Car Spotting In LA: Heritage Classics Motorcar Company

Right across the street from Charles Agapiou Bentley/Rolls Royce on Santa Monica Blvd is the kind of dealership you could just stand and drool in for a while.  Heritage Classics is exactly what it says on the label: a purveyor of high-end desirable classics parked wall to wall.  Unlike a lot of classic dealers, this one didn't seem to specialize in one marque or even genre: there was everything from a classic Porsche 356 to a Cadillac Eldorado.  But what lured me in the door first was this...

A Ferrari 330GTC, what I think is probably the prettiest front-engine V12 Ferrari ever made.  Styling by Pininfarina, a 4.0L Colombo V12 breathing through six carbs up front, a five-speed, two seats and independent suspension.  The price tag of more than a quarter-million dollars is hard to swallow - until you look at the price tags of other period V12 Ferraris.

A 1960 Drauz-bodied Porsche 356B Super 1600 Roadster.  This had the low-cut windshield of the Speedster, but with more practical wind-up windows.  How much are rare, restored bathtub Porsches going for these days?  $124k for this one.

'57 Jaguar XK140, '74 E-Type Series III V12, Austin Healey 3000 MkI, 356B Roadster, Corvette...  that's enough of a dream garage just right there, isn't it?

The Series III E-Type has never been my favorite, but I'm not saying I'd kick it out of bed.  This one has less than 20k original miles on it - although the $79k price tag could almost buy you a new XK Convertible.  Which would you choose?

This 1960 Austin Healey 3000 Mk I is a classic example of the "big healey" - 4 seats, big six, a baby XKE if you will.

A 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III, 48k miles.  Can you pose much harder in anything for $80k than this?  What a classic.

The interior of a 1965 Rolls Royce Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe, a proper name if I've ever heard one.  Look at all that wood.  Glorious.

A 1968 Shelby GT350 Mustang, 40 miles since a full frame-off restoration.  Asking price: $129,500.

It's a strange, strange world when you can pay less for a clean, low-mileage 2004 Ferrari 575M than a 1968 Ford Mustang.  This one only has 12k miles, and lists for $114k.

You want massive?  1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.  Should've brought a wide-angle lens.

I will admit, this is the first Lancia Flaminia I've ever seen.  Pre-Fiat-era Lancias are so gorgeous and interesting.  This one is a 1960 Flaminia 2.5 Coupe.

Want a classic, well-preserved Mercedes Benz for less than a Nissan Versa?  This 1961 Mercedes 190 Sedan is only $9,500.  I doubt you'd be setting fire to the tarmac, but it's a neat old thing.

Perhaps it's ridiculous, but I see this Isetta and I think - "Hmm, that is approximately one Hayabusa drivetrain away from glory."

Another '74 Series III E-Type parked alongside a gorgeous '63 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider.  The 2600 was the last inline-six Alfa Romeo, before the brand began focusing on more mass-produced cars.

This 1971 Mercedes 280SE 3.5 started life as a hard top, and was converted to a Cabriolet at some point.  It looks like a well-done conversion, but you know Mercedes pricing is a little crazy when a converted cabrio with 100k+ miles is going for 70 grand.  Still, lovely.

There's a gallery with some additional images below!  I hope you enjoyed Car Spotting in Los Angeles.  If you're interested, here's Part I, Part II, and Part III.