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Bill Burke’s Bonneville Streamliner heading to Mecum Phoenix sale

Carter Nacke
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Bill Burke’s Bonneville Streamliner heading to Mecum Phoenix sale

A 1959 Bonneville Streamliner Super Shaker built and raced by late hot rod pioneer Bill Burke will be on the auction block during the inaugural Mecum Phoenix auction in March.

“The Super Shaker was typical of Burke’s creations: a lightweight, purpose-built, no-frills appliance designed to accomplish its mission of outright speed with maximum efficiency and a touch of flair,” the lot description reads.

Burke cast the Super Shaker from a Cooper sports car, particularly those used to capture straight-line speed records. The fiberglass body was set on a ladder-type chassis made of two-inch tubular steel with one-inch outrigger braces for mounting purposes. In addition to pioneering fiberglass bodies, Burke was also among the first to build and race a belly tanker made from World War II surplus aircraft tanks — an idea he got while serving in the South Pacific.

Burke sits in the Super Shaker at Bonneville. | Mecum photo
Burke sits in the Super Shaker at Bonneville. | Mecum photo

The Super Shaker is one of just two racers in which Burke, a dedicated fan of Ford’s flathead V8 engine, opted to use a Harley-Davidson V-Twin engine. This particular Knucklehead was built by C.B. Clausen, a well-known Harley tuner who was one of the first to use the Milwaukee-made engines at Bonneville.

Clausen enlarged the stock 61cid engine. It was bored, stroked and fitted with a modified cam and heads to optimize airflow to two Riley racing carburetors. It was paired with a Harley-Davidson transmission that only used its second and top gears.

For the front end, Burke used the split wishbones, transverse leaf spring and center-link steering from a Ford Anglia. A Harley-Davidson Servicar rear axle assembly with an open differential and mechanical brakes also was added.

There was barely enough room for Burke to fit in the diminutive speedster. | Mecum photo
There was barely enough room for Burke to fit in the diminutive speedster. | Mecum photo

All of that was crammed into an 84-inch wheelbase of a vehicle that weighed slightly more than 600 pounds dry.

The car carried Burke to a top speed of 151.28 mph at the 1959 Bonneville Speed Trials.

After the trials, Burke set the Super Shaker aside to focus on reaching the 200 MPH Club. He eventually did so as part of an illustrious automotive career that saw him be president of both the Road Rebels Car Club and Southern California Timing Association.

There was barely enough room for Burke to fit in the diminutive speedster. | Mecum photo
There was barely enough room for Burke to fit in the diminutive speedster. | Mecum photo

The Super Shaker was later purchased by racing safety expert Jim Deist, who asked Burke’s longtime friend Fred Sibley to convert it to jet power. The conversion was never completed and the racer sat in Sibley’s shop until 2001, when it was purchased by Jim Mann.

After changing owners a few times, the Super Shaker was bought by Jerry Baker and underwent a four-year restoration. It still has the original bodywork, chassis, wheels and Goodyear tires. Another Harley-Davidson Knucklehead engine was built to match Burke’s specifications and the livery was also brought back to life.

Mecum took the Super Shaker on a brief tour to promote its inaugural Phoenix sale. | Larry Edsall photo
Mecum took the Super Shaker on a brief tour to promote its inaugural Phoenix sale. | Larry Edsall photo

It was the first car to roll off the starting line at the 2008 Bonneville Nationals and has called the Wally Parks NHRA Museum in Pomona, California, home ever since.

The Super Shaker will roll across the block on March 16. Pre-auction estimates put the value between $125,000 and $200,000.

Read more about Mecum’s Phoenix auction:

Watch a 2JZ engine teardown and learn what makes it so tough

Motor Authority
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Watch a 2JZ engine teardown and learn what makes it so tough

The 2JZ inline-6 engine from Toyota is a legendary powerplant within the automotive community, but why? A new video dives into the engine’s internals and explains what makes it so ideal to make big power on stock internals.

The video comes from Papadakis Racing and the engine is basically the engine that came in the previous Toyota Supra, but i’ss actually from a Toyota Aristo. The U.S. knows it as the Lexus GS, and features variable camshaft timing on the intake.

The majority of the video basically shows the process used to tear the entire engine down, but in the process, we can see what makes the engine so special. We can thank Japan’s bubble economy for automakers making these, frankly, over-engineered engines that last incredibly long.

Foremost, the 2JZ engine is a cast-iron block and a closed block, which makes it tough. Inside, the engine uses bucket-type lifters, which don’t fit larger camshafts really well, but they’re incredibly reliable — there aren’t nearly as many moving parts as a rocker arm setup, for example.

When the head comes off, the head gasket itself looks pretty good for an engine that’s been around for over 20 years.

Part of the reason is that Toyota fitted the 2JZ with very strong head gaskets and that closed block design. There aren’t water ports around the cylinders, which makes the cylinder strong. That’s why tuners are able to push tons of boost and lots of power from the stock internals.

The head gasket itself is a multi-layer gasket with three layers of steel. The design helps seal the cylinder very tightly and helps keep the gasket from blowing.

NOS 1936 Bentley tourer heading to auction in England

Larry Edsall
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NOS 1936 Bentley tourer heading to auction in England

In 1936, five years after Rolls-Royce took over Bentley, enough new-old-stock parts were found in the service department to assemble six 4 ½-liter touring cars.

Nobby Clarke and Hubert Pike were responsible for the work, which included reconditioning some parts when NOS wasn’t available. In all, 10 cars were built, the six 4.5-liter models and four with 3.5-liter engines.

One of those six 4.5 liter models, a 1936 Bentley still with its original VandenPlas Tourer coachwork, has had only two owners and has been consigned to H&H Classics’ auction scheduled for March 20 at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridge, England.

The car had been stored in a garage by its second owner and was consigned to the auction by his estate. The late owner had acquired the car from the original owner in 1952 for £260. H&H Classics expects it to sell for £150,000 to £200,000 ($196,535 to $262,050). 

“The Bentley we are offering is so unusual because it was assembled in the mid-1930s using a chassis and mechanical parts which dated from no later than 1931,” said Damian Jones, head of sales at H&H Classics.

“Only the body was freshly made when the car was assembled and sold as a new car in 1936. The WO Bentleys made from 1919 to 1931 are far more valuable than the Derby Bentleys which followed from 1933 to 1940. The car we are offering for sale is accepted as a WO Bentley because its chassis and mechanicals were all made during the WO era.”

Of the six RC Series 4 ½-liter cars, this one, Chassis RC41, is the only one that retains its original coachwork, H&H Classics noted, adding that the other five have been rebodied as “Le Mans” style tourers.

“This is the ultimate Bentley ‘barn find’ in the marque’s centenary year. It is a really wonderful discovery for all fans of the marque made even more special in the make’s 100th birthday year. It sold last time for just £260 so this time we believe it will do a thousand times better.”

Mercedes-Benz 540K fastback, star-driven Ferrari take top honors at Amelia Island

Larry Printz
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Mercedes-Benz 540K fastback, star-driven Ferrari take top honors at Amelia Island

Editor’s note: The ClassicCars.com Journal is your source for Amelia Island news – from collector car auctions and shows to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Read more of our coverage on our dedicated page.

It must thrill an automaker when one of its products grabs the top prize at a concours, especially when that show is the 2019 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and the automaker is Mercedes-Benz, a title sponsor of this event for its entire 24-year history. 

A 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn-Kurier owned by The Keller Collection of Petaluma, California, won Best in Show Concours d’Elegance honors Sunday at Amelia Island. 

The car, the only one known to survive, was created in-house at the Sindelfingen factory on the supercharged 540K chassis and was shown at the 1938 Paris Motor Show. Only a handful were built, powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged 8-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower through a four-speed manual transmission. The sturdy chassis employed an independent double-wishbone front suspension and swing axle rear suspension. 

The aerodynamic fastback coupe was commissioned by Ignacio Barraquer, an eye doctor from Barcelona, Spain. His family retained ownership of the car until 2004, when it was sold to collector Arturo Keller, who had the car restored by Paul Russell. 

Amelia Island winners on parade

Joining the Mercedes-Benz on the Amelia Island winner’s stand as Best in Show Concours d’Sport was a 1957 Ferrari 335 S owned by Cavallino Investments of Cortland, Ohio. 

At the time this car was built, Ferrari had won the World Sportscar Championship. So it’s no surprise that the car was very advanced for its time, having started as a 290 MM, before being updated to a 315 S and finally a 335 S. Its power comes from a 60-degree V12 boasting 24 plugs, two valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts and generating 360 horsepower.

The car’s provenance is astounding, having been driven by Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Alfonzo De Portago, W. Graf Berghe von Trips, Peter Collins, Maurice Trintignant, Mike Hawthorn, Luigi Musso, Stirling Moss and Gaston Andrey and run in the major races at Sebring, LeMans, the Mille Miglia, the Nürburgring and elsewhere.

The 24th annual Amelia Island concours featured approximately 300 cars and weather so stunningly beautiful, it must have been ordered by the Chamber of Commerce.  

As always, the show continues to attract the top collectors, automotive executives, car designers race car drivers and stars, this year including John Oates and Paul Teutel Jr. 

Winning cars and their owners

Read more Amelia Island auction coverage:

Amelia Island auctions reflect the new normal

Larry Edsall
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Amelia Island auctions reflect the new normal

Editor’s note: The ClassicCars.com Journal is your source for Amelia Island news – from collector car auctions and shows to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Read more of our coverage on our dedicated page.

“It appears that the Amelia Island auctions are reaching an equilibrium for the current market,” the Hagerty Insider report said in summarizing the collector car auctions leading up to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance at the northeastern Florida resort community.

Total sales reached $80.1 million, nearly equaling the 2018 total, while the sell-through rate and average sales price both improved compared with year-ago figures.

As in Arizona in January, the highest-priced cars posted only a 64 percent sell-through rate and prices paid tended to be lower than anticipated based on vehicle valuation in the Hagerty Price Guide. On the other hand, cars valued at $250,000 or less tended to sell for strong numbers.

1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra was bid to $1.8 million but not hammered sold

The reason, the Hagerty Insider suggested, “likely in part reflects the generational shift occurring in the market as younger — but not as wealthy — collectors enter the hobby in increasing numbers.”

RM Sotheby’s concluded its two-day auction Saturday and posted the two highest-dollar sales of the weekend, a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB coupe bringing more than $2.2 million and a 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster going for nearly $1.8 million (prices include buyer’s fee). 

For the weekend, RM Sotheby’s had seven of the top-10 sales. However, neither of the auction’s two Saturday star cars — a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corscia nor a 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra (CSX 3006) — were hammered sold despite multi-million-dollar bids. The Bugatti, estimated to sell for $6 million to $7 million, was bid to $5.7 million. The Cobra, expected to go for $3 million to $4 million, reached $2.8 in bidding. 

Consignor declined a $5.7 million bid for this 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corscia

“With the market for million dollar cars slowing, buyers appear to be getting more particular about what they add to their collections,” Hagerty suggested.

During its auction, RM Sotheby’s had five other cars bid to $1 million or more without being sold, and that auction house wasn’t alone. Gooding consignors rejected bids as high as $2 million. Even at Russo and Steele, which sold only 34 cars during its two-day sale, a bid of $1.8 million — a figure that represented nearly half of the auction’s total for the weekend — was rejected by the consignor of a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso.

In its debut at Amelia Island, Russo and Steele posted only a 30 percent sell-through rate.

Amelia Island auctions 2019

2019 results

Total sales: $79.6 million

321/452 lots sold, 71 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $247,906

2018 results through Friday

Total sales: $80.7 million

335/487 lots sold, 69 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $240,822

Overall top-10 sales

  1. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB coupe, $2,205,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
  2. 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, $1,7923,500 (RM Sotheby’s)
  3. 1930 Packard Speedster Series 734 boattail roadster, $1,765,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  4. 1930 Duesenberg Model J LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton, $1,650,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
  5. 2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Sang Noir coupe, $1,500,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
  6. 2015 McLaren P1 coupe, $1,490,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
  7. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach roadster, $1,490,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  8. 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Chapron cabriolet Le Dandy, $1,352,500 (RM Sotheby’s)
  9. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, $1,325,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  10. 1934 Packard Twelve-Series 1108 Dietrich convertible sedan, $1,325,000 (RM Sotheby’s)

Results by auction company

Bonhams

Total sales: $15.8 million

92/108 lots sold, 85 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $171,626

  1. 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Fleetwood roadster, $1,187,500
  2.  1968 Repco Brabham-Cosworth BT26 BT26A, $1,105,000
  3. 1913 Mercer Type 35J Raceabout roadster, $898,000
  4. 1914 Simplex 50HP Speedcar roadster, $885,000
  5. 1904 Peerless Type 8 Style K JM Quinby Co. Runabout, $698,000
  6. 1998 Ruf 911 Turbo R coupe, $626,500
  7. 1904 Thomas Model 22 3-cylinder tonneau, $489,000
  8. 1929 Bentley 4 1/2-liter sport tourer Vanden Plas roadster, $472,500
  9. 1908 Welch Model 4-L 50HP touring, $456,000
  10. 1907 Tincher Model H 60HP touring, $423,000

2018 results

Total sales: $13.2 million

88/101 lots sold, 87 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $149,919

Gooding & Company

Totals sales: $22.0 million

78/89 lots sold, 85 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $282,666

  1. 1930 Packard Speedster Series 734 boattail roadster, $1,765,000
  2. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach roadster, $1,490,000
  3. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, $1,325,000
  4. 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso coupe, $1,225,000
  5. 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 coupe, $1,132,500
  6. 1987 Porsche 962C Kremer race car, $1,022,500
  7. 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 R&P roadster, $714,500
  8. 1984 Porsche 911 race car, $687,000
  9. 2004 Porsche Carrera GT coupe, $687,000
  10. 2011 Porsche 911 GTS RS 4.0 coupe, $582,500

2018 results

Total sales: $35,8 million

82/96 lots sold, 95 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $436,515

RM Sotheby’s

Totals sales : $38.1 million

117/141 lots sold, 83 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $325,219

  1. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB coupe, $2,205,000
  2. 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, $1,7923,500
  3. 1930 Duesenberg Model J LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton, $1,650,000
  4. 2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Sang Noir coupe, $1,500,000
  5. 2015 McLaren P1 coupe, $1,490,000
  6. 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Chapron cabriolet Le Dandy, $1,352,500
  7. 1934 Packard Twelve-Series 1108 Dietrich convertible sedan, $1,325,000
  8. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder roadster, $1,187,500
  9. 1992 Ferrari F40 coupe, $1,017,000
  10. 2017 Ferrari F12tdf coupe, $967,500

2018 results (one-day sale)

Total sales: $27.6 million

87/102 lots sold, 85 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $316,824

Russo and Steele

Total sales: $3.7 million

34/114 lots sold, 30 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $108,515

  1. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe, $990,000
  2. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT coupe, $665,500
  3. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, $231,000
  4. 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster, $181,500
  5. 2001 BMW Z8 roadster, $140,250
  6. 2012 Ferrari 458 race car, $134,750
  7. 1997 Porsche 911 Andial coupe, $129,250
  8. 2017 Mercedes-Benz G550, $126,500
  9. 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT coupe, $115,500
  10. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C roadster, $104,500

2018 results

None (new event for 2019)

Correction: It was reported that the $53,200 paid at Amelia Island was an auction record for a 1996 Nissan 300ZX twin turbo. The record is $90,100, set in 2017.

Update: This report was updated March 11.

Read more Amelia Island auction coverage:

Major boost: BMW 2002 Turbo restored to street-racer original

Bob Golfen
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Major boost: BMW 2002 Turbo restored to street-racer original

Turbocharging of automobiles was just getting under way in 1973 when BMW came out with its somewhat outrageous 2002 Turbo, beating both Porsche and Saab to the punch.   The turbo coupe lasted for just the 1974 model year with only 1,672 examples produced.

The Pick of the Day is one of them, a 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo that has been fully restored in its original and controversial style, according to the Houston dealer advertising the car on ClassicCars.com.

BMW
Fender flairs and graphics denote the performance model

Considered to be the first turbocharged production car in Europe (U.S. automakers had built a few turbo cars, notably the Corvair Corsa and the short-lived Oldsmobile Jetfire), the 2002 Turbo was based on the fuel-injected 4-cylinder 2002 tii, which was turbocharged for a peak output of 170 horsepower, 40 more than the normally aspirated engine.

The Turbo also was festooned with racy wheel flares and graphics, including reverse lettering under the bumperless grille to “warn” other drivers about what had suddenly appeared in their rear-view mirrors.  The boy-racer look was polarizing, although in keeping with BMW’s iconoclastic racing liveries. It definitely makes the 2002 Turbo stand out in a crowd.

BMW
The turbo-4 reached 170 horsepower

The Turbo also raised some eyebrows because of its radical performance.  Predating electronic engine management and other advances, there was a major drivability issue; the BMW’s turbo lag was fierce, making for some wildly abrupt power surges as the turbocharger “spooled up.”  Extra care and understanding are needed when driving one of these, as with other early turbo cars from Porsche and Saab, to keep it on the road and pointed in the right direction.

The comprehensive restoration of this 2002 Turbo was completed in 2014 by BMW experts, according to the seller, and the car stands ready for concours judging or high-end classic car rallies.  Painted in the correct Chamonix White, the car comes with documentation and a BMW Classic Certificate.

The gallery of photos with the ad show a remarkably clean and authentic restoration.

BMW
The BMW’s interior has been brought back to original

“It’s always great to see original equipment in place where available, such as all BMW etched side and rear glass with defroster, trim components, working Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio with speaker, and fender flairs with factory part decals,” the seller says. “Correct-type steel wheels are like new and beautifully finished and mounted to new 185/70R13 Pirelli CN36 tires, complimenting the period attire and stance.”

The asking price for this rare piece of BMW performance is $154,500, which is in line with the Hagerty Price Guide. Hagerty lists the 2002 Turbo among those collector cars that have had the highest recent value gains, with a 48 percent increase over the past six months or so.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

 

Brembo adds color to compete at Geneva showcase

Larry Edsall
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Brembo adds color to compete at Geneva showcase

So, you have a couple of new brake discs to introduce at the Geneva Motor Show and you need a way to draw attention to your booth amid an array of the latest and greatest high-performance supercars and futuristic electrified concept cars.

If you’re Brembo, you do it with color, or what the Italian braking component company termed “Beyond Color.”

“Brembo continues to experiment with color, keeping in step with the latest trends in fashion, art, style and design,” the company said.

“Since the very first, and now synonymous with the brand red caliper more than 25 years ago, Brembo has increasingly focused on and pushed the color spectrum of its products in order to characterize and strengthen the distinctive features of each vehicle it equips.

“Today, it continues to amaze and, after almost 60 years of innovation, goes further, with a provocation on color, which once again makes it a pioneer not only in technology, but also in design.

“For the Geneva Motor Show, in fact, Brembo was inspired by the world of fashion, design, art and style to coat some of its calipers with unusual ‘cloths’ for a car component, in a journey of provocations, chromatic suggestions and graphic textures.”

Dual-cast brake rotor

Thus Brembo showed calipers with camouflage patterns, glittered calipers — even one in argyle.

And to think, a Detroit automotive engineer once told me it was too complicated on the assembly line for me to get simple painted calipers that matched my car’s single body color. 

Oh, and lest we overlook them, Brembo also unveiled two new brake discs at Geneva, a larger lightweight disc range for high-performance vehicles and the second generation of its dual-cast “floating” disc, still made of cast iron and aluminum but now lighter by 20 percent.

New lightweight disc

Mazda CX-5 continues to punch above its weight in compact SUV class

Carter Nacke
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Mazda CX-5 continues to punch above its weight in compact SUV class

In the very crowded compact crossover-SUV market, automakers are constantly working to outdo the competition. It must be very stressful for them, but we’re all reaping the benefits in the form of some great cars.

One of those vehicles, the Mazda CX-5, has been a standout underdog for years. Its 2019 version, which now has an optional turbocharged engine, is yet another solid entry for the Japanese company that continues to punch above its weight.

Before we go any further, full disclosure: My wife and I own a 2018 Mazda CX-5. It’s her daily driver and has a long list of standard features not seen in competing cars, including those with higher price tags. I enjoy driving it, but the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine lacks punch.

Mazda sought to alleviate that concern with the 2019 models. The higher-level trims now come standard with a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that adds 40 horsepower and an whopping additional 124 pound-feet of torque over the previous model year. The result, especially when paired with all-wheel drive, is a compact SUV that has the engine performance to back its sporty looks.

The 2019 model is the third model year of the second-generation CX-5. Like its predecessors, it features a large, mostly chrome-trimmed black mesh grille that dominates the vehicle’s front end. On either side of the grille are slim headlights — the top-of-the-line Signature trim I drove had all-LED lighting. Interestingly, the top of the hood overhangs the grill slightly and lines up with a small chin spoiler, which gives the snub-nosed SUV an aggressive slant.

Contoured sides continue the sporty look to the rear, which features higher-mounted taillights that echo the slim design of the headlights. The 19-inch alloy wheels are slightly dwarfed by the large wheel wells, but the overall design of the CX-5 gives it an air of sporty sophistication, especially in Mazda’s great Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint.

The elegant interior is where the CX-5 really shines. While the driver is presented with everything needed to control the vehicle and all its settings, passengers are treated to clean lines and plenty of room in which to get comfortable. The Signature version comes with Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery; the one I drove had the Caturra Brown color, which blended nicely with the mostly black interior.

The interior seats are well-bolstered and the stitching gives the sense of a luxury vehicle. Mazda did an excellent job of keeping the interior simple and sophisticated, which adds to the feel that the car should be priced higher.

However, the interior is home to my top complaint about the CX-5: the infotainment system. Operated by several knobs between the shifter and center console, the small screen and subpar backup camera fall short of expectations.

The knobs, apparently part of Mazda’s push to eliminate touchscreens for safety reasons, actually work well and quickly become intuitive. But the screen and its clunky menus feel old and outdated. Instead of complimenting the otherwise nice interior and technology, the infotainment system sits like a sore thumb atop the dash. Mazda would be wise to revamp the system.

Mazda photo

The lack of updates in the infotainment do not extend to any of the vehicle’s other tech. Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring complete with alerts for rear cross traffic and its Smart City Brake Support — basically, front collision avoidance.

Upgraded trims also get adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist systems, which work well. The cruise control will slow the vehicle to a dead stop in traffic and the lane-keep assist is effective without being pushy, unlike some other vehicles.

The turbocharged engine gives the CX-5 a needed upgrade in performance. The engine, which is the same one used in the much larger CX-9, is responsive and turbo lag is minimal. Acceleration comes quick, especially on the freeway.

Thanks to Mazda’s suspension and G-Vectoring Control, which is basically an advanced form of chassis management done through the drivetrain, the CX-5 feels nimble and handles like a smaller vehicle. The system is standard on all Mazdas — focusing on cars and SUVs with sporty handling is a brand signature. Without going into the complexities of the system, it allows for more precise steering and makes the SUV downright enjoyable to drive.

The compact SUV market is only going to get more competitive as Americans continue to shift away from cars and move toward crossovers and pickup trucks, which will drive automakers to get increasingly aggressive with designs and features.

Mazda may still be an underdog compared with some of the bigger automakers out there, but given the overall appeal of the CX-5, I expect to see a lot more of these revamped compact crossovers zipping down the highway soon.

2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature

Vehicle type: 5-passenger crossover compact SUV, all-wheel drive
Base price: $24,350 Price as tested: $39,325
Engine: Turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 227 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm, 310 pound-feet of torque @ 2,000 rpm (87 octane regular unleaded fuel ratings) Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 106.2 inches Overall length/width: 179.1 inches / 72.5 inches
Curb weight: 3,825 pounds
EPA mileage estimates: 22 city / 27 highway / 24 combined
Final assembly in: Hiroshima, Japan

Morgan reveals Plus Six as new flagship at Geneva

Motor Authority
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Morgan reveals Plus Six as new flagship at Geneva

The era of V8 cars at Morgan came to a close late last year when the company rolled out the final versions of its Plus 8 and Aero 8, with the company stating at the time that a new “wide-body car” would arrive shortly to fill the void. At the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show on Tuesday, the new car was revealed as the Morgan Plus Six.

As the name suggests, the car is powered by a 6-cylinder engine, in this case a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 sourced from BMW. It generates a peak 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque and spins the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic. Owners can expect a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 166 mph.

The Plus Six also introduces Morgan’s new CX-Generation aluminum bonded platform. The new design features an extra 0.8 inches in the wheelbase compared to the platform of the Plus 8 and Aero 8, resulting in extra space for occupants. Torsional rigidity has also been more than doubled.

The platform also brings new technology in the cabin, including a subtle digital screen built into the new dash. Things remain very retro, of course, with the dials, for example, being inspired by 1950s aviation instruments. Available, and standard on some models, will be a removable roof made from composite materials to keep things light.

As a flagship, the Plus Six is positioned at the premium end of the Morgan product range, sitting above the existing Roadster, Plus 4 and 4/4. Pricing starts from $102,585.

Morgan also used the Geneva auto show to announce new investor Investindustrial, the private equity firm that also holds a major stake in Aston Martin. The investment means the Morgan family will now only retain a minority shareholding in the company. They intend to continue serving as stewards for the brand, however.

Morgan in 2018 returned a net profit of $4.2 million.

Porsches parade at Werks Reunion, Amelia auction blocks

Larry Edsall
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Porsches parade at Werks Reunion, Amelia auction blocks

Editor’s note: The ClassicCars.com Journal is your source for Amelia Island news – from collector car auctions and shows to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Read more of our coverage on our dedicated page.

Friday has become Porsche day during the annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance weekend on Florida’s northeastern coast, where collector car auctions are part of the attraction. 

This year was no different, what with the Werks Reunion, a Porsche Club of America event at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation drawing a seemingly endless stream of 911s, and with Amelia’s proximity to so many Porsche racing victories at Daytona and Sebring, even the factory brings out historic as well as its latest models.

Auction action at Gooding & Company on Friday included the record-setting sale of a 1961 OSCA 1600 GT by Zagato (lower right) | Larry Printz photos

“The auction companies have identified a captive audience on Friday and tune their offerings accordingly,” notes the Hagerty Insider, which tracks each of the auctions and reports daily on the results during the major collector car events in Arizona, Amelia Island and later this summer on the Monterey Peninsula.

Friday, Gooding & Company staged its one-day Amelia Island auction and featured the Porsche collection of WhatsApp founder Jan Koum. The consignment included eight 911s, a 918 Spider and a Cayman GT4. And they were only part of a group of 33 Porsches — 32 cars and a tractor — on the Gooding & Company docket. More than one-third of that docket comprised Porsches.

Of those Gooding Porsches, 82 percent sold, for a total of $10,032,300, an average of $371,567 each (prices reported include buyer’s fee).

Aside from the Porsches, Gooding also posted a big result from a relatively small car — a 1961 OSCA 1600 GT by Zagato brought a record price, $489,000.

2004 Porsche Carrera GT on the block at RM Sotheby’s | Andy Reid photo

RM Sotheby’s continued to do well with its Youngtimer collection, which included a pair of Porsches. A 1988 928 S4 driven barely more than 10,000 miles brought $67,200, 66 percent above its Hagerty Price Guide figure, and a 1995 928 GTS, one of only 77 built for North America, went for $89,600, 11 percent better than the price guide.

Other cars in the Youngtimer group for future classics also did well at RM Sotheby’s, including a record $53,200 for a 1996 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo with less than 2,800 miles on its odometer, $50,400 for a 1993 Mazda RX-7 twin turbo, and a record $176,300 for a 1994 Toyota Super twin-turbo targa driven only 11,200 miles since new. Yet another record fell when a 1994 BMW 850 CSi brought $184,800.

Russo and Steele concluded its first Amelia Island auction, with only 23 cars crossing the block, including a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster that sold for $181,500.

RM Sotheby’s concludes its Amelia sale Saturday with a 1937 Bugatti Type t7SC Tourer by Corsica, valued at more than $6 million, and a 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra (CSX 3006), another multi-million-dollar machine, leading the docket.

Amelia Island auctions 2018

2019 results through Friday

Total sales: $54.4 million

249/370 lots sold, 67 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $218,513

2018 results through Friday

Total sales: $77.2 million

269/351 lots sold, 77 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $286,843

Overall top-10 sales

  1. 1930 Packard Speedster Series 734 boattail roadster, $1,765,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  2. 2015 McLaren P1 coupe, $1,490,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
  3. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach roadster, $1,490,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  4. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, $1,325,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  5. 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso coupe, $1,225,000 (Gooding & Co.)
  6. 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Fleetwood roadster, $1,187,500 (Bonhams)
  7. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder roadster, $1,187,500 (RM Sotheby’s)
  8. 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 coupe, $1,132,500 (Gooding & Co.)
  9. 1968 Repco Brabham-Cosworth BT26 BT26A, $1,105,000 (Bonhams)
  10. 1987 Porsche 962C Kremer race car, $1,022,500 (Gooding & Co.)

Results by auction company

Bonhams

2019 results

Total sales: $15.4 million

89/108 lots sold, 82 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $173,468

  1. 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Fleetwood roadster, $1,187,500
  2.  1968 Repco Brabham-Cosworth BT26 BT26A, $1,105,000
  3. 1913 Mercer Type 35J Raceabout roadster, $898,000
  4. 1914 Simplex 50HP Speedcar roadster, $885,000
  5. 1904 Peerless Type 8 Style K JM Quinby Co. Runabout, $698,000
  6. 1998 Ruf 911 Turbo R coupe, $626,500
  7. 1904 Thomas Model 22 3-cylinder tonneau, $489,000
  8. 1929 Bentley 4 1/2-liter sport tourer Vanden Plas roadster, $472,500
  9. 1908 Welch Model 4-L 50HP touring, $456,000
  10. 1907 Tincher Model H 60HP touring, $423,000

2018 results

Total sales: $13.2 million

88/101 lots sold, 87 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $149,919

Gooding & Company

Totals sales: $21.4 million

75/89 lots sold, 85 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $281,801

  1. 1930 Packard Speedster Series 734 boattail roadster, $1,765,000
  2. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach roadster, $1,490,000
  3. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, $1,325,000
  4. 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso coupe, $1,225,000
  5. 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 coupe, $1,132,500
  6. 1987 Porsche 962C Kremer race car, $1,022,500
  7. 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 R&P roadster, $714,500
  8. 1984 Porsche 911 race car, $687,000
  9. 2004 Porsche Carrera GT coupe, $687,000
  10. 2011 Porsche 911 GTS RS 4.0 coupe, $582,500

2018 results

Total sales: $35.8 million

82/96 lots sold, 95 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $436,515

RM Sotheby’s

Totals sales through Friday : $13.9 million

50/59 lots sold, 85 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $277,296

  1. 2015 McLaren P1 coupe, $1,490,000
  2. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder roadster, $1,187,500
  3. 1992 Ferrari F40 coupe, $1,017,000
  4. 2017 Ferrari F12 tdf coupe, $967,500
  5. 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring coupe, $912,500
  6. 2004 Porsche Carrera GT coupe, $775,000
  7. 2009 Mercedes-Benz  SLR McLaren 722 S convertible, $648,500
  8. 2013 Lotus T125 race car, $417,500
  9. 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Weissach coupe, $379,000
  10. 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione coupe, $324,000

2018 results (one-day sale)

Total sales: $27.6 million

89/108 lots sold, 82 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $173,468

Russo and Steele

Total sales: $3.37 million

34/114 lots sold, 30 percent sell-through rate

Average sale price: $108,515

  1. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe, $990,000
  2. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT coupe, $665,500
  3. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, $231,000
  4. 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster, $181,500
  5. 2001 BMW Z8 roadster, $140,250
  6. 2012 Ferrari 458 race car, $134,750
  7. 1997 Porsche 911 Andial coupe, $129,250
  8. 2017 Mercedes-Benz G550, $126,500
  9. 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT coupe, $115,500
  10. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C roadster, $104,500

2018 results

None (new event for 2019)

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