All posts by ndubs77

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale at Amelia Island

March 23, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

We, regrettably, did not make it down to Amelia Island this year. But our photographer friend down there, Nathan Corry, did make it over on Saturday to get some shots, and he has been kind enough to let us use them.

The car you see here is a 1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, and it is one of my all-time favorite automobiles. I still have yet to actually see one in person, though. So when I say photos of this one at Amelia this year, I was extra pissed that I couldn’t make it this year. Naturally, when Nathan offered to let us use his photos, my first question was, “OMG DID YOU SHOOT THE ALFA TIPO 33?!!!!” Nathan had, and here are his beautiful photos of it.

I consider the Alfa Tipo 33 Stradale to be the first incarnation of what we all know today as the “hypercar.” Hypercars sit above the level of mere supercars in their technology, performance, or sheer exotic appeal, and they usually cost obscenely more than an obscene amount of money.

The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale was the road going version of Alfa’s Tipo 33/2 racing cars. It shares the same advanced 2.0L V8 as the racing versions, but the engine was detuned from 270hp to around 230hp in the road car. That engine revved all the way up to 10,000 RPM, and it sent power through a 6 speed transaxle gearbox. The Tipo 33 also still only weighed just over 1500lbs in road form, with the same basic suspension as the racing Tipo 33/2. It could see 160mph, and go 0-60 in 5.5 sec, fast numbers today, but in 1967 it was the record holder for the standing kilometer. So all in all, the 33 Stradale was a technical masterpiece in it’s day, literally a racing car for the road.

Adding to it’s advanced technical design, the Tipo 33 Stradale was also arguably the most exotic car in the world in 1968. It was the first road car to feature gullwing doors, which featured a unique curved glass window as well. It’s price in 1968 was close to $20,000, or a little more than the price of a Lamborghini Miura. But with only 18 examples built, each Alfa Tipo 33 Stradale is worth many millions today, probably tens of millions. So if you love modern hypercars like Paganis and Koenigseggs, then recognize this stunning Alfa as the “Original Gangsta” that it is.

I firmly believe the Tipo 33 Stradale is one of the most beautiful road cars ever built, and it happens to be a technical masterpiece too. You can find more info about it in a previous article I wrote. I still look forward to the day I get to see one in person, but I’m thrilled that Nathan was able to supply us with his photos so we can share this one with you. Check out his photography portfolio and his services on his website.

Also, if you’re reading this, and you own a Tipo 33 Stradale. I’d be happy to buy your car from you, provided you can accept my everliving soul as payment.

-Nick Walker

Cars We've Seen

Mercedes 300 SL Roadster Spotted in Greenwich, CT

March 21, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Out walking around in Greenwich, CT we found this beautiful classic Mercedes 300SL Roadster parked outside of a luxury car dealership in town. Gotta love that hip line!

-Nick

Car Games

Configurator Fun: Mercedes GLA45 AMG

March 20, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

The Mercedes GLA45 AMG is basically the luxury rally-ish car of your dreams. That is to say it’s a small all wheel drive car with nimble handling that has a turbocharged 4-banger which puts out entirely too much power. Yea, I know all about the CLA45 AMG, but I’d rather have this thing with the added suspension travel.

The base price of the GLA45 AMG is $48,300

Mine cost $63,350 spec’d out how I’d want it.

I saw a GLA45 in brown with the brown interior at Pebble Beach this summer, so I had to go with that. I love that you don’t usually see such a combo on an AMG.

As far as options, I got the carbon fiber aero package, but without the ricey spoiler that I hate. I also forwent the Driver Assistance Package, where the car basically drives for you, because I can drive myself, thank you very much.

I did spring for the Premium Package and the AMG Driver’s Package for the nice features they include, as well as the Panorama Sunroof.

So that’s the GLA45 AMG that I’d have. Feel free to configure your own here, and share in the comments. I’d love to see what you all come up with!

-Nick

Uncategorized

Autocar Takes the McLaren P1 GTR For a Rip on the Track

March 19, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

Enjoy the sound of V8 turbo purge as Autocar takes the McLaren P1 GTR out on the racetrack.

-Nick

Car Shows

Slammed VW Karmann Ghia at Festivals Of Speed, Amelia Island

March 18, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

This slammed Volkswagen Karmann Ghia managed to draw people’s attention away from all of the exotics at Festivals of Speed, Amelia Island. When it comes to slammed cars, I am only a fan of some, but this is surely one of them. This Karmann Ghia was extremely well done, and it really popped with its sparkling brown-orange paint job.

Karmann Ghias are such high-style items these days, and I do think being slammed adds to that appeal. I wish Volkswagen could find a way to bring this sort of style back into their modern cars, but I know that is unlikely.

Enjoy the photos of this lowered beauty!

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

Audi LMP Cars At The Radnor Hunt Concours

March 16, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Audi brought two of their diesel LMP racing cars to the Radnor Hunt Concours this year. With all the emphasis on making supercars into “racing cars for the road”, why haven’t we seen a diesel supercar yet? I mean over the last decade Audi has dominated the 24hrs of Le Mans with these TDI prototype cars.

We’d sure love a diesel Audi R8?

-Nick

Car Shows

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 at Laguna Seca

March 13, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

If you love cars, then you have to love old Alfa Romeos. The Tipo 33 was a legendary racing platform for Alfa Romeo, and this Tipo 33/2 lit up the track at Laguna Seca this past summer. Such beautiful lines can indeed be functional for speed.

Enjoy!

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

1938 Bugatti Type 57 Stelivio at Bonhams Auction

March 11, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

While perusing through the field at the Bonhams Auction at the Quail Lodge, we were stopped in our tracks by this incredible 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio. Red and Black is one of my personal favorite color combinations on a car. That mixed with the swooping Art Deco lines of this vintage Bugatti made it just perfect.

This Type 57 was actually pretty powerful back in its day, with a 170hp supercharged inline-8 engine. If a Bugatti represents the utmost in luxury automobiles today, it was surely just as true back in the pre war era.

This stunning Type 57 Stelvio was coach built by Carrosserie Gangloff of Colmar, France. And what a magnificent job they did with it!

This Bugatti is exactly the sort of thing I look for in an Art Deco era luxury car. It has all of that swoopy style you could want, and it had some high technology and performance for its time. You can get more info on this car here.

Enjoy the photos of this immaculate machine!

-Nick Walker

Auto Idolatry

Chris Harris Makes Us Want A Porsche Cayman GT4 Even More

March 10, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I said in a post last week that I’d rather have the new Porsche Cayman GT4 over either a Porsche 911 GT3 or GT3 RS, solely because of it’s manual gearbox. Well, this week, Chris Harris has gotten his hands on a Porsche Cayman GT4 and he has confirmed its awesomeness. That said, he did mention that he wouldn’t sell a 911 GT3 to have a Cayman GT4. I’ll be curious to see what he says about the new GT3 RS, and then what he says in a few years time about the Cayman GT4.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Mercedes SLS AMG Spotted In Carmel, CA

March 9, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

The Mercedes SLS AMG is quite a beast of a car with it’s snarling 570hp 6.2L V8. It’s actually quite a nice sports grand touring car as well, and it will always draw a crowd with its epic gullwing doors. We caught this gray SLS AMG out prowling the streets of Carmel, California during Car Week this summer. Great car!

-Nick

Opinions

Why Do I feel So “Meh” About The 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS?

March 6, 2015 ndubs77 32 Comments

The new Porsche 911 (991) GT3 RS officially dropped at the Geneva Motor Show this week after much anticipation. As you might expect, many in the automotive journalism world sound 100% excited about this new “raw” 911. I am not someone who merely reports the figures, though, anyone can do that. I do this blog so that I can offer up my genuine honest opinion on cars and the auto industry. And, frankly, as cool as the new GT3 RS is, I feel a bit let down by Porsche. Here’s why…

Continue reading Why Do I feel So “Meh” About The 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS? →

Opinions

Meet The Gorgeous New Baby Bentley Concept

March 4, 2015 ndubs77 4 Comments

Yea I saw the new Porsche GT3 RS and yea I saw the new Lamborghini Aventador SV. For each I saw the photos and details and though, “Ok, next!” But then I saw this new Bentley sports car concept, and I still have yet to pick my jaw up off the floor. It is nothing short of magnificent!

It’s called the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, and it aprears to be a brand new entry-level model. If it makes it to production, which I imagine it will, it looks like it will take on the Jaguar F-Type, Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, and Mercedes AMG GT. In short, the Speed 6 will be a Bentley Sports Car, and that’s not something they’ve made before.

What I’m really hoping for in the Speed 6 is a traditional Front-engine RWD architecture. VW doen’t currently have such a RWD car in their lineup and really could use one in my opinion. If there winds up being both RWD and AWD versions of the Speed 6, then I think Bentley will have another home run on their hands.

The engine is rumored to be a six cylinder, given the Speed 6 nameplate. I suspect it could likely be the twin turbocharged 3.6L V6 found in the Porsche Macan. The base model will probably have around the same “400hp” as the Macan Turbo, and the higher model Speed 6 will likely have over 500hp so it can run with the V8 F-Type.

We’ll see for sure if/when it makes it to production. But forget the numbers, and just look at the thing, it’s incredible! I sincerely hope that Bentley doesn’t water down the design and the fine details for the production version. This will be a six-figure car, and I think that wood grain, and those headlights will help it stand out from even the posh crowd at that level.

I think the Bentley Speed 6 will be a fantastic addition to the VW Group lineup, assuming they build it, of course. Let’s all just hope, and enjoy the photos for now.

-Nick Walker