“Since childhood I’ve always been attracted to mechanical things –

cars or boats or anything with moving parts. So when I first came to

America in 1986 I was naturally fascinated by the size and power of

American cars, beginning with my first – a massive Lincoln Town Car.

“I’ve long since replaced that first American car, even as I broadened

my interests and pursued my passion for fine automobiles. This

book was created to help me share that passion with my friends

and family, and to preserve a visual record of some highlights of my

collection. I view fine cars as works of art, like paintings or sculptures,

and hope that one day they will be displayed in a museum. I also

hope my son David will follow in my footsteps and develop the same

love of the cars that I have. I hope you enjoy perusing this book

as much as I have enjoyed building the collection that it depicts.”

– Meir Peretz

2 0 0 8 M E R C E D E S - B E N Z S L R M C L A R E N

The highlight of Meir Peretz’s collection, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren would merit a place of honor in any

collector’s fleet. “This is, without question, the centerpiece – the crown jewel of my collection,” says Meir. The

product of an all-too-brief collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, this 2008 roadster

was one of fewer than 1,000 that were made, and one of an even smaller number of roadster models produced

during the last two years of this vehicle’s production run. Ranked as one of the top 10 most expensive cars

in the world, the Mercedes McLaren is both visually stunning and an exceptional performer, with a carbon

fiber body and a unique, perfectly centered mid-engine design that provides superb balance and handling.

Fully equipped with all the amenities one would

expect in a luxury grand tourer – from satellite

radio and navigation to integrated telephone and

music systems – the Mercedes McLaren is so

well-engineered that, according to Mercedes,

driver and passenger can engage in conversation,

with the roadster top retracted, at speeds in

excess of 120 mph. And that, Meir points out,

is barely over half of this remarkable car’s top

speed of 208 mph. With its five-speed automatic

transmission, electric folding roadster top, and

unique shift-mounted starter button that evokes

a fighter jet’s control stick, this incomparable

vehicle is remarkable down to the smallest detail.

The hand-built, supercharged, all-aluminum, 5.4 liter V8 engine propels the car from 0 to 60

mph in a heart-stopping 3.2 seconds – which several automotive magazines called the fastest

acceleration times they had ever recorded in a production car. Carbon-ceramic brakes and

a unique Sensotronic brake-by-wire system provide the needed stopping power. “When you

are capable of 200 miles per hour, ordinary brakes just aren’t up to the task,” Meir notes.

The rare silver paintwork and unique “scissor” doors of the Mercedes McLaren add an unmistakable

dramatic flair that evokes the legendary gull wing design of the mid ’50s Mercedes that inspired it.

A true “must have” for any collector of American performance cars, the Dodge Viper debuted in 1991 as the pace

car of the Indianapolis 500, before going on sale to the public in January 1992. This 2005 roadster is a pristine

example of the third generation of Vipers, known as the Viper SRT-10 – the numbers reflecting the legendary V-10

engine that has been the hallmark of the Viper since its inception. This massive 8.3 liter, 510 horsepower engine

can propel the Viper from a standstill to 60 mph in less than four seconds, and to a top speed of 190 mph.

2 0 0 5 D O D G E V I P E R

The Dodge Viper’s relatively large production numbers mean it is not an extremely rare

vehicle as collector cars go, but a Viper in this condition is genuinely scarce and the

striking yellow color adds an additional premium to its value. “Yellow is the ultimate color

for a true racing car,” Meir points out, and that’s exactly what the Viper is at its core: a

racer, not a luxury tourer. In fact, he admits, “It can be a little frustrating to drive around

town, since you’re still in fourth gear at 70 miles per hour.” Yet when the track calls,

the Viper is ready to answer, with a distinctive V-10 rumble that is truly one of a kind.

2 0 0 2 B M W Z 8

This BMW Z8 will always occupy a place of honor in Meir Peretz’s collection. “This was my first

true collector car – the one that started it all,” he notes, acquired brand new in 2002. The Z8 debuted in

1999, achieving instant fame as a James Bond car in The World Is Not Enough. Despite its widespread

visibility, however, the Z8 is actually a rare car: just over 4,000 were built during its relatively short four-

year production run, and only 524 were sold in the United States in 2002. Unique among roadsters,

every Z8 was sold with a matching metal hardtop that was designed to complement the lines of the car.

“I like the BMW because it’s proof that classic cars do not necessarily have to be

old,” says Meir. Although it is equipped with the newest electronic accessories,

the car’s interior fittings and switches have a decidedly “retro” feel, reflecting

the classic BMW sports cars of an earlier generation. To maintain the vintage

simplicity, modern equipment is hidden under retracting panels. On the exterior,

side-mounted turn indicators are integrated into side vents making them virtually

invisible until they are turned on, with innovative use of neon lighting tubes

for tail lights and turn signals that are expected to last the life of the vehicle.

The BMW’s classic sports car lines are in keeping with its true sports car core. The 4.9 liter, 32-valve V8 engine develops

400 horsepower – enough to outperform its European rivals. Of course, like any true sports car, the Z8 is recognized for

more than just speed alone – its handling and braking are also superb. Even its stylish interior design features draw

on its sports car heritage, with the center-mounted, canted instrument cluster providing better visibility to the road ahead.

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The GT40 is nearly identical in appearance to the sleek Ford GT40 race cars of the 1960s, so named because

they measured a mere 40 inches tall at the roofline. “The original design was by Carroll Shelby and you can

definitely see the Shelby heritage in this car,” says Meir. Heritage, in fact, is a driving force behind many

of the vehicles in Meir’s collection – not only the racing heritage of Shelby and the automotive heritage

of names like Corvette, Mustang and Viper, but also the personal heritage Meir hopes to pass on to his

son David. “I truly hope he inherits my love of these mechanical and artistic masterpieces,” Meir says.

With its retro-style toggles and polished aluminum interior, the GT40 lets you know you’re

entering a racer from the moment you drop into the cockpit. “The car is so sleek and

low that the door profiles were extended far up into the roofline to make it possible to

get in and out,” Meir notes. Barely 4,000 GT40s were built from late 2004 through 2006.

The GT40’s Formula One heritage is more than just a matter of appearan-

ces. With lightning-quick acceleration, superb mid-engine handling, and a

top speed in excess of 200 mph, the GT40 fully lives up to its racing pedigree.

The GT40’s all-aluminum, 5.4 liter supercharged V8 engine puts out 550 horsepo-

wer. “When you open the rear canopy and see the engine and the heavy suspension

components, you can tell this is a car that was made to race,” says Meir. “This one

definitely is eye-catching – you don’t see them every day. But it’s also a lot of fun to drive.”

2008 GT500 FORD SHELBY (SUPER SNAKE)

The relationship between legendary designer Carroll Shelby

and the Ford Mustang goes back to the pony car’s roots in the

1960s, when Shelby added muscle to the Mustang in the form

of the legendary Cobra. Today the relationship lives on in the

GT500 Ford Shelby Super Snake. “It’s like a Cobra on steroids,”

Meir jokes. Each Super Snake is custom-built from a factory-

fresh GT500, which Ford ships directly to Shelby Automobiles in

Texas for outfitting with special trim and performance features

including a 645 horsepower supercharged engine. “It’s a very

limited production process, which effectively doubles the price

of the car and takes about six months to complete,” Meir says.

The distinctive Shelby Super Snake package includes special fuel filler cap, hood

pins, brakes and rims, as well as a specially designed carbon fiber spoiler plate.

Inside are special gauges, custom leather upholstery with unique red trim, Shelby

sill plates and, above all, a numbered dash plaque personally signed by Carroll

Shelby himself. “They make only a few hundred a year to stay in the market, so

it will definitely become more rare over the years, as smaller engines and hybrids

take over the market and ease the heavy, powerful engines out,” Meir predicts.

“The first time I saw a Super Snake I knew I had to have one,”

Meir recalls. “So I ordered this one brand new direct from Shelby.”

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The name Carroll Shelby has been associated with several milestone cars over the years, but the Shelby Series 1 was

the only car ever produced by Carroll Shelby from “a clean sheet of paper – built from the ground up as his dream

car,” Meir says, adding: “They named it the Series 1 but, sadly, no second series was ever produced.” Altogether,

only 249 were produced by Shelby American during its single year of production, making this an extremely rare

landmark vehicle. “But it’s also a true Shelby performer, too,” Meir notes. Like all Shelby cars, it’s light on amenities

and creature comforts, but heavy on power and authentic racing touches, right down to pop-up fuel filler cap.

1 9 9 9 S H E L B Y S 1

Powered by an Oldsmobile 4.0 liter 32-valve V8 producing 320 horsepower with a six-

speed manual gearbox, the Shelby Series 1 features an all-aluminum chassis and an

all-fiberglass body. “There’s nothing made from steel on this car,” Meir says, noting that

the all-fiberglass body requires the car be stored in an environment where temperature

and humidity are controlled. “I learned the hard way – on a Corvette, actually – that

fiberglass expands and contracts with temperature change, causing the paint to crack,

which can be very hard to repair. This car is far too special to allow that to happen.”

When most people see a black Pontiac Trans Am, their initial reaction is, “Smokey and the Bandit.” Today there are many

Smokey and the Bandit replicas on the road – often ordinary Trans Ams that were simply retrofitted with some gold trim

and an eagle decal on the hood. This Trans Am, however, is the real thing: an authentic, limited production 1977 Y82,

just like the movie original, which has been carefully restored to like-new condition. “In fact, the paint was so perfect I

couldn’t bear to see an Eagle put onto the hood,” Meir said. “Since that was an option originally, I preferred to leave it off.”

1 9 7 7 T R A N S A M S P E C I A L E D I T I O N Y 8 2

Most Pontiac Trans Ams rolled off the

assembly line with a 350 cu. in. V8 and

an automatic transmission. This limited

production Y82, on the other hand, was

equipped with a huge 456 cu. in. engine and

a four-speed manual transmission for true

muscle car performance. “The engine and

all mechanical components on this car are

exceptionally clean and perfectly restored,”

adds Meir. “It was purchased from a dealer

in Michigan who specializes in restoring

only Pontiac Trans Ams and Firebirds.”

“Pontiac Trans Ams and other muscle cars from the ’70s are often overlooked future classics,” says Meir, who

was attracted by this Y82’s perfect condition and authenticity, right down to tires, rims, and original factory

air-conditioning and AM/FM radio. The L78 T-top body style completes the muscle car driving experience.

1 9 6 6 C O R V E T T E C O U P 3 2 7 / 3 5 0

“Any collection of American cars simply must have at least one Corvette, and this is an especially good example,”

says Meir. Painted in classic rally red, and powered by the small-block 327 cu. in. Chevrolet engine putting

out 350 horsepower, this 1966 coupe epitomizes the “mid-years” or second generation (C2) Corvettes, which

were built from 1963 to 1967. With their classic teardrop rear window design, the “mid-years” Sting Ray coupes

offered what is arguably the most striking and instantly recognizable profile of any American car of the era.

A rust-free California car that was completely restored from the frame up, this 1966

Corvette Sting Ray coupe is exquisite in every detail, right down to the knockoff rims and

authentic whitewall tires. “The side exhaust pipes were a factory-installed option – but

factory air-conditioning was not,” Meir notes. “That helped it run cooler when racing.”

Inside and out, could there be a more classic American icon than a red Corvette?

“In many ways, this Corvette shows what collecting is really all about,” says Meir. “If he were interested in the car strictly as an investment,

the restorer could have cut some corners to maximize profit. But this car was restored for all the right reasons – as an investment,

to be sure, but also for love of the car, to preserve a piece of automotive history, and to pass on that history to another generation.”

Although much of his collection celebrates power and beauty, Meir’s

BMW Isettas celebrate something very different: the European

post-war ideal of very small, very economical city cars. “The Isetta

was originally an Italian design, which was later licensed by BMW

who produced these two – a 1958 and a 1961 model,” Meir says.

1960 & 1961 BMW ISETTA

Despite its quirky appearance, the Isetta actually incorporates

some remarkable engineering, especially the front-entry

“refrigerator door” that rotates the steering wheel with it as

it swings open. These “250” models are powered by a four-

stroke, single-cylinder engine that produces 12 horsepower.

“Top speed is about 40 miles per hour so you don’t want

to take it on the freeway,” Meir says. “On the other hand,

you never have to worry about narrow parking spaces –

you simply walk out the front door!” Isettas are still fondly

remembered in Europe, where one of Meir’s cars was

once proudly displayed in a previous owner’s living room.

For Meir, the remarkable vehicles in his collection are not only mechanical marvels, not only long-term investments, and not only beautiful works of art in their own right. They are also a

means to escape. “There’s always something to do on collector cars, some small thing that needs attention,” he explains. “Having them right nearby to the office is perfect, since they often

provide me the chance to take a brief break from business to tinker – or to just simply relax and enjoy them for a few minutes.”