Obscure Auto: Lamborghini Miura Jota/SVJ
Posted: September 18, 2012 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: Autos, Beach, Bob, Crash, Italy, Jota, Lamborghini, Mind, Miura, motor, Obscure, Over, Pebble, race, SVJ, V12, wallace 1 Comment »
The Miura Jota is one of those unicorn cars, one that everyone who knows about it wants, but that none will ever have. The Jota is a legend because it was the most extreme example of Lamborghini’s beloved Miura, the car that really put the marque on the map. The Jota has a particularly interesting story though, because its fame began with its own fiery death in 1972. The Jota had been a side project of famed Lamborghini test driver, Bob Wallace, and it was the news coverage of the car’s destruction that informed people of the project to build a faster, more racy Miura. The original Jota was damaged beyond repair, never to be rebuilt, but it did peak the interest of several Miura owners, and six Miura SVJs were created. These SVJs are probably the most valuable Lamborghinis around at this point, and they carry on the legacy of their doomed predecessor.
Obscure Auto: 1939 BMW 328 Buegelfalte Roadster
Posted: July 27, 2012 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 1939, 5.84, Auction, Auto, BMW, Buegelfalte, Germany, History, Le, Lemans, Mans, Miglia, Mille, million, Mind, MM, Monaco, motor, Munich, Museum, Obscure, Over, Pre, replica, Roadster, Soviet, Story, Tourist, Trophy, Union, War 1 Comment »
BMW 328 Buegelfalte Roadster
The 328 Buegelfalte Roadster is one of those legendary cars that is so coveted by modern collectors, that in 2010 it sold for $5.84 million at RM auctions in Monaco. Those who are unfamiliar with the car may believe it to be some highly successful vintage racecar, but actually it’s racing history was fairly mediocre. It is likely the car’s beauty and rarity, being the only one of its kind, that make it such a sought after machine. The Buegelfalte also has a rich story behind it as well, one that parallels that of 20th century Europe. I will tell you now that the car you see in these photos is actually a perfect replica of the Buegelfalte Roadster commissioned by BMW for use at corporate events. I took these photos during my recent visit to the factory museum. Even though the car is a replica it still has the same beautiful form as the original, which now resides in a private collection.
Obscure Auto: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
Posted: June 27, 2012 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 18, 1967, 1968, 1969, 2.0, 230, 254, 270, 33, Alfa, Article, Auto, Autodelta, built, Car, curves, door, first, Fuel, Gull, hp, information, injection, Italian, Liter, made, Mind, motor, Nick, Obscure, Over, produced, Production, racing, Rare, Red, Road, Romeo, sexy, specs, SPICA, Stradale, Tipo, V8, Walker, wing Leave a comment »
Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
This is the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, and I’m sure your eyes have already informed you that it is one of the most beautiful cars ever built by anyone. The word “Stradale” of course means that it is street version of a racing car, and it is indeed. The Tipo 33 Stradale was made in 1967 as a road going version of Autodelta Alfa Romeo’s Tipo 33/2 racing car. Only 18 Stradales were ever built, making it one of the rarest, most sought after cars in the world. One that just gets more and more interesting with every new detail you uncover. Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
Obscure Auto: TVR Cerbera Speed 12
Posted: October 18, 2011 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 12, 240, 6, 7.7, Auto, Blackpool, broke, dynamometer, dyno, Evo, History, Magazine, Mind, motor, MPH, Obscure, Over, speed, Story, TVR, UK, V12 Leave a comment »
The one actual road-going Speed 12 in existence
This is a mythical machine known to many enthusiasts. Anyone who has played Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport will recognize it as the most insane car that british manufacturer, TVR, ever built. It is the Cerbera Speed 12. People who know it, know of it’s insanity, but few know it’s actual story. We will try and set the record straight. Read the rest of this entry »
Obscure Autos: Ferrari 456 Venice variants
Posted: September 19, 2011 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 456, Autos, Brunei, Cabriolet, custom, Estate, Ferrari, GT, Mind, motor, Obscure, of, Over, Saloon, Sedan, Spyder, Sultan, Venice, Wagon Leave a comment »
Ferrari 456 variants
The Ferrari 456 is a member of a long line of Ferrari grand touring cars. It had a sleek, pure shape to it and was one of the last production cars to feature pop-up headlights. A good many of the standard 456s were produced during it’s eleven year run, and today they are even among the more affordable used Ferraris out there. There were, however, a few other variants of the 456 produced for customers (mainly the Brunei royal family) upon special request. These custom built examples are quite rare and are among the most unique cars around. Read the rest of this entry »
Obscure Auto: Mega Track
Posted: August 16, 2011 Filed under: Obscure Autos | Tags: 1995, 394, 400, 6.0, 95, Aixam, Auto, Car, Exotic, France, French, Group, hp, L., Mega, Mercedes, Mind, motor, Obscure, off, Over, Rare, Road, supercar, Track, V12 2 Comments »
Mega Track
This epic monster is a very special supercar called the Mega Track. It is basically a supercar taken to an entirely different level in that it is off road capable. Back in the mid ‘90s there was nothing else like it, and today there isn’t either. Read the rest of this entry »
Obscure Auto: Bugatti EB-110
Posted: August 8, 2011 Filed under: Obscure Autos | Tags: 110, 1980s, 1990s, 1994, 4, all, Autos, AWD, Bugatti, Car, doors, Drive, EB, EB-110, EB110, Ettore Bugatti, Exotic, GT, hyper, Italian, Michael, Mind, Mind over motor, Modena, Molsheim, Obscure, Over Motor, quad, Romano Artioli, Schumacher, Scissor, SS, supercar, turbo, V12, wheel Leave a comment »
Bugatti EB-110 SS
These days everyone knows about the Bugatti Veyron and it’s esteem as the fastest production car in the world. Fewer people know about the car that came before it, the Bugatti EB-110, that was among the fastest production cars of its time. Read the rest of this entry »
