The Market; all post-war cars and bikes for sale

Chassis No. 108934 In the fall of 1959, Porsche embargoed the sales of their new 356 B model so it could debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show held between the 17-27th of September. Porsche themselves commented on the delay in a Special Edition of Christophorus, their factory magazine, stating that "sales (of the new 356 B) are not yet allowed a..

Conceived in 1954 as sportier versions of BMW’s grand “Baroque Angel” postwar models, the 503 Coupe and Cabriolet were inspired by famed US importer Max Hoffman and BMW’s Commercial Director Hanns Grewenig as elite grand touring models for the robust American market of the era. Featuring unforgettable styling by Count Albrecht von Goertz, who al..

Making its debut at the 1958 Paris Motor Show, the DB4 was a masterpiece of modern engineering for the small but highly respected Newport Pagnell firm. With styling by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, the coachwork was constructed using their ingenious Superleggera (Super light) method of aluminum panels over a lightweight tubular framewor..

Following WWII, Gabriel Voisin felt the market was ready for a small vehicle suitable for two passengers that could be driven without a license. With the chassis and bodywork made out of lightweight aluminum, the Biscooter was a low-cost, low-maintenance vehicle. With a basic hood and adjustable windscreen, the minimalist style reflected Voisin’..

When Pinin Farina’s prototype for a 250 GT Coupe debuted at Geneva in March 1956, it was announced that this model would be produced by its designer and Mario Boano’s carrozzeria would manufacture a limited series of bespoke cabriolets. However, due to what many historians claim was an inadequate production capacity at Pinin Farina, Fer..

In 1955, less than a year after the 356 Speedster model was introduced, Porsche built the first example equipped with the competition-derived four-cam Carrera engine. The result was a brilliant dual-purpose sports car, and the Carrera Speedster continued to be improved and refined over the course of production. For 1957, Porsche began t..

Named at the suggestion of US importer Max Hoffman, the rare, one-year-only 356 Continental marks a fascinating moment during Porsche’s earliest years in the American marketplace. Unwittingly, Porsche’s marketing efforts attracted the attention of the mighty Ford Motor Company, which had already established the Continental Division as its flagsh..

In the mid-1950s, enthusiasts who were considering purchasing a small, open sports car found themselves presented with a compelling new choice: Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta Spider. It featured gorgeous Pinin Farina styling, twin overhead-cam alloy engine, outstanding ride quality, and weather protection equal to that of more expensive sports cars. Tod..

In December 1953, Ferrari unveiled its first four-cylinder production sports car – the 500 Mondial, named in honor of Alberto Ascari’s back-to-back World Championships. Like Ascari’s 500 F2 Monoposto, the Mondial featured a two-liter, twin-cam, four-cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. Known internally as the tipo 110, this eng..

In March 1957, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the 300 SL Roadster, employing a host of mechanical advancements and stylistic revisions to create a new, open version of the successful Gullwing. Chief among these were a new rear-axle design and a modified space-frame chassis that allowed for conventionally hinged doors. The Roadster offered easier ingress..