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Muhammad Ali’s 1976 Alfa Romeo Spider On Auction

One of the perks of being a legend is that everything you touch turns to gold — just like this 1976 Alfa Romeo Spider, which was once owned by none other than The Greatest boxer himself, Muhammad Ali.

Ali purchased this car at some dealership in Chicago decades ago. He owned it briefly then eventually handed it over as a gift to his friend — the current owner — who accompanied him at the time of purchase. Now, it’s coming up for auction.

It’s not clear exactly who this owner is, but the car is said to have been featured in the book “Running with the Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship with Muhammad Ali” by Tim Shanahan. Our best guest? It’s him.

This Alfa Romeo Spider has put in over 80,000 miles after 42 years, and comes decked in a silver color that’s accented with a red coachline plus sleek black interiors. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter straight four with a five-speed manual, and dons a California vanity plate that reads “ALIBEE2” in reference to Ali’s famous quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” The original registration, signed by Ali, is also included.

Whoever ends up snagging this car will not only get to keep a delightful Italian roadster in their garage, but also own an incredibly important fragment of history that no one can put a price on.

Check out more photos of the car below. It’s due to be sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas sale next month, so mark your calendars.

BID HERE

Photos courtesy of Barrett Jackson

August 27, 2018 / Comments Off

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John Cena’s former 2017 Ford GT heads to auction at Monterey

The now-infamous 647-horsepower Liquid Blue 2017 Ford GT formerly owned (and then flipped) by actor and wrestling star John Cena is once again for sale, this time destined for the auction block this weekend at Monterey Car Week. And in a twist, Jalopnikreports it’s being auctioned by the same dealer Ford also sued for flipping it.

Chico, Calif.-based New Autos Inc. is sending the car to the Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auction Saturday night in downtown Monterey, advertising it as one of just 138 produced for 2017, the first model year, and with the VIN number 77, a nod to Cena’s birth year.

Ford late last year sued Cena for flipping his GT for a profit shortly after he acquired it for $466,376.50, citing a clause barring a sale of any of the first 500 models for 24 months. The two sides later settled for an undisclosed amount that reportedly was to go to charity.

New Autos is apparently eager to trumpet the car’s clean legal bill of health. “This is the only 2017 Ford GT for sale that is unencumbered by past, present or future lawsuits from Ford,” Bernie Knaus, the president of New Autos Inc., said in a release. He added, “Whoever buys it will get an incredible car with no legal issues attached, since it was already settled.”

Jalopnik spoke with Knaus, who told them Cena sold the GT to a 78-year-old wealthy farmer in California who wanted one last great supercar and is reportedly a big Ford fan, with a large collection of F-Series pickups doing duty on his farm. He’s apparently no longer able to use the car and decided to sell it with a scant 625 miles on the odometer.

“He says, ‘Bernie, I don’t need to sell the car. But it’s getting to the point where I can’t get in the car, and it’s too difficult to drive,'” Knaus told the site. “He has some back issues, (but) he got the dream of owning it.

“This was gong to be his last great car for himself, and he wanted it to be an American car. That was critical. And not only an American car, but he wanted it to be a Ford.”

Ford recently decided to re-open the application process for the 2019 Ford GT in the fourth quarter of this year but remains committed to the quota of 1,000 examples over four build years through 2020.

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August 23, 2018 / Comments Off

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1956 Porsche 356 on Auction

We’ve seen a steady influx of marvelous classic American muscle cars as various establishments showcase their wares. Don’t take it the wrong way, we love retro pony cars and such, but we also want a little variety once in a while. Luckily, RM Sotheby’s is here to offer collectors alternatives to tides them over until the next big thing shows up.

What we have here is a fine example of European vintage luxury performance cars—a 1956 Porsche 356 A European. The auction house notes that its body was crafted by Reutter Carosserie-Werke, hence, it’s definitely a rare find. Additionally, what makes it even more unique is the “European” fender script in gold color, which was only found on models that were intended for the American market. With its show-quality level of work done by Altissimo Restoration, this magnificent coupe begs to be a part of every collector’s catalog.

The craftsmanship of its cabin is exceptional—an elegant mix of red and beige matches its Fashion Grey exterior coat. Upgrades have been made to its engine, which was replaced with a 1969 1.7-liter industrial unit from Porsche. Moreover, all of its instrument gauges were carefully rebuilt followed by a recalibration, while its original radio unit was likewise refurbished to its working condition. The auction house lists its starting bid price somewhere in the range of $200,000 to $250,000

Photos courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

August 18, 2018 / Comments Off

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Last of 500 allocated McLaren Sennas sells at auction

If you held any hope of obtaining the last available McLaren Senna, abandon it now: The last of the 500 build allocations has sold at a private auction for McLaren customers. It raised £2 million ($2.67 million) for the Ayrton Senna Institute, the nonprofit non-government organization named for the late three-time Formula One world champion.

The company announced the sale three days after the supercar’s official unveiling and four days after it was leaked during an early reveal party. Excluding taxes, the winning bid from an anonymous buyer was more than three times the U.K. list price for the car.

Originally dubbed the P15, McLaren says the Senna is the “most extreme” road car it has ever created, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 generating 789 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It’s also the lightest, at 2,641 pounds. It boasts a RCC II RaceActive Chassis Control hydraulic suspension and unique features like a Jetsons-esque glass greenhouse and glass panels in the doors.

Ayrton Senna won three F1 world championships driving for McLaren. The auction for McLaren customers was attended by his sister, Viviane Senna da Silva Lalli, and Bruno Senna, her son, also a race driver and McLaren ambassador.

The Ayrton Senna Institute provides education to underprivileged children in Brazil.

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December 13, 2017 / Comments Off

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Pope Francis gets a papal-themed Lamborghini Huracan

Lamborghini picked a special recipient for the newest and rarest version of its Huracán RWD, giving an ultra limited-edition version of the supercar to Pope Francis in a ceremony Wednesday at the Vatican attended by company executives.

The new Popemobile, it’s not. Fittingly, according to Catholic News Agency, it’s the seventh version of the Huracán, the Italian company’s entry-level model. It’s set to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s on May 12, 2018, with orders from the Holy See to split the proceeds between three charitable causes: restoring villages on the Nineveh Plain in Iraq, helping victims of human trafficking and supporting missionary work in Africa.

The papal Huracán RWD is done in Monocerus white with Tiberio yellow stripes running along the hood, roof and body, reflecting the colors of the flag of Vatican City. It was blessed and autographed by the pontiff in the presence of Lamborghini Chairman and CEO Stefano Domenicali, board members and two employees who helped build the car.

The Huracán is the successor to the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s best-selling model of all time, with a design inspired by the hexagonal form of the carbon atom. It’s powered by a naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 that makes 602 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Normally, the sports car starts $199,800. But a version blessed and autographed by the pope? Priceless…

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November 15, 2017 / Comments Off

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How a 2017 Bentley Bentayga ended up in a salvage yard

You can find all sorts of great deals at auctions, but this one seems a little too good to be true. Maybe that’s because the 2017 Bentley Bentayga isn’t something you see everyday, especially in a salvage yard. But here it is on copart.com, a $250,000 ultra-posh SUV revealed only last September, sitting among other decidedly less-posh vehicles seized by banks and police in sunny Miami.

Jalopnik caught this unusual listing. With a current bid of only $103,000, this Bentayga, the world’s quickest SUV, is a steal at twice the price. It was clearly a steal for someone else, too. This Bentayga ended up on the auction block after it was recovered from a theft. Since the owner was already paid out, the Bentayga ended up on a salvage lot. While the listing notes some minor scratches, the car only has 619 miles on it. This particular model normally retails for about $280,000.

So if you’re looking to off-road in luxury for a steep discount, this is the listing for you. If you’re feeling a little intimidated by the auction process, fear not. We have a comprehensive guide to buying cars at auction that will get you rolling in your practically new discount Bentayga in no time.

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March 23, 2017 / Comments Off

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