Revolutionary design at the Quail

SUVs are pretty commonplace today, but there's nothing on the road quite like the LM002. This particular version — designated the LM-002/A — is one of approximately 60 that were specifically built for America. The LM-002's revolutionary claim to fame: It was the first 4WD model from Lamborghini. Its bold design and V12 power also made it stand out from the crowd of more common SUVs, earning it the nickname "Rambo Lambo." When asked what it's like to drive, owner Bob Cuevas told us, "it's like driving an animal."

View Pictures:  Lamborghini at the Quail

When the Djet debuted in 1962, it was the first mid-engine production car, designed and built by French race car driver and car builder René Bonnet. Matra, a French aerospace company, took over the automaker in 1965 after Bonnet ran into financial problems. About 1,500 of the Djets were built, but according to owner Richard Plavetich,only about a dozen are left in the United States. Plavetich says the car is nimble and well balanced because of its mid-engine layout, and because of its light weight, it "scoots along" quite well.

View Pictures:  More from The Quail

At first glance, the Morgan looks right at home alongside the vintage cars on display around the Monterey peninsula this weekend. That's not surprising; Morgan has built cars for more than 100 years, and is the oldest family-run car company in the world. However, this car is anything but vintage. Under the hood beats a modern 376-horsepower BMW V8 engine that pushes the Aero to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Dennis Glavis, a Morgan dealer who brought the car to the Quail, told us that the Aero Supersport offers supercar performance but is actually quite easy to drive.

View Slideshow:  Pebble Beach 2012: Best in Class

With a transversely mounted mid-engine V12 and a sexy body created by Bertone, the Miura is considered the world's first true supercar. Desired by discerning drivers after its introduction at the Geneva Motor Show in 1966, the Miura is still popular among collectors. Owner Greg Critchfield admits that driving his Miura is not as easy nor as smooth as driving a modern sports car, but it is still an exhilarating experience packed with power and a wonderful engine sound.

View Slideshow:  Record Sales at Pebble Beach

Shown first at the Paris Salon in 1935, this specific car was the prototype of the Bugatti Type 57. That alone is impressive, but it's the magnesium body that makes this car revolutionary. Magnesium is much lighter than aluminum, which should have made it popular with racers at the time. Unfortunately, working with magnesium was too difficult and expensive for Bugatti to continue its use. According to owner Jim Hull, there were only two Bugattis ever built using the rare metal.

View Pictures:  Pebble Beach Cars Hit the Road

When we walked up to this pair of boat-tail Rolls-Royces, we thought we were seeing double. Built just a few months apart, both of these "twins" started out as chauffeur-driven sedans. One even spent some time as an ambulance during World War I. In the mid-1980s, Gary Wales found the cars, stripped off the "offending bodywork" that had built up over the years and restored the chassis to original condition. He then put them in storage for 25 years. Last year he decided to restore them, finishing the job in just 7 months. Wales seems most proud of the dual-hinge hood design, which is unique for a Rolls Royce. The separate hinges allow the hood line to match that of the iconic Rolls-Royce grille.

View Slideshow:  Pebble Beach Concours: Best in Class

When Lamborghini introduced the Countach at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, it immediately became the star of the show. The Countach redefined what supercars should look like — aggressive, edgy, pointed. Owner Gene Berns says that while he loves the powerful car — its V12 engine produces more than 400 horsepower — he has found it to be one of the hardest cars of its era to drive. Visibility to the rear is almost nonexistent, and the ride is extremely stiff; however, Bern says he's become used to it and now enjoys piloting this revolutionary rocket.

Watch Video:  Pebble Beach 2012: Best of Show

Perry Stern began his automotive career more than 20 years ago as an advisor at a vehicle consulting firm. One of the original staff members of CarPoint, Microsoft's automotive Web site that launched in 1995, he became an editor of the site in 2002, which is now known as MSN Autos. Stern has also contributed to MSNBC and various MSN properties in Canada, Japan and Europe.