What does a car-enthused lifestyle look like?
This particular Rolls-Royce Phantom V has quite a unique history. That it’s one of five in its State Landaulette body from Mulliner Park Ward is just scratching the surface. It was ordered by Communists, but was sold to an American for political reasons, who used the car for political purposes. Continue reading 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward
At Pebble Beach this year, Lincoln was a featured marque. In my opinion, a celebration of the Lincoln brand is not complete without mention of the Continental. To further that point, featuring the Continental name in any way is not finished without mention of the famous Continental Mark II of 1956-1957. This particular car has a heck of a history to it. Barry Folk of Farmington, MI collects cars with the Continental nameplate and owns this Continental Mark II convertible. 3 convertibles were built out of examples which were damaged during delivery. Two of them were built by Hess and Eisenhart, and one other was built by Durham. This particular car is one of the two Hess and Eisenhardt cars. It won 3rd in class at the Concours (and I’ll be honest, I wanted it to win first place, it was a stunning example), and participate in the Tour d’Elegance as well, where I first discovered it while Nick was busy photographing the Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spyder. Enjoy the photos of this unique Continental Mark II. Continue reading 1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Hess and Eisenhardt, owned by Barry Wolk, at Pebble Beach.
It has been quite some time since I last bought a model car, but this Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart proved too enticing to pass up. One aspect of my automotive enthusiasm which I have not yet shown here on Mind Over Motor is my extensive collection of 1/18th scale models. Both myself and Al collect model cars, but until recently, mine have all been packed away from my family’s recent move and I still haven’t set up a display in the new house.
I have been interested in this Alfa model for a while now, but I got my hands on one for the first time while we were out in California last month. While perusing the Automobilia shops at Laguna Seca, I found the Tipo 33 Stradale model I had been lusting after. I forewent purchasing the model that day, due to logistical concerns of getting it home during my trip, but it had wet my appetite. When I got home, a few weeks later, I found myself searching for it online. I found a much better deal on Amazon.com than I would’ve gotten in California, so I decided to go for it.
A real Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale is on, what I call, my “Soul List”– The list of cars I’d consider trading my soul for if given the chance. Unless someone who has a Tipo 33 Stradale will accept a trade for a soul, this model will probably be the closest I come to owning one, seeing as how they are worth something like $5 million now. But who knows, lottery tickets can be bought, and prayers can be prayed. Honestly, I’d be entirely content if I ever even have the chance to drive one of these epic machines. For now though, the model will do.
My Tipo 33 Stradale just arrived today, and I couldn’t be happier with its quality. I plan to display it in my bedroom until my larger model display gets sorted out.
Continue reading New Model: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart
This year, Lincoln was a featured marque at Pebble Beach. Back in 1950, the US Secret Service took delivery of a brand-new presidential limousine, this 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan. This year, that very automobile was featured at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. I think it’s fantastic to see these overlooked early 1950s Lincolns in general, but to see this one is a treat. It’s a living piece of American history. In fact, it was used until shortly after Kennedy was sworn in, making this one of the few Presidential cars to be used by three presidents (in this case, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy). And here, on the lawn of the 18th hole, it looked truly majestic. Amazingly, the car was not armored and the glass for the bubble roof (added during the Eisenhower administration) is Plexiglas. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading The 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine at the Pebble Beach Concours
As a gearhead with a website, I am obligated to share something like this when I see it. Drive’s Chris Harris has a day made of dreams, drifting a Ferrari F40 and Ferrari F50. Fantastic video.
-Nick
Jay Leno was given the honor of being the first person outside McLaren to get behind the wheel of the new P1 hypercar. Incidentally, he has also placed an order for a yellow P1, so I’m sure that factored into McLaren’s decision.
This video shows some great insights into the car, and its technology. Including how the P1’s electric motor runs through the transmission. You can also visibly see the difference in the car’s ride between Normal and Race modes.
Enjoy.
-Nick
This year at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I was overjoyed when the master of ceremonies announced the Best of Show winner from the finalists. I’d been photographing this stunning brown Packard convertible the entire afternoon, and when it drove through the confetti as the trumpets sounded, I was elated.
In fact, the owners of this car, Superior Court judge Joseph Cassini III and his wife Margie, live in West Orange, NJ–less than 20 miles from the town I grew up in (Randolph).
This particular Packard is a 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria, and was fully restored by RM Restorations in Canada. It is a particularly rare example in that the coachwork was done partially by Dietrich and partially by the factory as a special. The 10,000 man-hour restoration was finished only recently, and this was its show debut.
Enjoy the photos. Congratulations to the Cassini family on your award!
Continue reading The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard.
This may well be the most incredible test Evo Magazine has ever put together. With the onset of modern supercars, and the digital age, they wanted to take a look at some of the best old-school “pure” supercars. McLaren F1, Pagani Zonda F, Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50, Noble M600, and Lamborghini Murcielago LP-670 SV, oh yes, prepare yourself for some epic.
The Cord L-29 was a revolutionary automobile for its time. It’s one of the first cars to ever be assembled with front-wheel-drive, but uses a longitudinal engine layout, unlike every FWD car sold in America today. The car had a 137.5″ wheelbase and the steering took 4 turns from lock-to-lock, but reports came in at the time that it was actually a very good handler. It had inboard brakes, De Dion drive system, and and full instrumentation (including an ammeter). In its day, it was a shock to the system.
Continue reading 2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29
The late 1970s were a bleak time for America. The country was stuck with a bad case of stagflation, there was rife conflict in the Middle East as the shah of Iran was losing his grip on his country, and if you wanted anything fast and American, you were either wrenching on an older car, or looking longingly at the used car lots for a Hemi Challenger that wasn’t beat to within an inch of its life. This, however, didn’t stop Dodge from trying to bring the magic back. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck
On June 30, I flew to California to meet with my brother, Matt. He was kind enough, after a gut-busting BBQ lunch in Hollywood, to take me over to the Petersen Automotive Museum. Here’s some highlights from the floor. Some of the notable cars in the building include a selection of cars that have become legendary in their own right, including a Bugatti EB110, Steven McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS, and many other unique and gorgeous cars. Enjoy the gallery.
It goes without saying that Audi owns Le Mans; both figuratively and sort of literally. The eleven overall victories certainly cement the figurative bit and the constant ‘Quattro’ this and ‘Quattro’ that plastered everywhere seem pretty literal if you were to ask me.
So it came to little surprise to me when Porsche unveiled their new 2014 LMP1 racer a mere week before the 2013 Le Mans race. The motorsport world had been fast approaching what was seeming to be (and was) yet another overall victory for Audi on the La Sarthe circuit, and Porsche wanted everyone watching to remember that in one year they would be returning to the track to defend their honor (and their sixteen overall victories).
However, while watching a portion of the 1998 Le Mans race on YouTube, I had a revelation of just how ironic this impending on-track battle between the two marques actually is. Yes, you read that correctly, ironic is the perfect word to use to describe the 2014 24 Heures du Mans.
So, we start the beginning of this ironic, frighteningly Star Wars-like (more on that later) story with the Audi RS2 Avant. In the early 1990s, Audi engineers decided that they wanted to mix their expertise in building sensible cars with a bit of eye-popping performance.
Mind Over Motor 