Ever wonder what it’s like to actually live with one of the world’s ultimate hypercars? Well here is a good look at it from Chris Harris, with no less than a McLaren P1.
Enjoy!
-Nick
Category Archives: Automotive Lifestyle
What does a car-enthused lifestyle look like?
Configurator Fun: Ferrari FF
I’ve always loved the Ferrari FF. I think it’s shooting brake design is ideal for a luxury grand tourer, and it’s all wheel drive bodes well for its purpose. I mean, why shouldn’t you be able to go skiing in your Ferrari?
I decided for this week to play around with the Ferrari FF, and see how I’d configure mine. I’ve always loved the four seat Ferraris in Tour de France Blue, so I went with that over a Brown and tan two tone interior. I also fitted a few carbon fiber accents around the car, namely on the steering wheel and the wheel center caps.
Ferrari doesn’t “do” pricing on their website, because if you have to ask, then you can’t afford it. Hey, lets all just be grateful that Ferrari even has a Configurator for us pleabs to fool around with.
All I can say when looking at my digital Ferrari FF is, “I’d so rock that, if it were real!” One day…
-Nick
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 at the Boca Raton Concours
Grabber Green might be one of the best colors Ford put on the Mustang in the early Seventies–and they couldn’t sell it. The Boss 302, a homologation special for Trans-Am racing, was a screamer of a car–the small-block V8 Ford developed was capable of winding up to 6,250RPM, quite high for the time, especially for an American V8. A four-speed manual, special suspension, and all sorts of racing goodies rounded out the package under the skin, with plenty of trim pieces to make the package tasteful. Unfortunately, they only sold it for two years.
In 1970, the Boss improved a bit–the new look of the ’70 model Mustang gave the Boss 302 a reskinned and more mature look. The stripes were unchanged, and the offer of a few new colors made sure people kept on buying them. When all was said and done, the changes did indeed pay dividends–after only selling a bit over 1500 units in 1969, Ford moved more than 7000 of these in 1970. Unfortunately for those of us who love bright green, not many left the factory in Grabber Green–only 352 were painted that way, and according to the placard, only 111 were equipped with the manual gearbox in that color. Therefore, this Hurst-equipped Green Monstah is a seriously rare machine. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 at the Boca Raton Concours
1956 Cadillac Eldorado at the 2015 Boca Raton Concours
Elvis Presley might be one of America’s greatest icons–and he was a Cadillac man. So is Ralph Marano, the well-known and well-respected car collector based in Union County, NJ. He brought a few cars to the Boca Raton Concours this year–and while I’ve become familiar with his excellent collection of Packards (which were featured at Amelia Island last year), I wasn’t as aware of his taste in Cadillacs.
This 1956 Eldorado might be one of the best mid-Fifties Cadillacs I’ve ever laid eyes on, with a gorgeous, deep shine on all panels and an incredible reflection across the chrome. This pink Cadillac is 100% original–and has only 27K original miles. Thanks to the polish, it looks like it should share space on the showroom floor with any other new car, it’s just that stunning. Wayne Carini was more than happy to talk about it, and I found him doing a short feature on it just as I was taking my pictures. Enjoy the photos of this large and in-charge American classic. Continue reading 1956 Cadillac Eldorado at the 2015 Boca Raton Concours
Configurator Fun: Mercedes GLA45 AMG
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
1968 Cadillac Eldorado at the Boca Raton Concours
I took extra time to take particular photos of some of the more interesting Cadillacs at the Boca Raton Concours this past winter, and the effort paid off. The first car I took a closer look at is sitting right here–it was in the back of the program, parked amongst its peers from the Fifties and Seventies. This ’68 Eldorado was the second year of the new-shaped model, an innovation machine on wheels of its time. Cadillac took their first stab at front-wheel-drive with these beasts, and laid on the swagger and chrome as if it was going out of style.
The late Sixties Eldorado is a snake charmer. It’s a massive car–the 120-inch wheelbase underpins a car that stretches out to 221 inches total–that’s less than 8 inches shorter than a new Rolls-Royce Phantom SWB. Despite being FWD, the engine is still laid out front-to-rear, a unique arrangement that Cadillac would use until 1985. Powering the beast is a 472 cubic-inch V8 hooked up to a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission–but the real jewel of the Eldorado, especially this one, was its condition. Shining paint, and gorgeous interior appointments, are the norm at a Concours–however, the real prize was inside the interior. This one happens to have an 8-track player, a novelty in the late Sixties, and a telephone. Bluetooth not required, nor needed. Enjoy the photos of this luxurious beast. Continue reading 1968 Cadillac Eldorado at the Boca Raton Concours
Chris Harris Makes Us Want A Porsche Cayman GT4 Even More
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
1958 Tatra 603 Aerodynamic Saloon at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours
Tatras are machines of wonder and amazement, despite not being an exotic by definition. The rear-engined design dates back to the Great Depression, and they were quite radical. Eight cylinders mounted behind the rear axle, air-cooled, and styled as if in a wind tunnel, they were ahead of their time in a few ways. When the Nazis invaded the Czech Republic in the 1930s, production slowed until the war was over. Unfortunately, they were never sold in the USA–as the company produced cars from behind the Iron Curtain.
The 603 series was very popular with high-ranking officials in the USSR, and even Fidel Castro sported one (painted white, for some reason). They were sleek, had classy styling, and distinctly American motifs everywhere. Some of those motifs included contrasting roof/body color combinations (like the red and white on this particular example), lashings of chrome down the sides and around the windows, and heavy, chrome-plated bumpers. This particular car even included a bed, which could be set up by simply folding the front bench seat back. The general public was not able to purchase cars like this in the Soviet Union–these were reserved, similar to the GAZ Chaika, for high-ranking public officials and Communist Party members. This particular car hails from the Lane Motor Museum of Nashville, TN and was for exhibition only, but still looked stunning amongst its peers–as the Tatra model series was a feature at Pebble Beach last summer. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1958 Tatra 603 Aerodynamic Saloon at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours
Highlights from the 2015 Boca Raton Concours
This past weekend, I found myself getting a small tan in sunny Florida, while my cohort in the Northeast froze like a Popsicle. 80 degrees, plenty of sun, and low wind make great bedfellows with classic cars on a golf course, and with palm trees abound, the 2015 Boca Raton Concours was a sure thing. This was the first time I’ve attended this show, and I was suitably impressed.
Now in its 9th season, this show is very close in terms of timing to Amelia Island, but takes place much further south, just 60 miles north of Miami. The show is held on the grounds of the Boca Raton Resort and Club, one of the best establishments in South Florida. The show was on the golf course and featured Cadillac products, as well as anything related to the Ford Mustang, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Best of Show was a familiar face and a familiar car–the same car that won Best of Show at Greenwich last summer, a stunning Minerva owned by Joseph Cassini, won the prize at Boca this weekend. Please enjoy this gallery of fine automobiles–features will be coming very soon of a stunning Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spyder, as well as a few gorgeous old Mopar muscle cars. Enjoy, all! Continue reading Highlights from the 2015 Boca Raton Concours
Epic Speed Battle: Koenigsegg vs. Bugatti
This is one of those showdowns to end all showdowns. A Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse pitted against a Koenigsegg Agera R in a 200mph duel.
Enjoy!
-Nick
Chris Harris Tests The New Mercedes C63 AMG
In place of the old 6.2L V8 monster, the new-gen Mercedes C63 AMG has the same twin turbocharged 4.0L as the AMG GT-S sports car. Chris Harris has taken it out to see how it goes. Enjoy!
-Nick
Autocar Takes Us Around The New McLaren P1 GTR
Ferrari has the FXX K, and now McLaren has the P1 GTR. Yet another track car for the plutocrats of planet Earth.
Enjoy!
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 