Tag Archives: American Cars

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1969 Plymouth Road Runner M-Code at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

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Plymouth Road Runner 440+6 Front Left

The Plymouth Road Runner was a legendary car in its own right. It launched in 1968 as a stripped out Belvedere with plenty of performance extras as standard equipment, an optional 426 Hemi V8, and a price low enough for a teenager to enjoy. In 1969, Plymouth improved the breed with a new front end, new taillights, new trunk trim, and new side marker lights.

However, halfway through the year, Plymouth decided to stop toying with the competition and dumped the 440-cubic inch V8 into the Road Runner coupe and hardtop. The M-Code package, as it was known for the VIN code, or the A12 package (on the fender tag), included the 440 V8 with a trio of two-barrel Holley carburetors and a bunch of go-faster goodies attached to the chassis. A Super Track Pack could be optioned alongside the 440 Six Pack to make this Mopar even more formidable on the street.

This engine also came with a sinister appearance package that added a flat black lift-off fiberglass hood with integrated scoop, hood pins, a set of black steel wheels with chrome lug nuts, and most of the brightwork deleted. This is probably one of the meanest looking muscled cars that Plymouth ever made and it happens to be a huge favorite of mine. Only 1,432 440 six barrel Road Runners left the factory in 1969, and this automatic-equipped one is a one-owner car that appeared at the Greenwich Concours earlier this month. So far, this is the first real 440+6 Road Runner I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1969 Plymouth Road Runner M-Code at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance →

Car Shows

Exotic Supercars of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

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Pagani Huayra at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Here are the exotic cars from the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. There was quite a spectacular display of some very rare supercars and hypercars on display this year, everything from the $1.9 million Pagani Huayra you see above, to a Ferrari Enzo, to the world-speed-record-setting Hennessey Venom GT, to Jim Glickenhaus’ P4/5 Competizione. It was surely a sight to be seen.

The Pagani Huayra really stood out, though. It spent both days of the show tucked away in the corner of Miller Motorcars’ display tent, but it was completely swamped with people the entire time. When it left the field, people literally lost their minds, jumping around in a reckless frenzy to try and snag the perfect shot of it.

Is easy to see why people go completely nuts over the Huayra when after a decade of grueling depravation for American car enthusiasts, it is the first Pagani to finally make it stateside. But the Huayra is also an exceptionally magnificent object, even by seven-figure supercar standards. Every aspect of the car seems so “full,” right down to the finest detail — nothing has been overlooked or under-thought.

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Car Shows

Pre-War Cars at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

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1935 Duesenberg SJ562 at Greenwich

“They don’t make them like this anymore…”

That is a phrase I must have heard uttered over a dozen times during the weekend of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance by people gazing at the magnificent pre-war automobiles on display. And they definitely don’t make cars like these anymore. In fact, most manufacturers of these majestic machines have long been defunct. The likes of Duesenberg, Packard, Minerva and Delage are all absent from the vocabulary of modern automobillia, and it’s a real shame because the cars they made were nicer (relatively) than even the top-of-the line Rolls Royce today.

In fact, as I’ve said before, Rolls Royce is really the only company from this era that still makes the same type of cars today as it did back then. Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz still exist, but have both moved their base of operation far down market. Yes, the pre-war era was a different time, when the automobile was a blank canvass for craftsmen to as they pleased. There was a lot of art-for-art-sake in these cars, and that’s something that is mostly absent from modern cars now that accountants and health and safety people run the show.

So the relative gray-scale of the cars we know today makes ogling over these pre-war gems an activity to be savored. I am really hoping for a renaissance of creativity in the auto industry, where the artistry will come back and add to all of the modern technology and design. The cookie-cutter designs of modern cars have gotten extremely old, and a design that aims to please anyone is also boring to everyone. So I’ve got my fingers crossed.

For now, though, just enjoy gazing at these incredible pre-war machines. The attention to detail, and the sheer craftsmanship is simply breathtaking to behold. Enjoy the cars!

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Car Shows

Classic American Muscle and Majesty at the Greenwich Concours

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Dodge Challenger RT 440 Convertible

These are the American classics and muscle cars that stood out for us at last weekend’s Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.

The rumble of many V8 engines ran thickly through the air as the award ceremony began. First the rare Shelby GT350 R came to life, then the furious Roadrunner fired its 440 six pack, all as they prepared to parade in front of excited show-goers. Muscle cars sure have a mighty amount of presence, you can feel it in your bones.

After the Muscles were flexed, we were treated to some 50’s metal in lively colors. Everything from the cliché pink Cadillac to a turquoise Chevy Impala paraded through the show, and I felt a sudden urge for a burger and a nice big milkshake.

Enjoy the photos of all this classic iron!

Continue reading Classic American Muscle and Majesty at the Greenwich Concours →

Cars We've Driven, Cheap Fun Cars

2014 Ford Fiesta ST Reviewed (9.5/10)

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Molten Orange Ford Fiesta ST Front View

There is a reason why cereal companies put toys in their cereal boxes. They know that kids don’t care what they eat, but they also know that little Jimmy won’t be leaving Wegman’s quietly until he gets his Iron Man action figure, and if his mom knows what’s good for her, she will pony up the cash for the cereal while her basic human dignity is still intact.

Of course, the kid will rip open the cereal box and dig out the action figure right away, but in the days after, he or she will be exposed to the cereal itself, the real product, and that will leave an impression that lasts long after Iron Man gets chewed up by the dog, and left in scattered bits around the yard. 

The same fundamental factor is of paramount importance in the world of hot hatchbacks. Let’s call it “tangible excitement,” something you can point to and say, “Wow that’s really cool! I want one of those!” 

Look at this Ford Fiesta ST and you will see what I mean. The basic Fiesta is a very good, but very boring economy car. Ford couldn’t just put a better engine and suspension in it and expect the ST version to sell. No, they knew it was important to put on a show. Give it an aggressive body kit, bright-colored paint with sweet Recaro racing seats, and put it out in front of the dealership for all to see. People will be pulling U-turns to come find out what it is, and if they can afford one.

Continue reading 2014 Ford Fiesta ST Reviewed (9.5/10) →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1949 Chrysler Town and Country at the New Hope Auto Show

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Chrysler TC Convertible Front Right Angle

In 1949, Chrysler redesigned their entire lineup for the first time since the end of World War II. The postwar era was officially in full swing, but the Town and Country would continue to sell for a few more years despite its existence as one of the last wood-bodied cars that the Big Three would sell. This was the second to last year for the Town and Country, and the sales proved that buyers weren’t swayed by its attractive wood panels since the price tag was rather high. In fact, only 993 convertibles were built last year.

List price for this car was $3,765 in 1949, which translates to a new price of just about 40 grand today. They’re worth far more than that–in fact, one sold at a Christie’s auction a few years ago for over $150,000. Someone was kind enough to bring one of these 1949 models to the New Hope Car Show last summer and I took some time out at the end of the show to photograph this green one, which is still the only 1949 model I’ve ever seen. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1949 Chrysler Town and Country at the New Hope Auto Show →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

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1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Front Left

Cadillac was pretty bold back in the 1950s. They started the craze with tail fins in 1947 and didn’t eliminate them until 1964, years after the competition. They had the mainstream luxury car market in the palm of their hands, with only Lincoln as a volume competitor (Imperial was there but sold in far fewer numbers at the time).  Even though the glory days were to fade in the future, they were still the “Standard of the World.”

They were also fully intent on capturing the ultra-luxury market in that decade by making an ultra-sumptuous sedan based off of the new Eldorado. The Eldorado Brougham was only produced until 1960 and was a genuinely expensive car when new–in fact, it cost over $13,000, more than twice the price of the Eldorado hardtop coupe and more than the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud at the time.  It had a number of never-before-seen features at the time for a General Motors product. They came fully loaded, with superb paint, interior equipment like a full set of shot glasses, tissue and cigarette dispenser (try finding one of those on a Rolls-Royce today), perfume, air conditioning, memory seats (ahead of its time in 1957), a stainless-steel finished roof, a choice of 40-plus interior colors, and a twin-quad V8. These were all hand-built–General Motors, unsurprisingly, lost money on every single one sold.

Despite the fact that it’s a Cadillac, the high price, rarity, and over-the-top equipment standard reminds me of the recently-departed Maybach.  Only 400 of these were built in 1957 and they are a very rare sight today. Seeing one is a thrill for a Fifties Cadillac nut like myself and I was not expecting to see one at a Concours, no less Amelia Island. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Review, Al’s Take (Grade: B)

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Out at Amelia Island, ride and drives last year were few and far between.  Luckily for me, SRT was there and proudly offering a few cars to test.  The Chrysler 300 SRT was available, but as most of our readers know, I tested that last summer and found it underwhelming.  On Nick’s persistent recommendation, I took the the other option they had, this Billet Silver Metallic Grand Cherokee and asked myself this question: What makes this better than the Chrysler, and what elements does this vehicle have that I want to see in others?  The surprisingly substantial drive I took allowed me to answer more than just those questions.
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Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Classic NYPD Patrol Vehicles at the New York International Auto Show

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Chevrolet Caprice NY Transit Police Car

Although this site tends to focus largely on performance cars, I feel that it’s time to give those who serve and protect a bit of time in the spotlight.  At the New York Auto Show last month, the NYC Police Museum was grateful enough to provide a collection of cars, along with some privately-owned police cars, to put on display in the back of the basement room during the week.  The quality of the cars gathered for the display was impressive, and all three of the Detroit Three were proudly represented, with examples of New York City’s finest chariots from the 1950s all the way up to 2014.  Here are some of my favorites from the display.  See the photos after the jump for a bit more information about each car featured.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Classic NYPD Patrol Vehicles at the New York International Auto Show →

Car Shows

Bucks County Exotics Meet 5/2/2014

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Rossion Q1 at Bucks County Exotics
This Rossion Q1 and Ferrari 458 Spider were just the tip of the iceberg of awesome cars at the meet.

We were in attendance for the Bucks County Exotics meet last Saturday morning. I had a bit of an unexpected late night the previous evening, so it took everything I could muster to climb out of bed and drive over to Doylestown, PA for the meet. It is a cars and coffee style event, and many great cars show up each time, everything from hot rods to classics to supercars. Bucks County is a great area to enjoy driving fun cars, with lots of winding back roads cutting through the woods, and lots of scenic destinations to visit. It also happens to be a pretty affluent area, so everything seems to add up nicely to make an event like the Bucks County Exotics car meet possible.

Enjoy the photos and captions!

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Cars We've Seen

Corvette, Baja Bug, Mustang, Kit Cobra spotted in Monterey, CA

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20130817-Pebble Beach 2013 Saturday 425-3

Towards the end of the day on the Saturday we were in Monterey, I was completely tired out.  Running on fumes, Nick went to go shoot a Ferrari Enzo and F50 outside the Monterey Marriott while I went to a nearby Subway to get a few drinks.  After recharging and ignoring the shooting pain in my left knee, I hobbled outside to the street corner and started taking pictures.  It didn’t take long for a few cars to show up.  Hit the pictures for more thoughts on each of these cars. The Baja Bug came first, then I quickly shot the red Mustang while that light was still red.  Once the light went green, I snapped the lime-green Cobra kit car crossing the street and the Corvette a moment later.  They certainly didn’t draw the crowds the Ferraris on the Marriott entrance were, but these four cars never once looked out of place.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Corvette, Baja Bug, Mustang, Kit Cobra spotted in Monterey, CA →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1935 Duesenberg SJ 509 Roadster at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours

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Deusenbergs are an example of a truly bygone era when cars were truly built to order. There is an air of royalty to the history of this particular car, although it’s not just in the styling. Barbara Hutton, heiress to the Woolworth fortune, ordered this SJ, but not for herself. She was married to Alexis Mdivani at the time and actually ordered this car for her brother-in-law, Serge Mdivani. The Mdivani family was the Georgian royal family, which fled their home country after the Soviets indvaded, and indeed married well. Hutton’s generosity was apparent in giving this gorgeous automobile to her brother-in-law, who passed away after a polo accident a short time later. This is one of the most unique Duesenbergs Id have seen in some time and the dark red finish looked great along the golf course amongst its rivals. In fact, this stunning convertible won Best in Class this year. I hope to see more of this car at various Concours events down the road. I doubt I’ll tire of it. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1935 Duesenberg SJ 509 Roadster at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours →