Cool and interesting cars that caught our eye either at shows or on the street.
The weather was gorgeous the other day, so I decided to go cruise around for a bit. I went through Newtown because there is usually an exotic or two to be found there on such days. Sure enough, I find this amazing Ferrari F430 Scuderia parked in front of one of the most expensive restaurants in town. Enjoy the pics.
Continue reading Spotted! Ferrari F430 Scuderia, Newtown, PA
While on the way home from the tuner meet on Sunday, I noticed a red Porsche at a gas station. At first glance it was just a bright red 911, but then I noticed the vents on the bumper….. this was no 911, this was a 959! I quickly pulled into the gas station and snapped this pic. The owner was very nice, and was surprised that I knew it was a 959. This is quite a rare car, with only around 337 being built worldwide. I have seen this particular car before at shows in the area, but it was quite a thrill to catch it out in the wild.
-Nick
I attended the 2013 Tristate Tuners Spring Meet this past weekend. There were cars of all sorts present, but stance definitely ruled the show. Slammed cars of all sorts came out, but like every show I go to I shot whatever managed to catch my eye in the crowd. The show filled up an entire airstrip in Warminster, PA, and there was probably over a thousand cars in total. There was of course a big traffic jam when everyone decided to leave, but things are always entertaining when you get a bunch of tuner cars together. Enjoy the pics.
The Tipo C 8C35 was one of the great Alfa Romeo racing cars that saw action under Scuderia Ferrari. This was before Enzo Ferrari had gone and started his own company, at the point in his life where he was making the transition from aspiring racing driver to successful team manager. Ferrari was always a fairly mediocre driver, but as a manager he became the legend we know him as today. It was awesome to see this Tipo C in action at the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival. It absolutely decimated its field of competition, doing its heritage proud. Enjoy the gallery.
Continue reading Lime Rock Historic Festival: 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C35
Ferrari had their new F12 Berlinetta on display at the Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance. This was my first encounter with an F12 in person, and I must say it is gorgeous. The V12 grand tourers have always been my favorite Ferraris, yes even more than the hypercars. The F12 certainly did not disappoint with its first impression. Enjoy.
Continue reading Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
It would be a great mistake to think this Delahaye is some ordinary combination of red and black. Look a little closer and you will see a brilliant duet of raspberry and grey, accented by chrome and some of the most finely crafted wood I have ever seen on a car. I had already been through most of the show at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance, but this stunning Delahaye 135 M Competition left me speachless when I found it. I saw one unbelievable car after another that day, but this was definitely my own personal “best of show”. I am a huge fan of French cars from the Art Deco era, but Delahayes hold a special place for me. The richness of flavor, the swoopy designs, it all embodies exactly what I want in a car like this, and this particular 135 M is one of the finest examples I’ve ever seen. Enjoy the photo gallery of this magnificent work of art.
Continue reading Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance: 1937 Delahaye 135 M Competition
Underneath its unique Zagato body, this is an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport racing car. The 6C 1750 Zagato Aprile is a one-off, and was built to its current form by its second owner, Guiseppe Aprile, after it was damaged. It was hidden during Word War II by its third owner, and kept locked away in for 50 years in the private collection of its fourth owner. It sits today in the hands of its fifth owner, who had it restored to its current glory, the way Guiseppe Aprile made it.
I was privileged to see this car in person at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance. It was a showstopper for sure, as many Alfa Romeos from this era are. Enjoy the gallery.
Continue reading Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance: 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Zagato Aprile
These are a few random shots I took outside of actual events during the recent Concours Weekend on Amelia Island. As usual at events like these, there are all sorts of interesting things to be seen zooming around on the roads, or even in the skies. Enjoy.
I am generally a fan of anything with the Zagato name on it, but I have a special love for the Aston Martin DB AR1. It is probably my favorite modern Aston because it has such depth to its appeal. Obviously the stunning, absolutely gorgeous Zagato bodywork counts for a lot, but that is just the beginning. The DB AR1 is also a barchetta style roadster, with no roof at all. That means that you have to drive it the way it was meant to be experienced, with the wind in your hair and the thunder of that 6.0L V12 bouncing back to your ears off the trees. Speaking of its V12, which certainly makes a proper sound for an Aston Martin, it sends 435hp to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox. That may not sound like much by modern standards, but remember that Astons are about the total experience, not all out performance. 435hp is still quite a lot to play with, and the fact that the DB AR1 is a modern Aston with a clutch pedal means that it will offer the optimum amount of fun on those sunny occasions when you take it for a spin.
Now factor in the rarity. Just 99 DB AR1s were built, all for the US market. What you wind up with, in my opinion, is one of the most desirable modern Aston Martins yet made. It is a car that offers a profound experience, and that is really what you’re paying for in a car like this. I was blessed with the chance to shoot this DB AR1 this past Fall at the Scarsdale Concours d’ Elegance in New York. I took a quick look online and found two DB AR1s currently for sale, both with delivery miles in the range of $170-200k. That begs the question, would you buy a newer DB9, DBS, or Vantage, or would you have one of these? I’d go with the DB AR1 for sure.
Continue reading Scarsdale Concours d’ Elegance: Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato
Designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, the SSK was Mercedes’ racing powerhouse from 1928 to 1932, winning a long list of significant victories, including the 1931 Mille Miglia in the hands of legendary driver Rudolf Caracciola. It also broke the pace record for the Mille Miglia at the time with an average speed of 62mph(101km/h). The SSK was seriously fast, in fact it was the fastest car of its time. Its top speed was 120mph (~190km/h), and the performance from its 7.1L straight 6 engine is still decently impressive by today’s standards. The key was its supercharger, which engaged via a clutch when full throttle was used. This design gave the power when it was needed (especially at higher altitudes, where air is thinner), but also helped keep the car reliable by not having the blower stressing the engine all the time. From what I’ve read, around 170hp was available before the supercharger engaged, and 225hp hit when the boost came on. I have also seen some reports of SSKs making as much as 300hp, so maybe in different specifications were used for different races. The car also had a massive amount of torque, with as much as 500ft/lbs available on those highest spec’d cars. Keep in mind, all of this performance is in a car with 1920’s technology, so tires, brakes, suspension, etc were all nowhere near the level of a normal modern car, and the SSK weighed nearly two tons. Racing back then took some serious bravery.
The SSK you see here was on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, during my trip to Europe last year. Regrettably, I don’t have too many details on this specific SSK because I was so focused on taking photos that day that I didn’t bother reading the signs. I do know there were only 30-35 SSks built, so it is very rare, and definitely worth a few million dollars.
I love looking at early racing cars because there is so much crude genius. All of the performance aspects of a modern car had to be developed, usually through trial and error, and driven by competitive spirit. The SSK was the pinnacle of automotive technology in the late 1920s, and it marks a significant moment in racing, as well as in the development of the automobile itself. Enjoy the pics.
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Museum: Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK
The McLaren F1 is a legend among legends. Even at an event like the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance, where legendary cars are all around you, the F1 leaves a strong impression. It was the fastest production car in the world for more than a decade, and still holds the top speed record for a car without forced induction. On top of that record, the racing version, the F1 GTR, was extremely successful, and even won the Le Mans 24hrs outright in 1995. Gordon Murry’s brilliant, compact design is still quite ingenious by modern standards. With its 3 seat (center driver) layout, and dual storage compartments aft of the doors, the McLaren F1 remains far more practical than most modern supercars.
There hasn’t been anything quite like the F1 since it’s day. Of all the cars that have claimed to be an “Formula One car for the road”, the McLaren probably offered the closest experience to a Grand Prix car of its time. It is a true driver’s car, with no traction/stability control helping you to manage its 6.1L BMW V12. A mighty 627hp is sent to the rear wheels, and the car weighs just 2425lbs. The F1 is a car to be driven, not merely seen in, so Hollywood poseurs need not apply (Go get a Bugatti like everyone else).
This is only the fourth McLaren F1 I have had the pleasure to see in person. Its legendary status has surely grown over time, and will continue to grow as only 106 examples (road cars and race cars) were ever built. The F1 was the first car to cost over one million dollars brand new, and now it is worth three or four times that much. It’s value likely will only continue to appreciate, because it has a historical significance adding to its objective value as an incredible performance machine. Enjoy the gallery, and think to yourself, “Maybe one day…..”
Continue reading Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance: McLaren F1
Another great car that the rest of the world gets to enjoy while America does not. The Ford Focus RS is the hottest hatch Ford makes, with a massive 300hp and 324ft/lbs of torque going to its front wheels. While I definitely think this car would have been much better if it had been all wheel drive, there is no denying that once the front wheels do stop spinning, it will take off like a bandit. Supposedly, Ford will be bringing the next Focus RS Stateside in 2015, but for now the RS is still a privilege the rest of the world gets to enjoy. I saw a few of them during my trip to Europe last year, but this is the only decent shot of one that I was able to get. I like the blue on this car a lot. It’s a tad more subdued than the RS’s famous bright green. Enjoy.
-Nick Walker
Mind Over Motor 