At some point, I’ll make my way out to Las Vegas and attend SEMA. I’m a sucker for any well-modified car, and SEMA has morphed into a showcase for not only aftermarket, but also for OEM folks to show off their best ways to mess with the showroom guys. Mike Finnegan shows us his favorites, then goes out for a shootout between a few awesome classic Datsun 240Zs.
This 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI is my dad’s daily driver, and despite us owning it for nearly 5 years now, I’ve yet to do a review on it until now. But with the advent of Dieselgate, which now affects our Touareg, I figured it was time.
In the video I review the Touareg, and how it’s been for our family over the years. Then, with that in mind, I give my take on Dieselgate and what we plan to do as things progress.
I wrote an article on Dieselgate earlier, before the V6 diesel models were affected, but now that our Touareg has been drawn into it, I wanted to do show my take on the full issue on video.
Enjoy!
Here are some pics of our VW Touareg TDI shot by our friend, Dan Valanzola:
-Nick Walker
I’ve featured quite a few Chargers here at Mind Over Motor over the years, but I think this one might be the best one I’ve seen over my life. In 1968, Dodge took their Charger fastback coupe and gave it exclusive Coke-bottle styling, a tunneled rear window and grille, hidden headlights, a flip-top gas cap (taken right from the racing circuit), and a mean bumblebee stripe down the back. This one’s packing the baddest engine on the block–the 426 Hemi. Continue reading 1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi at the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours
It’s Italian, it’s stylish, and it’s downright adorable!
The Fiat Jolly is Fun incarnate, a car that can turn a bad day into a great day, even if you just see it drive by. I love the whicker seats, the striped rag top, and the body colored steering wheel. You simply can’t avoid having a great time if you’re cruising around in one of these, and that makes it much more than “just a car.”
Of course the Italians would master the very essence of a beach car, and it’s hard to describe exactly how much I want to own a Fiat Jolly someday. I mean, just look at it.
Enjoy the pics!
-Nick Walker
Sir Stirling Moss will always be among the most revered racing drivers in history. His story is nothing short of miraculous. He danced with death every time he got in a car, and he’s lived to enjoy his golden years as a hero of the motoring community.
Moss experienced the greatest victory, unfathomable fame, the most beautiful women, the fastest cars, and the most treacherous of wrecks. And through everything he has always kept his hysterical sharp wit and uncompromising sense of class and sportsmanship.
His story is truly remarkable, and I had the honor of seeing Sir Stirling Moss speak a few years back at Lime Rock.
Enjoy his fascinating story!
-Nick
Check out that 4×4!
Yup, you know what it is. I know what it is. For anyone who was a huge fan of Back to the Future, this car is a massive treat. Back in 1985, Marty returns to his present day after getting his parents back together, and returns to a wealthy family instead of his old lower-middle-class status. Much to his surprise, he opens the garage door and the very 1985 Toyota SR5 4×4 extended cab he sees at a gas station at the beginning of the movie is sitting right in front of him. Toyota used this car in October to help launch the new Mirai (which was also accounted for at L.A. this year), and made a total of 3 custom Tacomas to mark the day when Marty shows up in 2015. It certainly doesn’t fly–but Toyota nailed the modern execution of the old mini-truck. Continue reading Back to the Future Toyota Tacoma Custom at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show
By far my favorite car at First Class Fitment this year, this S14 Nissan 240SX drift car is an epic trollmobile.
On the road, a drift car is a very anti-social thing. And nothing will top off the anger from a minivan full of traditional family values, as you fly past in a hail of tire smoke, like a little softcore Anime porn on the side of your car to make the kids ask awkward questions.
What’s more, this thing has an RB26DETT under the hood (Skyline GTR motor for those who don’t know). That means that in terms of 240SX drift cars, this thing is pretty much a god.
A solid build, topped with some hilarious character. This has to be one of my favorite modded cars I’ve ever seen, of any type. And how about that shift knob?
Enjoy the pics!
-Nick
Continue reading Softcore Anime Porno Nissan S14 Drift Car comes RB26 equipped
So, as all of you readers know, I was in Los Angeles during Thanksgiving week visiting my brother Matthew and his fiancee, Rachel. After a delicious meal of sushi that evening in Burbank, we started to notice a whole bunch of American hot rods (old and new) passing us by on the streets outside. It didn’t take long for my interest to become piqued by the sounds of pushrod V8s and high-lift cams, so my brother said, “Let’s go check it out after dinner.” Thankfully, my flight wasn’t slated to leave until midnight, so we went out to the scene over at the original Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, where the meet was going down.
Continue reading Muscle Cars at the Original Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, CA
This insanely clean 1999 Lamborghini Diablo SV showed up to the New Hope Auto Show on the back of a flatbed truck. Turned out the car was for sale, and had just had some extensive re-conditioning work done. In all likelihood, it may well be the cleanest Diablo on the market anywhere in the world right now.
Having said that, the guy selling it proclaimed to everyone “I’m going to sell this car today for $450,000”, and which point I started laughing. I asked him where he got that number from, and he told me that a Diablo GT had recently sold for $475,o00. The problem for him is this: Lamborghini only built 80 Diablo GTs in total, whereas there are a few hundred Diablo SVs out there. The seller kept saying “this is 1 of just 20 1999 SVs, and 1 of 3 1999 SVs that are red”… he was trying desperately hard to make the car sound more special that it was. I found that annoying considering the car is already so special in its own right without any bullshitting.
I told him I thought it was worth $300,000-350,000 at most, with a Diablo GT going for $475,000. Needless to say, I’m writing this post 4 months later, and this car is still listed for sale with a price of “No Price Available”, so clearly the market agrees with me. But hey, a car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it, and if he can find some sucker to spend that $450,000 on this car, then more power to him. I just don’t see that value for any informed buyer at this point.
Whatever the value of this Diablo is, though, it is still a magnificent machine, and the ~$100,000 that the seller spent on the restoration (likely the reason for the absurd price tag) has made it one of the most mint examples of a Diablo around.
It is a great car to buy, just at a much more reasonable price than the guy was asking that day. So if you’re interested, maybe let it sit there for a few more months and then go offer him $49,999 and a mule.
If you’re interested in possibly purchasing this car you can check it out here.
Enjoy the photos!
-Nick Walker
Continue reading Minty Fresh Lamborghini Diablo SV at the New Hope Auto Show
Words aren’t needed, just watch and listen for 7 minutes in heaven.
-Nick
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Over Thanksgiving weekend this year, I finally got to cash in my birthday present from last year–my brother Matt agreed to take me to the Los Angeles Auto Show if I’d come visit him. I decided that it would be foolish to say no–after all, I’d been going to the New York Auto Show for a decade and a half, and I’d never seen the show in Los Angeles. Sorry, New York crew–but the LA Auto Show is indeed better. It’s cleaner, the city doesn’t smell like a New Jersey sewer, there’s real parking (and they charge only twenty bucks, whereas New York charges whatever they darn well please), and there’s even some ride-and-drives (which I did only two, but will definitely drive one of those two cars again soon). Continue reading 2015 Los Angeles International Auto Show General Gallery
I know, I know, this isn’t cars, or even really motorcycles. But it’s damn cool!
Vintage Electric Bicycles makes exactly what their name says, and I was captivated by their creations when I saw this episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.
Essentially it’s an electric bicycle that goes 20-36 mph, but the company has given their products an unbelievable sense of style. Also, 36 mph is only do-able in “race mode” which “isn’t street legal”, but like all fun things, just get that option and run it on the road anyway.
I guarantee you’ll want one of these sweet bikes after you watch this video. And if you’ve got an extra $5,000 laying around, I’d say go for it.
Enjoy!
-Nick
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