Category Archives: Cars We’ve Seen

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

1951 Packard Patrician 400 at the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours

February 11, 2016 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

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!

Continue reading Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Blue Carbon at the Quail Lodge →

Cars We've Seen

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible spotted in Los Angeles, CA

Image February 9, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Having a sibling that lives in Los Angeles has been good for car spotting. That said, it’s rather unusual that the cars that he and my other brother usually send to me which work end up being Camaros. I’m not going to complain when it’s a blue ’67 convertible like this one. Matt sends me stuff like this all the time, and I always feel terrible turning him down–but this time, the photos were absolutely usable and of what I could work with, they did a good job at least getting the photos. It’s not a Stickercity Viper or a spy-shot Camaro, but this’ll do. Nice spot, Matt!

-Albert S. Davis

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!

Continue reading This 1971 Plymouth Hemicuda is a Mean Green Muscle Machine! →

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!

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

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

Continue reading Highlights from the 2016 Philadelphia Auto Show →

Cars We've Seen

1966 Chevrolet Biscayne spotted in Royal Oak, MI

February 2, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

While Shane, Nick, and I were illegally crossing Woodward Avenue (note to anyone in the area: Find a crosswalk, Woodward’s one of the busiest streets I’ve ever seen, more so even than Route 4 in Bergen County), I saw this 1966 Chevrolet rumbling up the road, only to pull into the car meet we were attending. I’m a sucker for 1966 full size Chevrolets, as this was the last year before GM went to a “fuselage” look wiht a smoother set of fenders and a much wider stance. The bulldog stance of the ’66, especially this one finished in Tuxedo Black with dog-dish hubcaps and little to no chrome garnish to be found, looks absolutely mean. The wide tires out back and evil exhaust note did little to keep me from thinking only “If I end up in Hell, this car will be my chariot.” Enjoy.

Cars We've Seen

Mercedes SLR McLaren Spotted at Radnor Hunt

February 1, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This slick black Mercedes SLR McLaren was turning heads in the Car Corral at the Radnor Hunt Concours.

-Nick

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!

Continue reading Functional Tumbler Batmobile at Festivals of Speed, Amelia Island →

Cars We've Seen

Lotus Esprit S3 Turbo spotted in Malvern, PA

January 28, 2016 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

In the parking lot, Nick and I spotted a clean example of one of the more obscure sports cars from the early 1980s–the Lotus Esprit Turbo S3. This car looked like it had been taken right out of the Bond film For Your Eyes Only, except not blown to pieces. Any Esprit from before the 1990s is a rare sight in the Northeast today, so this was quite a cool little cap-off to our coverage at Radnor Hunt, until we tried to get Nick’s Volkswagen to slide down the hill (which failed hilariously). Enjoy the image of this svelte, old-school British wedge.

-Albert S. Davis

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

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

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).