Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29

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The Cord L-29 was a revolutionary automobile for its time.  It’s one of the first cars to ever be assembled with front-wheel-drive, but uses a longitudinal engine layout, unlike every FWD car sold in America today.  The car had a 137.5″ wheelbase and the steering took 4 turns from lock-to-lock, but reports came in at the time that it was actually a very good handler.  It had inboard brakes, De Dion drive system, and and full instrumentation (including an ammeter).  In its day, it was a shock to the system.
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Car Shows

2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 1

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Chevrolet Corvettes
Chevrolet Corvettes

Shots from day 1 of the 2013 New Hope Auto Show. Saturday is always mostly American cars, and an eclectic array of muscle cars and classics were in attendance this year. Enjoy the photos.

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Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck

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The late 1970s were a bleak time for America.  The country was stuck with a bad case of stagflation, there was rife conflict in the Middle East as the shah of Iran was losing his grip on his country, and if you wanted anything fast and American, you were either wrenching on an older car, or looking longingly at the used car lots for a Hemi Challenger that wasn’t beat to within an inch of its life.  This, however, didn’t stop Dodge from trying to bring the magic back. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck →

Car Shows

Amelia Island Festivals of Speed: Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport

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Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport

This stunning Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport was at the Amelia Island Festivals of Speed event back in March. Being arguably the most popular car in the world, people were constantly crowded around the car, so getting these shots took some patience.

I love the Veyron as a technological marvel, but I have been critical of it in other ways. Being the fastest car in the world, among other things, the Bugatti is basically the Guiness Book Of World Records on wheels. Consequently, the Veyron is rather cliche in my opinion, however, that is the fault of people, not of the car in any way.

As an object the Veyron is breath taking. There are many cars that sell for seven figures these days, but not many of them actually cost seven figures to produce. Volkswagen actually takes a loss on every Bugatti they sell, and the sheer solidarity of the car’s build is apparent when perusing its details. This car’s red and black finish gave it a stark appearance out on the golf course, and would you just look at those wheels, clearly machined from a single piece of metal. All of this is, of course, on top of the Veyron Grand Sport’s 1001hp quad-turbo W16 engine and 253mph top speed — but of course you already knew those.

Despite my criticisms, seeing a Veyron in the right setting is a very special experience. The last one I saw was crammed into the New York Auto Show, and I barely gave it a second glance, but this Veyron Grand Sport was surrounded by the immense beauty of Amelia Island. Snapping a few shots was a must here, and I hope you enjoy them.

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Petersen Automotive Museum

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On June 30, I flew to California to meet with my brother, Matt.  He was kind enough, after a gut-busting BBQ lunch in Hollywood, to take me over to the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Here’s some highlights from the floor.  Some of the notable cars in the building include a selection of cars that have become legendary in their own right, including a Bugatti EB110, Steven McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS, and many other unique and gorgeous cars.  Enjoy the gallery.

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Car Shows

2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy

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Green 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy

The Ferrari 275 GTB is my favorite variant of classic Ferrari road car. the 250 cars were obviously fantastic, but with the 275 I feel like Ferrari road cars were starting to truly come into their own. Keep in mind that Enzo Ferrari didn’t really care for road cars, and only saw them as a means to fund his racing efforts. In my opinion, the 275 GTB stands as the true precursor to the Ferrari Grand Touring cars we know and love today. The likes of the current F12 Berlinetta, all the way back through the 599, Maranello and 365 Daytona can all trace their lineage as road-specific GT cars back to the 275.

The car you see here is a series two coupe with a two-cam V12. The four-cam version of Ferrari’s 3.3L Colombo V12 would come out in 1966 in the 275 GTB/4. The two-cam V12 made around 280hp compared to the four-cam’s 300hp, but either 275’s performance is still impressive today, capable of speeds in excess of 160mph.

This particular car, fitted with an alloy body, caught my eye among the three or four other 275 GTBs at this year’s 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. The reason was its stunning and uncommon color scheme. The stereotypical Ferrari is red with a tan interior, whereas this 275 was a gorgeous teal-green with red leather inside. It just took my breath away.

I really love when cars are adorned in uncommon colors because it makes them more interesting to look at. Seeing my favorite type of classic Ferrari in such an uncommon specification really made this year’s Greenwich Concours that much more special. I hope you all enjoy this car as much as I do.

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Ferrari 458 Italia (10/10)

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Ferrari 458 Italia at Exotics Racing
Ferrari 458 Italia at Exotics Racing

The pursuit of perfection is a perilous road, but it is a way of life at Ferrari. Some of the greatest cars of all time have come through that famous red gate at Maranello, each new model a further refinement from the last. There have, of course, been mistakes over the years, but all are lessons well learned. No matter what sort of cars you may prefer, there is no denying that it is Ferrari who sets the bar for the supercar standard. That is why every time a new car comes out of Maranello, everyone else is immediately gunning for it, adjusting their own lineups as needed.

The 458 Italia may in fact be the most challenged Ferrari model in recent memory. Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes, and, of course, McLaren all seemed to respond immediately to the Italia’s launch with new models, all aimed to take some of the wind out of its sails. While their efforts have certainly yielded some fantastic cars, the 458 still wound up being “the car to have” among the world’s elite — most of whom can afford multiple such cars anyway.

So what is it about the 458 that is so enticing? There are plenty of awesome cars out there to choose from, why is it that the prancing horse always seems to be galloping ahead?

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CARS 101, Opinions

Cars 101: How to live the “Low Life”

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Slammed Honda Accord Coupe
Slammed Honda Accord Coupe by Dan Valanzola

Have you ever been so stoned that you wondered, “Hey, what if my car… and the ground… were the same thing?”

Evidently, someone asked that very question at some point, and the stance craze was born. Slammed cars have all but replaced ricers as the automotive fad of choice, and now everyone wants to be “Hella Flush” in their mom’s Jetta.

It is a movement based entirely around vanity, compromising practical functionality in the name of style and form. There comes with it a rebellious undertone, projecting a level of pride in deviating from the automotive norm. Most people won’t “get it”, and that is the whole point.

So how does one go about conforming to the non-conformity of the Stance Movement? There is a lot more to it than just lowering your car, although that is an inevitability that you might as well just get out of the way. As said by Stance Works, “Low is a lifestyle”, so you’ve gotta really love it to live it low, bro.

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CARS 101, Motorsport

Oh The Motoring Irony!

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How much longer will this be a familiar sight?

It goes without saying that Audi owns Le Mans; both figuratively and sort of literally.  The eleven overall victories certainly cement the figurative bit and the constant ‘Quattro’ this and ‘Quattro’ that plastered everywhere seem pretty literal if you were to ask me.

So it came to little surprise to me when Porsche unveiled their new 2014 LMP1 racer a mere week before the 2013 Le Mans race.  The motorsport world had been fast approaching what was seeming to be (and was) yet another overall victory for Audi on the La Sarthe circuit, and Porsche wanted everyone watching to remember that in one year they would be returning to the track to defend their honor (and their sixteen overall victories).

However, while watching a portion of the 1998 Le Mans race on YouTube, I had a revelation of just how ironic this impending on-track battle between the two marques actually is.  Yes, you read that correctly, ironic is the perfect word to use to describe the 2014 24 Heures du Mans.

So, we start the beginning of this ironic, frighteningly Star Wars-like (more on that later) story with the Audi RS2 Avant.  In the early 1990s, Audi engineers decided that they wanted to mix their expertise in building sensible cars with a bit of eye-popping performance.

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Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton

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1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton

This beautiful Auburn 851 SC Phaeton was at the recent 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.  The 851 came about when Cord, who owned Auburn at the time, was looking to make an effective car for the times, which had changed. America was now caught in the midst of The Great Depression, and V12 luxury cars were no longer the best idea.

The 851 was a more downmarket model than previous Auburns, though very much still a luxury car. While most people think of the famous Boattail Speedster when they hear the name Auburn, this 851 SC Phaeton was aimed more at clients with families. The car you see here is equipped with Auburn’s supercharged inline-eight cylinder engine, producing 150hp. That was a lot of power at the time, and an 851 Speedster with the same engine set a record, averaging over 100mph for a 12 hour long run. Auburn sold around 5000 851s in 1935, but sales dropped sharply in 1936. It was at that point that Cord decided to end Auburn production altogether.

This 851 SC Phaeton caught my eye because of its  immaculate appointments. Its beautiful two-tone blue exterior sits strikingly over its read leather interior, and the detail work all around the car is incredible. I tried to capture as much of it as I could through the lens of my camera. Enjoy.

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Opinions

Thoughts on the 2014 BMW i3

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2014 BMW i3

Just yesterday I was telling a friend of mine how I thought the Tesla Model S was currently the only truly viable electric car on the market. Less than 24hrs after that conversation it would seem things have changed. BMW dropped the details on their production ready i3 city car today, and it looks mighty promising in many respects. That said, it also raises a few questions for me.

The basic details of the i3 are as follows:

  • Pricing starts around $41k — before any government discounts
  • Range is said to be 80-100 miles per charge
  • A full charge takes only 3 hours, or just 30 minutes with the optional SAE DC Combo Fast Charger
  • A 650cc range extending gas motor is available as an option
  • 170hp and 184ft/lbs of torque go to the rear wheels — from zero rpm
  • Performance: 0-30 in 3.5sec, 0-60 in 7sec, and a top speed of 93mph
  • The chassis is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic monocoque, a mass production first, which helps keep the weight down to around 2700lbs.

Looking at the details I see a few things that stand out…

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Car Shows

2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale

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Alfa Romeo TZ3

This Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale is one of just nine in the world. It is based on the Dodge Viper ACR-X, and shares the same 640hp 8.4L V10 engine. The TZ3 was built to commemorate Fiat Group’s purchase of Chrysler after the onset of the recent economic crisis.

In attendance for the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, this is the second TZ3 Stradale that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. It’s appearance is beyond striking, especially in this sky blue color. A Viper is a phenomenal performance machine, and now, with the addition of some Italian bodywork, it may well be one of the sweetest cars on Earth in the form of this Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale.

Enjoy the photos.

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