Photo galleries from places we’ve been and events we’ve attended
We got our first look at the new Bentley Bentayga SUV at the New York International Auto Show. Part of me doesn’t think it quite fits as a Bentley, the other part of me sees how it was a no-brainer for the Luxury SUV segment.
I think there’s little doubt the Bentayga will sell well. I mean, pretty soon you’ll be seeing them sprinkled around the Apple Store side of your local mall, right next to the Teslas. The question is does it help Bentley or hurt their brand identity?
-Nick
The BMW M4 is already a very fast high performance sports coupe, more than enough for most people. There are always those who want more, though, and for them BMW has now made this, the M4 GTS.
The M4 GTS has an extra helping of boost with special tuning to be a total track weapon. It comes as the latest member of BMW’s special M car lineup, which began with the 1990 E30 M3 Sport Evolution, and continued through the E36 M3 GT, the E46 M3 CSL, and the E92 M3 GTS and CRT. The M4 GTS, however is the first of these extreme BMWs that will be sold in the USA. That’s right, BMW is only building 700 M4 GTS units in total, but 300 of those will be making their way Stateside.
As you might imagine, prices will obviously be quite steep. When a loaded standard M4 costs around $80,000, the GTS has a base price of $133,000, and that number is very likely to go up on the secondhand market. So what makes the BMW M4 GTS so special compared to the standard M4? Well, BMW has boosted their claimed horsepower output from 425hp to 493hp via the implementation of a water injection system, which allows for more boost. They’ve also fitted some aero bits, a fully tunable suspension, and some nice wide sticky tires. All of this adds up to a Nurburgring time of 7:28, or “really freaking fast!” in layman’s terms.
We were lucky enough to catch this M4 GTS on display at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. These are going to be quite a rare sight when they hit the streets. Enjoy the photos!
Continue reading BMW M4 GTS at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
It’s not often that I feature a Mercury here, but the Turnpike Cruiser might be one of the brand’s best-kept secrets. Covered in chrome, good cheer, and lashings of paint, this was a car to be seen in during the late Fifties. Mercury made less than five thousand Cruisers that year and these are among the most sought-after Mercuries of the 1950s, with the early Fifties coupes usually bringing crazy money thanks to their custom heritage. Continue reading 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser at the 2016 Hollywood Wheels Auction, Amelia Island
This is a 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV. In fact, it is the first Miura SV, the one shown at the model’s debut at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. You sure wouldn’t know it was over 40 years old, though, because it looks like it rolled off the production line a few hours ago.
This iconic Miura is the first restorative masterpiece of Lamborghini’s new factory restoration program, PoloStorico. While down at Amelia Island this year, Lamborghini was kind enough to send us an invite to their unveiling event. There, among some wonderful complimentary glasses of wine, we got to see the work of PoloStorico up close, as well as the massive grin on the owner’s face when the cover came off.
What’s really striking about this green Miura is just how perfect all of it’s minute details are. There are many nicely kept Miuras out there, but this thing was absolutely flawless. I mean, Lamborghini even re-did the paint job in the absolute period-correct way.
Calling this a restoration is almost a disservice because it’s really more a Miura reborn, nurtured to perfection again by its own mother. I’m quite sure Ferruccio is proud, wherever he is.
Enjoy the photos!
Continue reading Lamborghini PoloStorico and This Brand New (Again) 1971 Miura SV
The Porsche 356 might be one of the most well-regarded early German sports cars ever. Since I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to have one in my driveway, simply because of their honest styling and fantastic sense of adventure. This little white Speedster is the last of the pre-A series cars, making it an early model combined with the most desirable body style. The Speedsters are extremely valuable–and this one, being an early one, is a prime example of how Porsche got popular in the States. Max Hoffman hit the market perfectly and the Speedster, which was a cheaper convertible 356 aimed at competition markets, was a massive home run at the time. Continue reading 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours
This is the ultimate badass Mercedes in my mind. The SL65 AMG Black Series is a twin turbo V12 beast that will haunt your nightmares.
-Nick
Remember that time Cadillac made the most epic luxury car in the world, and then left us all hot and bothered with our hopes crushed? This is the Cadillac Sixteen Concept, and it would have crushed the Rolls Royce Phantom back in 2003… if it had been real, but it wasn’t.
A nod to top-of-the-line Cadillacs of old, the Sixteen Concept was a functional prototype complete with a bespoke V-16 engine. That’s sixteen cylinders, displacing a massive 13.2L (830ci), that produce 1,000hp and and 1,000 ft/lbs of torque, all without the aid of any forced induction. There hasn’t been another modern production engine like it, and the probably won’t ever be.
Sure, this thing definitely looks a bit GM 2000’s-tastic when you look at it now, especially the interior, but it would’ve been a true Cadillac’s Cadillac at a time when the brand really needed such a flagship. Now, 13 years later, Cadillac is still in need of such a flagship for the brand to rally behind.
The Sixteen Concept is a wonderful embodiment of both the best and the worst of General Motors. They can make a wonderful, cutting edge car, but then their management all too often winds up getting in the way, and ruining all the fun.
Enjoy the photos of what could’ve been the most proper of Cadillacs.
In the Fifties, Ferrari began to become a household name. By the time the 250 launched, they were known on the track, and they were becoming better-known for producing exotic, alluring sports cars with an Italian flair and twelve free-breathing cylinders underneath the hood. The 250 series, of course, is a timeless classic at this point and now it’s an all-time great. Continue reading Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours
That time Ferrari took their 308 super sports car, and strapped two turbos to it because they wanted to go rally racing. They never actually went rally racing, but they did help lay the foundations for the royal epic-ness that is the modern hypercar.
The idea of taking a supercar and making it more “super” was in many ways born with the Ferrari 288 GTO. It is the first in the lineup of, currently five, super Ferraris, the F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari in addition. They’re all fine and great, and the F40 in many ways gets most of the lime light, but the 288 GTO is genesis, and it will always be tremendously special.
Just how special? Well, early this March it was about $2,585,000 worth of special.
Not bad, eh?
-Nick Walker
1931 was an interesting time. People were still riding the wave of craziness from the roaring 20’s in many ways, but there were more and more symptoms of the Great Depression popping up all over. It was a trying time, to be sure, and people weren’t even allowed to drink to cope with it all. That wouldn’t do at all, especially not if you were wealthy and flamboyant.
This flashy orange and yellow Cord came with just the solution, a full cocktail bar hidden away in a secret compartment in the passenger door. I mean, laws are for the working class, they shouldn’t be drinking because they have to be working. But when you’re rich and set for life, you play by a different set of rules. You should be able to have a drink while you’re out driving your sports car.
This 1931 Cord L-29 is actually a replica of a show car that Cord featured during the era to promote their brand. Needless to say, it’s quite striking, and getting these photos took lots of patience because people were swarming the car.
Enjoy the gallery!
Continue reading A Prohibition-tastic Cord L-29 at Amelia Island
When it comes to the late Twenties and German cars, Mercedes-Benz is usually the first car someone thinks of, thanks to their classic lines and supreme pedigree. The color, however, is not usually this scorching, eye-searing yellow paint. I’m not about to complain, however. This 1928 S model is quite a rare bird, carrying a gorgeous custom body and the same owner since 1964. Continue reading 1928 Mercedes-Benz S Cabriolet at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours
This is the Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6, a car for hardcore people who live hardcore lives filled with all manner of hardcoreness, as well as grotesque amounts of money (maybe legal, but probably not). It’s 6-wheel drive, and that means that even after the apocalypse, you’ll be able to get to the mall so you can still be the first one to get the new iPhone.
That’s what the modern luxury SUV is about, and the Mercedes 6×6 is the undisputed king. You don’t even have to worry about arriving early to get a good parking spot when you have one of these. If it’s crowded, just park on top some car in a handicapped spot. You’ve already paid for your privilege, they can get their own.
The 6×6 is definitely a Bond villains car if I’ve ever seen one. It’s for people who don conflict diamonds proudly and wear clothing made from the pelts of endangered animals. Someone with henchmen and offshore bank accounts with a good evil laugh, and a cat which they stroke constantly.
If this fits you, then you need a Mercedes 6×6. Sure they may be all sold out, but just assassinate someone who has one and pick it up cheap at the estate sale. Heck, with a few well-placed put options, you might even make money along the way.
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 