Category Archives: Random Cool Stuff

This stuff isn’t our own work, but we found it cool so we wanted to share it with you

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1950 Chrysler Town and Country Newport Coupe at the St. Michaels Concours

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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 →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Obligatory Bugatti vs Koenigsegg Race Video

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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

Auto Idolatry

Chris Harris Drives the Alfa Romeo 4C

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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

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Pebble Beach Concours 2013: The Lincoln Continental and Zephyr

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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 →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward

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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 →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Hess and Eisenhardt, owned by Barry Wolk, at Pebble Beach.

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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. →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

New Model: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart

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1/18 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart
1/18 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale by AUTOart

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 →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine at the Pebble Beach Concours

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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 →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50… nothing more need be said

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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

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Jay Leno gets his hands on the McLaren P1

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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

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard.

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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. →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Evo Magazine: Analogue Supercars

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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.