All posts by ndubs77

Car Shows

2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: 1929 duPont Model G Merrimac Speedster

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1929 du Pont G

The duPont family had amassed a vast fortune by the turn of the 20th century, and members of the family were beginning to try their hands at other ventures. For E. Paul duPont the venture was into the realm of luxury automobiles. His aim was to make the most luxurious car in the world, a hefty task with competition from the likes of Duesenberg, Stutz, and Cadillac at the time.

The duPont Model G was brought out as a response to the mighty Duesenberg J, which completely reset the standards of the day. The Model G featured a new Continental 5.3L inline eight cylinder engine that made anywhere from 114hp to 140hp. The Speedster you see here was constructed by the coach-builder Merrimac. Around 200 duPont Model Gs were built in total, making it the most popular duPont model built before the company stopped production in 1931.

I haven’t seen too many of these around, and this Model G really caught my eye at this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. I’ve always been a sucker for black and red color schemes, and with its white-wall tires, this car was just gorgeous. Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Shmee150 goes for an insane ride in a Pagani Zonda 760

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Shmee150 (Tim) goes for a ride in Pagani’s development mule Zonda, which is currently in 760 RS spec. The man doing the insane driving is Pagani’s test driver Davide Testi. Italy is a wonderful place, and if you are in a supercar, the world is your racetrack. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this epic video.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Dynamic Duels, Exotic Supercars

First Impression: Jaguar F-Type V6S and V8S

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Jaguar F-Type V8S

I recently had the opportunity to do a quick drive in Jaguar’s new F-Type. Jaguar held a driving event in Philadelphia where they set up an autocross course in the parking lot of the Phillies’ stadium. Though it was only a quick, but intense, experience, I did get to sample both the V6S and V8S models from the F-Type range.

Timing was down to the wire, as there was a massive thunderstorm bearing down on us, and by the time I did my runs, it had already begun to rain. This article will serve as a quick first impression take on the new F-Types, and hopefully I will get a chance to drive them for longer in the coming months.

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Car Shows

CF Charities Supercar Show: Lamborghini LM002

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Lamborghini LM002 SUV

The LM002 is what happened when Lamborghini decided they wanted to go off-roading. Built from 1986 to 1993, the LM002 featured the same 5.2L V12 as the Lamborghini Countach supercar, only it was mounted up front for better off road handling characteristics.

Inside you will find a luxuriously appointed interior, a sign of who actually purchased a vehicle like this. Despite looking like a Humvee, the LM002 was not some rugged military vehicle (although there were originally hopes of selling a military version). It was instead an offroad exotic, with a similar relative appeal to Lamborghini’s supercars of the time. Many crazy people, like Uday Hussein, bought them, helping to cement the LM002’s image as the “Rambo Lambo.” (Uday’s LM002 was blown up by the US Army in a bomb test)

Only around 300 LM002s were produced during its 9 year production run, making it extremely rare. It was an interesting exercise for sure, but not one that yielded much commercial success. The LM002 is unbelievably cool when you see it in person. This one, at the recent CF Charities Supercar Show, was only the second or third LM002 I’ve seen up close, so it was a special sight. Enjoy the pics.

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Car Shows

The Elegance At Hershey: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Spider

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1938 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Spider

This 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Spider won “Best In Show” at The Elegance at Hershey 2013. The awards were handed out very hastily as there was a rain storm moving in, but this Alfa deserved to win. This is an unrestored car, just maintained over the years, and it was a magnificent sight in person. It is one of just 22 8C-2900Bs ever produced, and of those it is one of only five short wheelbase versions. Under the hood it shares the same supercharged 2.9L inline-eight cylinder engine with other 8C variants of the time, producing 180hp in 2900B specification. It featured a super lightweight body from Touring in Milan, Italy that gave it a solid power-to-weight ratio. Alfa 8Cs dominated racing during their day, and it isn’t hard to see why.

Today this car resides in the Bahre Collection, and has won awards at other events, including Pebble Beach in 2002. Pre-war Alfas are always a treat to see, and this 8C-2900B was no exception. Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Driven, Cheap Fun Cars, Luxury Cars, Road Review, Used Car Gems

Road Review: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera (9.5/10)

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1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 996
Photo by Dan Valanzola

The essence of the Porsche 911 hasn’t changed all that much over the years, and when something does change it usually stirs up controversy. The car you see here is my Dad’s 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera (996 generation), and it marks one of the most drastic inflection points in the 911’s history: the switch from air-cooling to water-cooling. Here in 2013, early 996s haven’t had the most love from collectors, and their value has fallen far more than most 911s. That said this is still a Porsche, and Porsche doesn’t make bad cars. I have driven many Porsches, ranging from a Cayenne V6 to the mighty 997 Turbo S. All of them have been extremely entertaining within their own context, and my dad’s car is far from an exception.

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Car Shows

CF Charities Supercar Show: SSC Ultimate Aero #15

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SSC Ultimate Aero number 15

This is the car that stole the “Fastest Production Car” title from the original Bugatti Veyron. While the Germans have since reclaimed that title with the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, SSC hopes their car will one day even oust that car too. The Ultimate Aero you see here is the car to do it, redesigned for better aerodynamics, and now with 1,287hp on tap from its twin turbocharged 6.3L V8. While the official SSC record stands at 256mph, this updated version is said to be capable of 270mph (hence the license plate). We’ll see if they are able to pull off that speed when they get around to actually testing it, but the fact that it’s even possible is mind blowing.

As for SSC themselves, their name stands for “Shelby Super Cars”, and no, they do not have any relation to Carroll Shelby….. and that is always the first question you have to answer whenever telling someone about this car. The car you see here is car number 15. With SSC being such a small car maker, I assume that means 15 total production and not just the 15th of the updated Ultimate Aero models. Either way, this is an extremely rare car, and surely the only one around in my area. The owner of this car put on a supercar event to benefit his charity, and his Ultimate Aero stood proud as the centerpiece for the event. It was also the first SSC I have ever laid eyes on in person, so it was a pretty special occasion for me personally. Stunning car, and a great color for it. Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Evo Magazine: Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II

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Evo Magazine’s Harry Metcalfe shows takes us around his new Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II. This car has some truly fascinating design elements, and as Harry says, “It became a legend in its own time.” Enjoy.

-Nick

Car Shows

Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance: 1930 Stutz SV-16 Monte Carlo Weymann Body

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1930 Stutz SV-16 Monte Carlo Weymann Body

This Stutz was the first car that caught my eye at the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance. Its body, entirely wrapped in fabric, is the work of renown French coach builder Charles Weymann. The SV-16 Monte Carlo was the top of line model offered by Stutz at the time, and only three Weymann bodied examples exist. Thankfully, all three Weymann Monte Carlos are present, accounted for, and in top notch condition. This particular car sold for $550,000 at RM Auctions in 2000, and was restored to its original condition by RM Restoration.

Under the hood there is a 322ci (5.3L) inline 8 cylinder engine producing 113hp. It sends power through a three speed manual transmission, and has solid axles front and rear supported by leaf springs. The Monte Carlo featured some very European styling for the time, despite being built in Indiana, because Stutz wanted it to appeal to clientele on both sides of the Atlantic. This car was high end back in its day, and it may be even more high end now. Certainly, no American company makes a car of this caliber today.

Enjoy the gallery.

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Opinions

Jaguar C-X75 by Autocar

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Just listen to this thing, it’s epic. We all saw this car in concept form, but now there are actual prototypes that Jaguar is letting the media sample. While everyone seems to maintain that the “C-X75 will never be built”, one has to wonder why Jaguar has continued its development of the car if they really aren’t going to make it. In business, you don’t spend valuable money developing a project that you aren’t going to see through. I see this as a sure sign that the C-X75 is coming to production, and will be meeting the LaFerrari, Mclaren P1 and Porsche 918 in battle. Be excited.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera (10/10)

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Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera at Exotics Racing
Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera at Exotics Racing

There is a special tingling sensation that runs through your body when you know that you’re about to go flat out on a racetrack in the ultimate version of the Lamborghini Gallardo. It is the same sort of nervous excitement you experience before getting on a big roller coaster, except here it will be you that is tasked with controlling the thrill ride. Knowing the responsibility you are being entrusted with only adds to the anxiety because the price of a mistake could top a quarter of a million dollars. But nothing could make you turn back at this point. You have been handed the key that will fulfill a dream. So as the engine erupts into life with a loud, satisfying bark, you decide to rise to the occasion, grab on to the bulls horns, and prepare to face its fury head-on.

It has been about a decade since Lamborghini first released the Gallardo. It was a “baby Lambo” model designed to topple the Ferrari 360 in its final years and lock horns with whatever replaced it. A brainchild of Audi, the Gallardo was supposed to widen the appeal of the Lamborghini brand, targeting people who want a car that fits within a single lane of traffic, and who like to be able to see while they drive. Many Lamborghini die hards scoffed originally at the idea of a more sane Lambo, but the end result has been by far the best selling Lamborghini model of all time.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris on the Jaguar F-Type

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This is by far the best F-Type review I’ve yet seen. Drive’s Chris Harris pits the new Jaguar F-Type V8S against its two most direct rivals, the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante. The video is a bit long, but it’s really worth the watch. Fantastic cinematography, great sounds, and epic driving… of course. Enjoy.

-Nick