What would you buy for the price of a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster? Well, this is what Al thinks of that.

August 7, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Nick’s gotten his posts up, so I’m going to show you what I think. Four and a half million dollars. I”m going to say that again. FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. I can’t even imagine that amount of cash fitting in a standard sized suitcase. The Veneno’s nice and all, and it is a tantalizing machine…but I can’t justify that price. It’s got the Aventador’s engine and a body kit (I know I’m oversimplifying things here). That’s enough for a house and a good number of very nice cars. However, this is about just cars, and the 24 cars listed below will do the trick perfectly for me. There’s a lot of overlap and a few of these cars are probably better off as trailer queens, but I plan on driving what I picked, whether it be to the grocery store, the track, or to work. There’s 24 cars here, and I’ve got a reason for choosing each of them. Here we go! Continue reading What would you buy for the price of a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster? Well, this is what Al thinks of that. →

Car Shows

McLaren P1 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

August 6, 2014 ndubs77 3 Comments

The new McLaren P1 hypercar is one of the most incredible machines ever sprung on four wheels. We got our first good look at a P1 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance this year, although we did catch a quick glimpse of one last year at Pebble Beach as well. This white one on display at Amelia Island stunned the crowds of show-goers with its unique styling that is quite different from the supercar norm.

You can view the McLaren P1 in action here, and also check out our footage of them unloading this P1 before the show. This was a great first taste of McLaren’s latest hypercar, and we hope to see more of the P1 when we venture out to Pebble Beach next week.

Enjoy the gallery!

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1957 Ford Thunderbird at the River Edge Car Show

August 5, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

The early Ford Thunderbird was a completely different animal to the four-seat tanks that followed it which launched the personal luxury coupe industry in 1958. The first three years of the Thunderbird were a small two-seat convertible that was aimed right at the Corvette. Why Ford ever changed it is beyond me, and my favorite example, the 1957 model, was right here for the taking at the 2014 River Edge Car Show. I was pleasantly surprised to see one in this gorgeous dusk rose color, despite the lack of a hardtop and the lack of the standard wheel covers. In fact, the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels with tri-star knockoff caps on the centers looked excellent in the cloudy July sky. As the sky cleared up, the metallic paint finish became a blinding source of simple beauty. Ford knocked one right out of the park in ’57 and then, despite making a more profitable model in 1958, ruined the potential of having a true Corvette competitor. As a result, the 55-57 Thunderbirds are worth a large amount of money, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1957 Ford Thunderbird at the River Edge Car Show →

Automotive Lifestyle, Car Games

What would you buy for the price of a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster?

August 4, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster is a spectacular machine to be sure. In addition to the fact that it looks like a space-fighter only 9 examples will ever be made, making it one of the most exotic cars on the planet. I guess that’s why Lamborghini wants a hefty $4.5 Million to snag one of these bad boys.

But is it really worth that kind of money? I mean, if we’re totally honest here, the Veneno Roadster is really just a slightly upgraded Aventador Roadster underneath. It doesn’t have a ton of fancy technology or an obscene amount of horsepower like many of today’s hypercars that cost only a fraction of the $4.5 Million. I mean an Aventador Roadster costs less than $600,000, even if you load it up with all the crap, so what you’re spending the extra $3.9 Million on is just a body kit… an epic, change your trousers sort of body kit, but a body kit nonetheless.

That got us thinking of a question: For $4.5 Million dollars, would you have the Veneno Roadster? Or would you have other things that add up to that amount? And if you’d choose to forgo the Veneno, just what could be had for the same amount of money?

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Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

2014 Infiniti Q60 IPL Convertible Reviewed (Grade: C)

August 1, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

When it comes to making a car more than the sum of its parts, luxury brands like Infiniti and Audi do a very strong job. The Q60, formerly known as the G37 Convertible, is one such example. Despite having been on the market since I got my driver’s license (which feels and is a long time ago at this point), they’re still selling it and people are still enjoying new ones as if they have had them for eons. The IPL model is supposed to be a hot version aimed at the older M3, which was the benchmark at the time. Nick and I both drove it, and I wrung it out around the streets of the Seventeen-Mile-Drive to find out what this svelte convertible was capable of. I got quite a few answers, some of which were expected, some of which were desired, and a few of which were not at all what I saw coming.

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Cars We've Seen

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesses Spotted in Carmel, CA

July 31, 2014 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Last year, while out at Monterey Car Week, we caught these three incredible Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesses outside the Quail Lodge. Because having 250mph wind in your hair is fun!

Continue reading Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesses Spotted in Carmel, CA →

Car Shows

1935 Duesenberg SJ562 at the Greenwich Concours

July 30, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This gorgeous 1935 Duesenberg SJ562 won Best In Show at day one of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance (Day one is American cars). Its two-tone mix of tan and very dark blue was breathtaking, and this was the first time that my own personal pick for Best In Show actually won in quite some time.

The Model J is what most people think about when they hear the name Duesenberg. These really were the standard of the automotive world at the time, and that’s why so many Duesenbergs are still in fine running condition to this day. Notice the lower headlights that turn with the front wheels, the leather-clad storage trunk on the back of the car, and the green-painted engine block of its powerful straight-8, all beautiful details on a car from this period.

This is American pre-war at its finest. Enjoy the photo gallery!

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Cars We've Seen, SHOWCASE

1969 Ford Mustang Notchback spotted in Somerset, NJ

July 29, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

After a day at work in Somerset NJ, I went out with a few co-workers to relax and enjoy the beginning of the weekend at The Stage House just around the corner. While parking my car, I saw this orange Mustang backed into a prime parking spot right up front. As I was taking pictures, my manager, Martin, who purchased a Deep Impact Blue 2014 Mustang GT last year, met up with me and said “I parked and just had to go and look at this.” It’s pretty clear–the Mustang, especially those from the Sixties, are consistently crowd-pleasers. This one, with its flashy orange paint and black torque-thrust style wheels, looked fantastic. The interior looked rather original too and was pretty much unmolested save for a set of speakers and a new head unit. In all, this is a great example of a Mustang that someone can drive a bit more often with a good sound system and grippier tires for unexpected weather. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1969 Ford Mustang Notchback spotted in Somerset, NJ →

Car Shows

Slammed Audi Allroad at Waterfest 20

July 28, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This demonic-looking Audi Allroad demanded my attention at Waterfest 20 last week. Just something about it’s aura, and the fact that it was stanced just right (none of that froggy-look in the back). The Allroad comes standard with those fender flares, just begging to be filled with some nice wheels, so it seems a prime candidate to be slammed. That said, I haven’t personally seen too many slammed Allroads around, as they are pretty pricy, so this was really cool.

Enjoy the photos!

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Cars We've Driven, Everyday Normal Cars, Exotic Supercars

Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid Reviewed (10/10)

July 25, 2014 ndubs77 4 Comments

Everyone, meet Porsche’s Prius! The new Panamera S E-Hybrid, like the Prius, is a 4-door hatchback, and it uses an electric motor to help out its gas engine in a similar way. Furthermore, the Panamera S E-Hybrid has shown in real world tests that it can top 50 mpg, also just like the Prius! Yes, the similarities between the two cars go surprisingly far, much further than most might expect, but they couldn’t be more different in their fundamental purpose.

The Toyota Prius is an economy car for people who want to spend as little money as possible on a car. The Panamera, on the other hand, is a high-end luxury machine for people who are comfortable writing a six figure check for a single car. You can buy four Toyota Priuses for the starting price of this Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, and that’s before adding any expensive options. However, playing Devil’s advocate, the Panamera does have nearly the horsepower of all four of those Priuses combined. The Panamera may cost as much as four Priuses, but you could also argue that it’s also four times the car.

I remember being amazed when Al Gore’s son got caught going 100mph in his Prius, not because of his behavior, but because he actually got a Prius to top 100mph. If he buys one of these Porsches, then maybe next time he can be pushing 170mph.

Okay, it’s time to acknowledge the elephant in the room here: The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid will not be competing for buyers with the Toyota Prius (sorry to disappoint). No, it will be going head-to-head against the almighty Tesla Model S, and Elon Musk’s trendy “King Innovator” brand image. It is a massive challenge, one that basically killed Fisker, but I think this Porsche is up to it, and I will explain why.

Continue reading Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid Reviewed (10/10) →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at the 2014 Greenwich Concours

July 24, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

The year is 1959. Your boss has just reviewed your assessment on setting up a new development of suburban homes near a major interstate highway in small-town America. He’s very happy, closes his books, and gives you a 40% raise and promotes you to the head of your local developer office. As you walk outside to your four-year-old Buick sedan, you realize it’s time for a change. You’ve made it to the top of the heap in life, and you need a car to show your success. Only a Cadillac will do, and you’re determined to make a statement. So, you pick this one right off the showroom floor and show it to your wife and kids that night. Everyone is overjoyed at your success and they all love the new Coupe DeVille you’ve just bought.

Back in 1959, Cadillac was a true success symbol for most Americans. My great-grandfather had a few of them, and after my grandpa became a successful dentist in the 1970s, he bought one himself. The 1959 models are considered by many to be the most grandiose of the postwar Caddies, with the tallest fins ever fitted to an American car, stunning chrome and a set of colors some could only dream of seeing in the late Fifties. This particular 1959 model is a soft shade of pink with a white top, known as Persian Sand. This car is also equipped with an immaculate white interior and looked every single way of perfect. The ’59 always has been and always will be a crowd-pleaser car, and this one’s no different. Whether you fancy the chrome up front, the sky-high fins out back, or the hulking side profile, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy on the 1959 Cadillac, and there’s certainly enough space inside to carry every single one of them. This car, as Jerry Seinfeld said on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee not long ago about the ’58 Eldorado Seville, is “as thrilled with itself as you are.” I couldn’t agree more. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at the 2014 Greenwich Concours →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” at the Elegance at Hershey

July 23, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This is the “Mormon Meteor,” a one-off Duesenberg that set a world land speed record in 1935. Based on Duesenberg’s Model J chassis, it was commissioned by famed driver Ab Jenkins for the purpose of setting a land speed record. Much to the delight of his sponsors, who funded the build of the car, Jenkins set a speed record by averaging 135.47mph over a 24 hour period at the Bonneville Salt Flats in October of 1935. The record stood all the way until 1961, which is quite impressive considering the caliber of racing cars that came out between 1935 and then (Jaguar D-Type, Ferrari Testa Rossa, etc).

After setting the speed record, Jenkins made the necessary adjustments to the car for street use and drove it another 20,000 miles around his home area in Utah. This is a very significant automobile, and a real testament to the quality of Duesenberg’s engineering, because it was based on a production car, the Model J. Now obviously it wasn’t just a standard Model J with a body kit, no, it’s 420ci (6.9L) supercharged straight-8 engine was heavily tweaked to produce a massive 400hp, a huge amount of power for the day. Most road cars on sale today can’t even reach 135mph, let alone average that for a whole day, so the Duesenberg Mormon Meteor is really an engineering marvel. As pre-war automotive technology goes, this car might just be the pinnacle.

The Elegance at Hershey was my second encounter with the Mormon Meteor. It took best in show at Pebble Beach in 2007, which, incidentally, was my inaugural visit to the events of Monterey Car Week. Naturally, if it can win Pebble Beach, then it can win other concours events, and it did just that by taking best in show this year at The Elegance at Hershey. All Duesenbergs are special cars, certainly the pinnacle of their era, but the Mormon Meteor may well be the the king of them all. It is a mighty impressive, and very beautiful machine, with the craftsmanship and quality to withstand the ages.

I just hope my photos do it justice, enjoy!

Continue reading 1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” at the Elegance at Hershey →