Category Archives: Car Shows

Photo galleries from places we’ve been and events we’ve attended

Lamborghini Countach at Hopewell Cruise Night

February 17, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

A car named after an expletive used when no other words can describe what you’re seeing. “Countach!” in Italian means something like “Holy Crap!” and that is the precise reaction people had to this car when it first came out.

The Lamborghini Countach’s design was so striking that the model endured for 17 years. It was updated with audacious wings and vents during the wild, cocaine-crazed 1980’s, because its scissor doors weren’t vulgar enough on their own after the first decade.

This Countach belongs to a local dealer, who always puts on a great show at the Hopewell Cruise Nights. It literally stopped everyone in their tracks when it rolled up.

The Countach also sounds incredible, check out this video for some sweet V12 fury:

Enjoy the photos!

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Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1947 Delahaye 135M Narval “Cover Girl” at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

February 15, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

Only automobile aficionados know about Delahayes. But when anyone asks me who made the most beautiful cars of all time, I usually drop the Delahaye name. They are gorgeous, they are elegant, they are as French as French can be.

Any connoisseur of pre-war automobiles will know of all the stunning machines that came out of France in the early-mid 1900s. Many might argue that Bugatti or Talbot should hold the crown of beauty instead, but Delahayes have always dropped my jaw in a way that no other marque ever has. They are magical machines with the power to make everything around them disappear.

The 1947 Delahaye 135M you see here turned many heads at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. It is one of a few hundred 135Ms produced in the difficult post-war era. France was ruined and there wasn’t much room for ostentatious luxury cars as the country was being rebuilt. As a result, most post-war Delahayes were exported to wealthy buyers outside of France. Delahaye’s larger military contracting business kept them afloat until they lost a major contract with the French government, and went bust in 1954.

This beautiful black Delahaye 135M Narval was built for a wealthy industrialist in Ohio. It’s design was inspired by the elegant motion of aquatic mammals, specifically the Narwal. It was built for the President of The Prima Company Ohio, and was showcased in a magazine ad for “Covergirl Dress Flats by Prima,” hence the car’s nickname “Cover Girl.”

This Delahaye stands as a masterpiece of art on wheels. Enjoy the gallery.

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Car Shows

1951 Packard Patrician 400 at the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours

February 11, 2016 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

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Due to the phrase “Fabulous Fifties”, everyone seems to think that all cars sold in America during the first full decade after World War II had loud paint, snarling V8 engines, towering tail fins, and lashings of insane chrome. The opposite, in fact, was true, especially in the years preceding 1955. In fact, most cars were notably understated, and still used muted colors and drab interior schemes as the cost was lower. Of course, a Packard could be drab in color and muted in trim, but the cost would most certainly not be low. This Patrician 400, looking quite stately in black, has a custom interior designed by Dorothy Draper, so the interior was not “drab”. Packard offered this series as its flagship in 1951, and 9,001 orders were taken–mostly in black. It’s not as flashy or as obvious as the equivalent Cadillac or Lincoln of the period, but it does not need to be. Continue reading 1951 Packard Patrician 400 at the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Car Shows, Cars We've Seen

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Blue Carbon at the Quail Lodge

February 10, 2016 ndubs77 2 Comments

No matter what you may think of the Bugatti Veyron, there is no denying the hefty presence it has when you see one in person. It’s not a particularly big car, and it doesn’t have the flashiest exotic shape either. The Veyron is very round, some might even say bulbous, but it has an essence of sheer quality that will make almost any car near it seem shamefully cheap.

I recently heard somewhere that these Super Sport model Bugattis cost Volkswagen a whopping $6 million each to produce. That means VW lost $2-4 million on each Veyron they sold. Most cars are a lot cheaper in build than their price tag would suggest, especially in the luxury arena. Not the Bugatti Veryron, though, and it really does show when you see the car up close in the real world.

I know I’ve been one to criticize the Veyron from time to time, but that’s mostly for people reasons, not because of the car itself. Sociologically, the braggadocios Veyron got played out pretty quick, and Bugatti even struggled to move the last few units. But there’s no denying what a significant technological achievement this car is, even despite the existence of the LaFerrari, Koenigsegg and the other, newer hypercars.

Sure, there are quicker cars out there. But the Veyron doesn’t just do 250 or 260 mph, it makes it an easy affair. I often joke that the Bugatti’s real achievement wasn’t in breaking the 250 mph barrier, but in that it would allow Paris Hilton to do it in heels while texting, petting her toy dog and taking a selfie. That is a massive engineering achievement, and if you tried the same in a Hennessey Venom GT…. well, you’d probably wind up losing your phone.

What a fantastic objects these later-production Veyrons are, when Bugatti started getting fancy with the color schemes. This Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which we found at the Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week, just looked unreal with it’s two-tone French Racing Blue and blue carbon fiber bodywork. If I were spec’ing up a Bugatti Veyron for myself, this would surely be the epitome of my desire.

Enjoy the photos of this serious stunner!

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Car Shows

This 1971 Plymouth Hemicuda is a Mean Green Muscle Machine!

February 8, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

The Plymouth Hemicuda is my favorite car from the Muscle Car era, bar none. It has the perfect engine, Chrysler’s 426ci Hemi V8, the perfect gearbox, a manual with a pistol-grip shifter, and it is the perfect color, bright middle finger green.

The Hemicuda has the brash audacity that I look for in a muscle car. It speaks loudly and carries a big stick. Too many muscle cars were soft-spoken “sleepers,” which is cool in some ways, but I much prefer the blunt honesty of the ‘Cuda. It doesn’t beat around the bush with petty small talk, it just says “Get the hell out the way!”

I’m generally a non-partisan guy when it comes to automotive brand loyalty, but I must admit that Mopars are my favorite of the old-school muscle cars. They had a fantastic lineup of engines, of which the Hemi was king. But even past that, Chrysler cars just had that flavor that embodied the very spirit of the American Muscle car. The Plymouth ‘Cuda is the crown jewel for me, but I always love me a Road Runner, a Charger, a Challenger, etc too.

Seeing a ‘Cuda like this turns me into a little kid every time, and this one was absolutely ideal. We saw it at the Concours of America, just outside of Detroit, MI. Naturally the Motor City area has the cream of the muscle car crop, and I have yet to be disappointed when visiting.

Enjoy the gallery of this bad mutha!

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Car Shows

1932 Ruxton Model C at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance

February 5, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Ruxton built unique front-wheel-drive cars in the early 1930s, although they were only able to actually produce cars for a few months. The company was plagues with mismanagement through its entire conception, and wound up fizzing out as the Great Depression Took hold, causing financial strains across the board.

The cars themselves were bold and beautiful. They sat much lower than most of their contemporaries thanks to the lack of a driveshaft running underneath the car. Many Ruxtons featured striking gradient-striped paint jobs, like the one you see here.

We saw many Ruxtons the last time we were at Pebble Beach, this one included. It was a great pleasure to see it again this year at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance.

Enjoy the photos of this beautiful car!

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Car Shows

Highlights from the 2016 Philadelphia Auto Show

February 3, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

The Philadelphia Auto Show was lively this year, with many of the newest releases on display.

I must admit that I am completely in love with the blue Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio you see above (it’s stick too). I also got my first look at the new Fiata (124 Spider), Cadillac XT5, Honda Ridgeline, and the oh-so-sleek Volvo S90. I also got a good look at the new Toyota Prius, which was regrettable on the eyes.

There are a lot of great new cars to be excited about!

Enjoy the gallery.

-Nick

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Car Shows

Functional Tumbler Batmobile at Festivals of Speed, Amelia Island

January 29, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Batman was always my favorite superhero, and it was because he always had an awesome car, the Batmobile. This custom-built, totally functional Tumbler Batmobile stole the show at Festivals of Speed, Amelia Island.

The owner said the best part of having a functional Tumbler was being able to show up anywhere, and just drop jaws like nothing lesser ever could. “Oh, you’ve got a Lambo, that’s cool. Me? I drive the Batmobile.” I don’t car what kind of supercars are present, when the Batmobile rolls up, they’re all invisible.

Now, that jet exhaust at the rear isn’t actually functional, as that would most definitely not be street legal. This Tumbler is powered by a tried and true Ford V8. I know, not quite as epic as the Jet-powered Tumbler in the movies, but it’s worth being able to really use the car.

I just couldn’t get over the level work that went into making this Tumbler so legit, and it really paid off because the owner can drive it in the real world.

Enjoy the pics of this badass Batmobile!

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Car Shows

1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air Nomad at the 2015 Concours of America at St. John’s

January 26, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

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Two-door station wagons are among the black sheep of the automotive world here in America. Europe has produced them on and off for decades, but our region of the industry really never produced this unique body style. Luckily, the most famous one we ever pushed out of the factory gates happens to be quite a striking piece. Most people remember the first-generation of the Chevrolet Nomad as the 1957 model, complete with tri-tone paint, spinner hubcaps, a 283-cubic inch Small Block Chevy, and chrome almost everywhere. While it’s a fantastic-looking piece of American history, the ’55 “Box Chevy” probably works best of all the Tri-Fives in the Nomad’s two-door-wagon configuration. Continue reading 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air Nomad at the 2015 Concours of America at St. John’s →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Thunderbolt, a Custom Rolls Royce with a WWII Tank Engine

January 25, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

Some things just need to be built. Even without a practical purpose, some things must exist because they will make the world a better place. Inspiration is a powerful force in our world, and things that are born out of passion serve to inspire further passion in others. If that isn’t a worthy cause, then I don’t know what is.

This is the Thunderbolt, a custom built Rolls Royce Boat Tail Speedster with a fire-breathing WWII tank engine under its massive hood. It is the embodiment of childhood dreams, and an homage to a more elegant time, when cars were truly works of art and craftsmanship.

The Thunderbolt’s mighty engine is a 27 liter Rolls Royce Meteor V12. It produces 600-700hp and over 1,600 ft/lbs of torque. The Meteor engine was the tank derivative of the famous Merlin engine used in the Spitfire fighter plane. And when the owner says to be careful when starting the car, he means because it literally shoots 5 foot flames out the side exhausts (See the video).

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Car Shows

Stanced Mitsubishi Lancer Evo at First Class Fitment

January 22, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This Mitsubishi Evo was clean as hell. It looked a lot like that ridiculous Time Attack Evo from Forza Motorsport 3 that may have been the cause of a broken controller.

I’m not sure exactly what mods were done to this car, but it looks like one of those deadly Evos that might just be able to embarrass some pompous fool in a Ferrari.

Either way, it’s level of stance was on point for me. It’s low and flush enough to look great, but there’s still a little bit of room for the suspension to move.

The one question I really want to know, though, is:

Is that wing really functional for the car’s performance?

Enjoy the photos!

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Car Shows

Slammed Chevy Corvair at First Class Fitment

January 20, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

It may be unsafe at any speed, but this Chevy Corvair looks damn good just sitting still. Fully customized with some rustic treatment on the body panels and a set of contrasting clean wheels, this Corvair had a unique flavor about it. Among the sea of spotless show cars at First Class Fitment this year, it definitely stood out as an island unto itself.

Well done!

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