Drive’s Chris Harris pits the new Chevrolet C7 Corvette against the Porsche 911 (991) Carrera S. The Corvette and the 911 have had quite a heated rivalry in the US over the years, but now you can almost buy two Corvettes for the Price of one 911 with all the options you’d want. So the question at this point is, are they even rivals anymore?
-Nick
This 1914 American Underslung 642 Roadster was my own personal pick for “best in show” at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey California. It just had that “wow” factor that took my breath away when I first saw it that day, and I still think it was one of the most beautiful cars on the field.
You might be asking yourself, right about now, “what the hell is an Underslung?” Incidentally, that was the same question I found myself asking that day. You see, these concours events are always a learning experience for me, as a member of the “millennial” generation. This is a car that was built when not my grandmother, but my great grandmother was just ten years old. Any memories of an Underslung, or any American automobile for that matter, are three generations back from me. Let’s think about that for a second, and consider just how special this Underslung is that it is still drop people’s jaws a century after it was created.
Continue reading 1914 American Underslung 642 Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
The 2014 North American International Auto Show has been going on this week in Detroit, and there have been a number of interesting car debuts. The internet is full of all the minute details, and plenty of long-winded coverage about cars that nobody has driven yet. I have seen the details, and sat through much of the coverage, and now I want to bring you my concise, informed take on the cars that have debuted at NAIAS 2014. So here it goes.
2015 Acura TLX:
Pretty much unsurprising, but it’s good Acura consolidated the TL and TSX into one model. They should throw the 370hp hybrid drivetrain from the RLX into this car and have a legitimate Audi S4 competitor.
2015 Audi A8:
What exactly is different again?
Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept:
The Allroad Shooting Brake could be an incredibly badass modern rally car for the road. 402hp and 479ft/lbs of torque are some serious figures, and the hybrid drivetrain could prove interesting in a car such as this. My guess, though, is that this will remain a concept.
Continue reading A quick take on the 2014 North American International Auto Show
On our way back from the St. Michael’s Concours at the end of last September, Nick and I stumbled on a rather strange sight. We were stuck in traffic with traffic leaving Dover Speedway after a NASCAR race, and weren’t really paying much attention to the cars around us until this traffic light. What we initially thought was simply a pickup truck with a cover on the bed turned out to be something much more wacky. As we inched closer, we both realized that this must be the ultimate redneck chariot. Complete with a NASCAR-style spoiler, a set of roll-cage-like bars on the rear window, and a smorgasbord of sponsorship decals, this big Chevrolet limo might just be the classiest way to travel to and from a NASCAR event. I can’t say that I like it. I can’t say that I’d want it. But I can say that I sort of respect its insanity. Someone took the time and spent the cash to create what might be the most unique limousine I’ve ever seen. Props to the guys who thought this up.
Spotted by: Al and Nick
Those of you who have been following the site for a while should know by now that I’m a sucker for the Cord L-29. It’s an ahead-of-its-time, FWD luxury car that looks expensive and has a late-Twenties look that is timeless in my opinion. Of course, I always love seeing them at Concours events, and at the St. Michael’s Concours last September, I saw another great-looking example, this time courtesy of the Hershey Museum, who brought theirs out to the Chesapeake Bay that weekend. This one had its roof up for most of the show but the black-and-gray paintjob made the car look like a proper late-Twenties time capsule. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Cord L-29 at St Michael’s Concours d’Elegance
We, here at Mind over Motor, are about to wave goodbye to 2013. I, however, don’t want to wave goodbye to some of my favorite reviews of 2013. I didn’t put up as many reviews as I would have liked this year–and there are plenty of reviews on the way for 2014, I assure everyone. However, of the cars that I took out for a drive this year, here are my four favorites.
Continue reading Al’s Favorite Drives of 2013
This is a heartwarming video in the spirit of the holidays. The owner of Fstoppers.com surprises his dad with his ultimate dream car, a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, on Christmas morning.
Enjoy the video.
-Nick
This past August, I was busy taking pictures with Nick at the New Hope Car Show, an event which, although not billed as a Concours, has cars that would certainly look at home in one. Day One, August 10, is reserved for American cars. This year, during the awards, we were taking detail shots when my eardrums on both sides of my head got a big jolt. I turned around, and there was this rather ordinary-looking 1957 Ford two-door sedan sitting in traffic idling behind me. However, the dog-dish hubcaps and rather loud shade of red spoke to something sinister–if there’s one thing I learned over my years, it was that this Ford, with its fetching red paint and rumbling exhaust, was hiding something wicked under the hood. After a quick chat with the owner, I was delighted to hear that this ’57 was packing some serious punch–in fact, this thing was running a supercharged 292 cubic inch V8 with 300 brake horsepower–a huge sum at that time, and even though I wasn’t sure if it was original, I certainly enjoyed the soundtrack and the straightness of the bodywork. I had not seen a ’57 Ford as clean as this one until that point, and I haven’t seen one as good cosmetically since then. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 1957 Ford at the New Hope Car Show
Before seeing these classic American beasts roar their way around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Nick and I traipsed around the paddock and surveyed the potential field. While we were walking around, I took some snaps of some of my favorite Trans-Am racers, unsure if I would be able to see them on the track later. Luckily, I not only got these shots, but was able to see these beasts battle it out on the tarmac later in the afternoon in the blinding sun. After hearing these old muscle cars run, I was deaf for a few glorious hours. Searing color, searing sounds, and a thumping exhaust note–just about everything needed to enjoy an afternoon on the track. Enjoy the photos, and Happy Holidays. Continue reading Trans-Am Mustangs and Camaros at Laguna Seca
While walking around Carmel during the Concours weekend, I am always excited to see what turns up on the street. I’ll usually expect to see plenty of the newest and best of all exotics, along with a solid smattering of the greatest hits of most historic segments. Trucks, however, don’t usually cross my mind. However, when an example as good as this one was turned up right on Ocean Avenue, I stopped and took it in. It’s a ’72 Blazer, by indication of the main points (grille, body style, location of the rearview mirror) and although it’s not exactly stock with its ride height, I haven’t seen one this straight in my life. Therefore, I felt like it deserved some attention amongst the Ferraris, Lambos, and other exotics that pepper this very landscape in the third weekend of August. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Spotted! 1972 Chevrolet K-5 Blazer, Carmel, CA
Drive’s Leo Parente is has a lot of experience in the auto industry and in racing, so his take on the new 2015 Ford Mustang is surely an educated one.
-Nick
In the pantheon of American cars, the Ford Mustang is one of the legends. It has consistently represented a way for the common man to get something powerful for not a lot of cash. For most enthusiasts, though, the Mustang through the years has always been a bit behind. The previous generation, no matter how good of a car it was, was still held back a bit. I think, however, with the new model on its way, that there’s a big change in the winds. Continue reading The new Mustang is a true step in the right direction.
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