1962 Oldsmobile Starfire

 

The Starfire was Oldsmobile's flagship full-size convertible from the early to mid 60s. Featured here is a Starfire from the 1962 model year, which was the most popular version of the first-gen Starfire and is the main focus of this post. It is powered by a 394 cu V8 with 345 horsepower paired to a Hydra-matic automatic transmission. 1962 also marked the introduction of a hardtop alongside the soft top for the Starfire. The Starfire has a pretty comfortable and luxurious interior for a classic American cruiser form the 60s, consisting of leather bucket seats, power steering, power windows, a full-length console, and air conditioning. 

Every model year of the Starfire after 1962 added styling and/or mechanical changes until it was discontinued in 1967. Oldsmobile would bring back the Starfire as a compact vehicle in the late 1970s, which would mark the last time the Starfire name was ever used by Oldsmobile. I happened to spot this particular example in a busy shopping center on a weekend last month, and it stood out to me more than most vehicles there. Overall, the Oldsmobile Starfire from the early 60s is a rare, fascinating, and underrated classic American cruiser that made for a pretty unique spotting moment.

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McLaren 720S (2019-23)

 

The 720S is currently the most recent Super Series model from McLaren. A brief overview: the 720S made its debut for the 2019 model year as the replacement for the 650S and is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It launches from zero to 60 mph in the upper two-second range and can hit a top speed of 212 mph. Production for the 720S wrapped up at the end of last year, with its successor on the way soon. Pricing for the 720S starts at around $310k. 

I have previously seen my fair share of the McLaren 720S on the road, at car shows, and in dealer showrooms, but it is definitely not a vehicle that I would see out and about on a daily basis. Featured in this post are the two latest examples I have seen up close at the two previous Cars and Coffee meets I attended, with the gray 720S Spider at the February meet and the red 720S Coupe earlier this month. I have a soft spot for the McLaren 720S, and until its successor proves to me otherwise, the 720S is the coolest and greatest "mainstream" McLaren ever made. 

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Corvette Z06 (C8)

 

The C8 Z06 is the best and coolest Corvette currently on sale. It was first unveiled in late 2021 and hit showrooms last year. Powering the C8 Z06 is a naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8 with 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 189 mph. Pricing for the Corvette C8 Z06 starts at around $110k.

The example featured in this post has only been the second C8 Z06 I've seen up close, which was on display at the previous two Cars and Coffee meets that I was in attendance for. The first one was at last year's Exotics on Broadway in Monterey that took place in August, which I featured on this site back in late December. Both of these examples were roadsters; however, I was able to capture a lot more photos of the second example that I saw more recently. I was already a big fan of the current C8 Corvette and the previous C7 Z06, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise that I absolutely love the latest Corvette Z06. It is a legit supercar, an amazing design, and an incredible feat of engineering that very few American cars can match.

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Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

 

The 599 was Ferrari's flagship V12 GT from the late 2000s and early 2010s. It made its debut for the 2007 model year as the replacement for the 575M in the Ferrari lineup. Powering the 599 GTB Fiorano is a 6.0-liter V12 with 612 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed F1 automated manual. The 599 was the last V12 Prancing Horse to offer a stick-shift, and only 30 examples of the 599 GTB were ever produced with a manual transmission. It makes the dash from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 205 mph. One of the 599's most distinctive design features is its flying buttress C-pillars, which directs air around the trunk and creates additional downforce without the need for a prominent rear wing. Its interior is adorned in premium leather and features a mostly traditional setup with buttons and dials. The driver's seat in the 599 is positioned slightly towards the center of the vehicle for an optimal driving position, and its gauge cluster contains a mix of analog and digital gauges. In addition, the 599's steering wheel houses the vehicle's electronic systems and start  button.

Most examples of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano are currently valued between $150,000 and $200,000, while examples with the six-speed manual tend to go for twice as much on the resale market. Other notable versions of the 599 include the better-handling HGTE, track-focused GTO, and open-top SA Aperta. The two examples featured here were on display at my local Cars and Coffee last month, with the second one also on display at the most recent meet earlier this month, sporting the same shade of red but different sets of rims. Overall, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is a gorgeous and amazing supercar and one of my favorite Prancing Horses from the 2000s. In addition, the two examples featured in this post were two of my favorite vehicles that showed up at the past two monthly Cars and Coffee meets.

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