This particular Rolls-Royce Phantom V has quite a unique history. That it’s one of five in its State Landaulette body from Mulliner Park Ward is just scratching the surface. It was ordered by Communists, but was sold to an American for political reasons, who used the car for political purposes. Continue reading 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward
Jaguar is on a serious roll lately. They have gone from a company that was on its back to a company that everyone is watching very closely in less than 6 years’ time, thanks to a few new models, a new parent company, and a large amount of development money that’s been spent effectively. I’ve been waiting 2 years to drive another Jaguar XJ after taking a used one out for a spin in North Jersey. While I was with Nick at the Pebble Beach Concours, that wait ended abruptly with the roar of the 550hp XJR. I had to ask: Is this car worth its price and will it be on a new level of performance compared to the old XJR? I took the wheel of this silver-grey 2014 model around the 17-Mile Drive to find out.
Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Jaguar XJR (Grade: A)
We were in attendance for the 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance this past weekend. Instead of our normal photo highlights, we have decided to try on a video compilation of the cars at the show. For those of you who like the photo galleries, do not worry because we have plenty of still shots from the show as well (to be used later on). Let us know what you think of the video in the comments.
Radnor Hunt is always a wonderful show, with some fantastic cars and a great venue. It is basically Philadelphia’s major Concours event, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. The features this year were Art Deco cars, Rally cars, and Aston Martins, but there was quite a motley crew within those classes. Some of my favorites included a pristine 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I, a Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupe, an Aston Martin DBR1 racing car, and a genuine Subaru STi 22B. “Best in Show” went to a 1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron (seen above and at the end of the video), and yes, the cars with the longest names always wins these events.
Check out the video, and stay tuned for the features to follow. Enjoy.
-Nick
During the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the paddock of Laguna Seca is always full of interesting and legendary things. 2013 was no exception, with drool worthy race cars everywhere you looked. In particular there were numerous Porsche 962s, monster Group Group C racing cars for those unfamiliar with them. It is always difficult to focus your attention while down in the paddock because everywhere you look there is something awesome to see. I will let the photos take it from here. Enjoy.
Continue reading 2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Paddock Highlights
We stopped by The Inn At Spanish Bay, within Pebble Beach, for a press event and found some tasty cars in the parking lot. This was the first one we noticed, a brand new Aston Martin Vanquish. Enjoy.
Continue reading Spotted! Aston Martin Vanquish, Pebble Beach, CA
Las Vegas is a strange place. It was quite hot outside when I arrived at the track on July 5, during the tail-end of a massive heat wave in the vicinity. I was already sweating after just a few minutes in the 100+ degree heat. After signing in and attending the driver’s meeting, I chose this Aston Martin as my second car after some time in a Mercedes SLS AMG. After climbing out of the SLS, the sweat was replaced by a feeling of confidence.
I drove a total of four different cars on this track that morning, and of them, this Aston was by and large the most surprising. I didn’t know what to expect, with this Vantage S being my first ever Aston Martin, but after I climbed out of the hot seat, I realized that this entry into Aston’s lineup is a lot better than people might think.
Continue reading Test Driven: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S, Al’s Take (GRADE: B)
Jay Leno was given the honor of being the first person outside McLaren to get behind the wheel of the new P1 hypercar. Incidentally, he has also placed an order for a yellow P1, so I’m sure that factored into McLaren’s decision.
This video shows some great insights into the car, and its technology. Including how the P1’s electric motor runs through the transmission. You can also visibly see the difference in the car’s ride between Normal and Race modes.
Enjoy.
-Nick
Back when Rolls Royce and Bentley sailed under the same flag, it was often said that a Bentley was a car to drive and a Rolls Royce was a car to be driven in. The two companies have now been split up for over a decade, with Bentley owned by Volkswagen and Rolls Royce under BMW. Since their separation both brands have had to branch out a bit, but for Rolls Royce, branching out has come to mean venturing into some unexplored territory.
Rolls Royces have traditionally been focused on the concerns of their rear occupants, aiming to preserve comfort at all costs, even if the chauffeur goes completely mad. The car you see here, Rolls Royce describes as being a “gentleman’s grand tourer”, and the most powerful car they’ve ever made. It is the new Rolls Royce Wraith, and no part of it has anything to do with being chauffeured. The Wraith is a driver’s Rolls Royce, and to many, that may seem a vast ideological conflict.
Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Rolls Royce Wraith, Nick’s Take (9.5/10)
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
After day two, I am convinced that 2013 has to be the best New Hope Auto Show I have ever attended. The first day had many fantastic American cars, and the second day had a barrage of phenomenal foreign cars. The field ranged from modern exotics to classics, and I was thrilled with the sheer variety of cars; not just a bunch of the same types of Ferraris lined up.
Highlights included some truly breathtaking pre-war Rolls Royces, a variety of special Porsches, and one of the prettiest Mercedes 300 SLs I have ever laid eyes on. There is much more, including a few cars not often seen in the US, so check out the gallery (below) to see. Enjoy the photos.
This fascinating video from Drive shows the efforts Aston Martin is willing to go through to preserve its historical cars for customers. Definitely worth 14 minutes of your time to watch. Enjoy.
-Nick
I recently had the opportunity to do a quick drive in Jaguar’s new F-Type. Jaguar held a driving event in Philadelphia where they set up an autocross course in the parking lot of the Phillies’ stadium. Though it was only a quick, but intense, experience, I did get to sample both the V6S and V8S models from the F-Type range.
Timing was down to the wire, as there was a massive thunderstorm bearing down on us, and by the time I did my runs, it had already begun to rain. This article will serve as a quick first impression take on the new F-Types, and hopefully I will get a chance to drive them for longer in the coming months.
Continue reading First Impression: Jaguar F-Type V6S and V8S
Mind Over Motor 