In this video from the The Smoking Tire, Matt Farah does a brilliant comparison between the Lamborghini Countach and the current Lamborghini Aventador Roadster. It is interesting to see how a now timeless classic compares to the latest and greatest V12 Supercar.
Enjoy.
-Nick
This 1914 American Underslung 642 Roadster was my own personal pick for “best in show” at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey California. It just had that “wow” factor that took my breath away when I first saw it that day, and I still think it was one of the most beautiful cars on the field.
You might be asking yourself, right about now, “what the hell is an Underslung?” Incidentally, that was the same question I found myself asking that day. You see, these concours events are always a learning experience for me, as a member of the “millennial” generation. This is a car that was built when not my grandmother, but my great grandmother was just ten years old. Any memories of an Underslung, or any American automobile for that matter, are three generations back from me. Let’s think about that for a second, and consider just how special this Underslung is that it is still drop people’s jaws a century after it was created.
Continue reading 1914 American Underslung 642 Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
While Day 1 of the New Hope Classic Car Show was wrapping up, Nick and I were taking pictures of cars that were no longer surrounded by undesirable clutter. While he ran off to photograph a Ford Thunderbird, I saw this sleek black land yacht sitting out in the back of the lot, unnoticed. I certainly didn’t like how no one wanted to look at it, so I started taking pictures. This is a 1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar I, the final year of the model, which was a sportier version of the Olds 88 at the time. They were made for just two years, and I haven’t seen one since this point. In this sleek black paintjob, this big Olds packs a 425ci big block Oldsmobile V8 punch and a four-speed manual transmission, all wrapped up in a well-optioned interior for the era. Only 6,552 were sold for the 1965 model year, making this a fairly rare example of what Olds was selling in the 1960s. The fenders looked nice and straight, and the lines made the car look a bit smaller than it actually was from my perspective. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar I at the New Hope Car Show 2013
The general package of a sharp handling, all wheel drive sedan with a healthy 300 turbocharged horsepower is still surely a very, very good thing. As an object unto itself, the new 2015 Subaru WRX STI continues to offer a fun and engaging driving experience, as it always has. The problem for me, and much of the Subaru-loving community, is that the STI has been exactly the same for over ten years now– to the point where it has gotten boring, and boring is the worst crime a car such as this can commit.
I’ve owned my 2004 Subaru STi for over seven years, and I’ve never, even once, wanted to “upgrade” to any newer STI. This is because ever since 2004 Subaru’s focus has been on softening the STI, and not making it faster, more hardcore, or better in any meaningful way. In fact, values of 2004 STIs are starting to increase now because enthusiasts have recognized the 2004 as being the pinnacle, so far, of the STIs available to us here in America.
So when I say that the new STI does nothing for me when I look at it, that poses a major problem for Subaru. I remember the excitement my 2004 STi brought me when I first got it, and I know it still brings that sort of excitement today. Whether it’s the looks or the performance, the 2015 STI cannot even come close to the level that my STi was on when it first hit US shores back in 2004. While the 04 STi was slaying the Porsche 911s, BMW M3s, Ford Mustang Cobras, and Pontiac GTOs of its day, the new STI is barely capable of out running the current V6 Toyota Camry.
Despite the old car and the new car having exactly the same sort of performance, side by side, in competition with other cars of their respective eras, the new STI is not even half the car that the 2004 STi was, and that is the big problem.
Continue reading The 2015 Subaru STI is still not living up to its name
The Lamborghini 350GT is known by many as the first car to be sold bearing the Lamborghini name back in the Sixties. However, it wasn’t the first car the company built. That honor goes to the sleek green shape seen here. This is the Lamborghini 350GTV, a prototype that eventually became the basis for the 350GT. This car is the origin and the first use of the vaunted Lamborghini V12 engine that would later go on to power most of the lineup until today. The bodywork also contributed to the 350GT. It was featured at Pebble Beach this year in honor of Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary. I can honestly say that it doesn’t look too similar to any other Lambo I’ve seen, save for maybe the 350GT. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Presenting, the Lamborghini 350GTV
This is the mythical “replacement for displacement” that muscle car folks always talk about, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 that has milked 900hp out of just a 2.0L four-banger. It does with 50psi of boost from a massive turbocharger, and my oh my, will it give the driver a right old kick up the rear.
What’s more, this car is located in Panama, not a country most people would think of first when a 900hp Evo is mentioned. The Drive Network team made it down there again to shoot more awesome films for their Tuned series, hosted by Matt Farah.
Great video, great car and a surprisingly great place. Enjoy the video.
-Nick
What is it?
This is the original R-rated Volkswagen. After four generations of GTIs, VW decided that something more was needed to compete with the more serious performance cars of the world. Interestingly, the R32 was the first production car to feature a dual-clutch gearbox, although the US only received R32s equipped with manual transmissions. In total just 5000 mk4 Golf R32s were imported to US shores, making them one of the rarest cars in their range.
How’s the R32’s driving experience?
In short: fantastic, and a lot better that I had thought it would be. I’ve driven both of this car’s successors, the Mk5 R32 and the Mk6 Golf R, and I have to say that the Mk4 R32 has a certain something that its replacements do not.
Continue reading 2004 Volkswagen Mk4 Golf R32 Used Car Review
The 2014 North American International Auto Show has been going on this week in Detroit, and there have been a number of interesting car debuts. The internet is full of all the minute details, and plenty of long-winded coverage about cars that nobody has driven yet. I have seen the details, and sat through much of the coverage, and now I want to bring you my concise, informed take on the cars that have debuted at NAIAS 2014. So here it goes.
2015 Acura TLX:
Pretty much unsurprising, but it’s good Acura consolidated the TL and TSX into one model. They should throw the 370hp hybrid drivetrain from the RLX into this car and have a legitimate Audi S4 competitor.
2015 Audi A8:
What exactly is different again?
Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept:
The Allroad Shooting Brake could be an incredibly badass modern rally car for the road. 402hp and 479ft/lbs of torque are some serious figures, and the hybrid drivetrain could prove interesting in a car such as this. My guess, though, is that this will remain a concept.
Continue reading A quick take on the 2014 North American International Auto Show
I don’t like the phrase “lame-duck.” It implies a constantly negative connotation. I don’t like negative connotations when it comes to anything that’s orange, Italian, and far too loud. Despite that, the Gallardo, one of Lamborghini’s most successful models, is indeed on its way out. This particular orange Italian screamer was the third car of four that I drove in Las Vegas last summer and, thanks to the scorching temperatures, the one I was the most fearful of not being able to drive. Luckily, this Lamborghini stayed cool in the heat, while I roasted in the sunlight before taking the wheel. It didn’t disappoint.
Continue reading Test Driven: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Al’s Take (Grade: A)
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the only Porsche 911 based car to have ever won the infamous Le Mans 24hrs. It is a 1979 Porsche 935 K3 Coupe, and the king of the “whale tail” era of classic Porsche racing cars. Because of its significant achievement, many people consider this specific 935 K3 to be the most significant 911-based car of all time.
We caught this legendary Porsche 935 K3 Coupe at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The car was, of course, totally swamped during the show, but we, being the clever and relentless folks that we are, waited by the exit after the show had ended to get fantastic, unobstructed shots of most of the cars in the show. I am extremely happy with how this set of photos of this 935 K3 Coupe turned out, and what’s more, we got to snack on lots of leftover gourmet food while we shot our photos. We literally had our cake, ate it too, and got to be up close and personal with some of the most epic automobiles of all time. A great day this was, to be sure.
Continue reading Le Mans Winning Porsche 935 K3 Coupe at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
On our way back from the St. Michael’s Concours at the end of last September, Nick and I stumbled on a rather strange sight. We were stuck in traffic with traffic leaving Dover Speedway after a NASCAR race, and weren’t really paying much attention to the cars around us until this traffic light. What we initially thought was simply a pickup truck with a cover on the bed turned out to be something much more wacky. As we inched closer, we both realized that this must be the ultimate redneck chariot. Complete with a NASCAR-style spoiler, a set of roll-cage-like bars on the rear window, and a smorgasbord of sponsorship decals, this big Chevrolet limo might just be the classiest way to travel to and from a NASCAR event. I can’t say that I like it. I can’t say that I’d want it. But I can say that I sort of respect its insanity. Someone took the time and spent the cash to create what might be the most unique limousine I’ve ever seen. Props to the guys who thought this up.
Spotted by: Al and Nick
Toyota has stunned the entire automotive world at the 2014 North American International Auto Show with their new concept car, the Toyota FT-1. Car enthusiasts have immediately seen it as a sign that their prayers for a new Toyota Supra have been answered, and everyone seems to be going nuts with speculation.
The video from Motor Trend above gives us an inside glimpse at the design process of the Toyota FT-1 Concept. I must say, I think the FT-1 Concept is “take your breath away” gorgeous. It’s design is unmistakably Japanese, and extremely modern, but it definitely does make some nods back to Toyota’s past as well. Looking at the FT-1’s headlights, and the way they mesh with the larger design, I can’t help but feel that the FT-1 has a strikingly similar “look on its face” as the Mk4 Toyota Supra. Also, that rear wing, when it’s up, definitely evokes the shape Supra’s rear spoiler. As a design piece, the Toyota FT-1 is an absolute masterpiece, and I really hope they change nothing about it in production form.
Having said that, we can get as excited as we want to, but the fact remains that the Toyota FT-1 is really just a design study at this point. I speculated a while back about what the new Toyota Supra should be, and here in 2014, we’ve only come as far as an outrageous, sure to be watered down concept. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t love what I’m seeing from Toyota here, but all this means is that now they really cannot afford to drop the ball.
Continue reading Looking at the Toyota FT-1 Concept as the next Supra
Mind Over Motor 