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
Anyone who grew up in the 1960s or 1970s knows what the VW MicroBus is. It won’t win any drag races or autocross events, but its timeless styling and endlessly cool image have kept it relevant since its inception. The Type 2 is considered by some to be one of the first mass-production minivans, predating the venerable Dodge Caravan and its family by over 2 decades. This particular example was present at the 2011 Radnor Hunt Concours in eastern Pennsylvania, and stood out in the best of ways. The blue Mark 1 21-window version was optioned to the roof and one of the best (if not THE best) example I’ve ever seen in my life. More pictures after the jump. Continue reading Volkswagen Type 2 at Radnor Hunt
Range Rover has been probably one of the best-known names in the world for the past quarter of a century. Their products have been described as a luxury sedan capable of going off-road. So, with that in mind, I took a drive of their newest offering, the Evoque, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Continue reading Test Driven: 2012 Range Rover Evoque 2-Door, Al’s Take
Pretty much anyone with a driver’s license has seen someone standing at the side of the road staring at a stranded car with steam billowing out of the engine bay. Some of these people (myself included) have been forced to pull over due to overheating. So, how do you handle such a thing, and how do you avoid it happening in the first place? Read on. Continue reading Cars 101: Overheating
I’ve only seen two of these despite their high production numbers (relative to other hypercars). The fact that I saw one just a week before the California trip makes seeing another in such succession a really cool outcome of events. This particular example was parked outside a very expensive boutique, among a few other supercars, such as the F430 Scuderia behind it and a Lamborghini Diablo VT that showed up too. Carmel is one expensive town, and this car (and its cronies surrounding it) are pretty clear proof. Hit the jump for more photos. Continue reading Spotted! Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Carmel, CA
High performance SUVs were a strange thing back in the early part of the new millenium. General Motors had just launched their newest midsize SUVs in 2002, the GMT360 lineup. The lineup included the new Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy (which would go on to win Motor Trend‘s 2002 SUV of the Year), and the Oldsmobile Bravada (notably, the last new Oldsmobile, which eventually became the Buick Rainier). But, no one quite knew about the trick that GM had up its sleeve for the TrailBlazer. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: 2006-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS
During the summertime, I decided to embark on a quest of station wagons in the United States. Audi’s seen success with the little A4 Avant, and it’s the only wagon they’re still selling here as of this year, as the new A6 Avant will not make landfall here. So, I decided to take one out to see how it was in today’s world. Continue reading Test Driven: 2011 Audi A4 Avant
If there is one brand that does the best job of no longer resembling its roots, it is Lancia. Since the death of the Delta Integrale in the early Nineties, Lancia hasn’t really had a halo car, and has not been much more than a Fiat offshoot. Since Chrysler has come under the Fiat banner, Sergio Marchionne has announced a partnership between Chrysler and Lancia. Continue reading The Chrysler-Lancia Connection needs to be reviewed.
Race cars have been a bit foreign to me. Over the years, I’ve paid attention to one thing or another, but my attention seemed to drift toward road cars. But then, just a couple of weeks ago, a few events set in motion, and I’m thinking quite a lot differently. Thanks to a few emails and some luck, I took a ride in my first race car, a Porsche 996 ex-Grand Am car, owned by Tom Hassett. Continue reading A Ride Like Nothing Else.
Rolls-Royce has been the last word in high-end luxury automobiles since its inception before World War I. I’ve always gone beserk upon laying eyes on anything they’ve made, from the breathtaking Silver Cloud to the modern, yet still classic Phantom sedan. But, I never knew that I would have an opportunity to drive one, let alone two, until I went to Monterey for the Concours last month. I have seen the light, and it is bright and shining. Continue reading Test Driven: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead, Al’s Take
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 Continue reading Porsche 356/2 at the Concours D’Elegance
Back in the Fifties, most of the European automakers were attempting to get back on their feet after World War II pushed most of the continent to nearly the Stone Age. BMW, for example, had few cars in their lineup that really got people into showrooms during the late Fifties, so they designed a halo car. The 507 may not have been the success it was supposed to be, but it was so influential that its design is still being seen today. Continue reading Obscure Autos: BMW 507
Mind Over Motor 