Opinion: 5 Favorite Cars of 2015

December 31, 2015 ndubs77 4 Comments

Porsche Cayman GT4
Most of all, I love what the Cayman GT4 represents. It lets us enthusiasts know that Porsche hasn’t forgotten about us, and that they recognize the specific demand for GT cars with manual transmissions.

Sure it would be better with a shorter final drive ratio for shorter gearing and even quicker acceleration, but we’re splitting hairs. The car is phenomenal fun by all counts, and is in such hot demand that they immediately sold out. That says all that needs to be said. I’d take this over a paddle shift 911 GT3 / GT3 RS any day of the week.

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Mazda ND Miata
Mazda released the 4th generation Miata to some high acclaim. It features a variety of improvements over previous models, and it returns to about the same size and weight of the original Miata. It’s nice to know that cars can still get smaller and lighter in our modern times, when everything in the auto industry seems to be enlarging.

This is the best Miata yet in my opinion, and I’ll share more about why in a review article very soon. Be sure to check back!

Continue reading Opinion: 5 Favorite Cars of 2015 →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1970 Plymouth Superbird at the 2015 Concours of America at St John’s

December 30, 2015 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

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Feast your eyes on the king of Plymouth stock cars. Back in 1970, Plymouth was racing in NASCAR, and the Dodge Charger Daytona was winning big the previous season. Of course, they wanted in on all the fun, and the top brass was only more than happy to oblige, gifting them the Superbird. The nose cone, massive rear wing, and flush rear window all contributed to a massive aerodynamic advantage at the time–allowing these cars to break to nearly 200 MPH on the oval tracks of the day when equipped with the 426 Hemi. They were so dominant that NASCAR got sick of seeing Mother Mopar basically destroy everybody every Sunday afternoon, so 1971 brought in a rule change that forced Plymouth and Dodge to either ditch the aero body or ditch the Hemi–effectively dumping cold water on the party. Continue reading 1970 Plymouth Superbird at the 2015 Concours of America at St John’s →

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Nissan Hakosuka Skyline 2000 GT-R at Laguna Seca

December 29, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This JDM gem was lurking in the paddock at Laguna Seca. It is a 1971 Nissan Hakosuka Skyline 2000 GT-R, the great, great, great grand daddy of today’s R35 Nissan GTR.

These things are worth a pretty penny now, too. In fact, that same weekend another Hakosuka GT-R sold for $242,000 at auction in Monterey.

The Skyline 2000 GT-R is now a godfather figure amongst Japanese cars, and rightfully so given the lineage of groundbreaking cars it produced.

Enjoy the pics!

Continue reading Nissan Hakosuka Skyline 2000 GT-R at Laguna Seca →

Auto Idolatry, Opinions, SHOWCASE

Sir, is that a legal road vehicle? Roadkill: Talk to our lawyers…or maybe don’t.

December 28, 2015 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Roadkill is probably my favorite YouTube show at this point–and even when the post a video on Christmas Day, people still watch it. This time, they take the stock car that’s been hinted at for the entire series on-and-off (which their lawyers refused to let them put on the street for very obvious legal reasons), and make a “street legal” car out of it, by way of using a body with a VIN and a license plate, and dropping it on the chassis. They then take it to a dirt track–but I’m going to say no more so you, dear viewer, can find out what happens.

-Albert S. Davis

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Ferrari F355 Spider at Radnor Hunt

December 28, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This striking yellow Ferrari F355 Spider caught my eye in the car corral at Radnor Hunt. Still one of the best sounding V8 Ferraris around.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Uncategorized

Happy Holidays! Some Wonderful Sounds to Enjoy

December 25, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

We want to wish all of our readers a happy holiday season. Here is a compilation of some wonderful cars in action for you to enjoy. Turn your speakers up!

-Nick

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Alfa Giulia at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show

December 24, 2015 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

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The new Giulia is probably Alfa Romeo’s most important product launch of the past decade. Twenty years ago, Alfa left the American market, and for the first time, there’s hope that the brand is back and can compete on a mass-market level with this product. The Giulia shown at L.A. was the top of the line Quadrifoglio series, complete with a snarling V6 (they wouldn’t start it up for me, but we’ve heard it before on spy videos and it does sound great), six-speed manual, and stunning styling. I can’t wait to see this at dealerships, and I can give a full guarantee that I’ll do whatever is necessary to get behind the wheel of one when the chance arises. Until then, enjoy the photos–Alfa is back and they mean it. Continue reading Alfa Giulia at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show →

MoM Vlog, Opinions, Uncategorized

Why the 2016 Acura NSX is Too Expensive

Video December 23, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I think the new 2016 Acura NSX is overpriced by quite a fair margin, about $50,000 or so. While it is surely a great car on it’s own, getting people to actually write the check is a whole different matter.

Let’s take a look at why people buy a supercar, and why the NSX may have trouble fitting in.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

Sox and Martin 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Replica at Lead East, 2015

December 22, 2015 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

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Being at Lead East for the first time in 3 years was a great experience, even if I eventually ran out of steam and had a few issues getting good pictures thanks to the glare around the show. Luckily, that didn’t affect my chances of shooting this 1968 Plymouth Road Runner. Continue reading Sox and Martin 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Replica at Lead East, 2015 →

Auto Idolatry, Uncategorized

The History of Packard

December 21, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

Packard was one of the great American luxury car brands in the first half of the 1900s. Many would even dub Packard “the American Rolls Royce” because the two companies shared much in their ideological approach to building the highest quality automobile.

This is a bit of historical glamour for us all to lust over. It’ll have us wishing for Packard to make a comeback someday.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Chevrolet Nova spotted on the PA Turnpike

December 18, 2015 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

On our way home from Radnor, Nick and I were looking for anything interesting on the highway, and this old Nova turned up making quite an entrance. I’m a sucker for the compact Chevy from the late Sixties and early Seventies–because of their low weight, a built small block or most mild big blocks can turn a rather ho-hum little car into a terrifying little rocket of a car. This brown one packed a loud V8 and traction bars underneath the leaf springs, as well as some sweet torq-thrust wheels and nicely-done white letter tires–all in all, a clean looking old Nova packing some punch. I genuinely wish I saw more of these.

-Albert S. Davis