We all know that no exotic car show is complete without some V12s echoing over the countryside as people leave the event. Luckily we were much obliged this year at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance. Everything from a V10 Lexus LFA to a straight pipe V12 Lamborghini Murcielago opened the taps as they left the show.
We were there with our cameras ready!
Turn your speakers up and enjoy!
-Nick
Many different makes of cars were represented at First Class Fitment this year, but Subarus are near and dear to my heart. As a WRX STI owner for the last 9 years, I enjoy being a part of the Subaru community, and I never miss doing the “Subie Wave.”
While my own car is not stanced, I do enjoy how Imprezas and Foresters looked when they’re done up right. These photos are my are my favorite Subarus from the show this year.
Enjoy!
-Nick
Jay gets to have a go in 007’s new Aston Martin DB10, which will be featured in the new movie, Spectre.
Based largely on the V8 Vantage, the DB10 is an interesting new look for Aston. And the God it comes with a manual gearbox!
Enjoy!
-Nick
This thing is badass, I don’t care what anyone may think. It’s just so ’90s in all the right and wrong ways.
Many Previas even came with a supercharged engine, which I’m just going to assume this one has given the fact that someone deemed it worthy of customizing. They were also on a rear wheel drive platform, offering all wheel drive as well.
My dad had a light blue Toyota Previa back in the day. I don’t remember what year, or whether it was supercharged or not, but it is the first car I actually remember him buying when I was a kid. It was the car I began my 13 year ice hockey career in, and it got us to many-a 5 A.M. practice. Because of that, the Toyota Previa will always have a special place in my heart.
Previas are quite interesting, as minivans go, so I’m always glad when I see them getting some love from the enthusiast crowd. We saw this one recently at First Class Fitment.
-Nick Walker
My buddy won some prize at a local Nissan dealer, so I went with him to try and get a review on the new Nissan Maxima SR. What followed was a lesson in how NOT to go about selling a car to someone.
The salesman was rude and awkward The car was still covered in delivery tape (hence my lack of real photos), and the seats were still wrapped in plastic. Our drive also consisted of just driving a few blocks around town instead of a real test drive on varying types of roads. Even if I were serious about buying this car, I sure as hell wouldn’t have bought it from this place.
Despite all of this I made due in the situation and found out enough about the new Nissan Maxima to know I don’t need to drive it further to render my verdict.
Continue reading 2016 Nissan Maxima Quick Take Review (5.5/10)
This is the Lamborghini Aventador “Superveloce”, or SV for short. Superveloce roughly means “high velocity” or “super speed”, so as you might expect, it’s faster and more powerful than a normal Aventador.
With 740hp on tap from its 6.5L all-motor V12, this bull is a fire-breather in the biblical sense. What’s more, the SV is better suited for track driving than the normal Lamborghini Aventador, which I wasn’t too fond of. I’d love to try the SV on track, in hopes it would change my mind.
It’s not all about the performance, though. This is an ultimate Lamborghini, and therefore needs to be a total showpiece. The Aventador SV surely delivers in that regard. It’s wonderfully vulgar and ostentatious beyond belief!
It was great to finally see an Aventador SV in person at Radnor Hunt this year. I can’t wait to see one blow past me on the road!
Enjoy the pics!
Continue reading Lamborghini Aventador LP-750 SV at Radnor Hunt
First Class Fitment is a stance/modified car show held at the Airport in Princeton, NJ every fall. People come from all over the region, bringing nicely done rides of all sorts. The event is mostly stanced cars, as you might expect, but there are a few other gems sprinkled in for good measure.
This year was quite good. Lots of really well built cars with interesting details. That’s one thing I love about modified car shows, each car has so much personality. They’d all stand out parked on the street alone, but the ones that catch my eye at the show are always extra cool.
I took quite a lot of photos at the event, so there is much more to come. Enjoy the first gallery!
Continue reading Highlights From First Class Fitment 2015: Part 1
First Class Fitment is always an ocean of stance, where you’ll drown in a flood of excessive camber and hella-flush-ness. This Camo Ford SVT Raptor was the exact opposite. A lifted hunk of ‘Murican metal, it stood proudly among the endless flocks of lowered cars like the American flag stands on the moon.
I’m not really a “truck guy”, but if I were going to buy a modern truck, a Ford Raptor just like this one would be my aspiration. I love the camo paint job too. It just sets off the truck’s flavor that much more.
Awesome!
-Nick Walker
We came across this well-modded BMW 335xi while out cruising Woodward Ave this summer. Fitted with M3 front bodywork, and a carbon fiber splitter, this 335xi is quite a nice-looking car.
I had a nice chat with the owner, and he informed me that the car was making around 430awhp, fitted with the full array of bolt-on modifications. The twin turbo N52 Engine in these things makes quite a bit of power easily, and this car was a great example.
335i’s are quite affordable these days too. For under $30 grand it’s feasible to make one of these into a solid 400hp+ GT carm like what you see here.
Well done!
-Nick
In 1995 the McLaren F1 GTR dominated the 24 hours of Le Mans, beating out purpose-built prototype cars for a 1st overall victory. This feat has never been accomplished since by any road-car-based GT class car. And when I say McLaren “dominated” Le Mans that year, I mean they finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 13th positions overall. Not bad for a modified version of a road-going supercar, which was never initially intended to go racing.
With that huge victory, the folks at McLaren were inspired to give the F1’s racing their all. That meant the car needed to be lightened even further and optimized for racing duties. Aerodynamics were key, and they wound up elongating the F1’s shape into what became known as the “Longtail.” McLaren also managed to take another 135kg out of a car which was already absurdly lightweight. The F1 GTR Longtail was quite an accomplishment, no doubt, and went on to be quite successful in the 1997 season.
In order to compete in racing, McLaren had to build a road-going version of the Longtail, dubbed the “McLaren F1 GT.” Just three F1 GT’s were built, the green prototype (seen here), a red one, and a black one. The green prototype, “XP GT”, has been retained by McLaren themselves, while the other two F1 GTs currently sit in private collections.
McLaren was kind enough to let the world see XP GT at this year’s New York International Auto Show. For me it was a dream come true because I’ve been lusting over this very car since I was a kid. It simply is gorgeous in person.
For a deeper dive into the F1 GT, and every other McLaren model, check out the McLaren Website, they have some great information.
To see more of the F1 GT at NYIAS see the video below from our friends at NJExoticSpotters on YouTube:
-Nick Walker
Alfa Romeo had two gorgeous 4Cs on display at Radnor Hunt this year, each with a white over red color combo. White looks fantastic on these cars, and I think I’d even have it over red, especially with that red leather interior.
The Alfa 4C is such a great little car, just a shame they don’t offer it with a stick.
-Nick
I was totally blown away by this magnificent 1938 Peugeot Darl/Mat at the Concours of America this year. A two-tone yellow paint scheme is always sure to turn some heads, but combined with such nice lines, it took me a while to pick my jaw up off the grass.
The Peugeot Darl’Mat was a sports and racing car of the era. It even saw a class victory at Le Mans in 1938. Underneath its gorgeous bodywork from Marcel Pourtout, this particular car is a Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Legere… the lightest model with the biggest engine.
The 402 Darl’Mat was powered by Peugeot’s 2 Liter overhead valve 4 cylinder engine, which was mated to a 4-speed preselector gearbox. This was all cutting edge tech for racing back in the era, with similar designs found in other notable French racers, such as Delahayes.
As with many 1930’s French cars, this Peugoet’s visual beauty drew me in. In addition to its striking color combo, it has some stunning detail work all around.
With just over 100 Peugeot Darl’Mats built, this car is quite a rare sight, especially when you account for the coachwork.
This surely won my own personal Best In Show award at the Concours Of America this year. Enjoy the gallery!
-Nick Walker
Continue reading 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Legere Special Sport Roadster at the Concours of America
Mind Over Motor 