250 Europa GT Alloy

Posted on December 26, 2014 by classiccarweekly

1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Alloy by Pinin Farina

Offered by Bonhams | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 15, 2015

Photo – Bonhams

The Ferrari 250 is one of Ferraris most iconic models. The line was in production, with a number of different models, from 1953 through 1964. The Europa name was first used in 1953 on the 250 Europa. Confusingly, the 250 Europa GT would debut in 1954. It was the first road car to use Ferrari’s Colombo V-12.

That V-12 is of 3.0-liter capacity and makes 240 horsepower in this car. The difference between the Europa and Europa GT was slight, visually. The real change was the engine. The GT also had a slightly shorter wheelbase, less weight, a revised suspension and a higher top speed.

This car is one of only two Europa GTs that were bodied with Pinin Farina’s legendary design in lightweight aluminium alloy. It is a competition spec car, prepared by the Ferrari factory for the Mille Miglia – a race it would never end up entering (until the 1999 classic version, that is).

This is one of only 27 Pinin Farina-bodied Europa GTs and one of only two bodied in aluminium. And as it was originally built with competition in mind, it would make for a great car for historic tours. You can buy it for between $2,800,000-$3,400,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Update II: Sold, Bonhams Amelia Island 2017, $2,227,500.

Alloy-bodied Bizzarrini

Posted on April 16, 2014 by classiccarweekly

1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Alloy

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo – RM Auctions

Bizzarrinis are stunning cars to see in person – especially when they’ve been restored to such magnificence. Giotto Bizzarrini was an engineer at Ferrari where he was responsible for the 250 Testa Rossa and the 250 GTO – two of the most sought-after Ferraris in history. He then moved to ATS and then on to ISO. When he left ISO in 1964, he formed the company that bore his own name.

In 1966, the company began marketing a street-legal version of its race car. This new road car was the 5300 GT Strada. The car here is an aluminium-bodied example and they use a 5.3-liter V-8 (from a Corvette) that makes 355 horsepower. It was – and is – a race car for the road. Top speed eclipsed 160 mph and approached 180, for those daring enough.

Bizzarrini didn’t build many examples of the 5300, but there are a number of them still out there. They have become a very collectible Italian exotic from the 1960s. Bizzarrini ended production in 1969. This car should bring between $625,000-$750,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Monaco.

Update: Sold $755,204.

Alloy 300SL Gullwing

Posted on October 19, 2012 by classiccarweekly

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing

Offered by RM Auctions | London, England | October 31, 2012

I’m beginning to think I’ve missed the heyday of custom ordering automobiles. No longer can you go to your local dealer and tick boxes for absurd options that included special engines or go-fast bits from race cars – or, insanely, the type of metal your car is made out of.

Most of Mercedes-Benz’s legendary 300SLs were steel-bodied cars, save for the aluminium hood, doors and trunk lid. Only 29 of them were “Alloy” bodied cars, that is, aluminium all the way around. The cost for this special option was very high and the weight savings around 175 lbs.

These cars were intended for privateer racing teams and were available beginning in 1955, the same year Mercedes-Benz withdrew from competitive motorsport. Other sporting changes made to the Alloy cars included suspension upgrades and those awesome Rudge knock-off wheels. There was also a “special” engine available (to all Gullwings, according to Mercedes) that used a competition camshaft, adding 15 horsepower. This car has that as well, so it’s 3.0-liter straight six makes 215 horsepower.

This is car #21 of the 29 built and its ownership history is known from new. An Alloy 300SL is the most desirable version of an already must-have classic (not counting any of the earlier racing versions). This one has no stories and would be a joy to own – and maybe even flog a little on the backroads. I just hope that the new owner is into that sort of thing, and not into storing this in a bunker somewhere, waiting for prices to rise so they can turn around and cash in. Gooding & Company sold one of these earlier this year for over $4 million. This should do likewise. You can read more here and check out more from RM in London here.

Update: Not sold.