Tag Archives: Sports Cars

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale at Amelia Island

March 23, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

We, regrettably, did not make it down to Amelia Island this year. But our photographer friend down there, Nathan Corry, did make it over on Saturday to get some shots, and he has been kind enough to let us use them.

The car you see here is a 1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, and it is one of my all-time favorite automobiles. I still have yet to actually see one in person, though. So when I say photos of this one at Amelia this year, I was extra pissed that I couldn’t make it this year. Naturally, when Nathan offered to let us use his photos, my first question was, “OMG DID YOU SHOOT THE ALFA TIPO 33?!!!!” Nathan had, and here are his beautiful photos of it.

I consider the Alfa Tipo 33 Stradale to be the first incarnation of what we all know today as the “hypercar.” Hypercars sit above the level of mere supercars in their technology, performance, or sheer exotic appeal, and they usually cost obscenely more than an obscene amount of money.

The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale was the road going version of Alfa’s Tipo 33/2 racing cars. It shares the same advanced 2.0L V8 as the racing versions, but the engine was detuned from 270hp to around 230hp in the road car. That engine revved all the way up to 10,000 RPM, and it sent power through a 6 speed transaxle gearbox. The Tipo 33 also still only weighed just over 1500lbs in road form, with the same basic suspension as the racing Tipo 33/2. It could see 160mph, and go 0-60 in 5.5 sec, fast numbers today, but in 1967 it was the record holder for the standing kilometer. So all in all, the 33 Stradale was a technical masterpiece in it’s day, literally a racing car for the road.

Adding to it’s advanced technical design, the Tipo 33 Stradale was also arguably the most exotic car in the world in 1968. It was the first road car to feature gullwing doors, which featured a unique curved glass window as well. It’s price in 1968 was close to $20,000, or a little more than the price of a Lamborghini Miura. But with only 18 examples built, each Alfa Tipo 33 Stradale is worth many millions today, probably tens of millions. So if you love modern hypercars like Paganis and Koenigseggs, then recognize this stunning Alfa as the “Original Gangsta” that it is.

I firmly believe the Tipo 33 Stradale is one of the most beautiful road cars ever built, and it happens to be a technical masterpiece too. You can find more info about it in a previous article I wrote. I still look forward to the day I get to see one in person, but I’m thrilled that Nathan was able to supply us with his photos so we can share this one with you. Check out his photography portfolio and his services on his website.

Also, if you’re reading this, and you own a Tipo 33 Stradale. I’d be happy to buy your car from you, provided you can accept my everliving soul as payment.

-Nick Walker

Cars We've Seen

Mercedes 300 SL Roadster Spotted in Greenwich, CT

March 21, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Out walking around in Greenwich, CT we found this beautiful classic Mercedes 300SL Roadster parked outside of a luxury car dealership in town. Gotta love that hip line!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry

Chris Harris Makes Us Want A Porsche Cayman GT4 Even More

March 10, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I said in a post last week that I’d rather have the new Porsche Cayman GT4 over either a Porsche 911 GT3 or GT3 RS, solely because of it’s manual gearbox. Well, this week, Chris Harris has gotten his hands on a Porsche Cayman GT4 and he has confirmed its awesomeness. That said, he did mention that he wouldn’t sell a 911 GT3 to have a Cayman GT4. I’ll be curious to see what he says about the new GT3 RS, and then what he says in a few years time about the Cayman GT4.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Opinions

Why Do I feel So “Meh” About The 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS?

March 6, 2015 ndubs77 32 Comments

The new Porsche 911 (991) GT3 RS officially dropped at the Geneva Motor Show this week after much anticipation. As you might expect, many in the automotive journalism world sound 100% excited about this new “raw” 911. I am not someone who merely reports the figures, though, anyone can do that. I do this blog so that I can offer up my genuine honest opinion on cars and the auto industry. And, frankly, as cool as the new GT3 RS is, I feel a bit let down by Porsche. Here’s why…

Continue reading Why Do I feel So “Meh” About The 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS? →

Opinions

Meet The Gorgeous New Baby Bentley Concept

March 4, 2015 ndubs77 4 Comments

Yea I saw the new Porsche GT3 RS and yea I saw the new Lamborghini Aventador SV. For each I saw the photos and details and though, “Ok, next!” But then I saw this new Bentley sports car concept, and I still have yet to pick my jaw up off the floor. It is nothing short of magnificent!

It’s called the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, and it aprears to be a brand new entry-level model. If it makes it to production, which I imagine it will, it looks like it will take on the Jaguar F-Type, Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, and Mercedes AMG GT. In short, the Speed 6 will be a Bentley Sports Car, and that’s not something they’ve made before.

What I’m really hoping for in the Speed 6 is a traditional Front-engine RWD architecture. VW doen’t currently have such a RWD car in their lineup and really could use one in my opinion. If there winds up being both RWD and AWD versions of the Speed 6, then I think Bentley will have another home run on their hands.

The engine is rumored to be a six cylinder, given the Speed 6 nameplate. I suspect it could likely be the twin turbocharged 3.6L V6 found in the Porsche Macan. The base model will probably have around the same “400hp” as the Macan Turbo, and the higher model Speed 6 will likely have over 500hp so it can run with the V8 F-Type.

We’ll see for sure if/when it makes it to production. But forget the numbers, and just look at the thing, it’s incredible! I sincerely hope that Bentley doesn’t water down the design and the fine details for the production version. This will be a six-figure car, and I think that wood grain, and those headlights will help it stand out from even the posh crowd at that level.

I think the Bentley Speed 6 will be a fantastic addition to the VW Group lineup, assuming they build it, of course. Let’s all just hope, and enjoy the photos for now.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

Steve McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS at The Quail

March 2, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

While perusing the incredible machines at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, I came upon this very rare Jaguar XK-SS. Formerly Steve McQueen’s own Jaguar XK-SS, the car is now owned by the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA.

The XK-SS is a fascinating automobile, literally a street legal racing car. When Jaguar had finished racing the legendary D-Type in 1955 they had 25 unsold D-Type chassis left over. They decided to turn those Le Mans-winning race car chassis into road cars for sale to private customers. A fire at the factory destroyed 9 of the 25 chassis, but the remaining 16 survive to this day, and are each worth a fortune.

It is always incredible to see an XK-SS in person, it is a most proper Jag. See Steve McQueen in the car below.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Highlights from the 2015 Boca Raton Concours

February 27, 2015 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

This past weekend, I found myself getting a small tan in sunny Florida, while my cohort in the Northeast froze like a Popsicle. 80 degrees, plenty of sun, and low wind make great bedfellows with classic cars on a golf course, and with palm trees abound, the 2015 Boca Raton Concours was a sure thing. This was the first time I’ve attended this show, and I was suitably impressed.

Now in its 9th season, this show is very close in terms of timing to Amelia Island, but takes place much further south, just 60 miles north of Miami. The show is held on the grounds of the Boca Raton Resort and Club, one of the best establishments in South Florida. The show was on the golf course and featured Cadillac products, as well as anything related to the Ford Mustang, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Best of Show was a familiar face and a familiar car–the same car that won Best of Show at Greenwich last summer, a stunning Minerva owned by Joseph Cassini, won the prize at Boca this weekend. Please enjoy this gallery of fine automobiles–features will be coming very soon of a stunning Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spyder, as well as a few gorgeous old Mopar muscle cars. Enjoy, all! Continue reading Highlights from the 2015 Boca Raton Concours →

Car Shows

Singer 911 at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

February 25, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

The folks at Singer Vehicle Design used the Quail to showcase their newest engine available in their custom 911s. It’s a 4.0L Flat Six, and produces a mighty 390hp. In a car weighing only around 2,600lbs, that is quite a good amount of power. In terms of power-to-weight ratio, the new 4.0L Singer actually bests the current Porsche (991) 911 GT3. But unlike the new paddle shift only GT3, the Singer offers drivers the essence of the traditional 911 driving experience.

Because the Singer 911 is basically an old-school 911 that has been made brand new, I actually prefer it to new Porsches overall. Having said that, though, I should point out that you could have four 991 GT3s for the same money as a single bespoke-built Singer 911. But that isn’t my point. What the Singer proves is that there is still a demand for the old-school Porsche driving experience. That is something Porsche should really consider when developing their new products.

PDK is a great gearbox, it really is, but it dulls the driving experience. In the real world, sports cars are about fun, not lap times or performance numbers. And if I’m going to have a special car to drive on sunny days, why on Earth wouldn’t I want to be as immersed in the experience as possible?

That total immersion in the driving experience is what the Singer 911 offers. And the Singer does it in a manner that these new PDK-only Porsche models cannot ever hope to match. I don’t care how fast the new GT3, Turbo, or GT2 911s are, if they’re only available with PDK, then I’d take a Singer any day.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe at RM Auctions Monterey

February 9, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

“Classy” was the single word that came to mind when I came upon this stunning 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe at the RM Auction display in downtown Monterey. Classy on a level not seen in modern Ferraris, which are more ostentatious than anything at this point. I mean just look at the rich two-tone color scheme and that sumptuous interior, this is a 50s-era Italian car in its finest form.

The 1953 250 Europa Coupe was actually the first Ferrari to use the “250” nomenclature, which later would encompass the most sought after Ferraris of all time. It was also the first dedicated Ferrari road-car, the genesis for a lineage of Ferrari Grand Tourers that continues to this day. The Europa Coupe you see here is one of only 21 examples produced, and it recently won its class at the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

The 250 Europa Coupe’s performance was quite good in the 1950s and still would be respectable today. Its 3.0L V12 engine produced 200hp and was hooked up to a 4 speed manual gearbox. A Subaru BRZ or Honda Civic Si make the same amount of horsepower today, and those are pretty quick cars, but this old Ferrari is also lighter than both of them. So should any custodian of one of the 21 Europa Coupes like to use their car on the road, they will still find it easy to keep up with traffic. Stopping, however, is a different issue, as Ferrari was slow to adopt disc brakes. So yea, this thing has drums.

I remember seeing a 250 Europa Coupe similar to this one in a magazine as a kid. I was spellbound by its elegance and sheer beauty. It’s no wonder this classic Ferrari dropped the hammer at $2,750,000 this summer in Monterey. With Ferrari values going through the roof, this stunning example is likely to be a great investment. Read more on its history here.

-Nick Walker

Opinions

Is The Cayman GT4 The Salvation Of Porsche’s Manual Gearbox?

February 4, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

In 2013 Porsche released the (991) 911 GT3 without even the option of a manual gearbox. They put all of their chips in the PDK basket, and then watched as the value of older manual-equipped 911 GT3s skyrocketed.

We’re talking $160,000+ for a 997 GT3 RS and over $300,000 for a GT3 RS 4.0.

Could Porsche have been wrong about the consumer’s desire for PDK? And does the new manual-only Cayman GT4 signify that Porsche may be back-pedaling a bit?

Continue reading Is The Cayman GT4 The Salvation Of Porsche’s Manual Gearbox? →

Auto Idolatry

Autocar Tries Out The New Mazda MX5 Miata

February 2, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Here is our first look at what the new 2015 Mazda MX5 Miata is like from behind the wheel. This is the 1.5L-equipped Miata, which will be a Japanese and European model only. Impressions on the US-spec 2.0L Miata are yet to come, but horsepower for the 2.0L SkyActive four cylinder has been announced at 155bhp. That’s not the 180-200hp that many of us were hoping for, but this is a Miata, so it doesn’t really matter that much.

In the video, he says the new car feels a lot like the original Miata, and I can think of no higher praise for this car than that.

Enjoy!

-Nick

SHOWCASE

What a feeling…Miata!

January 29, 2015 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

I’ve got announcement for you, dear reader. The mild-mannered, straitlaced side of the Mind Over Motor duo has let his hair down a little bit. A few months ago, after a few stiff drinks and a hangover to rival Dionysus, I made the executive decision to get an NA Miata. I bought one so I could get better at driving stick (I wasn’t bad when I bought it but this is the only way to improve consistently when you haven’t driven stick your whole life), as well as to have a second car to drive around when I want a go-kart for the road.

It’s in great shape–far better condition than the last Miata Nick had. It’s a 1993 model with a new stereo and a new clutch, and it needs a little work. It’s a great car so far. While the little 1.6L DOHC four isn’t a ball of fire, 2200 pounds make life easy for it off the line and it feels sprightly up to 75MPH. The brakes are effective and the clutch feels very strong–it’s more than up to the abuse of a driver who’s new to manual transmissions (I hope). No real leaks, and the only issue is that it’s lacking a limited-slip rear differential. It also needs tires–the all seasons occupying the little 14-inch wheels need to go.

Flip up headlights, bright red paint, and a chassis and transmission to die for? It’s going to be an interesting ride. Stay with us, as a full review is coming this summer when the weather warms up. Continue reading What a feeling…Miata! →