Cars

1939 Antarctic Snow Cruiser: Much did little

The failed Snow Cruiser was abandoned in Antarctica

The first-generation Quattroporte might be remembered for its unconventional body – which carried plenty of passengers and their luggage in the type of sporting luxury for which Maseratis have become famous. However, if the party’s destination was a ski slope, they would be out of luck: the rear-wheel-drive luxury liner would be consigned to the roadside, its occupants forced to watch better-equipped groups head to the summit.

The optional double-clutch gearbox features a 'smokey burnout' setting

Both cars will be mechanically identical – they'll share the same 3.0-litre, twin-turbo, inline-six engine, which will provide 425bhp and 405lb ft of torque. That not only makes it the most powerful engine ever to be placed in an M3, but also the M divison's smallest-capacity unit since the 2.3-litre of the E30 M3 was retired in 1991. It's also the first time that there will be no M3-badged two-door coupé.

The car park at 1111 Lincoln Road in Miami was not only designed by star architects Herzog & de Meuron, but during Art Basel Miami Beach, it is transformed into a modern gallery: this year the show titled 'Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile' saw LaFerrari sitting next to artworks by Damien Hirst, Richard Phillips, Richard Prince, Tom Sachs and Franz West. 

“It’s a formula which was used in the AC Cobra in the 60s, and became increasingly popular during the 70s: European coachwork with US muscle,” says Tim Schofield of Bonhams. The British auction house will auction this Gulf-liveried Pantera (painted by the previous owner to match his GT40) later today, but it has already had recent success with its predecessor, selling a Mangusta for a world-record £203,100 a few weeks ago. “Mangustas were produced in the hundreds, whereas production of the Pantera spanned a 20-year period,” Tim says.

While Artcurial has not yet published the full auction catalogue, there is already enough to give Alfisti sweaty palms: such as that 6C 1750 SS, with its unique body. The car was in the hands of one owner for a full 58 years and has recently been comprehensively restored. 

The folks responsible for this ‘redefined Italian classic’ – dubbed the ADRNLN (the omission of vowels stumped us, too) – are Mike and Jim Ring, of the aptly named custom vehicle builders and billet manufacturers, Ringbrothers.

Its story is a humbling one. Mike and Jim got their hands on the 1971 Pantera, in an unrestored state, after its owner Randy Brickle tragically died of cancer. Brickle’s wife entrusted Ringbrothers to create a truly unique car in its late owner’s memory.

Built in 1958, chassis DB4/101/R was the first DB-badged Aston to glide through the halls of the then-new Newport Pagnell factory. The car is well known in the Aston community, and was lovingly restored by Works Service in the 1980s. Being one of the first batch made, it has the frameless side windows, a rear-hinged bonnet and simpler bumpers. Following the restoration, it was sold to a new owner in the early 90s, with whom it stayed until 2005.