Tag Archives: American Cars

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Cadillac Lasalle Scraper Hot Rod, Carmel, CA

3 Comments

Cadillac Lasalle Scraper Hot Rod

 

We saw this hot rodded Cadillac Lasalle Scraper in Carmel during the Tour d’Elegance. Hoards of people came to see the Concours cars drive into Pebble Beach, and this gem was parked off on one of the side streets. Other than the owner dubbing it “Low Salle”, I don’t know any details on this Lasalle gone Bad (yes, with a capital B). I just love the quality of the workmanship though, and the whole idea of taking a well-mannered luxury car and turning it into a “Bad Mofo” is extremely appealing to me. Enjoy the pics.

Continue reading Spotted! Cadillac Lasalle Scraper Hot Rod, Carmel, CA →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard.

2 Comments

This year at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I was overjoyed when the master of ceremonies announced the Best of Show winner from the finalists. I’d been photographing this stunning brown Packard convertible the entire afternoon, and when it drove through the confetti as the trumpets sounded, I was elated.

In fact, the owners of this car, Superior Court judge Joseph Cassini III and his wife Margie, live in West Orange, NJ–less than 20 miles from the town I grew up in (Randolph).

This particular Packard is a 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria, and was fully restored by RM Restorations in Canada. It is a particularly rare example in that the coachwork was done partially by Dietrich and partially by the factory as a special. The 10,000 man-hour restoration was finished only recently, and this was its show debut.

Enjoy the photos. Congratulations to the Cassini family on your award!

Continue reading The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard. →

Car Shows

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2013

1 Comment
Ferrari P4/5 owned by James Glickenhaus
Ferrari P4/5 owned by James Glickenhaus

The Quail is probably the most exclusive show during Monterey Car Week. The best cars are always in attendance, many of which don’t even show up at Pebble Beach — despite Pebble Beach being the far more prestigious event. There is some political BS surrounding the event that I could address, but frankly, I only care about the cars.

Put simply, the Quail is absolutely the show to go to on the Friday of Monterey Car Week, provided you can get in. Every event on the Monterey Peninsula is worth checking out, but the comparative quality of the automotive crop at this event is staggering, even with the high standards of the other events. We got there a bit late because of prior engagements that day, but I we still managed to see most of the event. I’m going to just let the pictures do the talking from here. Enjoy.

Continue reading The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2013 →

Car Shows

Highlights from the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

2 Comments
Best in Show Winner, the 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria
Best in Show Winner, the 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria

We have just had a mighty few days  in the midst of the automotive Valhalla that is Monterey Car week, but the capstone event is surely the most grand of all, and that is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

This is an event where champions compete against champions. At any other event, every participant in the Pebble Beach Concours would likely win best of show. The field of automobiles is just plain unbelievable — the second you think you’ve seen everything, something incredible catches your eye. This is a place where a Lamborghini Miura may go overlooked, a place where everywhere you look, there is something astonishing to take in. This is la creme de la creme de la creme of automobiles.

Pebble Beach was once again kind enough to grant us media passes for this event, for which we are extremely grateful. I definitely feel like we put it all to good use this year, capturing tons of material to be used over the coming months. This is a highlight gallery of the event that aims to wet your appetite for what’s to come. Enjoy the photo gallery, and check back for much more from the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Continue reading Highlights from the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29

3 Comments

The Cord L-29 was a revolutionary automobile for its time.  It’s one of the first cars to ever be assembled with front-wheel-drive, but uses a longitudinal engine layout, unlike every FWD car sold in America today.  The car had a 137.5″ wheelbase and the steering took 4 turns from lock-to-lock, but reports came in at the time that it was actually a very good handler.  It had inboard brakes, De Dion drive system, and and full instrumentation (including an ammeter).  In its day, it was a shock to the system.
Continue reading 2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29 →

Car Shows

2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 1

2 Comments
Chevrolet Corvettes
Chevrolet Corvettes

Shots from day 1 of the 2013 New Hope Auto Show. Saturday is always mostly American cars, and an eclectic array of muscle cars and classics were in attendance this year. Enjoy the photos.

Continue reading 2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 1 →

Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck

3 Comments

The late 1970s were a bleak time for America.  The country was stuck with a bad case of stagflation, there was rife conflict in the Middle East as the shah of Iran was losing his grip on his country, and if you wanted anything fast and American, you were either wrenching on an older car, or looking longingly at the used car lots for a Hemi Challenger that wasn’t beat to within an inch of its life.  This, however, didn’t stop Dodge from trying to bring the magic back. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Petersen Automotive Museum

4 Comments

On June 30, I flew to California to meet with my brother, Matt.  He was kind enough, after a gut-busting BBQ lunch in Hollywood, to take me over to the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Here’s some highlights from the floor.  Some of the notable cars in the building include a selection of cars that have become legendary in their own right, including a Bugatti EB110, Steven McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS, and many other unique and gorgeous cars.  Enjoy the gallery.

Continue reading The Petersen Automotive Museum →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton

Leave a comment

1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton

This beautiful Auburn 851 SC Phaeton was at the recent 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.  The 851 came about when Cord, who owned Auburn at the time, was looking to make an effective car for the times, which had changed. America was now caught in the midst of The Great Depression, and V12 luxury cars were no longer the best idea.

The 851 was a more downmarket model than previous Auburns, though very much still a luxury car. While most people think of the famous Boattail Speedster when they hear the name Auburn, this 851 SC Phaeton was aimed more at clients with families. The car you see here is equipped with Auburn’s supercharged inline-eight cylinder engine, producing 150hp. That was a lot of power at the time, and an 851 Speedster with the same engine set a record, averaging over 100mph for a 12 hour long run. Auburn sold around 5000 851s in 1935, but sales dropped sharply in 1936. It was at that point that Cord decided to end Auburn production altogether.

This 851 SC Phaeton caught my eye because of its  immaculate appointments. Its beautiful two-tone blue exterior sits strikingly over its read leather interior, and the detail work all around the car is incredible. I tried to capture as much of it as I could through the lens of my camera. Enjoy.

Continue reading 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Big Muscle: 1931 Ford Rat Rod

2 Comments

Drive’s Mike Musto takes out one extremely mean ’31 Ford. I just love rat rods like this because they embody everything that is fun about cars…. breaking the rules. Enjoy.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: 2013 Lincoln MKZ 2.0 Ecoboost AWD (9.5/10)

8 Comments

2013 Lincoln MKZ 2.0 Ecoboost AWD

The Lincoln Motor Company has been in rather sorry shape as of late. The 2008 economy crash hit them hard, but even before then their products were struggling to compete in the luxury market. I myself have criticized them, even going as far as to say that Ford should kill them off, completely restructure their lineup, and then bring them back as a new, reborn Lincoln. When I think Lincoln, I still think of the 1960s Continental, and we are quite far from the days now.

In recent decades, Lincolns have just been rebadged Fords with leather seats. During the majority of this period, Ford’s products were, quite frankly, pretty bad. The foundation for Lincoln’s products was a major weak point, and slow sales have reflected it. However, there is a bit of bright light now, with Ford’s new “One Ford” policy. America will finally get the great european Ford models that we have been so deprived of over the years.

In 2012 the new Ford Fusion came out, and this time it was simply an American version of the highly acclaimed Ford Mondeo from Europe. It is this well-proven platform on which this new 2013 Lincoln MKZ is based. It seems we now have a Lincoln model with some solid foundations, so the question now is, does it compete?

Continue reading Test Driven: 2013 Lincoln MKZ 2.0 Ecoboost AWD (9.5/10) →

Car Shows, Cars We've Seen

Woodward Dream Cruise: 1968 Plymouth GTX

Leave a comment

1968 Plymouth GTX at the Woodward Dream Cruise

Mopars are definitely my favorite cars from the muscle car era, and the Woodward Dream Cruise is always full of them. This awesome 1968 Plymouth GTX caught my eye in a special way, though, because of its rare teal color. I love when cars are painted in uncommon tones because it makes them stand out, especially in a traffic jam like this, with literally thousands of cars in it. Enjoy.

Continue reading Woodward Dream Cruise: 1968 Plymouth GTX →