There are always some extremely tasty cars in and around the paddock at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. In addition to some of the most legendary racing cars of all time (see that Porsche 917 above), you are also likely to find many awesome road cars, everything from classic gems to the most current hypercars.
The action in the Paddock was especially good this year. We’ll show you the racing cars later on, but we wanted to start with the road cars, which were quite a spectacle. Enjoy!
While Nick was busy walking to the rental car after we got done taking photos at Bonhams, I was busy trying to line up a shot of a rather humorous “YOLO” style plate on a Lamborghini Gallardo when one of my all-time favorite early-Seventies pieces of Americana rolled into view. These guys were a cool bunch, and when I asked them the most important question of “What’s under the hood?” they simply said it was running a 455 cubic inch big block V8. Frankly, when it comes to an early Seventies Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, a 455 is the most acceptable engine in a most classy way to transport your groovy Seventies clan. Combine that with a good looking light blue, wood simulation on the sides, and the great sunlight of Central California in August, and the recipe for fun is nearly complete. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser spotted in Carmel, CA→
In Carmel during Monterey Car Week, one of the best things to do to unwind after a entire day of chasing race cars at Laguna Seca is to find a nice spot on Ocean Avenue and take pictures of all the unique and exotic machines that come out to play during the weekend. Sometimes, while taking pictures, I end up with a two-for-one special, and when it’s a 1970s Alfa Romeo with Zagato lines and a first-series Mini, it’s hard to avoid attempting to get them in one picture. While the colors aren’t quite as striking as they might have been in their day, these classics stood out really well against the rip-snorting Ferrari 458s and Lamborghini Gallardos that dominate the evenings out here during the third week in August. Enjoy the photos of this original Mini and Junior Zagato, and take a good look at that license plate frame: “Kiss French, Drive Italian.” I concur. Continue reading Mk. 1 Mini Cooper S and 1973 Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Zagato spotted in Carmel, CA→
Here is part 2 of our highlights from the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This was the first time a Ferrari has ever won best in show (see above), as well as a very uncommon occurrence where a post-war car takes the top honor.
When it comes to a Dodge Challenger, it doesn’t take a lot to get my attention. This particular Sam Posey ex-Trans Am 1970 racer had all the right bits to make me keep my eyes peeled for it. The lime-green paint scorched more than the 80+ high temperature of the day, while the fantastic side pipes, hooked up to a sweet-sounding Mopar small-block V8 provided a thundering soundtrack that added plenty of depth to the bellow of Trans-Am race cars that dominate the track at the end of the Saturday racing sessions at Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Although this car was here last year (and is apparently a regular visitor to the track during Monterey Car Week), it’s always a welcome sight, especially for a Mopar maniac like myself. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Sam Posey’s 1970 Dodge Challenger at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2014→
A Delage at Pebble Beach, to the seasoned, is not a surprise, nor is anything bodied by Figoni et Falaschi. The design house mixed with that automobile manufacturer is a match truly made in heaven, like mixing the best Chardonnay with the perfect high-end French meal. Delage is a well-known brand among the prewar automotive cognoscenti and the D6-70 shown here has a rich history. This is a car that may have won a concours event when new in 1936 and its unique coachwork and body style, coupled with the fetching paint combination, convinced me to stay a bit and take some photos. I wasn’t the only one captivated, either–the judges awarded this D6-70 the French Cup award and a Second In Class trophy for the European Classic Early class. It’s not the enormously entertaining D8-120, but it’s pint-size charm still holds plenty of classic appeal. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1936 Delage D6-70 Figoni et Falaschi Milord Cabriolet at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance→
Recently, I featured “Dodgezilla” on Mind Over Motor. Well, here’s another 1968 Dodge Charger, but this one is a completely different animal. It’s tame, bred in captivity, as opposed to being fed steroids through a funnel down the carb. This ’68 is a regular Charger with the 383 big block V8, a four-speed manual transmission, and all of the lines that made the ’68-70 a heartthrob both then and now. This white example sported a red interior–a bit unusual for a Charger, but considering that this one was restored as more of a cruiser than a bruiser, that’s perfect. This was a brutally cool car in its day, and the Charger’s aura has aged well, rather like a fine wine. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1968 Dodge Charger at the New Hope Car Show→
Here is the first batch of our highlights from the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It was a great year this year, with loads of unique automobiles in attendance, including 16 of the 17 remaining Ruxtons (shown above). Maseratis were also featured this year for the marque’s centennial, as well as a stunning showcase of Ferrari 250 Testa Rossas, and some truly beautiful machines with coachwork by Darrin.
This is rolling artwork at its finest, so enjoy the photos. There’s much more to come!
When it comes to four-door hardtops, General Motors had a good set of candidates even as the era wound to a close. In 1971, GM redesigned their entire full-size lineup, from Buick’s Electra series to the big-dog Cadillac Fleetwood 75. Sitting near the top of the throne, although not at the top, was the Cadillac DeVille. Packing some smart styling to hide its hulking dimensions and high weight, these were the last of th truly “big” Cadillac sedans, and they went out with a bang. The ’71 packs a 472 cubic inch monster of a V8, with enough torque to tear the Death Star in two pieces. This particular gold example is all-original and has been in the same family since new. The owner inherited the car from a relative and has kept it in original working order. Although it was sitting near a gorgeous ’53 Eldorado convertible, it had a charm and an imposing figure all its own. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1971 Cadillac Sedan De Ville at the New Hope Car Show→
This past week, Nick and I became familiar with how certain cars will show up almost everywhere. Alex Roy, the owner of a Citroen SM, and as a result a man with impeccable taste, was in Monterey all weekend, and we first saw his car parked in the parking lot at The Quail on Friday evening. The next day, Nick and I were looking for a parking spot after spending the entire day at Laguna Seca. We spotted Roy’s SM once again before coming across Michael Musto’s (of /DRIVE’s Big Muscle series) slick black 1968 Dodge Charger, in all of its glory with chrome rims and red Bumble Bee stripes. After taking photos until the sun came down, Nick and I walked down the street and ran into Mike Musto, who we began talking to, until Alex Roy sprinted up the sidewalk at breakneck speeds. When Alex returned and told the two of us possibly the most hilarious pair of stories I’ve ever heard, we spoke to the two of them and found that these two chaps are incomparably hilarious car guys with plenty to say and great taste in automobiles. Enjoy the photos of the Charger and the SM. Continue reading Alex Roy’s Citroen SM and Michael Musto’s Dodge Charger spotted in Carmel, CA→
I’m a sucker for the second-generation Dodge Charger. Produced for a scant three seasons, it’s a representation of the Charger at its very best–a bruising, but sexy muscle car with equal parts testosterone and paunch. It’s difficult to improve these cars…but the owner of this absolutely evil ’68 has managed to do it. With its dark green finish and matching interior, the lines were well-represented on the exterior, but the lack of a hood belies this car’s true intentions. The owner calls it “Dodgezilla”. I couldn’t agree more, especially in green. In the place of a small-block V8 typical to this particular car lies a stomping 440-cid V8, with twin carbs and a high rise intake below the enormous hood scoop. This is not a Dodge for the faint of heart. It may not be terrorizing Japanese workers and tearing down buildings, but it’s green and looks like it’s up to no good anyway. It’s not Godzilla. It’s Dodgezilla. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Say hello to “Dodgezilla”, everyone, the monster of the River Edge Car Show.→
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→
Mind Over Motor 