American specialist manufacturer has introduced the all-new Blackbird. Inspired by the SR71 Blackbird airplane, it represents the third generation of high performance sports cars produced by Hennessey but it is distinctly different than its predecessors. Like the Venom, it is built around a carbon-fibre composite monocoque chassis but it is powered by a brand-new naturally aspirated V8 engine that has been developed together with Ilmor. The performance target for the engine is 800 - 850 bhp and it will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Production of the Blackbird is due to begin in 2029 and will be limited to just 71 examples.
At next week's Monterey classic car week, Lamborghini will introduce two Revuelto variants. Like the name suggests, the Revuelto 60° Homage is a limited edition celebration of the Miura's 60th anniversary. More interesting will be the Revuelto SV, for which very little details have been released except that it set a new lap record at the Hockenheimring. True to the Super Veloce moniker, it will be a higher performance version of the hybrid V12 engined supercar.
The final production specifications of the very wild McMurtry Spéirling PURE have been released. The track-only, single-seat machine is more potent than the record-breaking prototype thanks to a larger battery. Only 100 examples of the Spéirling PURE will be produced with deliveries starting later this year.
Although the FIA World Endurance Championship is still in full swing, Ferrari and Peugeot have already started testing substantially improved versions of the 499P and 9X8 respectively ahead of the 2027 season.

It was all change at Le Mans this year with the inaugural Le Mans Classic Legend. Originally a biennial event, the Le Mans Classic is now annual with alternating themes split by age. For the new Legend event, the Grid 6 was carried over while Group C, Endurance Racing Legends and the Legends of Le Mans formed the new Grids 7 through 10. These raced through the night in familiar fashion with three races for each grid. There was some superb racing with fantastic cars, which included a pair of McLaren F1 GTRs, a trio of Lola Aston Martins and many more. In addition the main event, there were four support races including for GT3 Heritage and NASCAR. As always, there were numerous enthusiast clubs, concerts and special Porsche 917 and Gordon Murray demonstrations to entertain the hundreds of thousands of spectators. We have never missed an edition of the Le Mans Classic and were again on hand to capture the inaugural Le Mans Classic Legend in its entirety. The result of our labour can be found in ourclass-by-class, 170-shot gallery that serves to illustrate our concise report.

Ferraris and Porsches have long since been the darlings of the auction scene and the upcoming Monterey sales will be no exception. At RM Sotheby's a pair of Ferraris look centre stage. Estimated to sell for $10 - $12 million is this Daytona SP3. Finished in a striking yellow, this is a great example of the highly acclaimed limited production model. Boasting only two owners from new and very low mileage, chassis 297567 deserves a new custodian that will use the car as intended. With this 288 GTO, RM Sotheby's will also offer a superb example of the original Ferrari 'F car'. It spent much of its life in Germany and has been owned by several prominent collectors. Having covered an almost criminal 1,470 km from new 54789 should sell for $9 - $11 million.
With this 550A RS Spyder and Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, Gooding Christie's will offer a pair of iconic quad-cam, four-cylinder engined Porsches. The 550A RS Spyder was raced with great success for a season in and around Austria and was also used to break several records. It was later raced in the United States and it is now offered from a single ownership of four decades. Sold new to the United States, the 904 Carrera GTS was one of just three originally finished in orange. Raced extensively in North America, it had just one owner between 1973 and 2023. Both Porsches have a $1.8 - $2.2 million pre-sale estimate. Another rare Porsche consigned to the Pebble Beach Auctions is this 911 Turbo 3.6 S Flachbau. Porsche built just 76 of these 964-generation monsters and the example due to cross the blocks is one of just 39 originally earmarked for the North American market.

Rival auctioneers Gooding Christie's and and RM Sotheby's have released the complete lot list of respectively the Pebble Beach Auctions and Monterey Sale. For both companies, these are the flagship sales and this illustrated by the two headliners. At Gooding Christie's, all eyes will be on this AC Shelby Cobra Daytona, which has a pre-sale estimate in excess of $25,000,000. It was raced extensively by Shelby American during the 1965 season and was later also campaigned in Japan while in private hands. Among the subsequent long term owners was Carroll Shelby himself. Chassis CSX2300 has been in single family ownership since 2000, and has been successfully raced in historic events throughout Europe ever since. With great verve as highlighted by an outright victory in the RAC Tourist Trophy during the 2011 Goodwood Revival, in the hands of Tom Kristensen and Kenny Bräck. One of only six built, and with most in locked away in private collections and museums, this represents a virtually unique opportunity to acquire one of America's most successful competition cars.
RM Sotheby's believes this McLaren F1 GTR will find a new owner for a record breaking $35,000,000. The example on offer is the prototype for the 1996 version of the successful McLaren racer and as such was never raced in period. Following its test and development duties, it was acquired by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who eventually returned the car to its unique 1996 testing livery. He would own the car through to 2024 and the carefully worded auction description states that he has been the only private custodian of chassis 10R.

It has been a very busy couple of weeks but now that things have slowed down, we have the time to take a detailed look at two great events held last month. First up is the Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or staged at the Circuit Dijon-Prenois. The third round of the Le Mans Classic Series, it featured eight different racing grids and a daily demonstration for Formula 1 cars. The two Classic Endurance Racing grids took centre stage, while the Classic Touring Challenge for pre-1966 Touring Cars made its first appearance of the year. As always at the Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or, there was a very strong presence of specialist clubs, headlined by the French Ford Mustang club. In what were unusually pleasant conditions, our photographers captured the event in its entirety with this 180-shot gallery as the result.
One week later, all eyes were on Circuit de La Sarthe for the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In front of a record crowed of 350,000, a bumper grid of 62 prototypes and GT racers embarked on what has long since become a 24-hour sprint. This year's edition was particularly close with seven cars finishing on the lead lap. It was also a historic one as South Korea was represented for the first time, by a pair of Genesis hypercars. Our man on the ground, Bob van der Wolf, sent over this fabulous 70-shot gallery to illustrate our brief report.

Auctioneer Gooding Christie's has announced some truly spectacular Italian sports cars to headline their flagship Pebble Beach Auctions in August. These include four cars from a single collection with this Sebring 12 Hours Ferrari 250 P as the absolute star. Historically very significant, it was the first-ever Ferrari with a V12 mounted amidships. Offered from a four-decade single ownership, chassis 0810 has a pre-sale estimate of $15 - $20 million.
Equally rare and achingly beautiful is this Ferrari 206 S Dino Berlinetta. One of just three fitted with the fixed-head, Berlinetta bodywork, it was first raced by the North American Racing Team at Le Mans and also has Can-Am competition history. Again part of the same stable for well over three decades, 014 is expected to find a new owner for $3.5 - $5 million.
An earlier Ferrari from the collection is this 225 S Vignale Spyder, which debuted in the 1952 Mille Miglia as a works car. Rarely seen since it joined the collection in the 1980s, 0194ET should sell for $2 - $3 million.
As demonstrated by this Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage, the collection does not just consist of Ferraris. This particular example was sold new to the United States and was raced in a striking white and blue livery by the likes of Bob Drake and Jim Hall. Chassis 2452 was restored for historic racing in the 1970s and has been used by successive custodians, including the consignor. Offered for the first time since 1998, 2452 should sell for in excess of $3 million.