An open Porsche like none before
Americans call people like him "car cutters". Based in Costa Mesa, California, Richard Straman did indeed specialise in bespoke convertible versions of the world's most desirable cars. The company hit its stride in the 1980s and was best known for converting Daytonas and Testarossas; one of his roofless Ferraris was famously driven by Michael Jackson in a 1987 Pepsi commercial. But apart from many more Maranello cars, Straman also cut the roof off Chevrolet Camaros (after Detroit had stopped building convertibles) and even a Porsche 928. Launched in 1977, the four-seater was a model unlike anything Zuffenhausen had built before. With its futuristic styling, front-mounted V8 and transaxle layout, the 928 was envisaged by Porsche's then CEO Ernst Fuhrmann as the future of the marque and a replacement for the 911, a major misjudgement, as it soon turned out.
Although convertible versions of the subsequent 944 and 968 proved to be quite popular, Porsche never offered an open-top version of the 928. That omission left an opportunity for coachbuilders like Richard Straman. This example, which will hit the block at Broad Arrow's upcoming The Quail Auction, is believed to have been completed in 1990. Finished in a shade of dark olive green, the design features a rear "disappearing top" with a deck that hides the convertible roof when retracted. Remarkably, Straman's craftsmen even succeeded in retaining a portion of the coupé's boot space. The front wings were subtly altered to house rectangular rather than standard round pop-up headlights, while the car also wears the iconic "telephone dial" alloys. Inside, the 928 retains a relatively stock appearance, with terracotta-coloured leather trim complemented by matching Wilton wool carpeting. This rare example of an open 928 represents the work of Richard Straman at the height of his creativity, and thanks to its clean coachwork it will turn heads far beyond the beaches of Southern California.
Snake venom
Swiss-American Bob Lutz served as an executive at all of the US "Big Three" and for three years was also in charge of BMW's marketing and sales division: a car guy par excellence and a marketing wizard, too. While at Chrysler in the late 1980s, Zurich-born Lutz set out to create a modern interpretation of the legendary Shelby Cobra. The project came to life under the Dodge brand and was unveiled as a concept car at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show. Because a conventional V8 was not considered powerful enough, Dodge instead installed a massive 7.0-litre V10, jointly developed with Lamborghini. From the moment the Viper RT/10 hit dealer showrooms, it earned a reputation for its raw, uncompromising driving experience and spectacular performance.
This example, delivered new in 1995 to an American customer in Illinois, shows fewer than 6,100 miles from new. The remarkably low mileage has allowed it to remain in near-new condition, both cosmetically and mechanically. Finished in its original Emerald Green over a tan leather interior, it remained with its first owner until 2021 before joining a private collection. The car is equipped with a limited-slip differential, a removable rear window and its original 17-inch alloy wheels. This authentic American muscle car is now offered by French dealer Asphalt Classics and comes with complete documentation, including the original owner's manuals.
The world's most successful touring car
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the E30-generation M3 dominated not only Group A but also DTM racing. Across six years it brought BMW a world championship title, two European championships and more than sixty national championship titles, plus a combined eight victories in the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour races. Even in rallying (with Prodrive) and on hill climbs, the E30 was among the winners.
This example, chassis number 11190, was supplied new to BMW Team Bigazzi ahead of the 1989 Italian Touring Car Championship. In its iconic Monte Shell livery it was driven by Jacques Laffite, Jean-Michel Martin, Pierluigi Martini, Gianni Morbidelli and Antonio Tamburini. For the 1990 season it was updated to DTM specification, which included fitting a new 2.5-litre engine capable of producing 340 bhp and a new BMW M Sport/Warsteiner livery, which it proudly wears to this day. With Steve Soper at the wheel it competed at the Mainz-Finthen DTM round in May, where the Briton finished fourth on Saturday and second on Sunday.
At the end of 1990, Bigazzi sold the car to a privateer in Italy, where it remained until 2010, when it was acquired by the current UK-based owner. On his behalf, the M3 was prepared and maintained for historic racing by Amspeed Racing of Brackley, and it has since become a regular in British historic motorsport events. Soper himself has been reunited with his former steed on several occasions, most notably at the 2010 and 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Another highlight of the car's historic racing career came in 2023, when it took overall victory at the Donington Historic Festival, driven by the consignor and four-time BTCC champion Colin Turkington. This is a rare opportunity to acquire an original E30 M3 DTM with a rich history and competitive results in the hands of Soper and Emanuele Pirro, both in period and in historic racing. It is accompanied by an FIA Historic Technical Passport valid until 31 December 2028.
Un'Alfa grandiosa
In 1963, Alfa Romeo released the 105 and 115 series coupés as successors to the Giulietta Sprint, which had been around since 1954. In 1966, the Milan-based brand introduced the more powerful Sprint GT Veloce, or GTV for short. By 1971, the engine had grown to 1,962 cc, earning the car its 2000 GTV moniker. By the time the 105 and 115 series arrived, Alfa Romeo had already been racing the previous Giulietta in motorsport. The automaker's racing division, Autodelta, continued the tradition in 1965 with the new GTV, renaming it GTA. Regardless of the variant, the 105/115-series-based race cars were tremendously successful. The 1600 GTA and 2000 GTAm won their divisions in the 1966, 1967, 1969 and 1970 seasons of the European Touring Car Championship. Even today, GTA and GTAm models are a common sight in historic racing.
The early history of this 1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV, chassis #AR3025497, is unfortunately lost to time. What is known is that by 1982 it was owned by one Andrew Vanjak of Astoria, New York, who sold it to a Robert Brady in 2000. Mr Brady passed it to the current owner some time later, who then transformed it into a purpose-built race car in splendid red with a white nose, plus a number 4 "gumball" and Alfa cloverleaf decals. Over the past 12 years it has regularly finished first in its class and collected numerous podium finishes at events such as the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
In 2022, this Alfa received a complete engine rebuild, a no-expense-spared process that included a plethora of specialty parts. Rated at more than 230 hp, the engine is mated to a Steve Schwitter close-ratio gearbox, while a set of Hoosier TD tyres keeps things sticky. The current owner reports that the GTV reaches a top speed of 140 mph and often laps larger-engined cars such as Corvettes or 911s. As it sits, this is a race-ready machine with only 12 hours of running time on the rebuilt engine. Eligible for many historic racing series, it is a guaranteed winner, and one that looks the part while doing it.
From Goodwood to Paris
This elegant BMW 745Le was first registered in France on 3 June 2022. Belonging to the long-wheelbase G12 version of the G11-generation 7 Series, it is propelled by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 394 hp. So far, so good, but this is no ordinary "Seven": it is one of only three cars from the private fleet of the prestigious Peninsula Paris hotel. The limousines were intended for transporting dignitaries and VIP guests and, in order to meet the hotel's requirements, featured numerous BMW Individual appointments. Chief among them is the Goodwood Green exterior colour, complemented by a Tartufo leather interior, a combination that perfectly highlights the elegant lines of the G12 7 Series and underscores its exclusive character.
The high level of equipment included nearly all of the most sought-after options in the sales brochure: soft-close doors, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats with massage function, power-adjustable and ventilated rear seats, BMW Laserlight headlights and a Harman/Kardon surround sound system.
Showing nearly 22,000 miles on the odometer, the car comes with a fully documented service history, with all maintenance carried out exclusively at BMW Horizon Nanterre, most recently in April 2026. If you dream of being chauffeured like an illustrious guest of one of the most renowned five-star hotels in Paris, or if you aim to make it part of your very own hotel fleet, this 745Le The Peninsula could be just the luxurious transport you have always been looking for.
