While waiting for the shuttle to check out the auction at the Omni at Amelia Island, Nick and I caught a somewhat familiar sight of a slantnose Porsche rolling through the quiet streets. However, this was not a Porsche. This is a RUF BTR, the first of the line for the RUF series of modified Porsches. This is one of less than 35 made and it looked pristine. The paint simply stuck out like a sore thumb among the endless sea of beige and silver trucks and rental cars scattering the landscape. Plus, how often is it that anyone sees a RUF, of any kind, running around? This is pretty much like seeing Keith Richards or Mick Jagger in person at a grocery store for Porschephiles. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading RUF BTR Slantnose spotted in Fernadina Beach, FL
Tag Archives: Porsche
Matt Farah drives the new Turbo Porsche 718 Boxster S
Matt Farah shows us the new turbocharged Porsche 718 Boxster S in action. It seems very impressive, but it will also definitely be divisive.
To start with, it sounds like a Subaru. Whether that’s a good thing or not will be hotly debated. I, for one, kind of like it.
Regardless of your opinion on the new four-cylinder Boxster, there’s no denying that it has some serious performance. The base model 718 Boxster has 300hp now, and the S has 350hp. With tuning options soon to come, these things should be insane.
I like it.
-Nick
Porsche 911R at NYIAS 2016
We got our first, in-person look at the new Porsche 911R at the 2016 New York International Auto Show. With its 500hp 4.0L engine hooked to a manual gearbox, it’s definitely a proverbial golden calf for us Porsche enthusiasts.
Porsche is only building 991 examples of the 911R, so it won’t ever be a common sight. These cars are also so heavily sought after that those lucky 991 buyers will likely be able to flip their 911Rs (if they want to) for a healthy 6-figure profit.
The good news for everyone not getting a 911R is that Porsche has confirmed that the next 911 GT3 will come with the option of a manual gearbox. It would seem the clear demand in the secondhand market has gotten through to Porsche management, and they’ve realized the mistake they made with the first 991 GT3.
Despite the coming manual 991.2 GT3, the 911R will remain the only manual 991 equipped with the monstrous 4.0L flat-six, shared with the mighty GT3 RS.
There is no doubt that 911R values will be sitting up with the 997 GT3 RS 4.0 and GT2 RS on the secondhand market. This is a stratosphere Porsche to be sure.
-Nick Walker
New York International Auto Show General Gallery
The New York Auto Show finished its run on Sunday evening and was home to a multitude of concept and full debuts, including Lincoln’s Navigator concept (complete with a massive gullwing door) and Mazda’s MX-5 Targa Retractable. This year, the show wasn’t nearly as glitzy as previous years, but I had an enjoyable day all the same. Although I wasn’t intent on taking as many photos (as I had spent a massive amount of time at L.A. a few months back), there was still plenty to see. Fiat showed off the new 124 Abarth, and Porsche had the 911R on display for all to see, just ahead of the new 718 Boxster roadster. Enjoy the brief gallery of what was on display this past week, with some more to follow. Continue reading New York International Auto Show General Gallery
2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Gallery 1
Here is our first round of highlights from the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. There were so many incredible cars, of various eras, present that it’ll take a few of these galleries and numerous individual features to cover them all.
Racing legend, Hans-Joachim Stuck (pictured above), was the guest of honor. He rolled up during the award ceremony at the wheel of the Porsche 962 in which he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was epic!
Best in show awards went to a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Town Car with some fancy coachwork (see below), and also to a 1952 Pegaso Z-102 Cupula Coupe, which was my personal favorite car at the show, as well. The Pegaso had a unique color scheme of bright yellow with red-wall tires and a pea green interior, and it’s striking curves and crafted details definitely made it the sight to be seen.
Enjoy this first highlight reel, and stay tuned for much more to come!
Continue reading 2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Gallery 1
Janis Joplin’s Porsche 356 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
Of all cars at the Amelia Island Concours, celebrity-owned cars get a good share of attention. However, a hippie-themed old Porsche was grabbing more attention than other cars it sat among. This 1964 356C was custom-painted and themed by Joplin over the years to describe better her artistic style within her own life as well as within her music. After her death due to a heroin overdose in 1970, the car was passed between a few different individuals, before ending up in the posession of her manager. The car spent a period of time at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in recent years, and was sold to a private collection late last year. Out on the show field, this particular 356 had onlookers gaing at its incredible detailing and one-of-a-kind finish. I don’t expect to ever see anything like this car again for some time, and people asked questions about it non-stop. Enjoy the photos of this timeless legend. Continue reading Janis Joplin’s Porsche 356 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
Amelia Island 2016 Preview
We’re currently on our way back from a truly phenomenal weekend at Amelia Island. We attended the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Cars and Coffee, Festivals of Speed, and the unveiling of Lamborghini’s new PoloStorico program. We also got behind the wheel of many different tasty cars for reviews to come. It was a crazy, exhausting, and extremely fun weekend, and there is tons of great material that will come from it, so stay tuned!
Here is a quick preview of the automotive festivities.
Enjoy!
Stanced Porsche 996 at First Class Fitment
Perfect Purist Porsche, The 911R is a big step in the right direction
The new Porsche 911R just dropped at Geneva, and it’s about as perfect as a modern 911 can be. It’s got the biggest motor, the 493hp 4.0L flat six from the GT3 RS. It’s the lightest 911 model by a fair margin, weighing just over 3,000lbs. But most importantly it succeeds where the 991 GT3 and GT3 RS have failed miserably – IT HAS A MANUAL GEARBOX!
Yes, the 911R immediately became my favorite modern Porsche when it was revealed, and you might expect this article to just go on and on singing its praises. But that’s not why I’m writing this piece. No, as good as perfect as the 911R may be, Porsche has not solved their larger problem yet.
Continue reading Perfect Purist Porsche, The 911R is a big step in the right direction
Highlights from the 2016 Philadelphia Auto Show
The Philadelphia Auto Show was lively this year, with many of the newest releases on display.
I must admit that I am completely in love with the blue Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio you see above (it’s stick too). I also got my first look at the new Fiata (124 Spider), Cadillac XT5, Honda Ridgeline, and the oh-so-sleek Volvo S90. I also got a good look at the new Toyota Prius, which was regrettable on the eyes.
There are a lot of great new cars to be excited about!
Enjoy the gallery.
-Nick
Continue reading Highlights from the 2016 Philadelphia Auto Show
Villain’s Vehicles: Pablo Escobar in his Porsche 935
When you’re the biggest drug kingpin on Earth, netting over $500,000 per day into your personal bank accounts, you may find it hard to figure out how to spend your money once you’ve bought everything you’d ever dreamt of… and more.
Pablo had this problem back in his day. In addition to importing exotic wild animals, hiring a private army to invade his county’s capital so he could have a law changed, and assassinating presidential candidates, Pablo also had a special affinity for Porsches. He collected hundreds of other cars as well, but there are many photos of him driving Porsche racing cars specifically. This Porsche 935 was quite a prize back then, and maybe even more so today. I bet he drove it on the public road too – I mean, who was going to tell him he couldn’t?
I’m not sure what became of this particular 935. Most of Escobar’s car collection was destroyed once he was on the run, and his properties were seized by the people who were trying to kill him. The cars were a symbol of Pablo’s arrogant excess, so destroying them was a prime way to send a message to the King of Coke that his days were numbered.
I think this is such a sick photo, though. Right up there with my other favorite Pablo pic.
-Nick
Various Racing Machines in the Laguna Seca Paddock
Some more shots from the Paddock of Laguna Seca during Monterey Car Week, here is a gallery of awesome racing cars, old and new.
I always love seeing the old pre-war racecars sitting right next to more modern racecars, like Group C, because it really puts in perspective how far the automobile has come in just a few decades. That said, the drivers of those older racing cars were men among men. Those cars were not especially slow at all, reaching over 100mph, but with very primitive technology.
Enjoy the spectacle!
Continue reading Various Racing Machines in the Laguna Seca Paddock










