Skip to main content

The Quail 2016 Preview: Lancia, Lola, Porsche, and more vintage hotness

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder #1 hi-res
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder Image used with permission by copyright holder
Monterey Car Week is one of the most prestigious gatherings on the motoring calendar, showcasing the best of automotive engineering and design traced through the ages. Auto shows, historic races, and auctions are all part of the week’s agenda, yet apart from the Councours D’Elegance, The Quail is the most exciting event. Contemporary and vintage cars are arranged at The Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, for the attendees’ drooling pleasure while luxury automakers offer test drives in their best new models.

In anticipation for this August’s event, here’s a preview of some of the vehicular highlights.

1957 Lancia hi-res
Image used with permission by copyright holder

1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 ‘Outlaw’ Coupe
; William E. (Chip) Connor – Hong Kong

Recommended Videos

The Lancia Aurelia B20, introduced in 1951, represented near-unprecedented engineering excellence. It was the proverbial “giant killer.” In 1951, a modified B20 Aurelia, driven by Giovani Bracco, won its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by a full lap and finished second overall in the Mille Miglia. In 2013, Chip Connor commissioned a restoration of a 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 Coupe in the style of the Bracco B20. Utilizing a 2.8 liter Lancia Flaminia drive train, coupled with a lightened and chopped B20 Coupe body, this 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 “Outlaw” Coupe expresses what might have been the ultimate evolution of the B20.

2016 Scuderia Glickenhaus hi-res
Image used with permission by copyright holder

2016 Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus;
 James M. Glickenhaus – New York

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus’ SCG 003CS was first shown at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show.

Shortly thereafter, it raced successfully at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, where it finished first in class. The weekend after the race, it was driven from Turin to Como, Italy, and displayed at Villa d’ Este. It continued to race at The Ring in 2015 and will race again at this year’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring. SCG 003CS is truly a race car for the road.

1934 Packard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

1934 Packard Chassis Coachbuilt Body; 
James Hetfield – California


It all began with a stack of sheet aluminum and an idea to inject some American custom car swagger into classic coach-building design ideology. The result is “Aquarius,” a completely original, hand- formed coachbuilt custom for the ages. For those familiar with the work of French coachbuilders Figoni and Falaschi, their influence — and specifically that of the 1938 Delahaye 165 cabriolet — is apparent. But equally at play is the sinister elegance born from American customizers of the 1940s and early ’50s. Long and low, the roadster has a familiar silhouette that’s all its own. The flowing teardrop body is complemented by aggressive details like the beautifully scalloped side pipes. Enclosed pontoon fenders carry chrome rearward while the ornate DuVall-style windshield and liftoff hardtop exude early hot rod spirit. It’s a delicate balance with undeniable rhythm and flow, masterfully executed by some of the most gifted hands in metal shaping. Styled and built by Rick Dore Kustoms, metal shaping by Marcels.

1966 Lola Mk2 T70 Can-Am(4) hi-res
Image used with permission by copyright holder

1966 Lola Mk2 T70 Can-Am;
 Tony & Laureen Hart – California

When the car left the Lola Factory in London in 1966 as a roadster, it competed in many Can-Am races. SL71/46 competed in the Can-Am series in 1967 at Bridgehampton in New York, Laguna Seca and Riverside in Calfornia, and Las Vegas. The American driver, Jerry Grant, drove the car with considerable success at race tracks across the United States. In more recent years, the car underwent a body change and became a Coupe. It has gone on to compete in many vintage race events across the country since then.

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder #2 hi-res
Image used with permission by copyright holder

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder; 
Don & Carol Murray – California


This 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder was the Paris Show Car in 1955 and many vintage photographs are available. It was raced by Sonauto, including at Le Mans in 1956, the 1,000km Monza, and many other races through 1958. It finished first overall once, fifth overall twice and has seven class placings. It was later sold to a race car driver, Jean Behra, and documented in a number of magazines. The 550-0067 boasts mostly original enamel paint and all original tube frame and the Murrays went through a great deal of effort to preserve the car’s originality. This car was “The Most Significant Porsche Class Winner” in 2008 at Amelia Island.

Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
Bose wants to dominate car audio, and I heard its next-gen 3D automotive speakers
Bose logo on a speaker grille

Bose’s automotive audio business is huge, and it’s set to get even bigger. The company has been making big plays in car audio for some time now. The audio company works with premium brands like Porsche, building high-end speakers that allow drivers to experience high-quality audio on the road, whether they’re carting the family around in an Escalade or weaving around the highway (don’t do that) in a Porsche Macan.

But while it has a solid selection of audio brands under its belt, the world of personal audio is also evolving. Mercedes-Benz showed off its Dolby Atmos system at CES last year, and now, a year later, plenty of other brands are joining the trend. At CES 2025, Bose walked me through its current lineup of automotive audio products, as well as a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Immersive audio
The big trend in all areas of personal audio right now essentially boils down to supporting 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos. Consumer home theater products are increasingly offering up-firing and side-firing speakers that can bounce audio around the room to simulate height and surround effects, while headphone brands are increasingly developing spatialized audio tech that can convert stereo audio into simulated spatial audio.

Read more
You Asked: What’s the most impressive thing you saw at CES?
You Asked CES Editors Cut

On today’s special edition of You Asked, we tracked down each of our editors and put them on the spot to find out what they thought was the most impressive thing they saw at CES 2025 in Early January. Let’s find out what they had to say.
Panasonic Z95B

There’s been some really cool TV tech at CES, but the thing I’m most excited about is the new Panasonic Z95B. Instead of the regular OLED display structure we’ve seen in recent years with MLA technology, this uses a four-layer panel structure. It features individual red, green, and blue layers (two of the latter) for the emissive light.

Read more
Volvo CTO Anders Bell chats its new do-it-all tech platform and future EVs
2025 Volvo EX90 front quarter view.

Volvo is at an inflection point. The company has finally launched the new Volvo EX90 -- it's long-awaited flagship electric SUV, designed to take on other premium large SUVs like the Rivian R1S. The new vehicle offers Volvo's signature Scandinavian style, but with modern features and Google's Android Automotive software.

Beyond being its first major electric SUV release, perhaps more important is the fact that the EX90 also represents the launch of Volvo's so-called Superset platform. Essentially, Superset is the Volvo-designed tech stack that is supposed to be used on all of its upcoming electric vehicles, containing all the modules and software necessary to power a built-out next-generation lineup of EVs.

Read more