Car Culture – Page 11 – The Unmuffled Auto News

March 4, 2014March 4, 2014 zoomvroom Car Culture, Movie Cars

The Top Movie/TV Show Cars

Many movies have cars that we love. Famous cars with famous actors – it goes together. Le Mans had a Porsche 917 and a Ferrari 512LM with Steve McQueen doing all of the driving in the 917. It also had a Porsche 911 Carrera S that went for $1.75 Million dollars at auction last year. The Ronin remake had Robert De Niro, a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, a BMW M5, and a nitrous-huffing Audi S8. Vanishing Point had Barry Newman, a 440-powered Dodge Challenger R/T Magnum, and a Jaguar E-Type V12 Convertible. Well, you get the idea.

While I know that last weekend was Oscars weekend, I still thought that the cars from famous movies deserve a proper recognition. Enjoy my list. I have also attached videos of the cars in the movies that they were in. I hope you enjoy the list and the videos!

1968 Dodge Charger “Bullitt”: While it’s a shame that I haven’t seen Bullitt yet (one of these days!), I’ve seen the epic car chase scene on YouTube countless times. I know. It’s not the same. The 1968 Dodge Charger from Bullitt is undeniably one of the most iconic cars ever to be used in a movie. Anybody, I repeat, ANYBODY, can watch the chase scene and then see a 1968 Charger in real life, and say, “I saw a car that looks similar to that one in Bullitt!” The two cars that really defined the words “muscle car” tore up the streets of San Francisco for real (no CGI, just a couple of sped-up shots). Both the Ford Mustang GT with the 390 cubic-inch V8 and the Dodge Charger R/T with the 440 cubic-inch V8 needed some modifications for the chase scene. Ex race-car builder Max Balchowsky modified both cars for film use. The Highland Green Mustang needed a TON of mods for the chase scene. The Charger, however, only needed heavy-duty shocks and springs to cope with the jumps. Both cars used prototype Firestone tires, but it’s possible to see different width tires multiple times on the Charger. According to Balchowsky, the Charger with it’s big 375-horsepower 440 cubic-inch V8 outgunned the 325-horse 390 cubic-inch V8 Mustang (pun not intended) so much that it required the stunt driver to slow down the car so that McQueen’s ‘Stang could keep up. Score for Mopar! While (spoiler alert!) one of the cars met a fiery demise at the end of the movie and was subsequently scrapped, some say that the other Charger is still around…somewhere. I’d sure like to think so! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lbs_nYW3-o
1955 Chevrolet 150 “American Graffiti”: Arguably one of the most iconic cars for hot rodding, let alone movies, the 1955 Chevrolet 150 from American Graffiti remains the benchmark for modified ’55 Chevy’s. Three 1955 Chevrolet 150’s were used for the filming of the movie. Two of said cars were used in 1971’s Two Lane Blacktop. Transportation supervisor Henry Travers picked the two cars up from the Universal Studios lot and painted them black. One car was a fiberglass shell, and it was used to film exterior shots and the actors inside the car. The other car, the stunt car, was used for the climatic drag race crash. Travers, who drove the car stunt Chevy for the Paradise Road finale couldn’t roll the car as directed by George Lucas – the car had to be heaved onto it’s roof by the crew. A third, non-running 1955 Chevy was picked up, spray-painted black, and a fake B-pillar was welded on to resemble to other two cars. It was burned to film the crash’s aftermath. The burn car was returned to the junkyard – it would have been impossible to get the car in running condition! Only the main camera car remains today. It has traded hands a few times and some dubious modifications have been made to it. In 2012, it was sold privately to a private buyer who plans to restore the car to it’s original American Graffiti appearance. Prior to the deal, the buyer apparently barely avoided acquiring his own burn car, built by George Barris. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOgqUHk-zDY
1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 “Ronin”: While the chase scene from Bullitt deserves lots of ink, the multiple chase scenes from the 1998 remake of Ronin make the leaping American stallions chase scene look about as exciting as a segway tour of Los Angeles. John Frankenheimer, the same speed junkie who directed the 1966 movie Grand Prix, directed Ronin. He hired a gaggle of stunt drivers, including F1 champion Jean-Pierre Jarier and sports car champion Jean-Claude Lagniez, and let them loose throwing muscular German sedans around Paris, Monaco, and parts of Souther France at opposite lock drift angles and mind-blowing speeds – on closed-off public roads. An Audi S8 and BMW rightfully grab a lot of attention in the movie, with Frankenheimer cleverly using right-hand-drive cars with fake left-side steering wheels so that the actors including Robert De Niro and Natascha McElhone could “drive” while one of the Frenchmen terrified them just a couple of feet away. Not to be outdone are the guys from Mercedes-Benz who sent a 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, arguably the first German muscle car. Robert De Niro “drives” for a while, while French actor Jean Reno actually drove. The absolute mayhem begins with a Rockford pulled off in the Benz, and then De Niro and Reno chase down the bad boys who happen to be driving a Peugeot 406. The Peugeot and and Benz hurtle through the French countryside at speeds well over 100 mph, and then De Niro stands up in the sunroof and blows the 406 to smithereens. Post-explosion, the 450SEL 6.9 hurtles into the seaside village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, an outskirt of Monaco, where a good half of the movie was filmed, where it hurtles through tiny city streets trashing market stalls and cafe tables in search of whatever is locked inside of that mysterious locked case everybody wants. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMaG5WAmHvY
1980 Lamborghini Countach “The Cannonball Run”: If you can, keep your eyes ON the car, not IN the car! It sounds easy, but Tara Buckman and Adrienne Barbeau are inside. When Hal Needham and Brock Yates (arguably one of the most iconic auto journalists ever) thought up the plot for The Cannonball Run, a highly fictionalized version of the illegal cross-country Cannonball Run races of the 1970s, they knew that only one car could keep a teenager’s eyes off of Buckman and Barbeau – a 1980 Lamborghini Countach. The entire opening sequence of the movie focuses entirely on the Countach. The V12 shrieks up and down through the gearbox, and the two ladies stopping just long enough paint an “X” across a 55 mph speed limit sign before the car screams off onto the American prairie highway again. The car taunts a police cruiser by coming up extremely close in the rear view mirror, pulling alongside, and then disappearing into the horizon. No wonder this movie, which Yates himself calls “a pretty lousy picture!” grossed more than $72 million dollars – in the U.S. alone! Of course, Burt Reynolds and Victor Prinzim are the official stars of the movie with their fake ambulance, but don’t tell that to any teenage boy who saw the movie in the 1980’s. After filming, the car was used by Hawaiian Tropic as a promotional vehicle for 28 years. Then, a private collector in Florida bought the car in 2009, and restored the car to factory condition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh9L6LrpmTQ
1970 Porsche 911S “Le Mans”: Most of Le Mans focuses on a frenzy of screaming prototypes, howling sports cars, furious air wrenches, and cheering crowds of adoring fans. Not for the opening sequence, though. Before reaching the Le Mans circuit, McQueen’s character, troubled racer Michael Delaney, gently pushes his 911S across the French countryside and a quiet village. Soon, he will strap into a howling Porsche 917 for 24 hours of 240+ mph battle against a Ferrari 512LM. But, for now, it’s just the man and his steed. The Slate Gray 911S stands out in it’s timeless, understated elegance. Kind of like McQueen himself. It’s no wonder that he took the machine back with him to California to join his rapidly growing sports car and motorcycle collection. Since he owned a nearly identical 1969 model, the 1970 911S was soon sold to a Los Angeles-based attorney who kept the car hidden away for the better part of 30 years. The car changed hands two more times before going up for auction at RM Auctions Monterey, where it fetched a tidy $1.375 Million dollars, the most EVER paid for a 911 at auction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JlyQsWXrqA
1966 Jaguar XKE V12 Convertible “Vanishing Point”: Most people my age today probably wouldn’t understand the tagline from Vanishing Point: “Tighten your seatbelt. You never had a trip like this before.” But in 1971, the phrase fell on plenty of knowing ears and cars. Enter Barry Newman as Kowalski, Congressional Medal of Honor Winner, ex-cop, ex-istentialist, as well as ex-race-driver. His mission is the stuff of any Hollywood movie legend, or any car buff’s legend – drive the car from Denver to San Francisco in record time. Hollywood being Hollywood, Kowalski encounters everything from rattlesnakes to sun-hardened old-timers, pre-“Bette Davis Eyes” Kim Carnes music, and deranged religious prophets. But, his most memorable meeting was against a goggles-wearing, giggling desert rat hell-bent on some hoonage in his Jaguar XK-E V12 Convertible. Said Jag driver literally begs for it – he even bangs his car into the Challenger to get Kowalski’s attention. Since this is Hollywood, Kowalski takes the bait. Big time. It’s wire rims against mag wheels, Dover Sole versus Alaska Salmon, tea cakes versus beefcake. A one-lane bridge looms ahead. Kowalski gives the big 440 full throttle, fender swipes the Jag, and the Jag flies off the road in a splendid, um, horrifying fashion. After several barrel rolls and a gigantic drop, the Jag ends up on it’s side in a mud-caked riverbed. Since the driver of the Jag was a stunt driver, he’s OK. Kowalski gives him a quick check, and is back on his way. I can’t say the same for the Jag – it ended up as a total write-off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBTup5WH0a0
1963 Apollo 3500 GT Thorndyke Special “The Love Bug”: When was the last time you saw The Love Bug? It’s a cute movie, and the support vehicles are, well, spectacular. In any given racing scene, cute little Herbie the Love Bug is surrounded by all sorts of cars you’d expect to see at a period SCCA road race, from Triumph TR6’s to Shelby Cobra’s to MG TC’s. The most memorable supporting vehicle is the black and yellow car driven by that crook Peter Thorndyke in the final El Dorado race. Thorndyke drives everything from a Jaguar E-Type to a Ferrari 250GT (a replica car that long ago disappeared) Tour de France on his way to campaigning the Thorndyke Special. The Thorndyke Special is, for all of it’s Italian looks, is an Apollo 3500GT. It may have Italian styling, but it was made in Oakland California. The Apollo cars started life in Italy, where the bodies and chassis’ were made by Intermeccanica. They would then be shipped to Oakland, where the engines and transmissions would be installed. Most of the engines were 350 cubic-inch Buick V8’s mated to either a Muncie M-22 “Rock Crusher” transmission or a Buick three-speed automatic. 42 cars were built between 1962 and 1964, when the company ran out of money and closed. Max Balchowsky specifically modified two cars for the movie with their well-known paint scheme. At least one car still exists today, with the restoration in Toronto, Canada started many years ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCmUQo2r33g
1969 Lamborghini Muira “The Italian Job (1969)”: For us car lovers, the opening scene of the 1969 The Italian Job starring legendary British actor Michael Caine is beautiful and haunting. An orange 1969 Lamborghini Muira P400 is making its way through the beautiful Swiss Alps with the actor Rossano Brazzi behind the wheel, cigarette dangling like they are in commercials. He’s wearing driving gloves, a perfect suit, and designer sunglasses. Matt Monro crooning “On Days Like These” accompanies the scream of the 3.9-liter V12 of the Muira. What could go wrong? Everything, as the Muira enters the tunnel at high speed, and comes out crumpled in the bucket of an earth mover at the other end. A roadblock set up by the bad guys takes the blame. And, the once-raging Muira is dropped over 100 feet into a river. Was the orange Lambo actually destroyed? Yes and no. Two Muira’s were used for the scene. The running and driving one was not wrecked, as it was a press car for Lamborghini; that honor goes to a crash-damaged frame of a Muira with new bodywork and no engine. Rumor has it that when the crew came down to the river the next morning, not a single piece of the wrecked Muira was to be found. Creepy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQIRbV_noi8
1964.5 Ford Mustang GT Convertible “Goldfinger”: While the Aston Martin DB5 seems to get all of the credit (rightfully so – it’s AWESOME!), the first Ford Mustang ever in a movie co-starred with the Brit. Tilly Masterson’s gold 1964.5 Ford Mustang GT Convertible was a preproduction model, and was run off of a Swiss mountain after Bond’s tire slicing hubcap sticks out. Ford REALLY wanted the Mustang to be part of Goldfinger, and had originally specified for a fastback to be used in the film. Unfortunately, the fastback Mustang would start production too late in 1964 for filming purposes. Ultimately, the Goldfinger Mustang fastback was built with special gold metallic paint, and it featured a roof panel with 007-inspired switches. It was used as a promotional vehicle for both Bond and Ford for many years, and it still survives in private ownership. As for the Mustang GT Convertible used in the film, it is believed but unknown by either Ford or anybody that it was sold after the film and repainted and currently with somebody. Who that somebody is beats Ford and everybody else. I’d sure like to know. Other Ford vehicles were used in Goldfinger: A 1957 Ford Thunderbird was used by Secret Service agents, a 1964 Lincoln Continental was driven to the junkyard and crushed by Oddjob, Goldfinger’s lethal assistant, and a 1964 Ford Ranchero was used for Oddjob to drive away from the junkyard with the crushed Continental in the bed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLuNstLjP1c
1967 Ford Mustang GT500 “Gone in 60 Seconds”: The menacing-looking 1967 silver-grey Ford Mustang GT500 from the 2005 remake of Gone in 60 Seconds is a 1967 Ford Mustang GT Fastback. It has body panels and GT500 badges to make it look like a GT500. It had a hopped-up 390 cubic-inch V8 made up to perform and sound like the 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 found in the GT500. Three cars were made for filming, and one was scrapped. The other two survive in private ownership. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMv-X0tG2KQ

December 21, 2013December 21, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews, New car info, Road Trips

The Best Cars for the End of the Holiday Season!

I think that this is a bit of a tradition for me. Last year, I wrote a post about the same time as this one. It was also about the best cars for the end of the holiday season. I have fond memories of picking through cars that I thought deserved to be on this list. While my list may not be as prestigious as Car & Driver’s 10Best, I would like to think of it as my personal version. Except, I will be doing a list like this for every season! That’s right: Winter, spring, summer, and fall! After much thought, I have finally decided what cars deserve to be on my list. The criteria for the cars: The cars on the list must all be new or substantially updated, they must be able to be entertaining in a snowy climate, and they must be able to seat at least four people comfortably (that way you can go on a road trip with the kids or friends!). Enjoy my list!

Bentley Flying Spur: The Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed was on my list last year. However, the Flying Spur is no longer burdened with the Continental name. It does still share a platform with the Continental, though. It’s a brute of a car, weighing in at 5644 pounds. It’s definitely as large as an elephant – it is 17.4 feet long, and it it weighs as much as a male elephant bull. Don’t despair – this car rockets to 60 mph in an equally stunning 4.3 seconds. This car will keep pace with a sprightly Lotus Evora S all day, without much drama or effort. This car has 616 horsepower mated to a superb ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The powerful W12 engine is more efficient – it gets 12/20 MPG city/highway, according to the EPA. However, snowy hoonage will likely lower that number… It has every option one can imagine, including private multimedia screens for the kids. Bang & Olufsen sound-deadening wireless headphones will keep the people in front sane.
Ford F-150 FX2/FX4 Sport Tremor: The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Crew Cab rumbled and burbled its way onto my list last year because of its substantial updates, most notably the 6.2 liter V8. This year, it’s more efficient, yet just-as-fun sister joins the party. The Sport Tremor comes in 2WD or 4WD, regular cab only. It comes with Ford’s powerful, efficient 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. Power gets there through a 4.10:1 rear end, so these trucks will be fast. I know that it doesn’t seat four, but don’t despair – you can always get the Raptor! The performance figures for the Sport Tremor aren’t out yet, but a 2012 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4 Crew Cab got to 60 in a quite-respectable 6.2 seconds. Expect the Sport Tremor to get there in about 5.8-5.9 seconds. While it won’t keep up with the Bentley in a straight line, it CAN haul a whole lot more, and get better gas mileage!
SRT Viper/GTS/TA: The Viper has a ground-shaking 8.4-liter V10 that pumps out 640 horsepower. It comes with a 6-speed manual transmission and RWD only. This will play with the boys. I know that it doesn’t seat four, but hey, it’s a Viper. It’s not a Bentley! The RWD, 640 horse Viper should be a hoot to hoon around in the snow. Stability control and traction control will help.
Porsche 911 Turbo/Turbo S: The Porsche 911 Turbo is a great car to own. Not only will the 991-generation Turbo remain a collectible for a long time, but the 991 911 Turbo/Turbo S has a bunch of new technology designed to help the driver get around a track faster. It has AWD, 560 horsepower in the Turbo S, and seats for four. While the rear seats may only be fit for presents, the kids will have to suck it up and squeeze in there for a bit. But, the drive there will be worth it. The 911 Turbo/Turbo S is turbocharged, which makes it a cinch to drive fast, especially in wet or low-traction environments. This car was designed to make the worst of drivers look good, and the best of drivers look legendary. Have fun with this car.
Porsche 918 Spyder: If you own this car, I want to go for a spin in it! Porsche has had the 918 Spyder in testing for years – prototypes were running around Germany as far back as 2007. The 918 Spyder has a hybrid-electric system that distributes the gobs of 874 horsepower and an astounding 944 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. The 918 Spyder Weissach Package loses 88 pounds by using ceramic wheel bearings and film wrap instead of conventional aluminum and paint. It won’t seat any more than two, but that’s okay. This car will blow your mind at the speeds it reaches without effort, as well as the confidence it gives the driver at any speed.
Subaru WRX: Subie is legendary in the rally world for building fast, reliable cars that don’t look like much. The 2015 WRX lives up to these statements. It loses the massive rear wing found on the previous generation of WRXs, but it has power and fun. It is bigger, but it makes 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s suspension has been firmed up 39% in the front, and 62% in the rear. This car will play all day with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, and be as flat as a Porsche Cayman S while cornering. The torque vectoring system uses the rear differential instead of the brakes to vector the torque. It doesn’t look pretty, but then again, no Subie in recent memory has looked mesmerizing. Subaru invests money in engineering, not in styling. That’s fine with me.
Jeep Cherokee: For those of you who remember the Jeep Cherokees of yore, close this tab, shut off your computer, grab your wallet, and go get a Jeep Wrangler. This Cherokee is NOTHING like the harsh-riding Cherokees of the 1980s and 1990s. This Cherokee comes standard with FWD, but 4WD is optional. The Cherokee Trailhawk will keep pace with a stock Wrangler or SVT Raptor all day long without breaking a sweat. The Cherokee is packed with lots of useful, cool tech. I won’t bore you all of that technology, but I will say that for those in need of something affordable with 4WD, the Cherokee deserves a second look.
Chevrolet SS: The Chevy SS is the thunder from down under. It’s based off of the Holden Commodore, and it’s got a high-performance 6.2-liter V8 with 415 horsepower. The SS is the first RWD Chevy sedan since 1996 for civilian use – the Caprice PPV is available for lucky cops, and it’s truly spectacular. It is capable of making those who owned a muscle car as a teenager feel young again, while allowing Mom and the kids to experience the fun. It’s not all about burnouts – the SS can hold its own in the twisties. The 415-horse V8 and six-speed automatic mated to RWD will make it entertaining for anybody to drive, any season, at any time. I want one, if you haven’t noticed!
2014 Chevrolet Silverado: Chevy is good at this game! Two cars on my list is kinda hard. Yet, Chevy introduced two cars capable of being on this list, which both of them are. The 2014 Silverado truly gives the buyer everything that is needed or wanted, and then some. There are literally 50 different cab/bed combinations, let alone the plethora of engine/transmission/2WD/4WD combinations. The 2014 Silverado was designed to be one of the best in the game, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s got clever tech for all of the engines to make the engines more competitive in an ever-evolving segment. The Silverado doesn’t come with the option of an extended cab anymore – safety regulations and loss of demand killed it for Chevy, but it comes with a “Quad Cab” option that offers more space than an extended cab, as well as the look of a crew cab. It starts off as a perfectly nice base model, before climbing the ladder of expensive and unneeded options to become a pure luxury truck.
Ram 1500: The Ram 1500 has long been one of my favorite 1/2 ton trucks. Ever since it’s massive – and popular redesign in 1993, the Ram 1500 has always had a brutish Hemi V8 underhood. Recently, Ram introduced an EcoDiesel V6 shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s the first diesel in a 1/2 ton pickup since the 1980s. I know the deal about diesels. My dad owns a 2003 GMC 2500 4X4 with the Duramax diesel. But, the Ram 1500 offers the same noise levels as the Ram equipped with the Hemi V8. If you don’t want a diesel, you can always opt for the refreshed Hemi V8, which has more cool tech to aid in towing and hauling.

Have a fun, happiness-filled end of the holiday season! In these final days of 2013, I urge you to take a walk in the park with friends, your kids, and/or the family dog (if you have one), and do whatever fills your heart with enjoyment. Have a wonderful Winter Break!

Enjoy the pictures of the cars (and trucks!) on my list:

November 22, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture

A Winged Wonder of the Rally World is for Sale – on eBay!

It’s amazing what you can find on eBay. Anything. Really. For example, a 2008 Lamborghini Reventon was sold for $2.5 Million on eBay. The 1954 Chevrolet Nomad Concept car was sold on eBay for an undisclosed amount. However, we’re not talking about Lamborghini’s or Chevy’s. We are talking about a factory-built 1983 Audi Quattro A2 Group B rally car.

You can buy it on eBay for JUST $385,000! That includes a spare engine, plus a trailer full of spare parts. Remember, this car used to race in the 1980s!

The Audi Quattro was the car that made Audi the automotive wonder of the modern world. It put Audi on the map for building performance cars, as well as making Audi a technological leader. The Quattro was so successful in rallying that it was banned from certain kinds of rallying. This A2 competed in the World Rally Championships of 1983 and 1984, and won eight rallies. This thing was seriously fast. This car was part of the infamous Group B rally cars that has turbocharged engines pumping out horsepower that would give a Top Fuel Dragster an engine failure. These Group B cars were fast to the point of insanity, and they were eventually banned for being too dangerous.

The Group B cars took technology usually reserved for road racing, and applied it to rallying. Just imagine this car barreling along a muddy, rutted, tiny road in the middle of a forest at 150 mph!

Like all other Quattro variants, this car used a turbocharged five-cylinder engine pumping out somewhere around 500 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. For comparison, an R8 V10 Plus cranks out 560 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque from a naturally aspirated V10 double the size of the tiny five-banger. It put its crazy power to the ground via the legendary Haldex AWD system. The same system, albeit, with a few tweaks, is still used in AWD Audi’s today. The Audi Quattro Group B cars were replaced with the extreme, short-wheelbase Sport Quattro at the end of the 1984 season.

Enjoy the picture of this legendary car. It seems to be in perfect condition, and it has all of its original race livery from 1983 and 1984 still on it. This thing is MINT! The spare parts collection is visible in the background. This car would make an excellent addition to a private collection. But, it also deserves to be driven. It would be at home at a road course like Watkins Glen or Road America. Remember, it’s NOT even close to road-legal!

Audi Quattro (A2) Group B rally car

November 1, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews

Wanna Drive the Fastest Convertible…In the World?

While Bugatti may hold an unofficial record for the fastest production car ever (Bugatti recently announced that they took off the speed governor on the car used for Guinness Book of World Records testing. They also used race-spec tires. Both of those disqualified the car.) The fastest production car in the world is the SSC Ultimate Aero TT, which went 255.83 mph in 2007. However, Bugatti didn’t let that unofficial record hit them in the gut. They took the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse up to its top speed of 254 mph. That’s official, according to the Guinness Book of World Records folks. It should be, because they checked every single square millimeter of that car. The extremely lucky driver? None other than Anthony Liu, a Chinese Formula 1 driver. Even better, the car did this astonishing feat with its top down!!!! Where was this record set? The Volkswagen Group’s famous Ehra-Lessien testing grounds in Germany, where a stunning photo of the record-breaking car was taken. The car can hit a top speed of 254 mph with the top up, according to a senior Bugatti engineer. With the top down, it is “highly recommended to not follow Mr. Liu’s attempts, and keep the car at 233 mph.” Whatever. Mr. Liu obviously wanted to tell THIS engineer that he races cars WITHOUT a top ALL THE TIME, and he can drive it just as well! The only two colors available right now for the Grand Sport Vitesse are a vivid black-and-orange color scheme that should tell the cops that they can’t even come close to catching this ace of spades!

October 10, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Movie Cars, World News

Want to Own a Star Car From Two Very Famous Movies?

For those car aficionados among you, and/or movie fans, you know that some cars that made appearances in movies, have an almost cult-like status nowadays. For example, the Audi S8 from Ronin, the Jeep or Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park, the Aston Martin DB5 from Thunderball and Goldfinger, the #46 City Chevrolet Lumina from Days of Thunder, the 2003 Mini Coopers from The Italian Job, the 2008 Audi R8 from Iron Man, the 1970 Porsche 911S from Le Mans, the 1970 Dodge Challenger from Vanishing Point. The list could go on for a few paragraphs, but, okay, I’ll stop now and get to the point. All of the cars mentioned above have people who literally kiss the ground these cars drove over. I’m not kidding. But, two very iconic cars are going up for sale.

The submersible Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me went up for sale, and was bought for $966,560 at an RM Auctions auction block. Here’s the interesting history of the car after the movie: After the movie was over, the filming company put the car under wraps, and shoved into a storage unit in Long Island for about 10 years. When the storage contract expired, the filming company decided to put it up for “blind sale.” At a public auction, a local couple paid a small fee for the car, not knowing that they would soon own one of the most iconic cars in history. The couple ran the VIN of the car, hired a private automotive detective, and positively identified the car. It was occasionally shown, but it was mostly kept under wraps. The couple had the car restored by the same company that originally built it, and it can still function as a submarine.

The replica Ferrari 250 GT Spyder from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off also went up for auction. It sold for a steep price of $230,000. Three cars were built for the movie, but one was wrecked (no spoiler alert here), and the other knocked off about half of the engine block in the joyride scene with the valets. Its last owner was Neil Glassmoyer, one of the men who built the car. It is powered by a Ford 427 V8 that makes somewhere around 500 horsepower, and it is probably a hoot to drive, as it only weighs 2,650 pounds. While it’s not an actual Ferrari, it is faster than any Ferrari of the 1980s, and more iconic than any. It was lovingly restored in 1997 by Glassmoyer and his son to Concours-levels of restoration.

Here are some pictures of a stock Esprit and the movie car:

Here are some pictures of the Ferrari replica from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and a stock Ferrari 250 GT:

I’ve also been kind enough to include the iconic movie cars mentioned in the first paragraph.

Ronin Audi S8:

Jurassic Park Jeep and Ford Explorer:

Thunderball and Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5:

Days of Thunder #46 City Chevrolet Lumina:

The Italian Job 2003 Mini Coopers:

Iron Man 2008 Audi R8:

Le Mans 1970 Porsche 911S:

Vanishing Point 1970 Dodge Challenger:

And, just for the heck of it, the 1970 Porsche 917 from Le Mans, which is now owned by Jerry Seinfeld:

Note to my faithful, car-obsessed readers: I will do a post soon on famous movie cars, complete with a brief description of each car, and pictures of them. Stay tuned.

September 21, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews

The Top Twenty-Five Future Collector Cars!

I have always wanted to do a blog post on this. I know that it’s kind of generic, but everybody has their own impressions of what cars should be future collectibles, right? Enjoy my list, and tell me what you would like to see as a future collectible in the comments section.

2013 SRT Viper/GTS/TA: The SRT Viper is one of the best American cars on the road. It’s loud, brash, fast, and it will scare the living daylights out of you and make you a better driver at the same time. It’s a rare combination that won’t live long. It’s got an iconic design that will still look downright diabolical 50 years down the road. It’s also got one of the biggest engines in the world, with a massive 8.4-liter V10 wedged under the hood. It pumps out 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. For the Viper, there is no replacement for displacement.
2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Corvette Convertible: Essentially a 2013 Corvette ZO6 with a convertible top, the Corvette 427 Convertible is the last iteration of the C6 Corvette. It’s also one of the best Corvettes. Ever.
Audi RS5: The 2013 Audi RS5 is a homage to the wailing, stylish DTM racers of the late 20th century. It’s powered by a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 that pumps out 414 horsepower at 8000 RPM. As Motor Trend described it, it’s an R8 with a slightly detuned engine for those who need more space. It’s a beautiful car, too, with big, blacked-out wheels, fender flares, and a grille that pays tribute to the Auto Union racers of the 1930’s.
2014 Porsche Cayman/S: The second-generation Porsche Cayman is sure to win awards, praises, and thumbs-ups from everybody. It is the car that the 911 should be. The engine is in the right place, it behaves like a race car, it can go just as fast around the hallowed Nurburgring as the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. What could possibly be better? Nothing, as far as I’m concerned!
2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: The Chevrolet Camaro is a good car. The ZL1 takes it to a completely different level. It’s fast, loud, fun to drive, and it looks spectacular. The ZL1 convertible takes away the bunker-like visibility of the coupe, and lets the NASCAR-like engine note pierce the cabin. It also happens to be Chevrolet’s most powerful production convertible ever. It will most likely be bought by hardcore enthusiasts and it will command a premium over the ZL1 coupe when it shows up at auctions in about 10 years.
2013 Tesla Model S: Not only did it win Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year award, but it recently set electric car records at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It gets to 60 mph in five seconds, so this car is a sleeper in a efficient, silent way. I want one.
Mazda Miata: The Mazda Miata helped turn around the definition of sports cars when it was introduced in 1990. It took the idea of classic British roadsters, mixed it with reliability, a cheap buying price, and charm. Hundreds of thousands have been sold since then. It also happens to be the most popular car for racing.
2009 Cadillac CTS-V: Ten years ago, you would have been laughed off of the face of the planet for telling people that Cadillac would build a high-performance car. There might never be another. If you want a true unicorn of a car, get the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. It’s got 556 horsepower, thanks to a detuned Corvette LS9 engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed slushbox. It tops out at 193 mph, yet it is a refined street car, thanks to a special Magnetic Ride Control suspension system that was developed by Delphi Suspension Systems.
2007 Dodge Magnum SRT8: The merger of Chrysler Motor Co. and Daimler Motor Co. was short-lived and unsuccessful. However, some interesting cars were built in that time. Take the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Magnum, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. They’re all kissing cousins. The Dodge Magnum is the coolest and baddest bruiser on the block. The Magnum SRT8 is rare and awesome. It’s got clear hot rod DNA, yet it wasn’t a sales hit. Just 4,219 were sold in two years.
2008 Honda S2000 CR: Honda redefined supercar in the early 1990’s with the mid-engine, all-aluminum NSX. The chief engineer’s retirement present to the world was the 2008 Honda S2000 CR. The S2000 was already a great track car, but the S2000 CR took it to a whole new level. It made 260 horsepower at a wailing 8300 RPM, and sent those shrieking ponies to the ground via one of the world’s best six-speed manuals ever made.
Porsche Carrera GT: It’s a rare time when Porsche’s engineers make a supercar. The Porsche Carrera GT is an amazing car that showcases Le Mans technology, high speeds, prices, and looks. The thing’s a bloody unicorn. Using a chassis and bodywork from a failed Le Mans prototype that never made it to racing, a F1-style V10 that made 612 horsepower at 8000 rpm. It put it’s power down with a six-speed manual with a carbon composite clutch.
Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca: Ford summed it up best, with their description of the Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. “It’s a race car with a license plate.” It was an affordable one at that, costing buyers $48,100 in 2011 and 2012. Mustang lovers and just about anybody who appreciates cars will want one in their collection, whether it’s now or 50 years from now.
BMW M3: The E92 BMW M3 is the last car of a dying breed. It’s 4.0-liter flat-plane V8 makes 414 horsepower at a rev-happy 8400 RPM. Because the future of BMW’s M cars lie with turbocharging, the E92 M3 is sure to become a collectible with many enthusiasts.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: The 2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the first Mustang with a top speed of 200 mph. Randy Pobst and Motor Trend reached 197 mph, but I have no doubt that the GT500 would reach 200 or more with enough road. It’s also the last car to have direct influence by Carroll Shelby himself.
HUMMER H2: Even though it was just a butched-up Chevrolet Tahoe, the HUMMER H2 represented the peak of an era when off-roading was at it;s peak. A massive tax loophole at the time made it popular with everybody from hip-hop stars, lawyers, contractors, and just about anybody with their own business.
2004 Toyota Prius: The second-generation Toyota Prius redefined the way the world thought about hybrids. It may be an egg-shaped nerdmobile, but it sure as heck is a benchmark for many automakers today. It’s an engineering marvel, and sales of the Prius peaked in 2008, when the economy crashed and fuel prices went through the roof.
Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S: The sports car market as we knew it from around 2000-2012 was focused on big, powerful engines that made cars go fast and handle badly. The joint venture between Toyota/Scion and Subaru turned out to be a success. The cars weigh under 3000 pounds, they have rev-happy engines mated to crisp transmissions that redefine the definition of affordable sports car. They can zip around a track just as fast as a Porsche 911 Turbo. Look for them to command high premiums in 30 years or so at auctions.
1987 Buick GNX: One of the most desirable cars of all time is the Buick GNX. Based off of the already diabolical Buick Regal Grand National coupe with one sweet engine. A big turbo and a new intercooler bumped horsepower to 276 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque.
Ford F150 SVT Raptor: At a time when automakers were just starting to redesign trucks because of increasing demand, Ford came out with a true unicorn of a car. It now comes with a big, rip-snorting 6.2-liter V8, but it was plenty fast before that. It is a Baja-racing style truck that performs well enough on the pavement to outperform those guys in their hopped-up fartcan Honda Civic’s, yet will leave a HUMVEE eating it’s dust anywhere. It’s a rare combination of engineering, pure fun, and years of experience that make this truck so collectible.
2002 Ford F150 SVT Lightning: This was the time of massive horsepower, fast trucks. Ford’s F150 SVT Lightning deserves a spot on this list. It came with a supercharged version of the 5.4-liter V8 found in the F250 that put out an impressive 450 lb-ft of torque and an equally impressive 380 horsepower. The tires helped keep the truck going in a straight line – mostly. It’s also a menacing track vehicle.
McLaren MP4-12C: The McLaren MP4-12C won’t outdo the legendary McLaren F1 of the 1990s. However, it is called one of the best-handling cars of all time. It’s got looks, speed, handling, power, and technology that would make any car proud.
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI: Volkswagen realized that their bad-selling 2006-2011 Passat was a loser. They redesigned the Passat, and made it into an American car. It’s been softened, enlarged, and Americanized. It’s still a great car. It won Motor Trend’s 2012 Car of the Year award, so it should be destined to be a future collectible. Keep your eyes peeled.
2012 Fiat 500/Abarth: You’ve seen the raving reviews. After a hiatus of well over 30 years, Fiat has made a successful return to the States. Their tiny Fiat 500 has proved popular, thanks to the plethora of options, color choices, and price range. It appeals to many. For those who don’t want something lacking in power, get the Abarth model. Yeah, the one with the scorpion ads.
Audi R8: While it “only” shares a name, some design cues, and some technology from one of the winningest Le Mans prototypes, the beautifully styled Audi R8 is a car that pleases. It shares a V10 engine with the Lamborghini Gallardo, so you know that it will certainly play the part of a super car. It has the styling, handling, power, and speed to become a classic for many years to come. I want one. Make that need one!
2011 Ford Mustang GT: After 13 years of having modular V8’s in the iconic Mustang pony car, Ford decided it was time to bring back the iconic 5.0-liter V8 to the Mustang. While the old 5.0 used to displace 4942 cubic inches, or 4.9215 liters, the new 5.0 displaces 4951 cubic inches, or 5.016 liters. It’s got a sound at full throttle that sounds like a NASCAR engine from the 1960s, yet a docile growl at idle. This pony begs to be flogged. It’s also got performance to help it keep up with BMW M3’s at the track, thanks to an optional Track Package or a Brembo Brake package. Either package is well worth the money. Plus, the interior is as nice as a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. You can’t ask for much more out of a Ford. It’s a job well done.

That’s all for today! Remember, add your thoughts about the cars and/or put additions in the comments section.

September 17, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, World News

The Most Expensive Car Ever Sold At Auction!

A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spider set new world records this weekend at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The amount of money that bought the car shows that vintage sports cars, especially those with a prancing horse attached to the grille will build at a fever pitch. At the RM Auctions Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Annual Auction, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spider sold for an impressive $27.5 Million USD. What makes that even more amazing is that all of the proceeds of this auction went to auction. It is estimated that well over $200 Million USD went to charity.

Some quick information on the car: Just one of ten built, was purchased by civic causes leader and industry giant Eddie Smith, Sr. in 1968. he bought it from one of the original Ferrari importers, Luigi Chinetti in April, 1968. It has remained in his family since the day he bought it. But, the car was put in storage after Smith’s passing in 2007. In those five years, it has appeared three times to the public. His family decided to sell the car so a new owner can appreciate the car for what it is and show it.

The preauction estimate is enough to blow your head off. It did for me. The world’s foremost classic Ferrari appraiser estimated it’s worth to be $14-17 Million USD. However, furious bidding raised the price to an astronomical $27.5 Million USD. The buyer of the car is believed to be Canadian fashion giant Lawrence Stroll.

Under the beautifully sculpted hood is a 300 horsepower V12. It gets to the wheels through a five-speed manual. It is a number’s matching car, with chassis number #10709. It has been restored once, and was originally painted Azzurro Metallizzato, a metallic blue.

Whoever the new owner is, he/she will enjoy one of the most expensive cars in the world. It will take them to a whole new level of prestige and power. I hope that they embrace the car as a glove that will fly down the road. May they use it well.

September 10, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Humor

The Top Nine Cars That Come With a Guarantee to Get You Mad!

I know what you’d love to see. You’d love to see a Lamborghini Aventador warp by you at full throttle. The engine note alone will set your car alarm off, and force you to get hearing aids. I hope they work well. It can make your day to know that somebody is enjoying their supercar.

The polar opposite of that is the dark spot. That’s where you’ll find Captain Clueless, Corporal Crazy, and just about anything and anybody in between. It’s not your fault. My great-grandfather used to say, “Drive like everybody else on the road is an idiot.” some are. I say this with all the authority that I, as a new driver, can muster. A lot of authority, then…

Any person in a slow, smelly, tin can-mobile of a car, can ruin a perfectly good Sunday morning drive, or a high-speed freeway strafing run in your Corvette. The first trick is to know how to spot them a mile ahead. I’m still working on that. Just be safe in the knowledge that you’ll never, ever drive one of these cars as your personal whip:

Toyota Prius: If the SUV was the status symbol of Captain Clueless in the 1990’s, guess what: He still is. But, his friends bought Toyota Prii, and are now doing their very best to get you pissed. I feel for you. Those who drive a Prius don’t care that they are going 45 in the fast lane. They want 60 mpg, and nothing is gonna get in their way. Try to be nice. Please – the Prius allows awesome Toyota products like the Tundra and the Land Cruiser to still be in production.
Mercury Sable: The overly cautious type. Most don’t drive freeways. Those who still do make you swear up, down, and sideways, that you’ll never, ever, even THINK of exiting at that exit again. Seniors flocked to the badge-engineered Mercury Sable because they were too thrifty to step up to something like the more expensive Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car. A tip for those of you who have thrifty, cool, slightly nerdy parents: Put them into a Scion xB, or a 2014 Toyota Corolla. You’ll thank me later.
Pontiac Firebird: Just like Burt Reynolds, the man who made the Firebird famous, the Firebird will never, ever go quietly away from a stoplight. It can’t do anything at a level quieter than a NASCAR engine at full throttle when it’s in gear. For those of you who drive one take this advice as the word of God. Dude, engineers worked overtime to keep everybody else’s ears from getting killed. USE IT! The neighborhood needs some sleep!
Any White Windowless Cargo Van: Nothing, except for a Semi truck will completely and totally eclipse your view of the road. Common sense and nature tell you to approach with caution. Pass it normally, and you’ll need a sniffer dog to pull your body parts out of the wreckage. Just make sure that you pass this rolling Amber Alert with caution. Also, don’t look at the driver.
Honda Insight: You could use some Insight when getting up on this hypermilermobile’s tail. These drivers will do anything in their power to get 60 mpg and beat their hippie buddies on bigfueleconomynumbers.com. They will do absolutely anything to get the most mpgs out of their tiny little car. They ignore all traffic laws in the quest for yet another tenth of a mile per gallon, and they don’t care if they caused a 10-car pileup in the middle of the intersection. Distractions cause their fuel economy to decrease. Wake up and smell the premium, Honda Insight drivers! It might save you a few bucks. Oh, and the worst part? It’s considered politically incorrect to laugh at their fender skirts. It’s true!
Acura NSX: This car is spectacular, and so is it’s driver. Really, just ask him! His ego will always be sated by the car’s unspoiled aluminum beauty, and his bank account is happy because of the legendary Acura reliability. The VTEC is awesome! Yet, every single NSX that we see is being nursed along at a leisurely rate to avoid buying new $1,000-each tires every 3,000 miles, and coming to a complete and sudden stop every 700 feet because that snowplow of a front bumper will make a bulldozer run for mommy. The most practical supercar yet is so impractical that you’ll be doling out the finger and honks like you’ve never done before.
HUMMER H2 SUT: Is it a Governatormobile, a military project ripoff, or a product planner joke? All of the above. It’s like it was never intended to be practical, useful, or even subtle. I will admit to a mancrush on the original H1, but then again, most guys do. All of that just adds up to making you pissed.
Any Car That Has a Fartcan Muffler: If it makes a sound like a cow farting, put your air on recirculate, and get into the next lane, drop a gear, and floor it. These cars are typically driven by some poor guy who thinks that giving people headaches and getting bad looks in return is a good idea. Buddy, it’s not. Spare yourself the misery of getting the finger and put a flowmaster system on. The rest of the world will thank you.
Pricey Minivans: Any minivan that costs over $40,000 should have the same amount of features as a Mercedes-Benz S550. Many don’t. If it doesn’t have an easy-clean interior, then that gets just about any clean freak mad. I’ve been asked multiple times, “Who takes a $100,000 Land Rover off road?” Auto journalists. My favorite retort? “Who puts the baseball team into a $40,000 minivan with a luxurious interior after a game?” That’s a serious case of irony right there. Honda had a $20,000 wipe-down-able vehicle called the Element which was cancelled because it didn’t sell well. Go figure. Yet, the Honda Odyssey costs almost $50,000 in it’s top level, and the top-of-the-line Odyssey comes with a vacuum.

September 4, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews

No More Aston Martin V12 Vantage!

It will be sorely missed. The Aston Martin V12 Vantage was one of the cars that really helped Aston Martin get back on its feet after almost 10 years of toil, and bad, unloved cars. It’s certainly not a car for wimps. It’s got a 5.9-liter V12, tons of power, a manual transmission, rear-wheel-drive, and an exhaust note that sounds like it just came out of a Jaguar E-Type with the V12. All of this adds together to create the ultimate high-class hooning machine. Plus, it’s got stunningly good looks, and an interior that rivals a Bentley Mulsanne.

It will be sorely missed, but you can expect the next generation V12 Vantage to be incrementally better. It’s gotten four years of great reviews and racing success, so it should come as no surprise that the next generation should be much better. If the new Vanquish is any indication of what is to come, than I can’t wait to see the next generation V12 Vantage!

Note: for the uneducated auto linguist, hooning means to drive in a goofy, unsafe manner.

August 27, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Out N' About

A Beautiful Day of Classic Cars!

Are you ready for a picture heavy post? I do take pity on my readers, you know. Too much reading, and you might get goofy.

On a bright and sunny summer weekend, under blue skies, a local media company hosted a relatively small car show. Small, but mighty. Many of the cars were classic Chevys and Mopars. There were some Fords, but not nearly as many as the Mopars in attendance. There was a spectacular Massey-Fergusson tractor from 1947, as well. I wanted to share my photos of these beautiful cars with you. Enjoy my wonderful pictures.

I want you to know the definition of an automotive term. Pro-touring: Pro-touring is where a classic car is given the performance of a modern-day supercar. While the term, “sleeper” comes to mind, it really doesn’t apply to pro-touring. Pro-touring cars typically have stylish rims, flashy paint jobs, and LOTS of chrome. A lot of pro-touring cars were in attendance at this car show. I wish that you could have been there to see them with me. That’s what next year is for!

This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe is truly the nicest C3 Corvette that I've ever seen. Very few 1965 Corvettes made it out with the L72 big-block engine. I want - make that need this Corvette! — This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe is truly the nicest C3 Corvette that I’ve ever seen. Very few 1965 Corvettes made it out with the L72 big-block engine. I want – make that need this Corvette!

Mark Hoffman's wonderful 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray has won the Top Flight Award from N.C.R.S., the people who decide which car goes home with one of the most prestigious awards in the world! Lucky for Mark Hoffman - he's won it. Twice. — Mark Hoffman’s wonderful 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray has won the Top Flight Award from N.C.R.S., the people who decide which car goes home with one of the most prestigious awards in the world! Lucky for Mark Hoffman – he’s won it. Twice.

The interior is as nice, if not nicer than the exterior. I will apologize in advance for the photos of the exterior. I was as far away as possible from it, but there were a couple hundred cars there. I was almost sitting on one.

If you see a nicer Corvette than this, send me pictures. This is the nicest Corvette I've ever seen. — If you see a nicer Corvette than this, send me pictures. This is the nicest Corvette I’ve ever seen.

Here's the meticulous engine bay. It deserves to be mounted on a stand or something like that. It's perfect. — Here’s the meticulous engine bay. It deserves to be mounted on a stand or something like that. It’s perfect.

The wheels are alloy knock-offs. They look original, but they're not. They still do such a good job that it would take a molecular biologist (or me) to notice the difference... — The wheels are alloy knock-offs. They look original, but they’re not. They still do such a good job that it would take a molecular biologist (or me) to notice the difference…

Here’s the old Corvette logo. If you’re old enough, you’ll know that the Corvette logo has changed over the years.

Onto the next Chevrolet, which happens to be a banana-yellow 1967 Chevrolet El Camino SS396. Enjoy the stunning pictures of this El Camino.

If you look closely, you'll notice that there are disc brakes hiding behind that wheel. That's the rear wheel. The El Camino was so fast that it needed discs at all four corners to stop it. Barely. — If you look closely, you’ll notice that there are disc brakes hiding behind that wheel. That’s the rear wheel. The El Camino was so fast that it needed discs at all four corners to stop it. Barely.

The 396 cubic inch (6.5L) V8 was the big, bad engine from Chevy. That is, until the 454 cubic inch engine came out. But, the 396 is nearly as fast, just as fun, and easier to control, thanks to the lower horsepower and weight.

Like the logo? If you don’t, then you won’t like many logos from the 20th century.

In this picture, it is easy to notice how low the engine is. It's that way so it lowers the center of gravity. It also kills the suspension. — In this picture, it is easy to notice how low the engine is. It’s that way so it lowers the center of gravity. It also kills the suspension.

For those of you who aren’t fans of 1960’s Detroit muscle, maybe you’ll appreciate this 1938 Ford Model A from Dearborn. It even has a flathead V8! You can’t beat that, can you? You don’t see many old stock Ford’s in this condition…

This is what you did before you got into the car. You wiped your shoes. That way, the mud and grime on the bottom of your shoes didn't melt and stink up the car. — This is what you did before you got into the car. You wiped your shoes. That way, the mud and grime on the bottom of your shoes didn’t melt and stink up the car.

The interior is spartan, but then again, most interiors were until the 1950's. However, this interior was considered to be range-topping in the 1930's. — The interior is spartan, but then again, most interiors were until the 1950’s. However, this interior was considered to be range-topping in the 1930’s.

It's a rare two-door model. Two-door Fords from the 1930's always command a large premium over the four-doors for some inexplicable reason. However, they are a dime a dozen. — It’s a rare four-door model. Two-door Fords from the 1930’s always command a large premium over the four-doors for some inexplicable reason. However, they are a dime a dozen.

All I know about this truck is that it is a retired fire truck from a local magazine called Make. I have no idea as to who made it or converted it to a big shop truck. If you know, PLEASE let me know in the comments section! In any case, it’s cool.

Who do you call when you have a mechanical failure with a various gadget? If you answered Ghostbusters, close this page right now and find the nearest brick wall. Then, bang your head against it. You call Make magazine!

Do you know who made the car that has these wheels? If you don't, they belong to a 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. I love the wheel arch cover thingy. — Do you know who made the car that has these wheels? If you don’t, they belong to a 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. I love the wheel arch cover thingy.

Blast off into outer space? Maybe not. But, you will win a drag race against a current-generation Chevrolet Camaro. With the V6, that is.

Notorious for being hard to handle, yet rewarding, the Datsun 710 started life as an economy-oriented family sedan in Japan and Australia. Soon, they were bombing around the Outback and Africa in rallies. Accidents were common, but they were mostly due to driver incompetence.

The only leather in the interior is on the steering wheel. The rest of the interior is either vinyl or chrome. The radio is bone-stock.

If you need a tractor for something, you should definitely try and find a 1946 McCormick Farmall Cub like this. We have a Cub Lo-Boy, but not nearly in as good condition. However, in a few years, we will take the blue ribbon. Just watch.

The reason the main part of the tractor is so far to the left is because you can see where you are going, and not run over crops or small animals. And, yes, the lady sitting in the camping chair is the owner. She restored it with her husband on the weekends.

Farmall made the tractors, but McCormick made a lot of the running gear, so they are McCormick-Farmall Cubs.

All tractors should have this rather severe warning. Remember, BE CAREFUL!!!

This sticker deserves to be on here. All of them do. They belong to the beautiful 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that will be shown after this picture of the stickers.

This 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR is one of a handful remaining. It was bought new in 1968 by a young captain in the U.S. Army. He drove it for a year, before never returning home from Vietnam. The car was garaged and driven weekly until 2011, when a complete restoration took place. It's a fitting tribute to somebody who loved his car so much. — This 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR is one of a handful remaining. It was bought new in 1968 by a young captain in the U.S. Army. He drove it for a year, before never returning home from Vietnam. The car was garaged and driven weekly until 2011, when a complete restoration took place. It’s a fitting tribute to somebody who loved his car so much.

If you’re a fan of opulence from the 1930’s, then you’re in luck with this 1934 Lincoln Continental. It originates from Chicago, where it was bought new by a little old lady. It ended up here in California in the late 1990s, where the current owner restored it with his friends. It’s simply spectacular. It commands a presence that no other car on the road today has.

This is the technical specs sheet printed up by the owner's son. The car was sold new in San Francisco in 1931, and has remained in Northern California since new. it commands a presence that no other car at the show or currently on the road has. — This is the technical specs sheet printed up by the owner’s son. The car was sold new in San Francisco in 1931, and has remained in Northern California since new. it commands a presence that no other car at the show or currently on the road has.

The interior might seem bare compared to a new Lincoln Navigator, but it was top-of-the line until the late 1960's, when leather became popular. Cloth was THE thing to have in your car for a very long time. The steering wheel is made out of burled walnut wood. It's spectacular how much work went into building this car. — The interior might seem bare compared to a new Lincoln Navigator, but it was top-of-the line until the late 1960’s, when leather became popular. Cloth was THE thing to have in your car for a very long time. The steering wheel is made out of burled walnut wood. It’s spectacular how much work went into building this car.

Wanna know why tires aren't made like this anymore? Because they don't offer much grip, but they offer looks. — Wanna know why tires aren’t made like this anymore? Because they don’t offer much grip, but they offer looks.

The engine might look it just came out of Grandma's basement, but it is a 385 cubic-inch V8 that puts out 200 horsepower and an astonishing 450 lb-ft of torque. It is all cast-iron, however. — The engine might look it just came out of Grandma’s basement, but it is a 385 cubic-inch V8 that puts out 200 horsepower and an astonishing 450 lb-ft of torque. It is all cast-iron, however.

This is what Lincoln’s logo was until the early 1980’s, when Allan Mulally turned Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury around. I wish that it had stayed the same.

For those of you who still don't know what this car is, maybe this will help. — For those of you who still don’t know what this car is, maybe this will help.

I bet that this is the first AAA badge like this that you've ever seen. It tells the tow truck driver to take you to the nearest AAA-certified shop to fix your Lincoln. — I bet that this is the first AAA badge like this that you’ve ever seen. It tells the tow truck driver to take you to the nearest AAA-certified shop to fix your Lincoln.

Here's a picture of the whole car. It's long, coming in at 26 feet long. It's 7 feet tall, and four feet wide. Good luck getting it into a parking structure. It also happens to weigh 6500 pounds. Good luck towing it with your Honda. — Here’s a picture of the whole car. It’s long, coming in at 26 feet long. It’s 7 feet tall, and four feet wide. Good luck getting it into a parking structure. It also happens to weigh 6500 pounds. Good luck towing it with your Honda.

This 1958 Ford Thunderbird is a beauty. There’s no other way to explain it.

The interior is like a cave, typical of old T--Birds. — The interior is like a cave, typical of old T–Birds.

Many people confuse the Thunderbird with the “Screaming Chicken” of the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am logo from 1979 is referred to by car buffs as the “Dunderbird.” Don’t ask.

Another piece of delightful Dearborn muscle is the 1959 Ford Ranchero that is in great condition.

I absolutely LOVE this logo. It’s cool, and modeled after a ox skull the VP of product design saw in 1958.

This is what the old Ford truck logo used to look like. Now, it’s all the same. Boo-hoo.

This is from the era of big, flashy chrome-plated vehicles. The Ranchero is a great of that.

It looks like an El Camino, doesn't it? It really does. It's based off of the full-size Fairlane, so it's cheap to insure. Ah, loopholes... — It looks like an El Camino, doesn’t it? It really does. It’s based off of the full-size Fairlane, so it’s cheap to insure. Ah, loopholes…

For hot rod fans, this is apt to satisfy. It did for me.

It's a luxurious, yet basic interior. Just the way I like 'em. — It’s a luxurious, yet basic interior. Just the way I like ’em.

I like the paint scheme. Also, I think that the wheels could be a bit taller. it makes the car look oddly proportioned.

These 1966 Ford Mustangs were made on the same day and bought by the same person. What a coincidence. The red one was owned by the father of the owner, who is recently deceased, and the cream-colored one belongs to the owner’s mother, who still drives the car weekly. Her daily driver is a 2006 Mustang GT Convertible. I envy her.

Both the Mustangs have identical running gear. This engine badge on the air cleaner identifies itself as a 289 cubic-inch V8 (4.6 Liters).

This pristine 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is in mint condition. It should be. It was restored in 1991 by the current owner’s uncle, who owns a local restoration shop. He’s put less than 1,000 miles on the car since then.

It looks so nice, because it is. The paint job is especially nice.

These wheels are so amazingly cool that it's impossible to describe my affection for them. They are 19-inch wheels. — These wheels are so amazingly cool that it’s impossible to describe my affection for them. They are 19-inch wheels.

It even has the legendary 426 cubic-inch Hemi, which dominated for many, many years. People still sing it's praises. This Charger can outrun a current-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in the 1/4 mile. — It even has the legendary 426 cubic-inch Hemi, which dominated for many, many years. People still sing it’s praises. This Charger can outrun a current-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in the 1/4 mile. I guess that good engineering pays off in the long run, right?

This kooky custom hot rod is driven all summer long. For everything bad about it, I can think of three good rebuttals.

It looks like a George Barris creation, but it's not. I wish it was, though. — It looks like a George Barris creation, but it’s not. I wish it was, though.

The interior is chrome, chrome, and more chrome. Same for the engine.

Talk about a sleeper. Who’d think that this mild-looking old Chevrolet business coupe from the 1930’s would take a shot of Nitrous Oxide. Our local Chevrolet dealer uses this as a ploy to bring customers in. It must work.

Mild? Nope. Wild is more like it... — Mild? Nope. Wild is more like it…

See? Here's proof that our local Chevy dealer owns this car! — See? Here’s proof that our local Chevy dealer owns this car!

Half of the interior is painted the same color as the exterior.

Don't spray people in the face with this stuff. It apparently hurts. It probably does, as N2O is the same stuff that goes into dry ice. It has to be stored at cold temperatures, so it must hurt - to some degree... — Don’t spray people in the face with this stuff. It apparently hurts. It probably does, as N2O is the same stuff that goes into dry ice. It has to be stored at cold temperatures, so it must hurt – to some degree…

Our local Chevrolet dealer also uses this 1969 Chevrolet Nova to bring people in. It’s a demo car that uses all of GM’s Goodwrench parts. It’s got a 502 cubic-inch V8 (8.1 Liters), and it’s certain to blow the pants off of any challenger.