Some awards and accolades are mentioned below, though a more detailed history can be see in the gallery.

• 4-time winner of the SVRA all-Morgan Can Tab Cup at Summit Point
• Back-to-back outright winner of the SVRA Group 3 race at Summit Point
• Winner of the All-Morgan Race at the Meadow Brook Vintage Races
• Awarded the Peter Helleck Award at the Meadow Brook Concours
• 3rd Place from 400 cars at the 2008 Mid-Ohio VGP race car concours
• Best of Show Award runner-up at the 1996 National Morgan Meet

The body features a hand built aluminum bonnet, nose, scuttle, and tub that were constructed by notable fabricators in Northern California. In place of the originally equipped steel wings, factory Morgan aluminum ones were purchased and installed.

The roll gauge is legal in most racing organizations and a full tonneau cover is included with the sale. A removable Momo steering wheel is fitted and the seats are both upholstered in leather.

Power comes from a modified TR4 engine built by Abacus Racing of Virginia Beach. The rotating assembly utilizes a Moldex billet crankshaft, Carillo connecting rods, and Venolia pistons. A custom-ground Erson camshaft controls valve actuation and the ported and polished head is fitted dual Weber 45mm DCOE carburetors. The MSD ignition features an adjustable rev limiter and utilizes a Mallory distributor. Custom stainless steel headers are fitted and cooling is aided by an aluminum radiator. The engine requires race gas and the compression ratio is some where around 12:1. The included dyno sheets show that the car makes about 158 horsepower and 160 ft. lbs. of torque at the rear wheels. The electrical system is total loss and a race battery is installed.

Behind a lightened flywheel and competition clutch is a fully synchronized Moss 4-speed gearbox which was rebuilt by Billy Bellinger in England, a specialist who acquired his business from a longtime Morgan engineer and Moss gearbox specialist. A carbon fiber driveshaft is responsible for delivering power to a 4.10 BTR rear axle is fitted with a Quaife limited-slip differential, and custom 15×6” Dayton wire wheels incorporate heavy-duty hubs and spokes. The shock absorbers were developed and built by Koni of North America, and a Gemmer steering box has been fitted. Braking is handled by MGB discs upfront and Alfin-style finned drums in the rear.

Since the seller’s acquisition in 2014, the car has been invited to West Coast events such as the Sonoma, Coronado, and Monterey Historics. The seller states that the car is very competitive, and provisions for a passenger seat and lap-belt are present. Prior to the next track event, the car should be inspected and fitted with new tires. The spares package includes ignition parts, assorted brake parts, seals and bearings, Aeroquip hoses, transponder and a spare air-cleaner. An on-track video can be seen below.

Mugello Blue Pearl paintwork shows a deep gloss in photos, and contrasts well with the standard silver wheels, mirrors and window trim. Flared fenders give the RS4 about 1.5″ greater track width front and rear than the standard A4, and house 19×9″ alloys. There are some scratches visible on the rear bumper near the back-up sensors.

The passenger’s side of the chin spoiler shows some scuffing and touchup work shown aboce, but the rest of the paintwork on the forward surfaces appears to be in generally good condition. Headlights have clear lenses. Per the seller the car shows a headlight warning light, though the lights all appear to work correctly.

Stock alloy 19″ wheels are in good condition, with only minor curbing apparent.

The cabin is unmodified and sports tan leather contrasted with carbon fiber trim. All interior features are said to work correctly from the cold-blowing A/C and power sunshades to the factory navigation and iPod integration. Per the seller the glovebox door and center arm rest door are somewhat flimsy but do close correctly and latch securely. Because the car was purchased new in Canada the instrument cluster is metric.

Tan upholstery shows some light wear on the bolsters but is in good condition for the mileage. Embossed RS4 logos remain crisp, and leather appears free of staining and discoloration. Front and rear heated seats are functional.

Audi’s 4.2L V8 was rated at 420 horsepower in the RS4. The seller has added about 60k miles behind the wheel as a semi-daily driver, and more recent maintenance has included replaced front axles, new brakes, and new oil cooler and oil cooler lines. The timing chains have not been replaced during the seller’s ownership.

The faded and worn finish shows a combination of the original white/red paint along with primer. Believed to be a native of Southern California, the body is said to be solid throughout. Lenses, trimwork, and glass appear to be in good condition, though a crack in the windshield is noted by the seller and has not grown during his ownership.

The van was lowered slightly by a previous owner and is currently fitted with a set of 15” Oldsmobile Rallye wheels. Tires are said to be approximately two years old and show plenty of tread life remaining.

The forward cabin is believed to have been redone by a previous owner, with the bucket seat upholstery remaining free of any noticeable rips or tears. The 55k indicated miles cannot be confirmed and true mileage is unknown.

The dash shows some nicks and chips and has been fitted with an Autometer tachometer and voltmeter in place of the factory ammeter and clock. Other modifications performed by the seller include the integration of three power outlets for phone and GPS connectivity within the ashtray housing. All controls, indicators, and gauges are said to be functional apart from the speedometer, which is said to require a new bushing on the back. A replacement speedometer cable is included.

Free of carpets, interior trim panels, or a headliner, the rear cabin shows no apparent signs of rust through. A non-original front facing rear seat is included in the sale and remains in good condition with a solid framework and seat foam. It was reupholstered by the seller to match the front seats.

The 110-horsepower 164ci flat-six engine was sourced from a Corvair automobile and is paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. The engine is said to run well with issues limited to a minor drip from the rear. An electric fuel pump has been installed, though no service records are included.

Lift shots show surface corrosion and wear commensurate with the van’s age and use.

The seller says that all Studebaker trucks wore red wheels from the factory, regardless of what color the the exterior was painted. This color is reportedly called Harbor Green, and though the seller doesn’t mention if it’s correct to this truck’s original spec, it’s certainly very well-chosen. Apart from a dealer-fitted Fulton sun visor over the split windshield, everything looks to be bone-stock, too.

The same can be said for the cab’s interior, which wears what look like factory-accurate colors, finishes, and materials. Note the rubber floor, pedal covers, and tidy looking switchgear and instrumentation, as well as what looks like a map light in the center of the dash. Added seatbelts are definitely a plus, as are fully functional gauges.

Says the seller: “It runs and drives perfect, has the original six-cylinder flathead motor and 3-speed manual transmission with working factory overdrive. I’ve logged less than 300 miles on this truck in the past two years, so it’s time to let someone else enjoy it.”

They ad that the truck is ready to be driven anywhere, “just don’t expect to get there fast–does 65 MPH on the highway.”

Metallic blue paint presents well overall, maintaining an even gloss beneath a variety of decals. Chips and marks are visible as expected from extensive track use, but no heavy finish damage is apparent in photos. Plastic cladding looks intact throughout, though rolling of the rear wheel arches for larger rubber has impacted the fit of the rear flares. The car was ordered without a sunroof and has been fitted with an M7 Extreme hood scoop, exposed tow points, and mesh grilles.

The interior retains stock carpeting, door panels, seats, and other factory items. Small areas of wear are pointed out on seatback bolsters and the emergency brake handle, and the headliner is reportedly due for replacement. Schroth four-point harnesses have been fitted up front and factory seat belts are also retained. The original owner ordered the car with manual cloth heated seats, manual climate control, rain-sensing wipers, power windows, and power locks with keyless entry.

A camera mount rests atop the dash while other plastics are presentable aside from occasional marking. The factory steering wheel is said to retain functioning controls, and a weighted shift knob has replaced the stock item. Interior additions include a MOMO driver cooling system for the track and a Pioneer head unit for the street. Stock instrumentation shows 155k chassis miles and is supplemented by an oil pressure gauge from PLX Devices, an ethanol content analyzer from Zeitronix, a boost gauge, and shift light from Innovate Motorsports. A new air conditioning compressor has been installed.

The ​supercharged 1619cc inline-four was rebuilt less than 500 miles ago and is still eligible for the same NASA TT class. The bottom end utilizes a Revolution Mini Works rotating assembly including a polished crank, 77.5 mm Arias pistons, fresh bearings from King and Mahle, and connecting rods from Molnar Technologies. The rotating assembly was balanced and a stock-sized crank damper/pulley was fitted. A CNC-ported cylinder head from RMW was installed with larger 32mm intake valves, 25.5mm Inconel exhaust valves, Supertech Beehive valve springs, and a CatCam 1302469 camshaft with adjustable cam gear. The engine was assembled with ARP hardware and fresh gaskets throughout.

The car is set up to run premium gas or E85, and either fuel runs through ID850 injectors. An ALTA intake box and new OEM throttle body have been installed. The supercharger was replaced with a remanufactured unit purchased from MINI with coated rotors and a 16% reduction pulley. A new OEM intercooler with custom sealed ducting was fitted along with fresh diverter and bypass valves. 4-into-1 RMW long tube headers feed custom 2.5” piping, a high-performance cat, and SpinTech muffler, all assembled with V-band clamps. A modified oil filter housing and BSH oil catch can were also installed.

The cooling system includes an oversized Mishimoto aluminum radiator, Canton overflow tank, low temperature thermostat, increased-pressure cap, and silicone hoses. Engine management is from a Bytronic Full Access FA53 working in concert with an Innovate wideband O2 sensor and a RaceCapture Pro MK2 data logger. An older dyno chart is shown in the gallery, but further improvements and tuning by Clown Shoe Motorsports have reportedly resulted in 268 horsepower and 200 lb. ft. of torque. Compression is 8.5:1 and redline is 8,300 rpm according to the seller, who notes fewer than 500 miles and five hours of run time since installation including four 20-minute track sessions.

Both the altenator and battery are new items, and all further engine accessories have reportedly been replaced within the past 24 months. Shifting is from a Getrag 6-speed manual transmission with an an upgraded clutch and flywheel along with a short shifter and new shift cables. Power is sent to the front wheels through a Wavetrac limited-slip differential and new halfshafts. Heat shielding has been applied to lines and wiring throughout the engine bay.

Suspension and steering upgrades include custom GAZ Gold single adjustable coilovers mounted to custom Vorshlag camber plates, Eibach race springs, new control arms up front, and adjustable upper/lower arms in the rear. New tie rods have been fitted as well as strut and shock tower braces from M7 Tuning. Polyurethane bushings are utilized throughout. The braking system consists of 11.75″ two-piece Wilwood rotors, custom Wilwood calipers with Thermlock pistons, titanium heat plates, and Sneed4Speed ducting along with stainless steel lines at all four corners.

Slim bumpers were standard on 1972 (first North American year, one later than for Europe) US cars, but a speedo shot reveals that this is indeed a foreign market example, meaning that flush-fit headlights are correct to original spec and not retrofitted. Euro spec also means that the trunk lid’s badging actually reflects the little V8’s real displacement–US market 350SL’s were fitted with 4.5 liter variants, though at 180-190 HP, were actually around 10-20 HP down on Euro spec models despite a bit more torque.

The interior isn’t pretty, but does appear to be complete. The manual shift is (was?) a big attraction here, though unfortunately the valuable original Becker radio seems to have been replaced with a cassette deck sometime in the late 80’s or early 90’s. No floor shots are provided, unfortunately.

And no engine bay photos are, either. As an early, manual, Euro market example this was once a very special car, though sadly it now seems pretty far gone. Hopefully some of its parts can live on to serve another day.

The green paint and black top are from a refresh performed by the previous owner in the late 1990s. The finish shows some patina with a few small scratches and chips. The top fits quite well and does not appear to be fading or torn in photos. The 14″ Cromodora wheels were recently refinished and wear 185/60 HR 14 General performance tires with good tread depth remaining. One center cap is noted to be missing.

The vinyl rear window is clear, as are the lenses. The dual tips of the ANSA exhaust system can be seen below the bumper. The rubber bumper covers are an even black, showing little deterioration and no damage from impacts.

The dash, wood veneers, and door panels were replaced prior to the sale, and the rest of the interior was refurbished in the late 1990s. The steering wheel is a Momo Prototype from the 1980s, and a billet shift knob has been added. The console is a reproduction item with some fit issues noted by the seller. The driver’s floor mat and pad have also gone missing. All electronics and switches are said to function apart from the clock. The odometer shows just under 9k miles and has reportedly rolled once.

Deep-bolster Procar Rally seats replace the originals, and the seller notes that the lower buckets provide a couple inches of increased headroom. The rear seats have been removed and the area now serves as a carpeted parcel shelf. The wing-window locks remain functional.

The 1.8L twin cam inline-four is said to be original and is fed by a single twin-choke Weber. It was fully rebuilt in the late 1990s by Frank Ciaravella at Auto Roma in El Sobrante, California, who also installed a new clutch at that time. The car has traveled under 10k miles on the rebuilt engine and is said to run strong with good oil pressure. An automatic choke and Marelli electronic distributor are equipped, and an ANSA header and exhaust system were recently added. The oil, transmission, and rear differential fluids were changed during a tune-up performed in preparation for the sale.

Older suspension upgrades include the thicker Panhard rod and rear sway bar seen here, and new shocks have been installed on all four corners. The front crossmember is noted to be in very good shape, and the front suspension was rebuilt at some point. Brake fluid was flushed in preparation for the sale. The emissions equipment has been removed as the car is smog exempt in California.

The floor pans show undercoating and road grime, but no fluid accumulation can be seen. The channels on the underbody show some deformation from improper jack placement over the years.

Included are the original owner’s manual, service station guide, and service booklet. A narrative description of the history of the car by previous owner Andy Schank can be found in the gallery.

Internally codenamed RC31, keen Honda fans will recognize that means development immediately followed that of the sublime RC30–easily one of the most exotic and desirable sportbikes ever built. Though quite a bit less expensive (and powerful), a few neat engineering details carried over, including the use of Honda’s so-called “Pro-Am” single-sided swing arm. Says the seller of this example: “This usable collector bike has been stored in a climate-controlled room, with a battery tender. It is stock with the exception of a carburetor re-jetting performed at Coleman Powersports, and new tires (as a precaution, because of age). It has only about 4,200 original miles. Slight scratch on side of muffler and small abrasion on right instrument, otherwise pristine.”

The further note a recent Honda tech servicing and cleaning of the carbs, and entry-level 80’s sportsbikes don’t come much more reliable, interesting, or fun.

“I love the car. His new name is Desmond in honor of the English actor who played Q in the original James Bond movies. The car was a survivor that recently came out of long term storage and hadn’t been driven that much prior to my purchase. Hence, it has spent some time in my garage as I have been going through all the hydraulic and rubber bits that degrade. It is a very strong performer and gets two thumbs whenever I take him out for a drive. I treat it like a museum piece, and I am the current caretaker, so it is getting a lot of love and attention. Attached is a photo of Desmond in my driveway.”

Cheers,
Jim H

Trguy75

The black paint shows well for its age with no dents or scratching reported. Bodywork appears straight in the provided images, and the chrome 18” wheels look to be in good condition.

Light wear can be seen on the front seat bolsters, though upholstered surfaces otherwise present nicely. Carpeting is well-preserved with no major staining or discoloration noted, though the heel pad appears to be missing from the driver’s floormat.

The stitched black and tan leather dash is complimented by glossy burlwood and a two-tone steering wheel. Metal gauge surrounds and trim look bright in photographs. All interior functions are said to work properly.

The odometer can be seen in the picture above and shows 41,379 miles.

Under the hood, the turbocharged 6.75L V8 was rated at 400 horsepower and 619 lb ft. of torque when new. Although curb weight was over 5,600lbs, the sedan was able to achieve a 5.9 second 0-60 time. A 30k mile service was completed at Desert European in Rancho Mirage, California, which is where the seller purchased the vehicle. There are no outlying mechanical issues reported, though the seller notes that the trunk struts are likely due for replacement.

Says the seller: “This 203 was acquired from the collection of the late Robert Countess who purchased it in 1984. It ran when parked indoors in 2002. We have documents as far back as to when the car was brought to port in NY from the Netherlands. For its age the body is solid and in great shape with very little rust, no heavy rust or rot found . The paint looks very good from two car-lengths away, but up close you can see it’s definitely time for a paint job.”

Semaphores are always fun, and other neat details include the traditional Peugeot lion’s head hood ornament.

Rear-opening front doors are cool too, and the car is especially handsome from the front thanks to an elegant grille design and cool yellow lens headlights.

The front of the cabin looks pretty good, though the seller admits that upholstery is tired and that the headliner is sagging–pretty heavily by the looks of things. Is that the ignition key below the steering column? Check out how much dash realty the retrofitted radio takes up–cars used to be a lot narrower.

The seller says that the car was put away with clean oil, a covered carb, and disconnected battery and lower radiator hose. They add that a quick check revealed it wasn’t stuck, so a battery was connected and some fuel poured into the carb, after which the engine is reported to have started up quickly and easily.

Again, the seller: “The engine runs smooth and sounded really good. Transmission shifts through all gears, but brakes will need to be completely gone through as well as they are very weak.” Sale includes quite a lot of documentation by the looks of things, as well as the original vacuum tube Philips radio (working, reportedly), a new wiring harness, various trim, and more.

Says the seller: “Truck was built five years ago. It was put together in the traditional style, trying to stick to the 1940’s bare-bones ‘Go Job’ Era.  Body was taken down to bare metal, and all rust was replaced with the usual patch panel. Suspension is stock springs with reversed eye main springs, and a few of the leafs removed. The front could use one spring added back to the pack to give added suspension travel as it does bottom out on large bumps. Wheels are ’35 Ford 16″ wires with 7.50″x16″ rear and 6.00″x16″ front tires.”

We’d try to avoid big bumps rather than refitting that spring–this rake is just too good to mess with. The simple bed looks nicely done, and what seems to be an access panel should make getting to the diff easier. Colors are very well-chosen.

Here’s the interior, done in simply vinyl with fully functional gauges, lights, and switches, according to the seller. Electricals benefit from new, correct cloth-covered wiring, and the system remains a standard 6-volt, positive-ground setup.

Again, the seller: “Motor is a Model B diamond block with a Snyders cast iron high-compression head, original Evans intake manifold, and two Stromberg 81 carbs. The motor is hooked to the stock Model A transmission and rear end. The brake system is the original mechanical style with floaters installed in the front, it stops great.” Said floaters maintain shoes in a position that allows their full surface area to contact the drum–a largely invisible and thoughtful safety upgrade.

That’s a great looking engine by any standard, and it should be plenty loud and fruity through the megaphone header, too.

The Cinnabar Red (138) finish is believed to be mostly original and shows quite well after a recent professional detailing. Imperfections can be seen in the gallery below and include some scratching and chipping along with some small dents on the hood from fallen acorns. There is also wear in the finish on the top of the driver’s front fender and on one of the side mirrors.

The exterior rubber trim shows only light fading and the plastic lenses look clear throughout.

The interior remains largely original and wear is commensurate with the mileage. New leather upholstery has been fitted on the driver’s seat and an aftermarket stereo system was added. The dash contains a small crack that is shown in the gallery.

All instruments, controls, electrics are said to remain operational. The cold-blowing A/C system was recently converted to R134 and fitted with a new compressor by the seller. The 166,619 indicated miles are believed to be accurate.

The rear seating area remains in good condition with no apparent signs of splitting or stains in the leather upholstery, though some lifting is noted in the center armrest padding

The integrated toolkit appears free of moisture and retains a complete set of tools. The trunklid lining shows some sagging as seen above.

The 3.5 liter S38B35 inline-six produced 256 horsepower when new and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine remains in stock specification apart from a European header and new exhaust recently fitted by the seller. Records dating back to the original owner show the car has been consistently maintained throughout its lifetime, with the most recent servicing involving a new valve cover gasket an clutch slave cylinder at the end of 2016.

Additional work performed under the seller’s ownership include the refresh of the suspension with H&R springs and Bilsteins shocks replacing the factory self-leveling suspension. The seller has driven the car approximately 3k miles and reports that it is a strong and capable runner.

Lift shots show a fair amount of road grime and surface corrosion, though the underside is said to be solid. Some overspray is present along the rear of the spare tire well, likely from a touch-up of the rear valance.

The clean Carfax displays no history of accidents and is attached in the gallery below. It covers the years 1988-2016 and shows that the car has been in Kansas and Georgia since new.

Included in the sale are all the records acquired during the seller’s ownership in additional to some documentation from the previous owners.

Reportedly a Colorado-sourced car, its most recent owner is said to have been in possession from 2000 to just this month–a testament to the car’s nearly ideal and hard-to-find spec. The seller says that paint is excellent, with little notable wear even on the low-hanging nose. Wheels are excellent, standard OEM items, and the mesh Challenge-spec grille should almost be considered a mandatory upgrade.

Carbon Challenge seats are great too, though a more modern Ferrari three-spoke airbag wheel would definitely make for an even better looking cabin. Are those some type of stick-on blindspot mirrors fitted around either A-pillar? The seller notes that plastics remain nice with no common stickiness, and that despite some dash leather shrinkage, the issue remains mostly unnoticeable.

The seller claims $73k in receipts, though it’s not quite clear if this is from new or for a recent sounding top end rebuild for which details are unfortunately sparse. A full Tubi system is noted as well, and it’s not hype when the seller says that this engine and exhaust combo makes for one of the best sounding road-going Ferraris.

Says the seller: “Engine starts first crank with no hesitation or smoke, no battery drainage either. The gated manual is butter, clutch is perfect. Suspension is all factory and performs flawlessly.”