Concours d’ Elegance of America: 1948 Daimler DE 36 Drophead Coupe by Hooper
Posted: August 24, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, EVENTS / PLACES, SHOWCASE | Tags: 1948, 36, 48, 5.4, 8, America, Benz, Britain, British, Concours, Convertible, Coupe, d', Daimler, DE, Detroit, DHC, Drop, eight, Elegance, engine, England, english, Head, Hooper, Inline, Mercedes, MI, Michigan, Mind, motor, of, Over, Plymouth, Red, Straight, tone, two, UK 1 Comment »
This DE 36 DHC is not a product of the German parent of Mercedes Benz. The Daimler name was actually shared by two separate companies for a period of time, one the German company we all know and the other the oldest automotive marque from Britain. This car is the latter, and is one of just 6-7 DE 36s built. Under the hood lies a 5.4L straight 8 with 150hp, and at around 3 tons the DE was most certainly meant for relaxed cruising in style. This DE 36 DHC recently sold for a little over a half-a-million dollars in 2010. It was brilliant to see in person this summer, literally stopping me in my tracks when I saw it. Not many cars can outshine a Bentley S1 or various Rolls Royces that were around it, but this Daimler succeeded. This is automotive art like we no longer have today. Enjoy the pics.
Shots from the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix
Posted: July 20, 2012 Filed under: EVENTS / PLACES, Photography by Dan Valanzola | Tags: 1, 2012, Alonso, AMG, Bull, by, Canada, Canadian, Dan, F1, Fernando, Ferrari, force, Formula, grand, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, India, Justin, Kimi, Lewis, Lotus, Mclaren, Mercedes, Mind, Montreal, motor, Nico, one, Over, Perez, Photography, Prix, Raikkonen, Red, Rosberg, Sahara, Sauber, Scuderia, sergio, Valanzola, Vettel 1 Comment »
Kimi Raikkonen by Dan Valanzola
Dan Valanzola was at this year’s Canadian Grand Prix. Lots of fun was had, and he got some great shots. Here are a few of the best. Enjoy….
Spotted! ’71 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, Woodward Ave, MI
Posted: July 18, 2012 Filed under: Classics, Muscle, SPOTTED! | Tags: 1971, 425hp, 426, 500hp, 7.0, Ave, Barracuda, Black, Ci, Classic, Coupe, Cuda, Detroit, grip, Hemi, Hemicuda, L., manual, MI, Michigan, Mind, motor, Muscle, Over, pink, pistol, Plymouth, Rare, Red, Shifter, spotted, V8, Woodward 3 Comments »
Plymouth Hemi Barracuda
The HemiCuda is my favorite “muscle car” bar none, and occupies a spot on my most coveted list of cars. It has everything I look for in American Muscle; an epic motor (The legendary 426 Hemi), an badass name (Barracuda), cool features (the pistolgrip manual shifter), and awesome, cartoonish styling that brings out childish enthusiasm. The car you see here is pretty much my ideal ‘Cuda, exactly as I just described. Being a ’71 Hemi ‘Cuda, this car is worth a fortune (at least $400k, and climbing) because only a handful were built due to lower demand in its day. That makes it just as unattainable as every other car on my most coveted list, and a real treat to behold in person. Enjoy the epic badassary….
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 »
Spotted! Porsche 993 Carrera RS, Stuttgart Germany
Posted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Exotics, SPOTTED! | Tags: 300, 911, 993, Car, Carrera, Flat, Germany, H6, hp, Mind, motor, Over, Porsche, Red, RS, six, Sports, spotted, Stuttgart Leave a comment »
993 Carrera RS
Parked near the Porsche factory in Stuttgart, Germany. We never got the Carrera RS in the US, and this is the first one I have ever seen in person. Quite a great package in this car, 300hp, naturally aspirated, air cooled. The Carrera RS was like the GT3 models of the 996 and 997 to the 993 range. I was ecstatic to see this RS up close, enjoy the pics. (PS: lots more good material from Germany so far, so stay posted)
Test Driven: 1995 SAAB 900 S
Posted: February 21, 2012 Filed under: Road Review, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2.3, 900, Cold, FWD, Hatchback, High Miles, I4, Mind, Mind over motor, motor, Mountains, New York, Night, old, Over, Red, Saab, Schaffer, Sweden, Test Drive, Winter 2 Comments »
On the left is the owner, Adam Schaffer.
As most of our readers remember, I tested out a new Saab 9-3X wagon and found it to be lacking in any features that made it stand out from its competitors. But, Saab has always marched to the beat of its own drum (which, ironically, led it right to the poorhouse), for better or for worse. My Aunt’s family lives in Albany, NY, and they have owned this red 900 hatchback since it was new, and they won’t get rid of it. It’s rusty, it’s crusty, and it has 174,000 miles on it. But, I approached it with a question: How good is a 17 year old Saab that’s spent most of its life in the Rust Belt? On a cold night in December, my uncle tossed me the keys and I found out. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5
Posted: November 22, 2011 Filed under: Green & Economical, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: Beetle, FWD, Hatchback, I5, Mind over motor, Red, Retro, Small, Test Driven, VW Leave a comment »
The Beetle’s shape is probably one of the best-known (and in some circles, most reviled) shapes on the road. However, the previous “New Beetle” was getting old by 2011, and Volkswagen took the time to completely redesign it for 2012. Because of its cultural impact over the years (and the fact that I know some people who read this site are interested), I took one for a drive recently. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport
Posted: October 18, 2011 Filed under: Off-Road Able, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 3.8, 4WD, Chrysler, Droptop, Jeep, JK, Mind over motor, NJ, Off-Road, Red, Rock Crawler, SUV, Test Driven, Truck, Wrangler, Wrangler Sport Leave a comment »
Jeep has the reputation that a good many other brands dream of–durability, reliability, and timeless appeal. The Wrangler is probably their best-known product, and having never driven one before, I took a chance and grabbed the keys to a brand-new, 2011 Sport model, in red. While the Wrangler isn’t for everyone, I’ve been appreciative of it for a long time now, and its appeal has not dropped that much even in these times of higher fuel economy and a high demand for safer cars. Read the rest of this entry »
Spotted! Jensen Inteceptor Convertible, Greenwich, CT
Posted: September 30, 2011 Filed under: Classics, SPOTTED! | Tags: 440, Classics, Connecticut, Convertible, Greenwich, Greenwich Concours, Interceptor, Jensen, Mind over motor, Red, Spotted!, yacht Leave a comment »
the port from the Greenwich Concours, we took a tour of a hugely expensive yacht, and then took a walk around the lot, and saw this Interceptor convertible sitting in the parking lot with a Dodge Viper right behind it. This marina sponsored the Concours, and probably costs somewhere in the area of $400 per night. Gorgeous car, gorgeous yacht, and a very nice hotel–what’s not to like?
Spotted by: Nick and Al
Porsche 356/2 at the Concours D’Elegance
Posted: September 13, 2011 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: 356, Austria, Auto Idolatry, Car, Concours d'Elegance, Gmund, Mind over motor, Pebble Beach, Porsche, Red, Showcase Leave a comment »
This is a display of Porsche's simplicity and beauty at its finest. I love these cars.
I’ve been a fan of the Porsche 356 since I was at least 9 years old, after seeing one in a buyer’s guide. This particular example is a 1949 356/2 Coupe, one of the first 50 built, handmade in Gmünd, Austria in 1949. In this particular color, it looks positively breathtaking. This one is owned by Ferry Porsche’s son, Hans-Peter Porsche. It won Best in Class this year, in the Postwar Sports Closed Class, at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours. Enjoy the photos.
-Al Read the rest of this entry »
One beautiful 300SL
Posted: August 26, 2011 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: 300, Beach, beautiful, Black, CA, California, Carmel, Concours, d', Elegance, Gull, Gullwing, Mercedes, Mind, Monterey, motor, Over, Pebble, Red, show, SL, White, wing Leave a comment »
I stood for 15 min to get this picture, Concours was very crowded
At the Pebble Beach Concours this particular Mercedes 300SL caught my eye. It did not win any big awards or anything, but it’s color scheme, to me, is just perfect and it’s condition immaculate. A car like this should not go overlooked, so I wanted to feature it here for all of you to enjoy it as I did. Read the rest of this entry »
Spotted! Dodge Viper GTS, Randolph, NJ
Posted: August 14, 2011 Filed under: Exotics, SPOTTED! | Tags: A&P, Car, Coupe, Dodge, Drive, Fast, fun, GTS, Handicap Sticker, Mind over motor, NJ, Randolph, Red, V10, Viper Leave a comment »
I was surprised to discover that it ended up in a handicap spot. And he's not a jerk because he's got the sticker.
Spotted by: Al
