broad Arrow Auctions team is committed to bring you a can’t-miss event.” - Kenneth Ahn - Chief Executive Officer, Broad Arrow Group. Visit Website Photos ©2019 Courtesy of Tip Weiss

By Edward Jones – March 01, 2022

2006 Spyker C8 Spyder at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island

Presented by RM Sotheby's. Heralded by the slogan Nulla tenaci invia est via, meaning, “For the tenacious, no road is impassable,” Holland’s Spyker reemerged as an automobile constructor at the start of the new millennium. Debuting at Britain’s Birmingham Motor Show in 2000, the radical C8 Spyder was a complete stylistic departure from anything that preceded it. Yet, it skillfully recalled Spyker’s heritage in both aircraft and automobile production. Design elements throughout the C8 Spyder’s interior and exterior pay extensive homage to the company’s origins, most notably its aluminum construction, fuselage-type styling, rear “cannon-port” vents, a prominent wide grille intake, engine-turned dashboard, and aircraft-type switchgear. With a race-bred, fully independent suspension, six-speed Getrag gearbox, and a 400-horsepower, 4.2-liter Audi V-8 engine, the C8 Spyder touted a 186-mph top speed and immediately became a force to be reckoned within the sports car market. C8 SPYDER 116 This “triple black” C8 Spyder (serial number 116) is one of just five examples reportedly produced in this color scheme; nearly all Spyker chassis with a black exterior were fitted with tan upholstery. Spyder 116 was completed in August 2006 and delivered new to Spyker Cars of Utah. By March 2008, it had been acquired by its second recorded owner then showing approximately 5,000 miles. After seven years and nearly 2,500 miles with this California-based collector, it was acquired by a New York resident who retained this striking C8 Spyker until August 2021. Now showing just under 9,350 actual miles at time of cataloguing, this jaw-dropping, lightweight convertible is presented in a state befitting a continuous chain of careful and enthusiastic ownership. Inside the cabin, this C8’s quilted leather, exposed shifter mechanism, and billet machined pedal box components all continue to exude the feeling of complete precision. The car’s original, matching “poor weather top” is included for emergency use. Within the last year, this C8 Spyder has been furnished with a thorough engine-out servicing executed by Marque specialist Chris Mora. The car’s distinctive Aeroblade wheels are presently wrapped in fresh Michelin PilotSport tires, and the consignor reports that the entire exterior has been treated to a professionally installed paint protection film. The Spyker C8 Spyder is truly a fascinating and rarely seen convertible; its striking design, aluminum construction, and engaging driving experience make it one of the most sought-after sports cars of the early 2000s. With fewer than 140 examples reportedly produced, this wonderfully maintained chassis offered here is undoubtedly worthy of continued enjoyment. This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s 23rd annual Amelia Island sale, held in conjunction with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, on 5 March 2022. Held at the stunning oceanfront grounds of the Ritz-Carlton, RM Sotheby’s will offer some of the world’s finest cars in this can’t-miss event. View Listing

2015 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition 0

By Edward Jones – February 28, 2022

2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition at RM Sotheby...

Presented by RM Sotheby's. Unveiled in a twin premier at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show and Tokyo Motor Show, the SLS AMG GT Final Edition was commissioned by Mercedes-Benz to celebrate the model’s success. A limited-edition series with only 350 units total, the Final Edition production run consisted of approximately 200 coupes and 150 roadsters. At the SLS AMG GT’s heart is a 6.3-liter V-8 engine producing 599 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, with a maximum torque output of 479 pound-feet at 4,750 rpm. Acceleration is brisk, with a 0–62 mph sprint time of just 3.7 seconds, racing onwards to 124 mph in 11.2 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of 198 mph. The car’s performance is managed through Mercedes-Benz’s AMG Speedshift DCT seven-speed transmission. The 350 Final Edition cars received exclusive equipment which included a carbon fiber hood with central-air outlet, front splitter, the carbon fiber rear wing seen on the SLS AMG Black Series, and lightweight forged alloy wheels painted matte black. Considering the entirety of SLS AMG production, many consider the Final Edition cars to be the most desirable to own and enjoy, as they tread the line between the subtlety of the regular-production SLS AMGs and the aggressive, track-focused Black Series cars, while benefitting from the slight boost in power of the late-production GT models. Offered here is one of the exceedingly rare, US-market Final Edition coupes, and it is clad in Obsidian Black over exclusive anthracite leather. Additional factory specifications are limited to silver brake calipers and high-gloss carbon interior trim. Having been driven fewer than 2,550 miles at time of cataloguing, this example represents an incredible opportunity to purchase a remarkable SLS some eight years after it left AMG’s facilities. Poised to be a future classic due to its stunning good looks, incredible performance, and very limited production, this would be an astute acquisition for any supercar enthusiast—or the perfect stablemate to a 300 SL Gullwing, the car from which the SLS AMG takes its inspiration. This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s 23rd annual Amelia Island sale, held in conjunction with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, on 5 March 2022. Held at the stunning oceanfront grounds of the Ritz-Carlton, RM Sotheby’s will offer some of the world’s finest cars in this can’t-miss event. View Listing

By Edward Jones – February 28, 2022

2015 Ferrari LaFerrari at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island

Presented by RM Sotheby's. Introduced at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the boldly named LaFerrari, translated as “The Ferrari,” was described by company president Luca Di Montezemolo as “…the expression of what defines our company.” Following in the hallowed lineage of the 288 GTO, F40, F50, and Enzo, the LaFerrari immediately and continues to serve as Ferrari’s most advanced road model. Built around a competition-worthy, arrowhead-shaped carbon-fiber tub main structure, the LaFerrari features a lower ride height and center of gravity than even the radical Enzo before it, with an F1 cockpit-style seating position and sills built into the front-hinged, scissor-type doors. Breaking from tradition, bodywork for the LaFerrari was the work of an in-house design team headed by Flavio Manzoni. Powering the LaFerrari is a remarkable hybrid powertrain that continues to stand as a design and engineering tour de force. Delivering 950 horsepower—quite possibly eclipsing Ferrari’s contemporary F14 T Formula 1 racing car by as much as 200 horsepower—the LaFerrari delivers a mind-bending power-to-weight ratio of 3.7 pounds per unit of horsepower. Dubbed HY-KERS, the LaFerrari Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System powertrain features a 789-horsepower 6.3-liter dual-overhead-cam 48-valve V-12 at its core; this magnificent engine is equipped with variable-length intake runners, 13.5:1 compression, and screaming 9,250-rpm redline. An oil-cooled electric motor resides at the rear of the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and delivers 161 additional horsepower. A low-mounted, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack stores power and also serves as a stressed structural member behind the passenger compartment. Electronic controls activate the electric motor, which essentially provides a kind of boost akin to a turbocharger, filling in the lower rev ranges of the howling V-12 piston powerplant for near-instantaneous response and a shockingly visceral experience. Helping to harness its staggering performance, the LaFerrari body bristles with amazing active and passive aerodynamic features delivering required engine cooling and downforce, including a large adjustable spoiler and movable diffuser flaps. Underpinnings include a double-wishbone front suspension and multilink rear setup, plus Ferrari’s E-SCM magnetorheological damping system with twin solenoids. Massive Pirelli P-Zero tires, specifically formulated and manufactured to Ferrari specifications, surround standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged aluminum wheels. Cross-drilled and vented Brembo CCM3 carbon-ceramic brakes (with ABS) deliver awesome stopping power. Obviously, LaFerrari performance is astounding. According to published road tests, credentials include 0-to-60 mph acceleration in 2.5 seconds, 0-to-100 mph in 4.8 seconds, and the quarter-mile in 9.8 seconds at 149 mph. Top speed is a factory-claimed 217 mph. Equally staggering, the LaFerrari generates up to 1.16g lateral acceleration on the skid pad and requires just 136 feet to stop from 70 mph. Driver aids are the products of Ferrari’s victorious F1 program, including speed-sensitive steering, a steering wheel-mounted “manettino” control with five driver-selectable modes depending upon driving conditions, F-1 Trac traction control and the E-Diff3 electronic rear differential, and CST-Control stability and traction systems—all working in concert to maximize performance with uncanny response to driver inputs. Creature comforts are comprehensive and abundantly worthy of the La Ferrari’s marque-leading status. Among them are air conditioning with automatic temperature control, a rear-window defroster, power steering, power windows, remote keyless entry, and even steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Safety and usability are enhanced by a rear parking camera and sensor array, fully automatic delay-off headlights, headlight cleaning, and a security system. Two LaFerrari variants were sold, the coupe, with 500 produced 2013–2016, and the 2016–2018 Aperta convertible, 210 of which were built. NERO OVER NERO Visually arresting in its factory Nero over Nero color combination, this 2015 LaFerrari Coupe is extremely rare with its all-black livery, with the sole exception of the factory-optional Scuderia shields gracing each front fender. Virtually as-new with only 576 miles accumulated at time of cataloguing, this LaFerrari was delivered to the United States via New Country Motor Cars of Palm Beach and sold by Ferrari of Palm Beach, with its $1,416,362 MSRP heightened by nearly $75,000 in factory options. Among them are carbon fiber fog lamp surrounds, matte painted outer carbon fiber and carbon fiber lower accents, carbon fiber outer mirrors, matte painted interior carbon fiber trim, carbon fiber wheel center caps, “Cavallino” stitched headrest accents, black brake calipers, 20-inch forged dark painted wheels, an Alcantara and carbon fiber steering wheel, iconic Ferrari Scuderia shields, and Harmon/Kardon audio plus Bluetooth connectivity and navigation functions. Another choice factory option is the anti-stone chipping paint protection film ($4,685) covering the entire body of this stunning LaFerrari. While usage since delivery when new has been minimal indeed, this LaFerrari benefits immensely from impeccable care and maintenance, with all factory-mandated annual service and warranty work duly completed and documented by records on file with the vehicle. Most recently during February 2022, the LaFerrari received a full annual service at Ferrari of Beverly Hills, including a thorough checkup and service of the high-voltage battery and replacement of the ancillary drive belt—both crucial elements of the cutting-edge HY-KERS powertrain. Due to its impeccable condition and service history, this LaFerrari qualified for the newly launched renewable two-year LaFerrari factory warranty program, which was placed on the vehicle in February 2022 by Ferrari Beverly Hills. This is one of the very first LaFerrari motorcars in the country to qualify for, and to complete, the factory warranty certification. Transferrable to its new owner, this includes a comprehensive two-year warranty on the vehicle, a two-year warranty on the high-voltage battery system, and two cost-free annual services. Included with the LaFerrari are an Amalgam Models 1:12 scale replica of this exact car, books and manuals, two keys, the original window sticker, a car cover, Ferrari Telemetry USB stick, car charger, and of course, Ferrari Classiche certification with Yellow Book, for a truly fabulous overall package. Offered with incredibly low mileage, this awesome black-on-black 2015 LaFerrari offers an incredible opportunity to experience the design and engineering prowess that has firmly kept Ferrari at the forefront of motorsports since inception of the legendary marque nearly 75 years ago. Maintained “by the book” and regardless of cost, this 2015 LaFerrari is offered in truly investment-grade, collector quality and with a full two-year factory warranty in force; the next owner of this stellar LaFerrari will receive two cost-free annual services as part of this program—representing a significant financial value and additional peace of mind. As offered, this 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari is eminently and unreservedly worthy of its stature as the ultimate roadgoing Ferrari model ever conceived, built, and offered to the world. This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s 23rd annual Amelia Island sale, held in conjunction with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, on 5 March 2022. Held at the stunning oceanfront grounds of the Ritz-Carlton, RM Sotheby’s will offer some of the world’s finest cars in this can’t-miss event. View Listing

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