Category Archives: Cars We’ve Seen

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

Ferrari Testarossa Spider spotted in Pebble Beach, CA

August 19, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

At Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week, the adage I tend to go by is “Expect the unexpected.” This is never more clear when I’m spotting cars with Nick around Carmel or in the Pebble Beach Golf Links complex itself, as was this particular case. While walking around the street and shooting cars, I spotted this unusual white Ferrari convertible trundling down the lane. It was too wide to be a 348, being a convertible, I thought to myself “There’s no way Ferrari ever did a Testarossa Spider.” Turns out, that’s only partially true–Ferrari did make one Spider from the factory as a test car, Pininfarina and a few other coach builders stepped into the void and created customer cars during the Testarossa’s run. As a result, we have this Testarossa Spider, which was rather unusual and most definitely got our attention. There will be much more from Pebble Beach in the coming days. Continue reading Ferrari Testarossa Spider spotted in Pebble Beach, CA →

Cars We've Seen

BMW i8 Spotted in Monterey, CA

August 15, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

We are currently out at Monterey Car Week having a blast. We know we’ve missed a few posts in the last couple days, but that’s because we have been quite busy gathering all sorts of fantastic content, so fear not friends!

Just so none of you feel neglected, here is a BMW i8 we saw out and about tonight. There has been a few of these things running around the Monterey area, and we’re hoping to do a more proper shoot of one before the weekend comes to a close.

We are seeing, and even driving, all kinds of awesome things out here, and we will be sharing it all with you in the coming weeks. Be excited!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Say hello to “Dodgezilla”, everyone, the monster of the River Edge Car Show.

August 12, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

I’m a sucker for the second-generation Dodge Charger. Produced for a scant three seasons, it’s a representation of the Charger at its very best–a bruising, but sexy muscle car with equal parts testosterone and paunch. It’s difficult to improve these cars…but the owner of this absolutely evil ’68 has managed to do it. With its dark green finish and matching interior, the lines were well-represented on the exterior, but the lack of a hood belies this car’s true intentions. The owner calls it “Dodgezilla”. I couldn’t agree more, especially in green. In the place of a small-block V8 typical to this particular car lies a stomping 440-cid V8, with twin carbs and a high rise intake below the enormous hood scoop. This is not a Dodge for the faint of heart. It may not be terrorizing Japanese workers and tearing down buildings, but it’s green and looks like it’s up to no good anyway. It’s not Godzilla. It’s Dodgezilla. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Say hello to “Dodgezilla”, everyone, the monster of the River Edge Car Show. →

Cars We've Seen

Ferrari 458 Speciale spotted in New Hope, PA

August 11, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

I spotted my first Ferrari 458 Speciale yesterday in New Hope, PA while walking back to my car from the New Hope Auto Show. The show this year was somewhat mediocre compared to last year, and many cars driving by, like this Speciale, actually topped many of the cars inside the show. I thought I’d have to wait until later this week out in Monterey to see one of these new Ferrari track monsters, but I was stoked to see this one appear out of nowhere on public roads. Gotta love it!

-Nick

Car Shows

McLaren P1 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

August 6, 2014 ndubs77 3 Comments

The new McLaren P1 hypercar is one of the most incredible machines ever sprung on four wheels. We got our first good look at a P1 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance this year, although we did catch a quick glimpse of one last year at Pebble Beach as well. This white one on display at Amelia Island stunned the crowds of show-goers with its unique styling that is quite different from the supercar norm.

You can view the McLaren P1 in action here, and also check out our footage of them unloading this P1 before the show. This was a great first taste of McLaren’s latest hypercar, and we hope to see more of the P1 when we venture out to Pebble Beach next week.

Enjoy the gallery!

Continue reading McLaren P1 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1957 Ford Thunderbird at the River Edge Car Show

August 5, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

The early Ford Thunderbird was a completely different animal to the four-seat tanks that followed it which launched the personal luxury coupe industry in 1958. The first three years of the Thunderbird were a small two-seat convertible that was aimed right at the Corvette. Why Ford ever changed it is beyond me, and my favorite example, the 1957 model, was right here for the taking at the 2014 River Edge Car Show. I was pleasantly surprised to see one in this gorgeous dusk rose color, despite the lack of a hardtop and the lack of the standard wheel covers. In fact, the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels with tri-star knockoff caps on the centers looked excellent in the cloudy July sky. As the sky cleared up, the metallic paint finish became a blinding source of simple beauty. Ford knocked one right out of the park in ’57 and then, despite making a more profitable model in 1958, ruined the potential of having a true Corvette competitor. As a result, the 55-57 Thunderbirds are worth a large amount of money, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1957 Ford Thunderbird at the River Edge Car Show →

Cars We've Seen

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesses Spotted in Carmel, CA

July 31, 2014 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Last year, while out at Monterey Car Week, we caught these three incredible Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesses outside the Quail Lodge. Because having 250mph wind in your hair is fun!

Continue reading Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesses Spotted in Carmel, CA →

Car Shows

1935 Duesenberg SJ562 at the Greenwich Concours

July 30, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This gorgeous 1935 Duesenberg SJ562 won Best In Show at day one of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance (Day one is American cars). Its two-tone mix of tan and very dark blue was breathtaking, and this was the first time that my own personal pick for Best In Show actually won in quite some time.

The Model J is what most people think about when they hear the name Duesenberg. These really were the standard of the automotive world at the time, and that’s why so many Duesenbergs are still in fine running condition to this day. Notice the lower headlights that turn with the front wheels, the leather-clad storage trunk on the back of the car, and the green-painted engine block of its powerful straight-8, all beautiful details on a car from this period.

This is American pre-war at its finest. Enjoy the photo gallery!

Continue reading 1935 Duesenberg SJ562 at the Greenwich Concours →

Cars We've Seen, SHOWCASE

1969 Ford Mustang Notchback spotted in Somerset, NJ

July 29, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

After a day at work in Somerset NJ, I went out with a few co-workers to relax and enjoy the beginning of the weekend at The Stage House just around the corner. While parking my car, I saw this orange Mustang backed into a prime parking spot right up front. As I was taking pictures, my manager, Martin, who purchased a Deep Impact Blue 2014 Mustang GT last year, met up with me and said “I parked and just had to go and look at this.” It’s pretty clear–the Mustang, especially those from the Sixties, are consistently crowd-pleasers. This one, with its flashy orange paint and black torque-thrust style wheels, looked fantastic. The interior looked rather original too and was pretty much unmolested save for a set of speakers and a new head unit. In all, this is a great example of a Mustang that someone can drive a bit more often with a good sound system and grippier tires for unexpected weather. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1969 Ford Mustang Notchback spotted in Somerset, NJ →

Car Shows

Slammed Audi Allroad at Waterfest 20

July 28, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This demonic-looking Audi Allroad demanded my attention at Waterfest 20 last week. Just something about it’s aura, and the fact that it was stanced just right (none of that froggy-look in the back). The Allroad comes standard with those fender flares, just begging to be filled with some nice wheels, so it seems a prime candidate to be slammed. That said, I haven’t personally seen too many slammed Allroads around, as they are pretty pricy, so this was really cool.

Enjoy the photos!

Continue reading Slammed Audi Allroad at Waterfest 20 →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at the 2014 Greenwich Concours

July 24, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

The year is 1959. Your boss has just reviewed your assessment on setting up a new development of suburban homes near a major interstate highway in small-town America. He’s very happy, closes his books, and gives you a 40% raise and promotes you to the head of your local developer office. As you walk outside to your four-year-old Buick sedan, you realize it’s time for a change. You’ve made it to the top of the heap in life, and you need a car to show your success. Only a Cadillac will do, and you’re determined to make a statement. So, you pick this one right off the showroom floor and show it to your wife and kids that night. Everyone is overjoyed at your success and they all love the new Coupe DeVille you’ve just bought.

Back in 1959, Cadillac was a true success symbol for most Americans. My great-grandfather had a few of them, and after my grandpa became a successful dentist in the 1970s, he bought one himself. The 1959 models are considered by many to be the most grandiose of the postwar Caddies, with the tallest fins ever fitted to an American car, stunning chrome and a set of colors some could only dream of seeing in the late Fifties. This particular 1959 model is a soft shade of pink with a white top, known as Persian Sand. This car is also equipped with an immaculate white interior and looked every single way of perfect. The ’59 always has been and always will be a crowd-pleaser car, and this one’s no different. Whether you fancy the chrome up front, the sky-high fins out back, or the hulking side profile, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy on the 1959 Cadillac, and there’s certainly enough space inside to carry every single one of them. This car, as Jerry Seinfeld said on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee not long ago about the ’58 Eldorado Seville, is “as thrilled with itself as you are.” I couldn’t agree more. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at the 2014 Greenwich Concours →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” at the Elegance at Hershey

July 23, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This is the “Mormon Meteor,” a one-off Duesenberg that set a world land speed record in 1935. Based on Duesenberg’s Model J chassis, it was commissioned by famed driver Ab Jenkins for the purpose of setting a land speed record. Much to the delight of his sponsors, who funded the build of the car, Jenkins set a speed record by averaging 135.47mph over a 24 hour period at the Bonneville Salt Flats in October of 1935. The record stood all the way until 1961, which is quite impressive considering the caliber of racing cars that came out between 1935 and then (Jaguar D-Type, Ferrari Testa Rossa, etc).

After setting the speed record, Jenkins made the necessary adjustments to the car for street use and drove it another 20,000 miles around his home area in Utah. This is a very significant automobile, and a real testament to the quality of Duesenberg’s engineering, because it was based on a production car, the Model J. Now obviously it wasn’t just a standard Model J with a body kit, no, it’s 420ci (6.9L) supercharged straight-8 engine was heavily tweaked to produce a massive 400hp, a huge amount of power for the day. Most road cars on sale today can’t even reach 135mph, let alone average that for a whole day, so the Duesenberg Mormon Meteor is really an engineering marvel. As pre-war automotive technology goes, this car might just be the pinnacle.

The Elegance at Hershey was my second encounter with the Mormon Meteor. It took best in show at Pebble Beach in 2007, which, incidentally, was my inaugural visit to the events of Monterey Car Week. Naturally, if it can win Pebble Beach, then it can win other concours events, and it did just that by taking best in show this year at The Elegance at Hershey. All Duesenbergs are special cars, certainly the pinnacle of their era, but the Mormon Meteor may well be the the king of them all. It is a mighty impressive, and very beautiful machine, with the craftsmanship and quality to withstand the ages.

I just hope my photos do it justice, enjoy!

Continue reading 1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” at the Elegance at Hershey →