BMW lets Chris Harris behind the wheel of their M3 DTM race car. It may look a bit like the M3 we all know on the surface, but really it is a unique race car from the ground up. Enjoy!
-Nick
Category Archives: Automotive Lifestyle
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Fun from Mach 5 Cars’ Exotic Rally Tour
I recently visited Mach 5 Cars to take part in one of their Exotic Rally Tours. Two of my friends work for Mach 5, an exotic car rental company in the Tri-State Area, and this is something I had been meaning to do for a while now. I took a few pictures, and shot some video of the fun we had on the tour. I was partnered up with my friend, Pete, who works for Mach 5, so when he was driving things got a little crazier.
So check out the video and the photos. Enjoy the sights and sounds of what was surely one of the more exciting days I have had in a while. We look forward to more collaborations with Mach 5 Cars in the future. Check out their website, and give them a call if you want to get yourself behind the wheel… their Exotic Rally Tours are one of the best values in the business. Enjoy.
“Old No. 4” at Laguna Seca
At Laguna Seca, don’t go in with an expectation. That’s not me being negative, that’s me being honest. I only say this because you might come across a 550 Spyder, but then stumble on a piece of ancient automotive history like this racing Ford. When I was photographing it, the entire area around it stank like spent old brakes. Of course, that’s because someone had the guts (and the crazy) to drive this on Laguna Seca. This happens to be a 1915 Ford race car, utilizing a 1915 Model T engine with 50 hp. The list of tech pieces reads like something out of a horror film for racing, including a 12-speed transmission (via the use of a 2 speed planetary gearbox hooked up to a 3 speed Muncie transmission, then out to a 2 speed rear axle), a 2 wheel rear drum used as a service brake, and a pressure fed fuel system. According to the owners, this bright yellow Ford can break 100 mph. Judging by its minimal use of anything regarding bodywork, I’m not shocked at all about that. What I was shocked about was that the driver got out, said hello, and was in one piece. To the man who drove this car that day: I salute you, sir. Enjoy the photos of this incredible little car. Continue reading “Old No. 4” at Laguna Seca
Jay Leno Shows Us A 1956 Maserati A6G-2000 Allemano Coupe
Jay Leno takes us through the details and history of this 1956 Maserati A6G-2000 Allemano Coupe. Enjoy the video!
-Nick
St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance: 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Back in 2011, this Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster didn’t start when it was supposed to arrive at the podium to recieve an award. I’d forgotten about this until Nick reminded me of it upon seeing it in Maryland at the end of September. Looking clean as ever, this 300SL is even more special than it normally should be. It is, in fact, one of the last crop of first-generation Mercedes SLs to roll off the line. According to the official record, this car was made on the very last day of production and is one of the last six 300SLs made. At this point, Mercedes-Benz was desperate to clear out the lots of this outdated model (at the time) in favor of the new Pagoda series. Its interior is completely original, as are the mechanical components. The paint is new after a fender-bender damaged the rear of the car. Other than that, though, the car’s original. The white paint looked beautiful against the clear Maryland sky, and the red interior, combined with this car’s optional hardtop, looked very professional. All of the original paperwork and luggage was on display too–even the toolkit was there. This is among the most complete of any 300SL I have seen at a show, and I was elated to have seen it at the St. Michael’s Concours this fall. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance: 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Radnor Hunt CDE: 1955 Porsche 356 Continental Cabriolet, owned by Barry Wolk.
I’ve talked about Barry Wolk here on Mind Over Motor before. He brought a stunning 1956 Continental Mark II convertible to the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours, and a month later, I ran into him again with this Porsche at Radnor. He collects exclusively automobiles which carry the Continental name. The story of the Continental series is quite unusual. Max Hoffman, Porsche’s USA importer at the time, convinced the top brass in Germany that the 356 would sell better if it used a series name rather than an alphanumeric one. Porsche obliged and attached the Continental nameplate to the 356 series. However, Ford intervened and complained that the Continental name was theirs and theirs alone, forcing Porsche to cease using it. As a result, the Continental name was only used on any Porsche products in 1955. This pretty little Turkish Red Cabriolet brought Barry the Porsche Radnor Award by the end of the day. Congratulations to you Barry–it’s a striking and rather rare Porshe 356. Enjoy the photographs. Continue reading Radnor Hunt CDE: 1955 Porsche 356 Continental Cabriolet, owned by Barry Wolk.
2013 Radnor Hunt Concours: 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Sedan
When people think of a Chrysler with wood paneling, of course the Town and Country comes to mind. However, this particular body style rarely is brought up. Loren J. Hulber, however, bucks this trend and was happy to bring this pristine 1948 Sedan to the 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance. Only 1,175 wood-bodied sedans were produced for 1948 and this was the final year for that body style, making this Chrysler quite rare today. These cars needed hand assembly after the panels were fitted due to the difficulty of the curved frames of the wood. This Sumac Red example features a Highlander plaid finish interior, and won the American Classic Postwar class. Nick and I saw it yet again at the St. Michael’s Concours, where it also won its class. I was happy to see not only two different Town and Country models in the same place, but joyful that the rarer (and very striking) sedan was the award winner instead of the more often-seen convertible variant at this show. Note the unique wood roof rack as well. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours: 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Sedan
Autocar Tests The New Ferrari 458 Speciale
When I reviewed the Ferrari 458 Italia this past summer, I said that I thought the car may have reached a sort of apex where it would be hard to improve upon. The steering and gear shifts, and really everything else about the car, were all instantaneous, making the car feel like it was literally connected to my central nervous system.
Evidently, Ferrari has found ways of improving the 458. Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe drives it here, and seems simply blown away by the improvements that have been made. We’ll have to take his word for it for now, but hopefully I will find a way to get my hands on one of these monsters in the future to see for myself.
-Nick
EVO’s Car of The Year
Not much needs to be said. EVO Magazine’s Car of The Year battle is always epic. Just sit back and enjoy the videos.
-Nick
St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance 2013: 1954 Jaguar XK-120
On my way home from Pebble Beach, I met this guy named Ron Schotland. He and I got to talking and we both realized that we lived in the tri-state area and had both attended the Pebble Beach Concours. He showed me a few pictures of his XK-120, which I was delighted to see in person at the St. Michael’s Concours down in Chesapeake, MD. In fact, I wasn’t the only one who was elated to see this clean and well-cared-for little cat–the car won 1st in its class that weekend over a 1953 model. The deep maroon finish over natural leather looked stunning against the chrome wire wheels and brilliant sunshine. Enjoy the photographs. Ron, congrats on your award–we hope to see your car at many more events in the near future. Continue reading St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance 2013: 1954 Jaguar XK-120
Chris Harris Drives the Jaguar XKR-S GT
Drive’s Chris Harris gets his slide-happy paws on Jaguar’s very limited XKR-S GT. Evidently, it is much more than just a standard XKR-S with a big wing strapped to the back. Enjoy the video.
-Nick
Best in Show at Radnor Hunt, 2013: 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe by Lebaron
Coachbuilt cars tend to attract a crowd. The name Isotta Fraschini is a well-known one inside the world of classic car connoisseurs, but not really known as well in the automotive public. This particularly pretty burgundy boat-tail coupe at Radnor Hunt is the first one I’ve gotten a good look at and I was very impressed. The brightwork looked great, the coachwork was full of great details and the car’s history offered a lot of information on just how famous this one is. Owned by a silent-film star actress by the name of Marguerite Clark and her aviation pioneer husband Harry Williams, this gorgeous convertible had only 22,000 original miles on the clock. It fully deserved its win at Radnor Hunt this year, and the owner, Peter Boyle, looked incredibly proud. Congrats to Mr. Boyle on your award-winning Isotta Fraschini, thank you for showing it at Radnor this year.
Continue reading Best in Show at Radnor Hunt, 2013: 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe by Lebaron
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