2011 Concorso Italiano: Ferrari F50 GT
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: EVENTS / PLACES | Tags: 2011, 4.7L V12, California, Concorso Italiano, Ferrari F50 GT, GT1 racing, Italian, Mind over motor, Monterey car week, Photo Gallery, prototype 3 Comments »
I was fortunate enough to see this mighty Ferrari F50 GT at the Concorso Italiano back in 2011, during the Monterey car week. The F50 GT is a Ferrari racing car that never came to be. It was developed to take on the likes of the Porsche 911 GT1, Mercedes CLK GTR and McLaren F1 LM, but it never made it past the prototype stage. Along with the prototype, two F50 GTs were built for customers. This is one of those customer cars, and it was the first one I’ve seen in person. There was a normal F50 right beside it, and the GT makes the standard car look puny by comparison. The performance of the F50 GT is also extremely massive. The car itself weighs in at just 2,005lbs and its 4.7L V12 has 750hp and 383ft/lbs of torque on tap. 60mph comes in under 3 seconds, the 1/4 mile is dispatched in 10.2 sec, and it tops out at 235mph, presumably when the aerodynamics are set up for top end speed. This is a racing car, make no mistake. These photos are a few years old, and I have learned much about photography since, but I think they came out pretty well. Enjoy.
Singer 911, the perfect Porsche
Posted: January 18, 2013 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: California, Chris Harris, custom, Drive, Mind over motor, Porsche, Singer 911, The perfect 911, video Leave a comment »Drive’s Chris Harris goes to Singer in California to see their bespoke built Porsche 911 and what goes into making it. The idea behind Singer’s car is that they have taken all of the best parts from every 911, and put them all into one car in an effort to make the perfect Porsche. All of the details are discussed in the video, but all I can say after watching it is “What a car!!!”. Yet another machine to add to my list should I win the Lottery. Enjoy.
-Nick
Autocross: It’s for any car, and any person.
Posted: October 10, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry | Tags: A-Body, Auto Idolatry, Autocross, California, Chevelle, Classic Car, Colorado, Dick Eytchison, fun, General Motors, handling, Mind over motor, Motorsports, Sedan, Timeless, Tire Squeal Leave a comment »This man here, Dick Eytchison, is probably the coolest AARP member in the state of Colorado. This is his blue 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 4-door sedan, and he’s autocrossing it. He’s recovering from open-heart surgery and he’s been married for 46 years. If this doesn’t prove that autocrossing is pretty much for everyone of all ages, I don’t know what does. Great video, and yes, you’ve got 5 minutes to watch it. This was posted on Jalopnik yesterday afternoon and I feel that it’s definitely worth watching again, what a fantastic example of how the love of automobiles doesn’t go away as one gets older.
-Albert S. Davis
Spotted! 1959 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder LWB, Greenwich, CT
Posted: August 11, 2012 Filed under: Classics, Exotics, SPOTTED! | Tags: 250GT, California, Classic, Connecticut, Exotic, Ferrari, Greenwich Concours, LWB, Mind over motor, Pininfarina, Preserved, Show Winner, Spider, Spotted!, Unrestored 1 Comment »
While at the Greenwich Concours this June, I walked around the hotel across the harbor and came across this unrestored California Spider in the front parking lot. It is number 1581GT, the 41st of only 50 made. According to Hemmings Motor News (in their December 2011 issue), the current owner, Thierry Morin, has had it since 2002, when he was the high bidder at Christie’s Pebble Beach auction in 2002, for over $1.2 million–it had less than 26,000mi when he purchased it from the previous owner, William Ruger Jr. The first owner, Alfred E. “Erwin” Goldschmidt, was a successful amateur racer, but Ruger took it off his hands when the car was about six months old. It is still a completely unrestored car and won Best Preserved at the 2005 New York Concour. It was shown as well at the 2008 Greenwich Concours and the 2011 Fairfield Concours. This is one find I will not soon forget. Read the rest of this entry »
One year anniversary!!!
Posted: June 1, 2012 Filed under: WHO ARE WE? | Tags: 1, 250, anniversary, Beach, California, Carmel, Ferrari, GTO, Mind, Monterey, motor, note, Over, Pebble, Thank, year, you 2 Comments »
One of the most incredible moments of the past year was seeing all but one of the remaining Ferrari 250 GTOs lined up side by side at Pebble Beach. Thats $600 million in sexy, Italian automotive icons, all in one place.
Today is a special day for Mind Over Motor. Exactly one year ago our domain name was activated, and our site went live. In the past year we have gone from having no audience whatsoever to a consistent few hundred views per day, a rate that continues to climb as the site grows. The site has done many things for us, including receiving press credentials last years Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, where we saw and drove some really incredible cars. However, much of what we do are things most people can do, such as test driving cars, but it is the site that gives doing such things a true, functional purpose. We enjoy running the site because it is a fantastic outlet for our insights, and has helped us expand our perspective on cars, and the auto industry immensely; and it has only been a year! While we love doing the site, it also is not yet a money making venture for us. It remains a productive hobby at this point, and must still come after our jobs and schooling on our list of priorities, so just know we are doing the best we can to expand the site with the time we are able to give it. We have a lot planned for Mind Over Motor, ways to expand, events to be covered, content from new partners and readers, and new segments, so stay tuned. We send a big thank you out to all of our readers. It has been a fantastic year, and we are hoping for another to come.
Sincerely,
MoM
Obscure Auto: Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
Posted: April 16, 2012 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 2011, ACR, Alfa, Auto, Beach, California, Dodge, Italian, Mind, Monterey, motor, Obscure, Over, Pebble, Romeo, Stradale, Style, TZ3, V10, Viper, x, Zagato 1 Comment »
The TZ3 Stradale is a limited production model that is actually a Dodge Viper ACR in Alfa Romeo clothes. It was built to showcase a collaboration between Chrysler and Fiat as a kickoff for future models. Mechanically it is all Viper with the same 640hp V10 as the Viper ACR-X, but with the sort of performance that Viper achieved I don’t hear anyone complaining. The design, done by Zagato, are a clear nod back to the legendary Alfa TZ and TZ2 racing cars of old. Just nine of these TZ3 Stradales will be produced making this one of the more exotic cars in the world. While at Pebble Beach this past summer we were surprised by this car while looking at a lineup of Bugatti Veyrons. All of a sudden there was this earthshaking rumble and then this astonishing car rolled out of the parking deck. It is an incredible machine to behold, and I think this Italian-American collaboration is just right. I must also say that the TZ3 Stradale is among the best looking cars I’ve ever seen. More pictures of the car below. Read the rest of this entry »
1936 Auburn 852 Boattail Speedster at Concours
Posted: February 2, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, EVENTS / PLACES, SHOWCASE | Tags: 1936, 852, Auburn, August, Auto Idolatry, Black, Boattail, California, Concours, Great Depression, Mind over motor, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Rare, RWD, Showcase, Speedster, Supercharged, USA Leave a comment »
Auburn boat-tail speedsters like this one are among some of the world’s most collectible prewar American convertibles, owing to their extremely low production, high price tag, and (for the era) blistering performance. This flawless black example showed up to the Pebble Beach Concours this summer, and I was fortunate enough to grab a few pictures of it. This one in particular is a 1936 Model 852, the final year of production for not only this car, but the Auburn name as a whole. It is a breathtaking car, and with only 1850 sold during 1936, this 100mph-plus roadster was a treat on the street in its day, and still is today. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: Mercedes CLS 63 AMG, Nick’s Take
Posted: January 12, 2012 Filed under: High End & Exotic, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 63, AMG, Beach, California, Car, CLS, Coupe, design, door, Drive, Fast, four, German, Luxury, Mercedes, Mind, Monterey, motor, Over, Pebble, plus, review, Sedan, Sport, Test 1 Comment »
Mercedes CLS 63 AMG
Pebble Beach offers smaller publications like us a rare chance to try out some cars we would never be able to do at a dealership. The Mercedes CLS 63 AMG is such a car to be sure; with a price tag around $100 grand, 518hp on tap, and looks that could kill. It is one of those cars that is usually kept locked in showrooms and most require a large deposit to show genuine interest before they will allow a test drive. Knowing this when I signed up for a drive in the king of the CLS line, I felt both excited and privileged to be able to get behind the wheel. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: Range Rover Evoque, Nick’s Take
Posted: December 30, 2011 Filed under: Off-Road Able, Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: all, AWD, Beach, beauty, California, Car, Concours, Cross, Crossover, cylinder, design, Drive, driving, Evoque, four, fun, Impressions, Inline, Land, Luxury, Mind, motor, off, Over, Pebble, Range, review, Road, Rover, Style, SUV, Test, turbo, Turbocharged, versitile, wheel Leave a comment »
Range Rover Evoque
As soon as I first laid eyes on the Evoque I knew it was going to be a game changer. It was a completely new formula for a luxury SUV that, not only, drastically redefined style, but also drivability and usability as well. Being the founding member of what seems to be an emerging segment in the high end market, the Evoque sets the precedents for future entries. I have pointed out this segment before in articles concerning the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman, however the Evoque represents the first full on luxury offering of this sort. This past year, at Pebble Beach, Land Rover was holding Evoque test drives, so having been eager to try it out since I saw it, I signed the papers and took one out for a spin. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: Porsche Cayman R
Posted: December 8, 2011 Filed under: High End & Exotic, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2800, 3.4L, 330, 6, Beach, CA, California, Car, Cayman, Drive, engine, Fast, Flat, fun, H6, handling, hp, lbs, mid, Mind, Monterey, motor, Over, Pebble, pictures, Porsche, Quail, R, rear, review, RWD, six, specs, Sports, Test, video, wheel Leave a comment »
Porsche Cayman R
The Porsche Cayman has been heralded as one of the best handling cars money can buy. Sure it is the “baby” Porsche, but these days even the little ones have gotten pretty serious. The Cayman R is to the Cayman line as the GT3 is to the 911 series, so solid performance is a given. Porsche was offering test drives of various models during Concours Weekend, but once I saw the Cayman R on the list I knew where to place my priorities (Video after the jump).
Spotted! AMC Pacer, Carmel, CA
Posted: December 5, 2011 Filed under: SPOTTED!, Unique | Tags: AMC, American Motors, Brown, Cab-Forward, California, Carmel, Hatchback, Mind over motor, Pacer, Spotted!, Unique Leave a comment »
Nick and I spotted this oddball Seventies ride while walking around Carmel during Concours weekend. The Pacer’s story is one of a car that was intended to be ahead of its time, but turned out to be a hodgepodge of components that made a poor whole (too much glass for the interior, one door longer than the other, ugly looks). The Pacer has a following as an offbeat collector car, and seeing one on the street today is relatively uncommon.
Spotted by: Nick and Al
Pagani Huayra debut in California this past summer
Posted: November 14, 2011 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE, USER SUBMITTED | Tags: America, and, California, Cars, Coffee, Debut, drake, Horacio, Huayra, Irvine, Mind, motor, Over, Pagani, video 1 Comment »
Our friend Drake was lucky enough to catch the Pagani Huayra at one of the events on it’s American tour. It is a truly stunning car, and Mr. Pagani was there himself to show off the car. Supposedly Pagani has already recieved 12+ orders for the Huayra from American buyers, so keep you eyes peeled on the streets for one once they are allowed into the country.
Check out Drake’s youtube channel here
-Drake
