What does a car-enthused lifestyle look like?
While out at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion we were treated to a fabulous display of Porsche racing cars, one 911 GT1 and two 935s, including the famous 935 Moby Dick. Just seeing these race cars sitting in the paddock is incredible, but getting to see them in action out on the track was beyond any describable form of excitement. Enjoy the photos and the video.
Continue reading Porsche 911 GT1 and Two 935s at Laguna Seca
It would seem that Chris Harris’ popularity has made Ferrari rethink his blacklisted status as a journalist. Not only did they give him an F12 Berlinetta for this video, but they also threw in five sets of tires for him to shred. This is a fantastic review of the F12 Berlinetta, as we expect from Mr. Harris, as well as a healthy dosage of slidewayz car porn to drool over. The Drive Network does it again! Enjoy.
-Nick
As soon as I arrived for the second day of the New Hope Auto Show, I found myself face-to-face with this little Porsche. I happen to love the 356 Speedster, and it’s not often that I see one in original condition. This 1954 or 1955 pre-A model was a sight to see and kept my attention for a solid amount of time among the other early Porsches around it. Less than 1300 of the pre-A Speedsters were made until 1955 and they tend to sell high at auctions–in fact, don’t be surprised to see one sell for over 200K. A red 1955 model sold by RM went for more than $250,000 at an auction this past May. This one, with its light blue exterior and timeless bathtub looks, grabbed everyone’s attention effortlessly. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 2013 New Hope Auto Show: Porsche 356 Speedster
The Motorsports Reunion at the famed Laguna Seca racetrack in Monterey during Concours weekend is a place where the phrase “expect the unexpected” is more true than anywhere else in the car world. This is a place where it’s no surprise to see a older Formula One car, a Porsche Le Mans racer decked out in the classic orange Jagermeister livery, and a Trans-Am era Chevrolet Camaro in the same place. However, I wasn’t necessarily expecting to see a pristine Ferrari 250GT SWB in the paddock. Nonetheless, this bright yellow piece of Italian craftwork sat in the side of the paddock, sharing space with a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Against the gray sky and flanked by a blue Porsche racer, calling it a standout would be a bit of an understatement. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Ferrari 250GT SWB
When The Quail came to a close, I stepped into the grassy field and stumbled upon this gorgeous piece of automotive sculpture. My skin tanned from the sunlight, but this icy green Bugatti looked frozen cold. This particular Type 57 example is built as an Aerolithe Coupe, a styling study done by Bugatti back in 1935 and lost since 1936. Very little visual information is left of the original Aerolithe coupe–there was enough technical information passed down through the years, but it took a Canadian group 5 years to build a version of the Aerolithe. This remake of that famous automobile uses 100% genuine Bugatti components. Even the tires, a set of Dunlop Ballon whitewalls, are completely correct and were custom-made for it. The color was matched through a painting made of the original to Bugatti paint chips of the era. However, by far the most impressive aspect of this breathtaking automobile is the bodywork. The body is made from a magnesium alloy, notorious for its flammability and volatility–this is why the body is riveted, not welded, together. The swoopy lines and stunning shapes of this car were more than enough to keep my attention for a solid hour or so. It was difficult for me to stop shooting pictures, even after a frantic call from Nick about Pagani allowing people to sit in the new Huayra (if that’s what it had to take to get me away from this Bugatti, then not much else would have). Enjoy the photos.
This comes on a similar note to the Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe we featured a few weeks ago. This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine was created by, Italian design house, Pinninfarina for the 1963 Paris Auto Show. Those of you who know Corvettes know that 1963 was the first year of the iconic C2 Sting Ray. While I personally believe the Stingray is the best looking Vette of all time, especially the ’63 split window coupe, the Rondine’s Italian style is breathtaking.
The Corvette Rondine was the top-spec Sting Ray underneath, with the fuel injected 327ci V8 under its hood making 360hp. There is one key difference, though, and that is the body of the car. The Rondine had a steel body whereas the Sting Ray’s was made of fiberglass. This resulted in the Rondine being a bit heavier than the standard Corvette, however I’d say it is worth it for those beautiful curves.
The Corvette Rondine marks another fantastic example of an American car being fitted with Italian styling. Whether the Rondine looks better than the Sting Ray is entirely subjective, but it certainly is a unique and interesting automobile. The Corvette Rondine recently sold for a hefty $1.6 million back at the 2008 Barret Jackson Auction, and its value is certain to keep appreciating. It is always a pleasure to see such a stunning car as this, and the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was the second time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this car in person. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine
Many know Bill Caswell as the man who took a $500 Craigslist BMW rally racing and managed to do extremely well. Drive’s Mike Spinelli sits down with Bill to discuss his awesome automotive adventures over the last few years. If you are a car fanatic, this will be quite inspirational.
-Nick
Apparently Chris needed some bread, so what better excuse is there to put on a fine white Italian suit, and go drift a Ferrari 512TR? Awesome video.
-Nick
Anyone who knows me well will understand that I’m a sucker for Chrysler woodies. They’re very pretty and are often worth a lot more money than one might think. This particular 1950 model is the first one I’ve ever seen in public. It’s a Town and Country Newport, in the final year of production for the wood-body model. This was the only hardtop woodie ever built by Chrysler–only 698 were produced, making it a rarely-seen car with an exorbitant $4,000+ price tag in its day. Those factors make this quite the intriguing car. The black paint looked smooth as silk and the chrome was blindingly bright in the unimpeded sun. The backdrop of the alluring clouds and gorgeous hotel, along with the smoothness of the Chesapeake Bay, made shooting this car, at least for me, an utter no-brainer. It didn’t win any awards that day, but it stood proudly next to its rival wood-paneled cars. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1950 Chrysler Town and Country Newport Coupe at the St. Michaels Concours
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport vs Koenigsegg Agera R. Even though we’re sure you have already seen this video, as a car blog, we are obligated to post it. Here, ladies and gentleman, are two of the fastest cars in the world going head-to-head on an open runway. It also happens to be one of the best lessons in Power-To-Weight-Ratio ever caught on camera. Enjoy.
-Nick
Drive’s Chris Harris gets his hands on the new Alfa Romeo 4C. Americans should be excited because we are FINALLY getting a new Alfa!!!
-Nick
I’ll be honest, I’m a complete sucker for the Lincoln Zephyr and the Continental of this era. They get overlooked occasionally by Cadillacs and by independent marques of the Depression era, but their long-standing reputation of simple elegance, beauty, and dashes of brashness are symbols of what the Lincoln name used to mean. They all pack V12 engines, they all have (except the ’42 model in this gallery) restrained styling, and each one was an excellent example of its year and body type. This being a feature year for Lincoln at Pebble Beach, they had their very own class. The cars within this class included everything from the classic 1938 Zephyr coupe in black, to an all-original 1940 Zephyr Continental Cabriolet, to a 1942 Continental Cabriolet (1 of 11 left in the world). Some of them included all the original brass fittings in the interior, something I’ve never seen on a Lincoln. The car pictured up top is a 1941 Continental Coupe which won the class. In fact, for those of you with good memories (or those of you who can pair cars with movies as well as I can sometimes), that body style and year were featured in one of the most memorable mob movies ever, The Godfather. Sonny Corleone, played by James Caan, drives a black 1941 Continental coupe to his grisly death in one of the most memorable scenes of the film. If you don’t remember, I’ve included it at the end. Enjoy the photos of these understated, elegant automobiles.
Continue reading Pebble Beach Concours 2013: The Lincoln Continental and Zephyr
Mind Over Motor 