Ah, Mercedes-Benz. Just the name brings up thoughts of expensive country clubs, upper-class attitudes, and feelings of being in the 1%. Their flagship sedan, the S-Class, has always been a leader in its market since the 1970s, and despite the high entry price, still sells itself better than the competition. The previous-generation W220 was the one that brought this fantastically flashy flagship into the 21st century, and now some of the most powerful ones (namely, those with some sort of forced induction) can be had for a fraction of their original value. For reasons that shall be discussed later, we’re going to focus on the S55 and S600, as the S65 is significantly harder to find even today. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG, S65 AMG, S600 (2003-2006)→
Most cars look really good with a few degrees of camber, but this guy has taken his ride a bit further. Not sure what to say about it because it is very odd, but I give props for doing it.
Retractable hardtops are a commonplace design in this day and age, but their history stretches back further than the Mercedes SLK. While that car was the first mass-produced retractable roadster that sold in large numbers in the United States, it wasn’t the first convertible with a folding metal top. Ford was the first to bring the retractable hardtop to the United States nearly fifty years earlier. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1957-1959 Ford Fairlane Skyliner→
Our friend Drake was lucky enough to catch the Pagani Huayra at one of the events on it’s American tour. It is a truly stunning car, and Mr. Pagani was there himself to show off the car. Supposedly Pagani has already recieved 12+ orders for the Huayra from American buyers, so keep you eyes peeled on the streets for one once they are allowed into the country.
A Pagani Zonda Cinque fooling around with some Lambos and an F430 (camera car) late at night. Must be nice to have enough money to both afford those cars, and not care about getting caught driving like that by the police. Just listen to that Zonda though, perfection.
Subaru’s reputation for stout, well-built AWD cars has been a cornerstone of their selling points for over twenty years now. And about a decade ago, the turbocharged Impreza WRX showed that this company could build an excellent all-around sports sedan for not a lot of cash. A few years later, they started turbocharging the Legacy and Outback, and gave a new reason for buyers to switch to a boxer engine and AWD. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: 2005-2009 Subaru Legacy GT (and Spec.B)→
While shooting this old car commercial, the cameras caught a ghost lurking in the frame. See if you can spot it, it’s pretty creepy (you will need to look pretty close, but there’s no mistaking it when you see it). Enjoy and have a happy Halloween.
Underground Racing’s twin turbo Ferrari Italia up against a stock Lamborghini Aventador. This is a good showing of the difference between wheel horsepower (whp) and brake horsepower (bhp). The Italia is making 700whp, whereas the Aventador’s V12 puts out 700hp before the power makes it’s way through the drivetrain. The difference is pretty evident during the highway pulls they do. You gotta love a company like UR, who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty with the most expensive cars out there. Enjoy!
Jaguar is a brand long known for sporty, luxurious British automobiles, but their attempt two decades ago to bring out a fully-fledged supercar did not quite pan out as expected. For the reason, the XJ220 is notable in its development and how it changed when the finished product hit the market. It’s still one of the prettiest cars of the early 1990s, and carries with it a particularly intriguing automotive story. Continue reading Obscure Auto: Jaguar XJ220→
This past Sunday, Nick and I attended the Scarsdale Concours, just a stone’s throw away from New York City. Started in 2003 by a pair of high-school students, this show has grown to a respectable size. This year, the Best of Show winner was this drop-dead gorgeous 1950 Abarth 205 berlinetta, one of only three ever built. This particular one was the last one produced, and the only one with a two-tone paint scheme. It was shown at the Turin Motor show as well, in this color scheme. Hit the jump for more pictures. This car, thanks to its absolute rarity, classy lines, and race car breeding, definitely deserved its award, and we hope to see it at other Concours in the future. Continue reading 1950 Abarth 205 at the Scarsdale Concours→
Mind Over Motor 