cars

Swiss SUV couture: 1976 monteverdi 4×4 safari


following up on the monteverdi posts, here is one of the very first luxury SUV’s by swiss car manufacturer monteverdi. although the car was anything but swiss the company non-the-less functioned out of benningen, on the southern edge of basel. this was perhaps a reflection of the better known “range rover” by british leyland which although expensive, it sold for a fraction of the “safari” at the time. the safari’s price tag at the time was 185,000 swiss francs (approximately $241,215) a good chunk of change at the time. by dd

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sailors at port: porsche awaits

and one last one for the weekend drive in the sun. i believe this to be a porsche 1500 registry (correct me if i’m wrong). while not a fan of porsches in general this one is quite inviting. by dd

CATEGORIES: cars

Monteverdi automobile: the 1970’s Haute couture car

swiss made monteverdi was the car of kings in the 1970’s… (and some dictators with the needed cash). very few were made, and exported making it an almost unknown manufacturer.

do note in the film, that the original range rover was fully influenced by monteverdi safari 4×4, the first of its kind. i remember the car and its image from my childhood and for a bit, i was beginning to think it was really a figment of my imagination as no one seemed to respond when i would mention the name. i finally came across this which restored my confidence in my memory. hope you enjoy. by dd

CATEGORIES: cars, clips

LAMBORGHINI: ISLERO GTS

wow! this is actually roger moore’s 1969 lamborghini islero GTS that was auctioned off not long ago. i’d argue that this is the most beautiful lamborghini ever manufactured. by dd

CATEGORIES: cars

1931 Bugatti type 51 grand prix vs. 1924 Bugatti type 35

1931 Bugatti type 51 grand prix

i just couldn’t resist… another specimen of this sort, the 1924 bugatti type 35, purchased in 1950’s for £60k, sold recently for a massive £430,000 making it a rather sound investment for the seller. the later model above with its distinctive tail is by far a more interesting purchase in my opinion than the type 35. that said i would not say no to either.

 

“this 1931 type 51 bugatti is estimated to fetch up to $4.5m (£2.8m) thanks to its illustrious racing history – it competed in 17 european grands prix, winning in algeria in 1932 and had a career lasting from 1931 to 1940. despite its illustrious and long-lasting racing career, the type 51 has remained remarkably original, keeping the same bodywork, engine, gearbox, wheels and back axle that it first came with. it ranks amongst the finest survivors of the highly desirable bugatti type 51 grand prix” by xy+dd

CATEGORIES: cars