The art and spirit of the Exotic Sports Car
Anyone who has seen the Lamborghini Reventón or Aston Martin DBS knows that feeling. It's the thrill and fascination of the exotic sports car, revised and updated for the 21° century. Since their creation, sports cars have continuously pushed the boundaries of both art and engineering. These are the cars that exemplify speed, power and beauty.
Alfa Romeo: the granddaddy of sports cars
Alfa Romeo started production of auto racing in Milan, Italy in 1910. Their first attempt, 24 HP, turned some heads with its speed and manoeuvrability. Chief Designer Giuseppe Merosi worked on all models Alfa Romeo 1910-1923. When Numerous retired racecar driver Enzo Ferrari convinced Vittorio Jano to leave Fiat and take over the work of Numerous.
In 1925, Alfa Romeo introduced the P2 Grand Prix car, the first car of Jano with Romeo and widely regarded as the first "supercar". The P2 was powered by a straight-8 supercharged, cylinders and first place in 14 Grands Prix Pix between 1924 and 1930. Today, the P2 Grand Prix is considered one of the most rarefied of vintage car collectors, with fewer than a dozen still intact.
This year marks the return of Alfa Romeo in the United States. Their current sports car, the 8 c Competizione, is stunning with its elegant lines, 4.7 L 6-cylinder engine and a top speed of 181 mph. This car is likely to send ripples throughout the u.s. market.
Ferrari: High Performance, luxury cars
After racing Alfa Romeo in 1920 and 30 's, Enzo Ferrari decided he wanted to build his own racing machines. He prototype some models in 1940, but it was not until after World War II that has found success. In particular, Ferrari sporting exotic car took first place in the World Championship of Formula 1, 24 hours of Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championship in 1950.
Ferrari Gran Turismo series remains his most successful lines, with the 2007 599 GTB Fiorano bring even more luxury and innovation at the table. Patrons of the Ferrari Club of America cite performance as the main reason for buying a Ferrari compared to passenger cars.
Lamborghini: sports car for a new generation
Ferruccio Lamborghini has had a successful business building tractors in Italy before his eyes turned towards the exotic sports car. And it wasn't a love for performance it has upset his focus, but a disregard for Enzo Ferrari.
According to the family, Ferruccio Lamborghini Ferrari 250 GT purchased in the early 1960 and was unhappy with the management and the response of the clutch. This resulted in Ferrari's factory and met with Enzo Ferrari to express his concerns. Ferrari was upset with complaints immediately so Lamborghini Lamborghini mocked and sent him away. Lamborghini went home, dismantled the machine and found that the frictions in Ferrari were installed by the producers themselves who used for its tractors. Installed a new clutch and promised to create a superior quality, luxury sports car from Ferrari.
While Lamborghini has countless models that produce AWE and wonder in car enthusiasts, is the 1974 Countach which remains their most iconic. Designer Marcello Gandini, then just started his career, placed his attention on more aerodynamic style. With its scissor doors, sharp lines and low, wide frame, the Countach raised the bar for Lamborghini. The Diablo, Murciélago, and even 2008 's Reventón follow in its wake.
Aston Martin: unforgettable collectible Cars
Britain's Aston Martin was founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in 1914. Exotic sports cars designed and driven in competition, but it wasn't until David Brown became CEO of the company in 1947, who were able to establish themselves as a manufacturer of high quality and high performance sports cars. They introduced the line DB (DB for David Brown) in 1950, and many of their models have become synonymous with classic cars and collectibles.
The newer models include the DB DB-7 luxury, which was designed by Ian Callum and manufactured from 1994 to 2001. This model won the Jim Clark in 1995, and remains the most successful car Aston Martin to-date.