Category Archives: Cars We’ve Seen

Cool and interesting cars that caught our eye either at shows or on the street.

RUF BTR Slantnose spotted in Fernadina Beach, FL

May 3, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

While waiting for the shuttle to check out the auction at the Omni at Amelia Island, Nick and I caught a somewhat familiar sight of a slantnose Porsche rolling through the quiet streets. However, this was not a Porsche. This is a RUF BTR, the first of the line for the RUF series of modified Porsches. This is one of less than 35 made and it looked pristine. The paint simply stuck out like a sore thumb among the endless sea of beige and silver trucks and rental cars scattering the landscape. Plus, how often is it that anyone sees a RUF, of any kind, running around? This is pretty much like seeing Keith Richards or Mick Jagger in person at a grocery store for Porschephiles. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading RUF BTR Slantnose spotted in Fernadina Beach, FL →

Car Shows

Ferrari 288 GTO at RM Sotheby’s Auction, Amelia Island

May 2, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

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

Car Shows

A Prohibition-tastic Cord L-29 at Amelia Island

April 29, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

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 →

Car Shows

1928 Mercedes-Benz S Cabriolet at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours

April 26, 2016 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

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 →

Car Shows

Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 at Amelia Island

April 25, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

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

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Classic Ford F-100 at Amelia Island

April 18, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This might be the cleanest custom Ford F-100 I’ve ever seen. The detail work on it is truly immaculate, right down to the rich wooden bed. It was featured in Classic Trucks Magazine, and the owner had the issue displayed proudly on the seat.

This is a spectacular work of automotive art. Enjoy the gallery!

Continue reading Classic Ford F-100 at Amelia Island →

Car Shows

1954 Ford Sunliner Custom at the 2016 Amelia Island Festivals of Speed

Gallery April 14, 2016 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Festivals of Speed is a fun little event that happens just down the road from the Omni at Amelia Island. The cars that show up at this event are quite varied and this year ranged from a tasteful Toyota Supra Turbo to a truly mental Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG 6×6. Luckily for us, there was plenty of cars to go around. Drawing my eye cooking in the Florida sunlight was a drop-dead stunning old Ford. Continue reading 1954 Ford Sunliner Custom at the 2016 Amelia Island Festivals of Speed →

Cars We've Seen

Ariel Atom with a cart at Amelia Island

April 13, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

The Ariel Atom is hopelessly impractical, ah, but there is a solution!

Now you can tow your own trunk, and carry all kinds of do-dads everywhere you go.

Things for the home, things for the track, hell, you could probably even tailgate with this.

Now you have one less excuse not to drive an Atom every day!

-Nick

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Porsche 911R at NYIAS 2016

April 11, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

We got our first, in-person look at the new Porsche 911R at the 2016 New York International Auto Show. With its 500hp 4.0L engine hooked to a manual gearbox, it’s definitely a proverbial golden calf for us Porsche enthusiasts.

Porsche is only building 991 examples of the 911R, so it won’t ever be a common sight. These cars are also so heavily sought after that those lucky 991 buyers will likely be able to flip their 911Rs (if they want to) for a healthy 6-figure profit.

The good news for everyone not getting a 911R is that Porsche has confirmed that the next 911 GT3 will come with the option of a manual gearbox. It would seem the clear demand in the secondhand market has gotten through to Porsche management, and they’ve realized the mistake they made with the first 991 GT3.

Despite the coming manual 991.2 GT3, the 911R will remain the only manual 991 equipped with the monstrous 4.0L flat-six, shared with the mighty GT3 RS.

There is no doubt that 911R values will be sitting up with the 997 GT3 RS 4.0 and GT2 RS on the secondhand market. This is a stratosphere Porsche to be sure.

-Nick Walker

Cars We've Seen

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spotted on Amelia Island

April 8, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

Supposedly it drives like a truck, but those looks are timeless.

-Nick

Car Shows

1971 Plymouth Road Runner, raced by Richard Petty, at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours

Gallery April 7, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

Richard Petty truly is the King. Say what you want about King George, or King Midas, or King Felipe VI. But, to me, Richard Petty will always be The King. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Chrysler Corporation ruled NASCAR with a lethally fast combination of the aero-bodied Charger 500, Superbird, and Charger Daytona, all of which were powered by the unstoppable 426 Hemi. They were so dominant, in fact, that in 1971, NASCAR handed the boys from Auburn Hills an ultimatum–either get rid of the aero body or drop the Hemi. Chrysler responded accordingly, by putting the 426 in the newly-rebodied Road Runner and Charger for the 1971 season. Petty, as per tradition, took the keys to this #43 Corporate Blue Road Runner and drove it for the entirety of that season. Continue reading 1971 Plymouth Road Runner, raced by Richard Petty, at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours →

Car Shows

New York International Auto Show General Gallery

April 5, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

The New York Auto Show finished its run on Sunday evening and was home to a multitude of concept and full debuts, including Lincoln’s Navigator concept (complete with a massive gullwing door) and Mazda’s MX-5 Targa Retractable. This year, the show wasn’t nearly as glitzy as previous years, but I had an enjoyable day all the same. Although I wasn’t intent on taking as many photos (as I had spent a massive amount of time at L.A. a few months back), there was still plenty to see. Fiat showed off the new 124 Abarth, and Porsche had the 911R on display for all to see, just ahead of the new 718 Boxster roadster. Enjoy the brief gallery of what was on display this past week, with some more to follow. Continue reading New York International Auto Show General Gallery →