Tag Archives: Classic Cars

Car Shows

Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta by Touring at Amelia Island

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While I was waiting to sign up to drive a Porsche, and while Nick was busy driving the bewitching new SRT Viper, I spent most of my brisk Florida morning at Amelia Island chasing after cars that were entering the hotel grounds.  While I was running around, I found myself chasing down this gorgeous little number.  This marks only the second time I’ve found myself close to a 212, one of the first well-known cars Ferrari produced.  This particular car is a 212 Export Berlinetta wearing its original Touring coachwork in a deep, rich burgundy hue with a rather Spartan tan interior, wire wheels, and details that kept my attention for a solid amount of time.  It may have been parked among a Lamborghini Aventador, Porsche 918, and a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, but the little 212 had absolutely no problem drawing a crowd to itself in front of the Ritz-Carlton. Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Three Hudsons, Auctioned Off at the Hollywood Car Auction Amelia Island

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Hudson Commodore Convertible Front
1949 Hudson Commodore Convertible (Front)

I’m a sucker for Hudson’s “Step Down” styling and engineering of 1949-1954.  These were some of the first American cars to utilize advanced body and chassis manufacturing techniques after the war was over and the effort paid off on the track.  In NASCAR’s early days, the Hudsons were almost utterly unstoppable thanks to their design.  The body and chassis were a semi-single unit and the floor was placed lower than the frame rails, which enabled passengers to “step down” into the interior (hence the phrase).  This saved weight and also lowered the vehicle, improving handling.  When paired up with the later “Twin-H-Power” straight-six engine, the later Hornets were unbeatable on the track in their day, dominating the field in the early Fifties, with 27 of 34 Grand National wins in 1952, 22 of 37 in 1953, and 17 of 37 in 1954.  Three of these Hudsons were up for auction at the Hollywood Car Auction at Amelia Island, and all three of them sold.  The yellow 1949 Commodore convertible sold for $73,000 before buyer’s premium.  The two Hornet sedans up for sale were later models (the burgundy is a 1953 model, while the black one was a ’52).  The black 1952 sedan sold for $62,000 and the burgundy 1953 sedan sold for $87,500.  Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

1935 Duesenberg SJ553 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

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Duesenberg SJ553 2

Lifestyles of the rich and the famous indeed. Back in 1935 this one-off Duesenberg SJ553 cost a hefty $20,000 at a time when the average car cost $625 and the average house cost around $3,400. Proportionally, something like this Duesenberg would cost nearly $1 million today, however luxury cars of this magnitude are a thing of the past. The closest thing still around would be a Rolls Royce Phantom, but even that costs about half as much as this Duesie would.

This SJ553 was commissioned by Mars Candy Company heiress, Ethel Mars, and served as the ultimate status symbol of its day. It was even featured in Time Magazine in 1936 being hailed as the costliest car in the United States. Similar to a Bugatti Veyron today, supercharged Duesenbergs were some of the most powerful cars of their era. This SJ553 is one of only 36 factory supercharged Duesenbergs built, with an impressive 320hp being produced by its 420ci (6.9L) dual overhead cam Straight 8 engine.

In addition to its staggering price and performance, the SJ553 was one of the most elegantly styled Duesenbergs around. Its sinister Art Deco bodywork appears to have been draped gently over the underpinnings of its massive frame. The SJ553 was a sight to be seen, even surrounded by other stunning Duesenbergs at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Let it serve as a glimpse into the wonders of a bygone era of the automobile.

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Car Shows

1965 Chevrolet Corvette at the Radnor Hunt Concours, 2013

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American muscle cars were certainly well represented at the Radnor Hunt Concours late last summer, and this 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray coupe was a straight, well-kept example.  Despite packing the base 327ci V8, this black-on-red stunner featured a great assortment of options not often seen on mid-Sixties Corvettes, such as a power antenna, power windows, power brakes, and power steering.  The 1965 model also featured four-wheel disc brakes, a first on the Corvette as a standard item.  Purchased by a wife for her husband as a 65th birthday present, this gorgeous ‘Vette still looked a million bucks on the grass at Radnor.  Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 at Cars and Coffee Amelia Island

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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 Front
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 Front

The day before the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the Ritz Carlton on the island opened up their golf course for anyone with an interesting classic to show up and park among their peers across the fairway.  While talking to a few people and enjoying the sun-kissed weather, I found a car bathed in enough sunlight to make the world shine.  Enter this eye-catching yellow 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396.  This happens to be done up exactly how I’d want it on the outside.  The sunflower yellow paint was free of faults, and the whole package (with the Magnum 500 wheels and white-letter tires, along with the black stripe and shined up chrome) looked just as smart now as it probably did back in the days of Richard Nixon, Woodstock, and free love.  Of course, this car would be happier leaving tire tracks all over Main Street, USA than ferrying drugged up hippies to and from an enormous rock concert, but I bet it would be fun for anyone in the era.  I was glad to see one this nice that morning, and my eyes are still stinging from that yellow.  Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

America’s Most Obsessed Saab Collector

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On this segment of Jalopnik on Drive we get an inside look at a man, Bruce Turk, who is probably America’s most obsessed Saab enthusiast and collector. These quirky cars inspire the hearts of many people, and Bruce is a great example of how to Saab properly. Enjoy!

-Nick

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Custom Pickup Truck at the Festivals of Speed, Amelia Island

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Nick was far too busy photographing a nifty Volkswagen parked at the back of the show to take fair notice of something that was even cooler just next to it.  This custom pickup truck is too insane for words.  The frame is out of  Toyota Pickup, the engine is a Chevrolet LT-1 V8 from the early Nineties, and the interior is completely custom-made, with a No Smoking sign forming the backdrop panel for the radio and a custom instrument panel.  Meanwhile, the body is a cream-and-brown 1954 Dodge stepside regular cab, and the entire thing is fitted with an adjustable air suspension.  I spoke to some buddies of the owner who said that some passerby snickered and said “What’s this doing here?”, smirking the entire time.  In my opinion, the joke is on them–this is one of the coolest customs I’ve ever seen and absolutely belonged in the show.  Note some of the more quirky touches, such as the set of ratchet wrenches standing in for a gas pedal and a sculptured middle finger in place of a rear view mirror.  All in all, this custom pickup truck at the Festivals of Speed is one of the coolest customs I’ve ever seen.  Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

Fiat Dino Spider at Amelia Island

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Fiat Dino Spider at Amelia Island

We caught this blue Fiat Dino Spider at the cars and coffee event during the Amelia Island car weekend. This is a rare car with the same Ferrari V6 under its hood as found in the Dino 206, and Dino 246 for later models. We did a post featuring Petrolicious’ video on the Fiat Dino a few months ago, and it was awesome to get to see one up close in person.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Petrolicious makes us all want a Saab Sonett

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It doesn’t get too much more offbeat than a front wheel drive sports car with a two-stroke engine, and that is exactly what the Saab Sonett is. Petrolicious, as usual, has produced an incredible motion picture that will make you lust over a car you may not have considered before. I swear, if they did a video on a four cylinder Toyota Camry, I would probably want one quite badly after viewing it. Enjoy.

-Nick

Car Shows

2014 Festivals of Speed Amelia Island

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Tumbler Batmobile
The only street legal Tumbler Batmobile around. This one IS a car!

We attended the 2014 Festivals of Speed at Amelia Island. There were some major cars in attendance with flavors to suit all tastes, everything from classic Ferraris to slammed VWs to the Batmobile you see above. These are the highlights of the event, and there is a lot more where this came from. Enjoy!

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1958 Scarab: Best of Show, Concours d’Sport, 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

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The other Best of Show award at Amelia this year was designated as the Concours d’Sport, an award to go to the best racing car on the field that day.  I wasn’t sure what had the chops to sway the judges this year.  While I was taking pictures along a wall during the awards ceremony, this blue 1958 Scarab destroyed my eardrums and stole my attention for a little while.  Little did I know until I saw it waiting on the side that it was to recieve a Best of Show.  My eardrums were again destroyed, but this time, I was fine with it.  This little Scarab deserved its win and looked head and shoulders above much of the other racers in the field this year.  Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

Alpine A110 1600S at Amelia Island

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Renault Alpine at Amelia Island

This is an Alpine A110 1600S, often referred to as the “Renault Alpine,” though Renault did not actually own Alpine until 1978. The Alpine A110 was produced from 1961 to 1977, and saw major rally success in the early 1970s. In fact, the Alpine A110 holds the honor as the first World Rally Champion, winning the inaugural WRC season in 1973.

The “Renault Alpine” designation comes from the fact that Alpine used Renault engines in the A110. The top-spec 1600S model you see here had a 1.6L inline-four producing 138hp. That may not sound like a lot, but at just around 1,600lbs the A110 1600S was capable of doing 130mph. Keep in mind, this is a rally car, not a supercar, and 130mph is a lot of speed on a winding rally stage.

We caught this classic french rally car at the cars and coffee event held during the Amelia Island car weekend. This car actually flew past us the night before, but all we could see then was its yellow headlights and enjoy the sound its lovely engine echoing off the trees as it disappeared into the dark abyss. I was thrilled to see the Alpine in daylight the next day, and it was great to get some shots of it. Enjoy!

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