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Tag Archives: Sports Cars
This Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spider showed Greenwich some serious class
Of the ten Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spyders on Earth, this is the third one I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. It was by far the single most valuable car on the show field at Greenwich this year (we saw the red one in Monterey, which sold for over $27 million at auction a few years back). Yes, the 275 N.A.R.T. Spider is one of the Ferrari holy grails, right up there with the 250 GTO, but even rarer with less than half the production run.
I think this subdued silver example with its rich red leather interior is supremely classy in the highest regard. It’s a very beautiful and inoffensive looking car, something that evokes admiration from people. Despite being worth a genuine fortune today, it doesn’t come off all that ostentatious as a car in person. Maybe my perception was skewed by the carbon-bodied Lamborghini Centenario right across the row, but this 275 might actually require a second look to be noticed in town.
I’ve said before, this is my favorite classic Ferrari, more than a 250 GTO or a 365 Daytona, I love the 275 GTB, and the N.A.R.T. Spider is the ultimate one to have. I fantasize about taking one of these on a journey up the Pacific Coast highway in California, wind in my hair, V12 signing along up front, it would be perfection.
One can only dream, but it sure has been nice to get to see a few of these N.A.R.T. Spiders in person. I’ve it a point to enjoy every moment I have with them, pouring over their every detail, and this was no exception.
I’ll let the photos take it from here. Enjoy.
Continue reading This Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spider showed Greenwich some serious class
1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster at the Haskell Car Show
Mercedes-Benz has made the SL for over 60 years, and despite the fact that some of them have been duds, the original is a timeless classic. Some people love the Gullwings, others love the Roadsters. I’m firmly in the latter camp, by virtue of the fact that the first toy car I bought with my own money selling candy as a kid was an ivory-colored 190SL Roadster. I don’t have it anymore, but the memories flood back when I see a 190 droptop in the flesh. This medium blue example drew a lot of attention at Monmouth Park Racetrack this weekend. It succeeded in keeping my attention span occupied for a good amount of time, and was my favorite foreign car at the show. Enjoy the photos of this timeless piece of artwork.
Continue reading 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster at the Haskell Car Show
Mazda FD RX-7 with a dirty little secret at the CF Charities Supercar Show
When it comes to the Mazda RX-7, the final generation is the one I seem to gravitate to. I can’t explain why. Perhaps its the “forbidden fruit” aspect of it, since they are not often seen out in the wild. Or, perhaps its the fact that it seems to be right no matter if it still packs its original twin-turbo Wankel powerplant, or some sort of Chevrolet LS engine. Both engines fit this car’s styling almost too well. This one seems to pack an LS1 out of a Corvette and the swap is as clean as they come. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Mazda FD RX-7 with a dirty little secret at the CF Charities Supercar Show
Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder at the CF Charities Supercar Show
This is the new Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder, and I think it is a breath of fresh air in the supercar world. At a time when Ferraris and Lamborghinis seem more and more mass market, here is a genuinely unique supercar that takes a different, more classic, and ultra “special” approach.
Today the mainstream carmakers are obsessed with the orgy of technology, which has many upsides for performance, but nobody is stopping to ask if it really serves the purpose of a super sports car well. Too many cars are being built for lap times and bragging rights, and wind up compromising on a truly engaging driving experience. Speed is great and all, but on my weekends, I don’t have any interest in hopping in a car that does most of the driving for me.
The C8 Preliator brings the formula back to what I consider the epitome of the modern supercar. I see it as carrying on the torch of the Pagani Zonda, the Porsche Carrera GT, and the Ford GT, a truly analog supercar experience, with a beautifully exposed gear lever and a proper 3 pedals.
Though not fitted in the prototype you see here, power will come from a very special Koenigsegg 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 making 600hp. That pushing a car weighing right around the 3,000lb mark (around 200lbs less than a 488), should be quite exciting.
Furthermore, the C8 Preliator Spyder oozes handcrafted fine details. It has a substantial sense of occasion when you’re near it that I don’t think an Aventador or even a LaFerrari can match. The Spyker is a genuine work of art, on a level that can be mentioned with the likes of Pagani and Koenigsegg. As an object you’ll be paying at least $450,000 for, I think this is surely one of the most “special” supercars out there.
This is really my kind of car. Sure, there are way faster cars out there, but this has an incredible balance of power and lightness. You don’t need 1,000hp when the car doesn’t weigh well over 2 tons (cough, Bugatti, cough), and the performance 600hp can provide remain more than insane on the street. Mix that with the pure analogue driving experience, top down thrills, incredible detail work, and a limited production of just 100 units, and you have the ideal recipe for a super sports car as far as I’m concerned.
Enjoy the photos, and be sure to drink in all those fine details!
Continue reading Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder at the CF Charities Supercar Show
Porsche Cayman GT4 spotted in Greenwich, GT
Every time I see a Cayman GT4 in person, I wonder why I aspire for anything else. It’s just about right…
-Nick
Some Highlights From the CF Charities Supercar Show in Philadelphia
We attended the CF Charities Supercar Show at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia this weekend. This was the first year for the event in Philly, and we liked the new venue a lot. There were some truly incredible cars, and there’s a lot more to come, but here are some highlights for starters.
Enjoy!
Continue reading Some Highlights From the CF Charities Supercar Show in Philadelphia
Doug Demuro says what needs to be said about the Porsche 996… it’s great, forget the haters.
I’ve been saying 996 hate is largely unfounded for years. My dad bought a 1999 Carrera back in 2007, and here we are 10 years later, over 100,000 miles on it, and it’s still great. He did the IMS bearing when he did the clutch within a year of buying the car, and he hasn’t had to do anything but basic maintenance since.
It’s a phenomenal car to drive as well, a real pure 911 experience. 300hp, 2,900lbs, a crisp six speed manual, sharp steering, and rear wheel drive with a limited slip differential, what’s not to love about that? If you’re a hater you either haven’t driven a 996, or you’re a car snob with far more access to fine cars than the average person could ever hope for. Sure, if you’re accustomed to driving a 997 GT3 RS all the time, then a 996 Carrera is a few steps backward. But for most drivers the basic 996s are a phenomenal sports car experience, and I think they should be recognized as such.
-Nick
Lotus 340R at the Greenwich Concours
The 340R is what happens when Lotus decides to make a limited edition hardcore track day toy. Only 340 were produced in the early 2000s, making this a very special sight.
(Oh yea, and how about that Porsche 918 in the background there?)
-Nick
Mazda Miata RF vs. Toyota 86
Call me biased, but I think the Miata is a way better car than the Toyota 86.
Let’s see if Motor Trend agrees…
-Nick
Motor Trend’s very honest look at the new Lexus LC500
I’m a big fan of the new Lexus LC 500, but we all need to remember that it’s not a high performance F model, at least not yet. This is the best review I’ve seen yet.
Also, it weighs a hell of a lot more than I expected, almost 4,400 lbs. I hope they find a way to take some weight out when they do make the F version.
Enjoy!
-Nick
A ruby red Aston Martin V12 Vantage at the Concours of the Americas
The thought of having one of these V12 Vantages with a manual transmission makes me salivate profusely. We caught this intensely red one at the Concours of the Americas in Michigan, and luckily, we were on the grass.
-Nick
Mind Over Motor 