Articles by Mike Ryan

A supercharged Mercedes-Benz 540K 'Spezial' roadster was the top seller at RM Auctions' recent Monterey sale, attracting US$9,680,000 - a new world record for a Mercedes sold at auction. One of Mercedes' finest cars, this particular vehicle also has an Aussie connection.\n

In 2007, JUST Cars featured the last car circuit-raced by the late Peter Brock, in the form of the 'Goodwood FX'. Since then, that vehicle sold at auction for over $300K. Now, a 'lost' Brock racecar, believed to be the last created for the champion, has surfaced. Just as remarkable as the recent emergence of the car is what it was created for. Almost ten years ago, a throwaway comment in an interview set the wheels in motion for what would have been a Brock-lead Aussie assault on the world's toughest endurance racing event, the Dakar Rally.

Take your pleasure: the new C 63 AMG Coupe is ready for purchase, with the high-performance dream car rounding out Mercedes-Benz's C-Class AMG model range.

While there were many highlights to be seen and heard at RACV Motorclassica 2011, one of the most intriguing wasn't to be found within the halls of the Royal Exhibition Building.

The Ferrari 458 Italia has taken the title of "Performance Car of the Year" - for the second year running - as awarded by UK motoring magazine, Auto Express.

Calling for entrants: Citroen is seeking inspirational designers from across the world to take part in a creative design competition.

Lexus is set to reveal the all-new GS 350 F Sport next week at SEMA 2011 in Las Vegas. Pitched to pique the interest of driving enthusiasts, the latest Lexus blockbuster features driver-focused improvements to the chassis, suspension, brakes and steering.

Rolls-Royce entered the 1970s on very shaky ground. Development of a new jet engine by the company's Aero Division had gone over time and way over budget. Changes to the managerial and engineering staff to address the blowout came too late, and in February, 1971, the proud British company went bankrupt and was nationalised. The irony was that Rolls-Royce's perennially loss-making Motor Car Division had finally turned a profit in 1971, thanks to the popular Silver Shadow model.

Last year's inaugural Motorclassica attracted Australia-wide praise and international recognition. For 2011, a new selection of cars and big crowds ensured that the second RACV Motorclassica has been a success to match the first.

Australia's newest crop of rally champions will be on TV next Saturday when the Rallyschool.com.au Australian Junior Challenge final will be screened in a one-hour television special on Network Ten.

More than 10,000 attendees filled the floor of the Dallas Convention Centre in Dallas, Texas, for Mecum Auctions' first event in the Lone Star State, held on October 6-8. The big crowds were matched by big sales, with the top ten sellers all fetching six figure sums. A 1969 L88 Chevy Corvette was the top seller, fetching US$562,500.

At various times over the past century entrepreneurs have endeavoured to produce an Australian car that would appeal to the hearts of Australians. The number of attempts and failures runs into the hundreds. One of those was the Lightburn Zeta.