ATTAINABLE EXCESS, IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS, AND OTHER MOVEABLE FEASTS EDITED

BY MATT SCANLON

1950 FERRARI 195 INTER COUPE BY GHIA
Ferrari made 27 195 Inter coupes in 1950, road going versions of its 195 S racer. Only 11 were bodied by the design firm Carrozzeria Ghia, and even fewer had the optional triple Weber carburetors. So, we are looking here at something extremely rare, even by early Ferrari standards. This particular car made its way to Los Angeles in the late 1950s after being sold by its original Italian owner, eventually finding its way to Illinois in 1976, where Paul C. Clovis spent the next 35 years meticulously documenting and restoring it. At press time, Sotheby’s had not announced an auction date, and our best guess for a starting bid would be in the neighborhood of $300,000.

1969 DODGE CHARGER DEFECTOR
From the outside, this looks a tastefully executed 1969 Charger restomod. Look closer, and you see that this Ring Brothers custom is much more than new wheels, motor, and fresh paint. The car has been shortened two inches by the Spring Green, WI based aftermarket gurus at Ring, but the wheelbase has been stretched by three, with a Detroit Speed sub frame up front and four link suspension in the rear. Custom 19 inch HRE wheels are wrapped in massive Michelins (slowed by Baer disc brakes), and a 6.4 liter Wegner Motor sports Hemi provides power that would make the original whimper. Upgraded front seats were customized by Upholstery Unlimited, and new gauges came from Classic Instruments.

1957 BMW 507 ROADSTER
John Surtees is a racing legend, having won multiple motorcycle World Championships and claiming the F1 driver’s title for Ferrari in 1964. Fresh off winning the 500cc title with MV Augusta in 1956, he noticed a BMW 507 roadster at Germany’s Hockenheim circuit undergoing testing. Surtees was smitten, and purchased one for himself, going half in with Count Domenico Augusta (a helicopter design and manufacturing company owner) to buy the car. For the next 60 years, this 507 was driven regularly by Surtees and remained in his possession until his death in March of last year. Offered at auction by the Surtees estate at the Bonham’s Good wood Festival of Speed sale on July 18, it’s expected to fetch just shy of $3 million.

RHINO GX EXECUTIVE SUV
US Specialty Vehicles’ Rhino GX, “the SUV Above All SUVs,” as its maker puts it, takes the ultra-luxury segment into a brawny new realm, not least because its curb weight is 14,000 pounds! Built on the Ford F450 Super Duty chassis, it features a partitioned cabin with 40 inch television and intercom, Alpine’s 24 Bit DAC and optical digital output sound system enhanced with an Alpine amplifier and subwoofer, and a satellite receiver. The Rhino is available with either a diesel V8 or gasoline V10 and rides on adaptive suspension with on demand four wheel drive. With its military MRAP inspired exterior, a dual layer cold steel and roll cage body structure, composite fenders/bumpers, and USSV Heavy Duty Running Boards, it’ll also decidedly not blend in with the usual luxury SUVs at the valet station. $330,000

MCLAREN 570S SPIDER “TRACK PACK” SPORTS CAR
Building on the success of the Coupé version, the 570S gives open air enthusiasts a circuit ready option (built for owners “interested in occasional track days” as its Woking, UK based maker puts it). Packing the same 3.8 liter, 570 hp twin turbo charged V8 as the standard model, this version is lighter by more than 70 pounds, thanks in part to carbon fiber racing seats, a carbon black Alcantara steering wheel, and carbon fiber interior trim. Yet more weight is lost thanks to the stealthy 10 Spoke Forged Alloy Wheels, and McLaren Track Telemetry gives the driver race worthy stats like lap times and even a “post drive analysis.” It’s finished with a throaty sports exhaust and an auto deployed rear spoiler that gives additional down force for holding those corners. $213,000