Category Archives: Cars We’ve Seen

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

Cars We've Seen

Classy, brashy 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz spotted in Pebble Beach, CA

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1960 Cadillac Front Right

The first day Nick and I were at Pebble Beach this year, we spent a lot of time relaxing at the Inn at Spanish Bay gawking at the cars coming in and the money rolling in. After walking around the RetroAuto collection (and grabbing a few golf balls for a co-worker), we left the Inn and headed for the auction tents. Right before getting in the car, I noticed an enormous American hunk of iron sitting next to it–this classy old Cadillac. The Eldorado Biarritz was the top-of-the-line Cadillac droptop in 1960 and stayed that way until 1964. This example is one of only 1,285 made in 1960 and one of only a few I’ve seen since we started this site. It’s a real treat to see someone driving a car as big, brash, and beautiful as this one, anywhere.

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Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1936 Chrysler Imperial C-10 Airflow at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

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Imperial Airflow Front

The Chrysler Airflow was the first time, and not the last time, that Chrysler Corporation would build something that was so ahead of its time aerodynamically that the design ended up being a sales failure despite its innovation. In the mid-1930s, automakers were not necessarily looking at aerodynamic styling outside of motorsports applications. Chrysler, however, decided that even without a big racing program in the Depression, that the theory of streamlining the panels on their new mainstream model, now called the Airflow, could be a success. They weren’t just wrong, they were far enough off the mark with the American public that the endeavor nearly killed the company by 1938, and the more traditionally-styled models were quickly pressed into service to bring sales back to normal levels. Not many Airflows sold thanks to the radical, streamlined styling (with influence by Orville Wright) and seeing one at a Concours event, while not unheard of, isn’t a common occurrence. This gold example at Radnor looked incredible, with only 60,000 miles since new. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1936 Chrysler Imperial C-10 Airflow at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Cars We've Seen

One Nasty Audi R8 Spotted In Carmel, CA

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Black Audi R8 Carmel

We spotted this sinister Audi R8 with some seriously bitchin’ wheels in the Fuel Run lineup when they came through Carmel. Such a great look!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Porsche 959 at the 2014 Scarsdale Concours

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Porsche 959 Front Angle

When anyone wants to find the origin of where modern supercars came from, the Porsche 959 is not just a great place to start looking. It is the only place to start looking. In 1985, when Porsche put the 959 on the market, most of its technical equipment wouldn’t have been out of place 25 years later. All-wheel drive, traction control, adjustable ride height, and twin-turbocharged propulsion were all on the standard features list, and almost all of those features can be found on today’s 911 in some way, shape, or form. It was a groundbreaking car not only for Porsche, but for the entire automobile industry–and it was so good that Porsche didn’t lend the NHTSA examples for crash testing, so the Reagan administration disallowed its legal sale in the United States. Luckily for us, it’s been 25 years since then, and the 959 is now fully legal on our shores without having to go through the Show and Display Act proceedings of years prior. Only 337 of these were made, and I’ve seen 3 or 4 of them since 2011, although this was the first one I’ve seen in silver in some time. In the sunlight of Scarsdale, NY, this 959’s time had come to shine for the public. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Porsche 959 at the 2014 Scarsdale Concours →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

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1959 Cadillac Series 62 Front

We’ve said this a few times here on Mind Over Motor that the 1959 Cadillac is an incredibly handsome machine, in so many words. Of course, we’re going to say more every time we see one. The convertible might be the best way to show off the ’59’s enormous features, such as the too-tall tailfins, ostentatious chrome, and sharp (both to the eye and to the skin) taillights. The Series 62, unlike the Eldorado Seville we featured a few months ago from Greenwich, is the base series of the Cadillac lineup for 1959 and continued in that role until 1965. This car has the tallest tailfins ever made, coupled with the perfect body style, a noticeable color combination, and a set of gorgeous wire wheels to go with the look. In 1959, no other car would do for an executive that wanted to buy American and get noticed at all times. A red Series 62 Convertible is not a car for those with low self-esteem, and that’s perfect for standing out at a Concours event. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Cars We've Seen

Ford GT Spotted in Carmel, CA

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Red Ford GT in Carmel Ford GT in Carmel California

Even amongst other exotic machines, the Ford GT is special. Ford did a fantastic job bringing the classic lines of the GT40 into the 21st century, and it really sets it apart on the street, even amongst droves of Ferraris and Lambos. Such is the epic automotive extravaganza that is Monterey Car Week!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon spotted in Carmel, CA

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Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon Front

When it comes to wagons, the faster they are, the more interesting they become. I was born into a wagon-owning family. It wasn’t so flashy, just a 1989 Pontiac 6000 in blue–but it was gone in a flash when a few lowlifes stole it in Jersey City. Since then, I’ve been a fan of station wagons, for their practicality and better handling characteristics (usually) than SUVs and crossovers. Mercedes-Benz’s slowest selling car happens to be the one you see here–the E63 AMG Wagon. This wagon packs a twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8, packing over 580 horsepower and all-wheel-drive standard. Last I checked, they don’t sell more than about a thousand per year of these, and with good reason–it’s a small market. That said, here at Mind Over Motor, we are glad they see the need for them. When this black one pulled up, Nick yelled to me from across the Ocean Avenue junction to turn around, and I found myself face to face with it. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon spotted in Carmel, CA →

Cars We've Seen

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Spotted in Carmel, CA

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Ferrari F12 in Carmel

We caught the ultimate Ferrari gran turismo running around the streets of Carmel, California during Monterey Car Week. This 730hp monster sounds unbelievable in person!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder spotted at Pebble Beach, CA

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Ferrari 365 GTS:4 Front Left

When walking around Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week, anything and everything is possible. This includes simply showing up at the Lodge to check in for the weekend and pick up some media passes, walking downstairs to check out the area, and finding ourselves face to face with one of the showstoppers of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ferrari’s 365 GTB/4 was the last front-engine, V12 flagship the company produced until the 550 Maranello launched in 1996, a full 20+ years after the end of the 365’s production. Both the hardtop and the convertible (pictured here) are some of the best examples of what the late Sixties had to offer the public in terms of pure exotic flash, and even today they are highly sought after. Only 122 Spyders were produced by Ferrari between 1971 and 1973, as compared to 1,024 berlinettas. Nick and I spent a long period of time just gaping at this little red number and the time felt well-spent. This was the first car we spotted in Pebble during our time there, and it was a terrific way to kick off the festivities. Enjoy the photos, and from both Nick and myself here at Mind Over Motor, we would like to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving holiday. Continue reading Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder spotted at Pebble Beach, CA →

Cars We've Seen

McLaren F1 Spotted in Monterey, CA

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McLaren F1 Monterey

One of our more insane spots out on the streets during Monterey Car Week this year was this immaculate white McLaren F1. A very rare car indeed, just 65 F1 road cars were produced, and this is one of only a handful fitted with the “High Downforce Kit.” There were not many white McLaren F1s built, and two of the three F1s we saw over the course of the week were white. The other white one was up for auction, where it failed to sell at a bid of $10.5 million. So taking a number like that into account, this is quite a good spot. One has to wonder, in the photo above, what is worth more money, the car or the building behind it?

Enjoy!

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Cars We've Seen

Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce spotted in Carmel, CA

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Alfa Romeo 1750GT Front Angle

Alfa Romeos are always welcome in the sun-kissed, blessed land of California. Carmel is full of fantastic cars, and this wasn’t the first Alfa I saw that caught my attention, the other being another Guila (a 1300 Junior Zagato just downhill from this intersection). This navy blue example was fighting for attention among Vipers, 458 Italias, 599s, and the odd Lamborghini Gallardo, but I don’t need a classic like this little number to fight–it had my attention immediately. The dark blue finish stood out starkly from the gray pavement and drab rental cars surrounding it during Monterey Car Week. The little lines and gorgeous headlights accentuate this particular car’s finish. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce spotted in Carmel, CA →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet at the Bonhams 2014 Quail Lodge Auction

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White Bonhams Ferrari Front Angle

White and Ferrari sometimes goes really well together, and other times doesn’t. Luckily for us all, this time, it goes incredibly well together. Clearly, it goes so well together, someone was willing to pay more than fifteen times as much my parents’ house’s worth in northern New Jersey for this magnificent convertible 250. Only 40 of the Series 1 Cabriolets were made, and this one, chassis 0759-GT, is the eighth one out of the factory and was featured at the Turin Auto Show in 1957. It made its way initially to Venezuela, but eventually was added to the Maranello Rosso collection (a feature at the Bonhams auction this year at The Quail) in 1991. The final sale price was a cool $6.9 million dollars–quite a sum for a non-California Spyder droptop 250, but a price well-paid. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet at the Bonhams 2014 Quail Lodge Auction →