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5 highlights from the 2018 Petersen Automotive Museum Auction

From the avant garde exterior design to the collection of vehicles between the walls, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is one of the coolest car museums in the U.S., and possibly the world. Among several others, the Petersen has two featured exhibits, The Porsche Effect and Legends of L.A. But the museum has a different type of viewing coming up at which you could touch, or even buy, a variety of special vehicles. After hosting its SoCal auction on the coast in Santa Monica for several years, RM Sotheby's has moved the event to the more central location of the museum. In addition to several works of art, the auction which takes place the weekend of December 7, will show several dozens of blue-chip vehicles, chosen by RM Sotheby's 30 car specialists. After sorting through lots that range from microcars to new-age supercars, here are five of the highlights that caught our eyes. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti Projected Value: $22,000,000-$26,000,000 Without question, this is the crown jewel of the entire show. As the eldest and most experienced of the 11 total Ferrari lots, its estimated value of $26 million is more than five times the values of the other five cars listed below combined. From the jump, Ferrari threw the 290 into the line of fire. Starting its life with a four-cylinder 860 Monza engine and a Tipo 520 chassis, its first race was the Mille Miglia. Peter Collins was behind the wheel and racing photographer Louis Klemantaski was his copilot. Ferrari took the top five spots in the race, with this car, chassis No. 0628, finishing second. It went on to see multiple races and took on multiple forms, including a V12 swap at one point. After switching through the hands of multiple owners, it was sent to Ferrari Classiche in Maranello, where it was restored to its form at the time of the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring. It retains its original chassis, original bodywork, and original transmission, and houses the V12 from its 290 MM spec. The restoration was completed in 2015, and the car remains in incredible shape today. 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone Projected Value: $2,100,000-$2,500,000 Simply put, the Miura is one of the most significant supercars, and therefore one of the most important cars, of all time. Its two-seat, mid-engined configuration seismically shifted what a performance could and should look like, and its V12 gave it the power to be the fastest car in the world when it debuted.

Lamborghini and Bentley may hold off on SUVs so VW can conserve cash

After surveying the European economic scene, Volkswagen may have decided now is not the time to launch utility vehicles with Bentley and Lamborghini badges. Bentley officials say they will continue to push for support for the EXP 9 F and Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelman has said planning for the Urus will continue until VW tells it to stop.
That decision could come on November 23, when VW's board will vote on the company's budget for equipment, factories and vehicles. With VW's sales slowing and the Euro economy slumping further, some industry watchers say the company is more likely to build its cash reserves than to introduce super-expensive luxury SUVs or crossovers.
"Such vehicles are anything but obligatory during a crisis," says Frankfurt-based Equinet AG analyst Tim Schuldt in a new Automotive News Europe story. "Delaying their launch would be no drama but help save costs."

Surviving Countach from 'The Wolf of Wall Street' headed to auction

The Lamborghini Countach’s rarity and status as the bedroom wall poster car of the 1980s has made it exceedingly valuable as a collectorÂ’s car. That said, a few examples of the car have risen above the rest as incredibly rare and expensive, and one of these super-special Lambos is headed to auction in December. RM SothebyÂ’s recently announced that it would auction a 1-of-12 white Countach that starred in "The Wolf of Wall Street." The 1989 25th Anniversary Bianco Polo Countach is one of two cars used in the film, but the other was badly damaged during production. With its U.S.-spec bumpers and Bianco (white) interior, the car is considered exceptionally valuable – at up to $2 million by some estimates. The damaged car still wears its scars, but SothebyÂ’s pointed out that the Countach in its auction sustained no damage during filming. The location and current condition of the other Countach are unknown, but as far as we can tell, no one has attempted to restore or auction it in the years since filming.  This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. With a 5.2-liter V12 under its rear hatch, the Countach was like something from outer space at the time. That sizable powerplant made 449 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque when new, which reached the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. Its performance isnÂ’t all that impressive by todayÂ’s standards – it takes around 5 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill. The 190 mph top speed is quite stout, but the CountachÂ’s appeal is about more than its specs. From its debut in the early 1970s, the Countach has commanded the imaginations of car enthusiasts, young and old. Many of us grew up in the 1980s with the car plastered on our bedroom walls, and its staggering 26-year production run is the stuff of legends. The 25th Anniversary models had styling touches designed by Horacio Pagani, and this car is breathtaking, even with its goofy U.S. bumpers — safety regulations here required the addition of awkward bumper guards on the carÂ’s nose. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.