His addiction began in 1953, explains Leonard Nelson “Mac” McGrady. As a son of an automobile dealer, McGrady had seen many cars, but when he first saw a Nash-Healey, he knew it was a car he would have to own. That special day didn’t come until 1968. Then, says Mac: “If you have one Nash-Healey, […]
Ferrari 250 GTO: Star-crossed racer’s day in the sun ends in the pits
History originally published in Road & Track Specials Ferrari 1990; republished by the author Embedded in a sandbank at the end of the Mulsanne straight is a hell of a way to start a 24-hour race, particularly a Ferrari team car with the second-fastest time in qualifying and a real chance at an overall win. […]
Lotus 11 Le Mans: Made for Mulsanne
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek March 31, 1986 Tears are streaming back into my ears. The 1100cc Coventry Climax engine is bellowing angrily as I try to maintain a steady speed, a futile effort anyway but more difficult by the fact that the Lotus’ non-adjustable pedals have forced me to slump low, while its […]
Ferrari 275 GTB/6C: The V-12 with a sound that stirs
History/driving impressions originally published in AutoWeek October 21, 1985 Just the sound of the starter says this is going to be something special, that high-pitched whine that’s a cross between an air wrench and a dentist’s drill. So characteristic of a Ferrari. Then the engine catches. No matter how many times you’ve heard it, is […]
1959 Deutsch-Bonnet HBR5: Frenchmen team for Panhard-powered bulbous bullet
History originally published in AutoWeek October 15, 1990 Charles Deutsch was the designer and Rene Bonnet made the engines go faster, together these two Frenchmen built cars. The cars they built were built to win races. And win races they did. A never more than semi-formal alliance that began when Bonnet started a Citroen agency […]
Callaway’s LM—as in “Le Mans”
News report originally published in Car and Driver October 1995 Here’s the deal—bring an LT1 Corvette and at least $80,000 to Old Lyme, Connecticut, and you too can have a reasonable facsimile of a proven enduro race car. So says Reeves Callaway, who will take your money and Vette and return to you a Callaway […]
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