These 10 classic cars saw new life in 2014. They were restored to perfection, auctioned to a new owner, or shown at a museum as works of modern art. They are the 10 most remarkable classic car stories we covered in 2014, and you’re invited to get behind the wheel below.
1959 Buick Invicta Hardtop Coupe “Peaches and Cream”
It might as well be a sculpture. This brash caricature of 1950’s design is a genuine work of art, one that the gods gave an engine just so it could show itself off. The 1959 Buick Invicta Hardtop Coupe “Peaches and Cream” may be innocently named, but this collector’s car is much sassier than sweet. It’s a heart-breaker, the type of design that’ll show you a good time and never return your calls, but you knew that the moment you opened the door. [read more] 1959 Buick Invicta Hardtop Coupe “Peaches and Cream” | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner
This might be the rarest Mercedes-Benz ever built. The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner is truly one-of-a-kind, a single model concept that ended Mercedes’ pre-war era. Its curvy, athletic appearance was remarkable in its day, but it is just as alluring nearly 80 years after it was conceived. [read more] 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
The Grey Goose Camionnette by Ragged Edge
The Grey Goose Camionnette is a carefully-restored Citroen HY Camionnette, a vehicle that was popular in the 1950s and 60s in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The attention to detail in this restoration is truly remarkable. This Citroen HY was converted into a fully-operable bar with seating for two. Despite being a delivery van from a different era, the restored design feels luxurious and engaging, an experience that drinkers will take with them into the future two-by-two. [read more] The Grey Goose Camionnette by Ragged Edge | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon
One of the most celebrated Bentleys ever produced found a new owner at the auction block in Monaco this year. The 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by Franay is a one-of-a-kind classic, a car that represents a collaboration between some of the greatest coachbuilders in the post-war era. Rolls Royce, General Motors and Franay, the “coachbuilder of kings”, each played a part in this unique Bentley fastback, and it’s story began a new chapter in Monaco in 2014. [read more] 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1980 BMW M1 AHG Studie
This red, white and blue beauty is one of the rarest BMWs ever built. Born in a brainstorm between BMW and Lamborghini, the 1980 BMW M1 AHG Studie is a legendary sports car. It is one of only 10 that were built, a small collection of high-performance M1’s created for F1 racers and collectors alike. This masterfully maintained M1 is heading to auction this summer, ready for a new chapter of joy riding and gallery gracing for its next owner. [read more] 1980 BMW M1 AHG Studie | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1961 Ferrari 250 GT N.A.R.T. Spider by Fantuzzi
This isn’t your typical vintage Ferrari. The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT N.A.R.T. Spider by Fantuzzi is one of the few in the 1960s that wore the N.A.R.T. badge, signifying that this beast raced with the North American Racing Team. It wasn’t just built to be fast, it was built to be beautiful. In 1965, this car was shipped to Italy for a custom body design by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi, giving it a one-of-a-kind appearance to match its aggressive engineering appeal. The result is about as rare as it gets, and it is certainly priced accordingly. [read more] 1961 Ferrari 250 GT N.A.R.T. Spider by Fantuzzi | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1957 Ford Thunderbird – F-Code
The 1957 Ford Thunderbird represented a tipping point in the era of American Muscle. The V8 engine had already become the powerplant of choice from America’s top manufacturers, but the ’57 Thunderbird was a breakthrough. The F-Series Thunderbird was the first of its era to offer a supercharged V8, an engine with a power boost that blew the ceiling off of V8 potential. Supercharging wasn’t a new technology, but a supercharged V8 was instantly the most desirable engine between four wheels. With that supercharger, the 1957 Ford Thunderbird “F-Bird” put “bigger, faster, stronger” on the map, sparking an engine arms race that continued into the 1970s. [read more] 1957 Ford Thunderbird – F-Code | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT L Series
This breathtaking Ferrari was a personal tribute created by Enzo Ferrari himself. The 1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT L Series was close to the heart of Mr. Ferrari, built in the honor of his late son, Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari. Dino Ferrari was the heir apparent of the brand, working under the tutelage of his father before passing at 24 to a kidney disease. It’s a tragic story, but this loss led Enzo Ferrari to design and build one of the most remarkable Ferraris of that era, the Ferrari Dino 246 GT. [read more] 1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT L Series | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster isn’t just a rare bird today, it was rare the moment it rolled off of the factory floor. This exquisite automobile represents a collaboration between Bugatti and Carrosserie Vanvooren, a French coachbuilder who gave shape to many of Bugatti’s finest vehicles of the 1930s. This is one of the rare few Type 57C’s with an open cockpit for convertible driving. It was one of the most adored vehicles upon its release, only to quickly take refuge in Spain during the onset of World War II. It was a featured lot at an RM Auctions event in Amelia Island, Florida, where it’s story has continued into a new owner’s hands. [read more] 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery
Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas
Time rolls on, technology evolves and people change, but the dream cars of yesterday are still just as dreamy today. Such was the focus of an exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, where 17 iconic dream cars were featured for the public last summer. The “Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas” exhibition features a collection of high concept automobiles from the last half-century or more. Brands that have been widely forgotten and others that are still in business today are represented in this collection, showcasing the dreams of drivers and designers throughout automotive history. [read more] Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas | Gallery View in gallery View in gallery View in gallery – – – – – – – – – – What was your stand-out favorite classic car story of 2014? If we didn’t include it here, feel free to share with us in the comments, on twitter, facebook or otherwise. In the mean time, dig in to more of our recent feature articles here.
