One of the more unusual collections headed for Monterey this summer is the Nick Alexander Collection. A well-known Los Angeles car dealer, Alexander amassed what is considered one of the world's finest collections of pre- and post-war wood-bodied wagons. He even built a restoration shop near of one his dealers just to work on the various cars over the years.
In August, RM Auctions will offer 52 different vehicles from the collection, all with no reserves. In other words, if you've always wanted a classic woody and you have the cash, this is the chance of a lifetime.
The news that the Chevrolet Camaro beat the Ford Mustang in June sales is being heralded by GM as some sort of breakthough, a triumph of good product over weak sales.
To some degree, GM has it right. The new Camaro is a compelling product and deserves some credit for getting buyers to pry open their wallets during one of the worst recessions of all time.
But let's face it, the Camaro hype machine has been running overtime for years now. From concept cars to movie cars to prototypes in the desert, the Camaro has enjoyed so much advanced publicity that anything less than a sell out would have been catastrophic.
To call a victory for the Camaro in the pony car war at this point seems a little premature. Let's wait until the early adopters get their cars and then see how sales pan out. Right now the overabundance of SS models being sold suggests that most of the buyers are true enthusiasts, but as we all know, it's the V6 models that end up carrying cars like the Camaro and the Mustang. We'll see how long that lasts.
This is one new problem GM is more than happy to discuss. Yesterday, officials told Inside Line news that demand for the Camaro has outstripped supply, forcing the company to work overtime at its Oshawa production plant.
According to GM, SS models account for about 70% of its current orders. Black is also the most popular color as 25% of all models are ordered that way. "We think this may stem from the SEMA Black Concept, which was the most popular GM car at SEMA last year," Chevrolet spokesman Adam Denison told Inside Line.
This is one of the dyno rooms at the AMG's headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany. Strapped to the stand on this particular occasion was the 6.3-liter V8 headed for duty in the upcoming SLS gullwing coupe. It's expected to generate 571-horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque when it goes into production early next year.
According to our editor on the scene, AMG puts all of its engines through a test procedure that includes 800 hours of wide-open throttle operation, pausing only to sample the oil and change dynamometer operators every 20 hours. Yes, that's over a month of full throttle operation before the engine is signed off. That should make anyone who drives an AMG vehicle a little less squeamish about hitting the redline every once in awhile.
Sure, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is fast and all, but next to the latest 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 the standard Camaro doesn't stand a chance. To even things up a little, we snagged a supercharged Hennessey Camaro to see how it matches up.
Contributor John Pearley Huffman was tasked with burrning the rubber off of both cars and in the end he came away with a clear winner. Which one would you choose?
This car could sell on looks alone, but it has a notable racing history thrown in for good measure. According to RM Auctions, this Corvette was owned by Georges Filipenetti, a Swiss racing enthusiast who brought the car to LeMans in 1968. It went on to race at LeMans for the next five straight years - a record that remains unbroken by a single chassis. The car was recently added to the roster at RM's Pebble Beach weekend auction in August.
Yeah, yeah, we know, you're sick of Hennessey Camaros already. But just for fun, take a look at this video of an LS9 V8 up and running in a 2010 Camaro.
Not only is the prospect of having the 638-horsepower monster under the hood of a new Camaro enticing, but just listen to what an ultra-modern V8 can sound like when it not all corked up with emissions/noise controls.
Not sure if this is a good sign or not. On one hand, the fact that you can score a new supercharged Hennessey HPE550 Camaro on Ebay means it actually exists, or will exist in the near future.
On the other hand, if Hennessey is already resorting to Ebay auctions to sell his latest creation, maybe demand isn't quite what he had hoped. The bidding started at just under $60,000.
Two Ford GTs from the Blue Oval's personal collection will hit the auction block this August at separate events.
The first car, to be auctioned off at the 15th annual Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event in Rochester, Michigan, is clad in vintage Mark IV red and white. It was the sixth GT to roll off the production line, and will cross the block on August 1, 2009.
The second supercar, a blue and white GT, will join a bunch of classics at RM's Sports & Classics of Monterey event in Monterey, California from August 13-15.
A portion of the proceeds from both soon-to-be iconic racers will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Cinema Vehicles states in that ad that it has built cars for many movies including the Eleanor Mustangs for Gone in 60 Seconds, the Torinos for Starsky and Hutch and the Bugs for Herbie Fully Loaded. The company also states that this Benz was a coupe before they hit it with a sawzall.
Mustangs and Challengers in the Nationwide Series next year? That's what Fox Sports is reporting. According to Lee Spencer, when the Car of Tomorrow debuts in NASCAR's second-tier series next year, it will include the Dodge and Ford pony car designs.
"Ten-fold better than a Cup car," a NASCAR official said of the designs, which must be submitted for approval by June 26 according to the NASCAR Rule Book.
Spencer also noted a conspicuous absence of talk about the Camaro, a possible consequence of GM's financial condition. Toyota is also stuck without a coupe, so it will most likely continue with its Camry sedan.
Clearly, the move is designed to bring back fans who grew bored with the cookie cutter designs of today's Sprint Cup cars, but the "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" mantra may not have the draw even with the new designs.
Tired of trying to figure out how the Porsche and the Piech families fit together? Did you always want to know who designed the original 911? Is it Porsche, or Por-sha? Why does the Cayenne exist?
All those answers and more are now available on this lovely DVD titled "The Porsche Way". At over two hours in length, it's a virtual feature film on the history of the German sportscar company.
"This is the first time that a car maker is presented so exhaustively on a DVD", according to Dieter Landenberger, the Director of the Porsche Archives. And if we know the Germans, it will be exhaustively detailed indeed.
Maybe you've had enough supercharged Hennessey Camaros for awhile. Fair enough, but we figured you might want to check this one out anyway.
As you can see from this early build shot, the Camaro up on the lift is getting a full-fledged heart transplant, specifically, a supercharged LS9 just like the ZR1 Corvette. That means at least 638-horsepower will be on tap even if Hennessey doesn't start messing with stuff. And how often does that happen? Should make for an interesting Camaro.
Some 60 years after Aston Martin won the 1959 24 hours of Le Mans, the company is once again headed to the famous French endurance race, although this time Carroll Shelby won't be with them.
After winning the GT1 sports car class at Le Mans the past two years, Aston Martin has entered the LMP1 class this year, competing against the two favorites for overall victory, the Audi R15 TDI and the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. While the German and French cars are powered by specially constructed, 650-hp diesel engines, Aston Martin's rebodied Lola coupe features a 650-hp version of the Aston Martin DB9's 5.9-liter V12. The car is being fielded by Prodrive, the racing company established by David Richards, who is one of the principals in the Kuwaiti-backed company that now owns Aston Martin.
Richards notes that the two-car team's chances in the 24-hour classic are slim, but he is also encouraged by the new rules, which he reckons narrows the performance gap between diesel- and gas-powered cars to about seven percent this year, half the performance disparity that existed in 2008.
Aston Martin famously won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans with its DBR1 sports car driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori. Shelby recently recalled his adventures that year:
Last month we showed you the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that managed to fetch $12.1 million amidst a recession. Now check out the next potential record breaker. It's a 1936 Bugatti Type 57C Coupe owned by Ettore Bugatti himself and it's scheduled for auction at Pebble Beach in August.
The vehicle's history is a lengthy one. It was originally built for Bugatti as a birthday present, and then survived WWII tucked away in Molsheim on the French-German border. Following the war (and Ettore's death) the lime-green-machine was revamped with new interior accessories, a one-off engine and tranny combo and a few other improvements under the hood. It changed hands a couple times over the next fifty years, but - most surprisingly - has maintained its flawless state and never been restored.
Mark the weekend of August 15-16 on your calendars if you're into high-end collector cars as this Bugatti will be just one of many up for sale by Gooding & Company at its annual Pebble Beach auction. -- Mike Lysaght, Contributor
What's that? You're a power addict and the 426 horsepower with which Chevrolet endowed the 2010 Camaro SS is weaksauce?
Here's your fix. The orange 2010 Camaro SS you see above has been given the full Texas-style treatment, and I'm not talking about barbeque. Hennessey Performance Engineering, headquartered in Sealy, Texas, coerces more power out of more than just Mopars and Mitsubishis these days, and he's turned his attention to Chevy's latest pony car.
It's called the Hennessey HPE550. The centerpiece of the conversion is the breathing enhancement delivered by a Magnuson Roots-style blower and liquid-to-air intercooler. Supplementing the 6 psi generated by the supercharger is a cold-air intake and free-flow exhaust. Owner John Hennessey tells us that the package swells peak power to 562 hp as measured at the flywheel.
Aftermarket horsepower claims are notoriously optimistic, so we did the obvious thing and strapped it to MD Automotive's Dynojet in Westminster, California. The result was anything but weaksauce.
When GM engineer Mark Stielow was reassigned from the dying High Performance Vehicle Operations unit to the group that handles the hybrids, he created the coolest, most powerful "hybrid" we've ever seen.
This hybrid of a 1969 Camaro body with the engine, brakes, wheels and tires of a Corvette ZR1, called "Jackass" puts more than 500 horsepower to the rear wheels, through a Viper transmission and a live rear axle. Sounds exactly like something a Jackass could appreciate.
You see GM Engineer Mark Stielow's alter ego is that of a famous Pro-Touring hot-rod builder by the name of Mark Stielow. His series of reworked first-generation Camaros that go and turn and stop have made him something of a hero in the muscle car world.
Jackasses that we are, we might even get a drive in this creamy yellow screamer very soon. The car is seen here very near the end of its 20-month gestation.
A report in Automotive News says that the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro is still almost two years away. Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan told the industry trade paper that Chevrolet had initially intended to release the convertible in ealry 2010, but now it's looking like it will have to wait an extra year.
Sounds like a major disapointment, but let's face it, this isn't a great time to launch a completely unnecessary car. By the time the 2011 Chevy Camaro rolls out, the economy should be in much better shape. .
Deliveries of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro started last month and the demand is still running strong. Browsing completed Ebay auctions reveals plenty of buyers who just couldn't wait for their local dealer.
The 2SS RS shown above went for almost $7,000 over sticker two weeks ago. With over 100 Camaros currently up for sale in Ebay, however, we wonder how long it will continue to pull in such strong money.
One prominent car on the auction block at the Mecum Indy auction this weekend is this 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona coupe. This isn't a kit car replica by any means. It's Shelby Cobra CSX 2601, the car Bob Bondurant drove to victory in the 12 Heures du Reims on July 4, 1965, beating Ferrari's GTOs. This win was enough to secure the FIA championship for Team Shelby, aka Team America.
This Cobra is part of a lot scheduled to be sold at 8 p.m., Friday May 15 (editor's note: date corrected) in Indianapolis. If we had to guess, we'd hazard to say someone will pay too much for it.
Ferrari announced this week that the last production Ferrari F430 would be part of the lots at all-Ferrari RM auction this Saturday. The proceeds will benefit Italy's Abruzzo region, east of Rome, which was heavily damaged by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on April 6.
The two-tone livery on this F430 is meant to recall the traditional colors of L'Aquila, Italy, the medieval town at the epicenter of the quake. Ferrari will invite the eventual owner to Maranello to finalize specifications on the F430, though the transmission is already decided: It's the automated F1 gearbox.
The F430 auction follows a week-long apparel auction at Ferrari's online store during which time you could bid on racing suits autographed by Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.
After yesterday's pace car clunker fest, we're proud to present some of the 500's more prestigious pace cars. These cars actually did their production namesakes some good, or at least looked great trying.
This year it's the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS, a solid, almost inevitable choice. Such decisions haven't always been so clear cut. During much of the 70s and 80s, the choices were slim. But they had to slap stickers on something, so you had some dodgy representatives like the Oldsmobile Calias and Cadillac Eldorado.
So what do you think? Which car deserves the title "Worst Indy Pace Car Ever"?
On Monday we posted the first video of Hennessey's supercharged Chevy Camaro SS. There wasn't much to it other than a claim that it made 562-horsepower. Luckily, we had a guy on the scene who witnessed the runs first hand. He said there's no reason to doubt the horsepower claim, but it's still very much a work in progress.
According to anonymous Hollywood sources www.topgear.com is reporting that Brad Pitt is expected to sign on this week to play the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, in the actor's life story.
McQueen was more than just an accomplished womanizer and an award winning actor, he also contributed heavily to the world's car culture, staring in such iconic car movies as Bullitt, and Le Mans. If you have no idea what I'm talking about there's little hope for you. McQueen was also an accomplished race car driver, a highly successful motorcycle racer, plus he owned some of the world's great sports car including a Jaguar XKSS and a Ferrari Lusso.
According to TopGear filming will begin later this year and the film will hit theatres sometime in 2010. Lets hope Angelina's hubby can pull it off.
And now for some more uplifting news on the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS. Hennessey Performance Engineering has just completed a dyno run on its new supercharged Camaro and the result was pretty impressive. How does 562-horsepower sound to you?
F1 star Kimi Raikkonen walked out of a Ferrari dealer on Thursday to find a parking ticket on his Ferrari 612, and the video cameras were there to capture the drama. Only there was none. The Ferrari factory driver climbed into his high dollar ride without a word and drove off.
And so the question is, which would you rather: Kimi's 612 or that awesome old school California?
Its inventory often reflects every gearhead's dream garage, so when Fantasy Junction posted an ad for this immaculately restored AMC Javelin Trans-Am car we couldn't resist giving it a little airtime.
Piloted by Peter Revson in '68 and 69', this Javelin includes a long list of documentation and even an original team jacket. Asking price: $345,000.
Tony Danza speaks Italian but drives German. TMZ caught the Hollywood D-lister climbing into his piss poor Porsche Speedster replica recently in Malibu. There's even a close up of the cracks in the fiberglass body. Man, what a POS. Come on Tony, if you're going to drive a fakey doo, at least make it a big-block Cobra.
Here's your chance to own the "most collectible and valuable of all the 789s built," says n2a, the California design and engineering company that built it. Blending elements from '57, '58 and '59 Chevys, the 789 is build on a sixth-generation Corvette chassis and powered by an LS2 V8.
There's nothing about this car that appeals to us, but it's doing well on Ebay so far. Current bidding is up to $75,000. Then again, n2a charges $135,000 if you just order one, so maybe the market isn't quite as robust as the company had hoped.
With programs in Europe proving successful, Congress has agreed on some early framework for a so-called "cash for clunkers" bill that would offer consumers up to $4,500 for replacing an older car or truck with a new, more efficient model.
It's part of a plan that aims to jumpstart auto sales and reduce the number of older, less efficient vehicles on the road. Some enthusiast groups object to such bills saying it will unnecessarily accelerate scrappage of older vintage cars.
Dom DeLuise died on Monday in Santa Monica after a prolonged illness at the age of 75.
Dom DeLuise's career ran over 45 years and included everything from serious dramas like 1964's Fail-Safe to flat-out farce's like the Mel Brooks comedies Blazing Saddles and History of the World: Part I. But anyone with an appetite for car movies will always remember him as Captain Chaos from 1981's Cannonball Run.
Maybe you haven't heard of Jim Wangers, but he was the marketing force behind the Pontiac brand in the 1960s and '70s -- back when Pontiac was cool -- and is credited with the wild success of the original GTO.
A couple days after GM killed Pontiac, David Zenlea, an editor at Automobile, interviewed Wangers, now 83 and retired, but still active in the Pontiac owners community. Not surprisingly, he had more interesting things to say than just about anyone else who has been pressed for funeral soundbytes. It's a short interview and well worth the 2 minutes it takes to read (yes, even if you're put off by the blazer he's wearing in this famous photo).
Snippet: "One of the worst things that happened was when they came out with the new GTO. It was so badly handled, packaged, and marketed. They changed so many things, they failed to jump on what it really meant to be a GTO...
"Then they had the crazy idea of changing the names.
"If there was ever a domestic manufacturer that ever had a really good set of names it was Pontiac - Bonneville, Grand Prix, Trans Am! And then all these little boys in men's jobs come along, and come up with insanely stupid 'G' names."
Watch any of the taking head channels and the guys they get to analyze the auto industry never seem to know anything about cars. It's like Fox, MSNBC and CNN just call 1-800-MBA GEEK and some pinhead that doesn't know front-wheel drive from rear is in the studio ready to tell the world what went wrong at Pontiac.
Well, not this time. This time the gang at Fox Business interviewed Darwin Holmstrom the co-author of the new book GTO: Pontiac's Great One. The topic of course was the demise of the 83 year old division of General Motors and Mr. Holmstrom obviously understands that America has lost one of its great brands. And it's sad.
Jay Leno has written a monthly column in Popular Mechanics magazine for 10 years, and we haven't missed a single one. Topics have ranged from Duesenbergs to the ZR1 and Jay's personal Green Garage, which includes solar power and a PacWind Delta II vertical-axis wind turbine just like the one that powers Edmunds HQ.
But Jay's latest manifesto, which appears in the May issue of PM and on www.popularmechanics.com is a little tough to get through. Jay decided to predict furture collectible and classic cars. Which is fine. But he must have been drunk when he started pecking the keyboard.
Now that Pontiac is officially dead, it's easy to pick at its bones and catalog everything that went wrong -- from "A" for Aztek to "P" for Parisienne and "S" for Sunfire. But Pontiac is where the muscle car was invented and it was where it came closest to being perfected.
Discounting race-only specials like the radically lightened "Swiss cheese" 1963 Catalina and 1963 Super Duty Tempests, here are the 10 greatest Pontiac muscle cars of all time. Pontiac itself will go away, but these 10 cars will be impossible to forget.
Now that GM has made it official, it's time to cue the memorials. Always best to remember the good ol' days at times like this, so we'll ask the inevitable: Which Pontiac was your all-time favorite?
Camaros are finally starting to reach customers and one of those lucky owners is Hennessey Performance Engineering. No surprise there and the tuner has already announced various upgrade programs for the latest Camaro.
In this case, Hennessey has set up a blog to chronicle the build up of its new Camaro SS. According to the most recent post, they've already squeezed some additional power out of the 6.2-liter V8 with some minor modifications. Expect some more serious work to yield the ridiculous horsepower numbers Hennessey is known for.
There aren't many real speed shops left anymore. Thanks to the internet, ordering parts has become a simple click and ship proposition for most people. Every once in awhile, though, you actually want to hold something in your hand before deciding to lay out the cash for it.
Now there's a new website that will help you find the nearest parts store that has what you're looking for. It's called www.findfastpartsfast.com and it's sponsored by the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA).
Obviously the results are only going to give you shops that deal with the PWA, but we tried it a few times and it seemed to deliver usable results. Check it out the next time you need some speed parts, trust us, these shops need the help.
The way we figure it, there have been 10 generations of Mustangs. And within each generation, there's one version of the Mustang that stands out above the rest as the most emblematic of the breed. Not always the fastest or quickest, mind you, but the one that's the quintessential Mustang of its era. And the one that looks best today, exactly 45 years after the first Mustang was introduced.
So here are the top 10 Mustangs of all time; one from each generation of the pony car.
Our only apology is for the Mustang II King Cobra. To explain ourselves, all the other Mustang IIs were even worse than the King Cobra.
Since everybody has been calling the Hyundai Genesis Coupe the "Korean Mustang" since it was introduced, the folks at Hyundai figured it was only fitting that they acknowledged the Mustang's 45th birthday.
Last we heard, Mr. Keenan of Tool fame was making wine in Arizona. Thankfully, the Mustang has continued its role as a burnout machine unabated during its entire existence.
The Mustang's story of initial success is one of those fables we Americans learn alongside George Washington and the cherry tree and Abraham Lincoln's birth in a log cabin.
Exactly 45 years ago, on April 17, 1964, Ford debuted the Mustang at the New York World's fair and put it on sale at dealers across the country. Before the day was through, they had sold more than 22,000 of the new sports coupes and convertibles with prices starting at just $2,368.
Just 12 months later, a staggering 417,000 had found buyers. By early in the 1966 model year, over 1,000,000 were out on America's highways. And last year Ford sold its 9 millionth Mustang.
Poor Bernie. It's bad enough they sent him to jail and took his Manhattan penthouse away, but now trustees are going after a vintage Aston Martin purchased last year. According to the New York Times, the car in question is a 1964 Aston Martin DB2/4 (stock photo above).
Of course, if you ask anybody who knows Astons, such a car does not exist as the DB2/4 was built between October of 1953 and October of 1955. We suspect the folks liquidating Mr. Madoff's assets incorrectly labeled it a '64 instead of say, a '54.
Used by permission of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. All rights reserved
First it was the addition of the LeMons class to Pebble Beach, and now comes the first ever motorcycle class at the Pebble Beach Concours.
"International interest in collecting classic motorcycles is on the rise, and we want to celebrate them and do all we can to support their preservation and restoration," said Sandra Kasky Button, Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours.
This year's class will focus on British-built motorcycles built before 1959. Two legendary Vincent HRD V-Twins are expected to show up -- the famed 1947 works racing machine known as "Gunga Din" and a 1948 bike built for US sportsman John Edgar and often nicknamed the "Bathing Suit Bike" due to the scant attire of its primary rider, Roland "Rollie" Free.
The Pebble Beach Concours is scheduled to run Aug. 16th at the Pebble Pebble Beach golf course on the Monterey Peninsula.
If you've ever been to the Pebble Beach Concours in August, you already know that it can be a stuffy affair. Lots of perfect cars, perfect teeth and perfectly plump bank accounts. It's also perfectly boring for the most part.
In an attempt to bring a little less sophistication to the party, the folks behind the now infamous 24 Hours of LeMons have come up with their own late summer get together on the Monterey Peninsula.
It's appropriately called the Concours d'LeMons and founder Jay Lamm calls it a celebration of, "the oddball, mundane, and truly awful of the automotive world, Concours d'LeMons '09 honors aesthetic and technological underachievement through traditional categories such as Lowest-Quality American Car, Leakiest Brit Pile, and Crappiest Car from a Communist Country."
According to Sports Car Market, the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called for a halt to sales of the cars from the GM Heritage Collection during the Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach, Florida.
The issue revolves around the possibility that the new owners might attempt to register the cars for street use. Both Barrett-Jackson and General Motors have been upfront with bidders that many of the cars are sold with salvage titles and cannot be registered for normal use. Both parties are attempting to resolve the matter although the report says that NHTSA has been unresponsive to further discussion.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, Fast & Furious blew up this weekend, and we're not talking about pistons going through hoods here.
The fourth installment of the series proved irresistible as Fast & Furious pulled in an estimated $72.5 million over the weekend. Add in its international take and it likely topped $100 million.
Those numbers make Fast & Furious the biggest opening of the year, not to mention the biggest April opening of all time. This of course means that a fifth installment is virtually guaranteed.
Faster that we expected. Probably faster than even Ford expected. It's a monster at the dragstrip and it doesn't turn half bad either. Get the full story from Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton as he puts you behind the wheel of the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500.
Muslims have Mecca. Cheeseheads have Lambeau. Elvis wackos have Graceland. These are varying degrees of devotion to be sure, but each group has a place where they must make a pilgrimage to at least once in their lifetime. For James Bond fans, their place of pilgrimage is now Keswick in the north of England.
The Bond Museum opens this Sunday, April 5, featuring the world's largest collection of items used in the 22 James Bond films. It's been gathered over the years by Peter Nelson through personal purchases and donations from other fans as well as actors and crew.
While golden guns and jet packs are all well and good, it is the absurdly thorough car collection that should make the pilgrimage to Keswick worth it not just for Bond aficionados but any car enthusiast. The full list of vehicles can be found after the jump, but in short, the collection is so complete, there are fewer Bond cars not present.
Highlights include the Aston Martin DB5 used in the Brosnan movies (the original Goldfinger car was stolen), the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me (in regular and submarine guises), one of two Toyota 2000GT roadsters in the world used for You Only Live Twice, the two-wheeling Mustang from Diamonds Are Forever, the Glastron speedboat from Live And Let Die, and the Russian T55 main battle tank from GoldenEye. That's right, they have a tank.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading to LAX to catch a flight to Manchester. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Maybe you heard that Steve Saleen has a new company called SMS Supercars. He started it after he was more or less booted out of his old company. Soon after his departure, the new owners issued a statement saying they were not responsible for honoring the warranty on Saleen vehicles.
Given the complex ownership structure of the "new" Saleen, vehicle owners were pretty much out of luck if they were hoping to start a fight over their sudden lack of coverage. Thankfully, and quite shockingly, Steve Saleen has stepped into the fray to resolve the situation.
From here on out, SMS Supercars will honor the warranty on any Saleen vehicle purchased before February 2, 2009. "This unusual step in uncertain times is a measure to assure that my past and future customers, as well as Saleen and Ford dealers around the United States, continue to have faith in products bearing my name", said Mr. Saleen.
It's no secret that the Dodge Challenger SE could use a little help in the performance department. With its lowly four-speed transmission, the base Challenger struggles to put its 250-horsepower to the ground with much authority.
The Challenger SE Rallye edition that debuted today at the Spring Festival of LXs marks the introduction of a little help. From now on all Challenger SE models will get the same five-speed automatic transmission used in the V8 models. Chrysler didn't give any acceleration estimates, instead it took the politically correct route and noted that the extra gear helps the new-and-improved SE deliver 25mpg on the highway.
In addition to the new transmission, the SE Rallye also features several cosmetic enhancements. The 18-inch, black-accented wheels are standard along with dual hood and deck lid stripes. There's also a body-color spoiler, chrome fuel door and "Micro Carbon" interior accents. The SE Rallye package will begin production next month with a base price of $26,490 including destination.
Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we're introducing a new feature on Straightline called "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
So yesterday we showed you how the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V6 stacks up against the Hyundai Genesis V6. Not exactly your typical foes, but as the numbers showed, a surprisingly even matchup.
Today it's a more traditional fight, Chevy versus Dodge. A classic rivalry maybe, but let's face it, the Dodge is a little overmatched here. What used to be considered adequate power for a V6 has now been rendered, well, just adequate.
The sizes of their engines only vary by a tenth of a liter, but the Camaro's 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 out muscles the Dodge's 3.5-liter V6 by 54 horses. Add in the Challenger's extra 100 pounds of weight and four-speed automatic and it never really had a chance.
Ah yes, the comparison test years in the making is finally here.
The debut of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS was the final piece of the puzzle. Together with the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and 2010 Ford Mustang GT, these three cars represent American muscle at its finest - and fastest ever.
Of course, in the end, only one could come out on top. Was it Chevrolet, Dodge or Ford? See for yourself in our latest comparison test.
A Michigan tuner shop got its hands on a Camaro SS press car and put it on a dyno. The results were 364-horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque at the wheels for the manual transmission car with around 1,000 miles on it. Video of the run after the jump.
Yes, the muscle car war is in full effect, and now we own a piece of it. Specifically, a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. We just added it to our long-term fleet after dropping $34,600 at the local Dodge dealer.
So far the big, black Mopar feels pretty solid. It's comfortable, rides nicer than we remember and looks great on the road. We got a six-speed manual, naturally, and that pistol grip shifter feels as good as it looks.
Of course, the big question now is how it stacks up to the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. You can read what we think of that car tomorrow at 3pm. For more on the Challenger, check out our long-term blog.
A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday would give consumers cash vouchers to purchase a new car if they turn in an old car that is at least eight-years old. The bill is designed to get older, less efficient cars off the road while at the same time spurring sales of new cars.
Of course, there are all sorts of conditions placed on the swap. The new car must be a 2009 model or newer and get better mileage than the car being turned in. It also has to cost less than $35,000, and if it's built in North America you get more than for buying an import.
In one of the bills more optimistic passages, it also allows for a $7,500 voucher for buying a plug-in hybrid that gets over 100mpg after the 2011 model year.
Most of these bills have been defeated in the past, in part thanks to lobbying from groups like SEMA that contend they unnecessarily target collectible cars. Doesn't seem like that's the case here, but rest assured there will be plenty of opposition when it goes to a vote.
Spotted this modified Challenger parked on an L.A. street last night. So what do you think, should Dodge offer a widebody version of the Challenger to accommodate bigger rubber in back?
With deliveries of the 2010 Ford Mustang scheduled to begin any day now, Roush Performance decided it would be a good time to unveil its latest tuning kits for the revamped pony car.
As usual, there are various stages of tune available. The Stage 1 kit is nothing more than an appearance package, while the Stage 2 kit adds a retuned suspension to the bodywork of the Stage 1 kit.
The car you see here is the top-dog 427R. It's force fed by a "Roushcharger" that bumps horsepower to 435 and torque to 400 pound-feet. All models ride on 18-inch wheels and Cooper Zeon tires with 20-inch wheels available as an option.
What's a day without a Camaro post? No fun at all, so we present this impromptu weigh-in of the latest crop of muscle car re-creations.
As expected, the Camaro falls right in the middle on the scales just above the Mustang and below the Challegner. Factor in the Camaro's across the board power advantage and it looks like it should lay down the quickest numbers of this trio. Right?
The Hurst/Hemi Challenger was an oasis of taste in a sea of tackiness at last year's SEMA show. Decked out in traditional Hurst livery, the modified white Challenger boasted over 600-horsepower from its supercharged Hemi V8.
Now that the Hurst Performance Center is open in Irvine,CA you can order a similar Challenger for yourself. The company offers five stages of tune for the Challenger in addition to the 50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper, a limited-edition model finished in matte gold paint. You know, to get you noticed.
We promise this will be the last Chevrolet Camaro post for at least...a day or so.
Figured you might want to check out the Camaro configurator on Chevrolet's official website. It's one of the better such devices as it gives you a rotatable view of the car that changes as you add and remove options.
We like the look of this base LS with the heritage wheels and side stripes. Not bad for $23,505
Yes, the hype machine is in full gear now that production of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is officially underway at GM's Oshawa, Ontario plant. According to Chevrolet, 14,000 Camaros have already been sold, most of them top-of-the-line SS models.
Official EPA numbers were released as well and they are indeed impressive. Base V6 models with the 3.6-liter V6 are rated at 18mpg city and 29mpg highway when paired with the six-speed automatic. With the six-speed manual, the city rating drops to 17mpg. SS models with the automatic are rated at 16mpg city and 25mpg on the highway. Manual models are rated the same in the city and 24mpg on the highway.
The first production Camaro off the assembly line will go to Rick Hendrick who bid $350,000 for the honor at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction in January.
The Fast and the Furious series is admittedly light on plot lines and believable acting, so it's up to the cars to carry it along. From turbocharged imports to blown American muscle cars, it's an ever-changing mix that makes up for all the cheesy one liners and Vin Diesel close ups.
The latest installment is called simply Fast & Furious and contributor John Pearley Huffman went behind the scenes to chronicle nearly every noteworthy car and truck features in the movie. Could this be the best F & F lineup ever? Maybe. Will it make for a good movie? Uh, maybe.
This is not a publicity stunt for the Petersen Automotive Museum, it's merely moving day for an exhibit of vintage travel trailers. They're moving out, not in, but they wouldn't fit through the narrow corridors of the Petersen's parking garage, so they had to be airlifted from the second floor to the street.
The pre-1940 trailers were part of an exhibit called From Autocamps to Airstreams: The Early Road to Vacationland. They were cleared out to make way for the latest exhibit called What Were They Thinking? The Misfits of Motordom. According to the Petersen museum, the new display explores vehicle ideas where "thinking outside of the box" didn't live up to the success that it may have promised.
You sort of expect an auction house named Bonham and Butterfields to be "delighted to offer for auction nothing less than one of the most charismatic Grand Prix racing cars ever built."
All delightfulness aside, this is a well-preserved racecar with a rich history. Powered by a rear-mounted 3.0-liter supercharged V12 and driven by the likes of Hans Stuck, "chassis 19" as it's known competed in the last pre-war season of grand prix racing, finishing sixth at the final race at Reims.
Bonhams says it expects bids in the $8M range when it goes to auction at the Quail Lodge on Aug. 14th.
What's not to love about a 600-horsepower 1973 Ford Falcon GT coupe? That's the question actor Eric Bana will attempt to answer in his new documentary film Love the Beast.
The Ford Falcon GT coupe in question is Bana's own, a car he's owned and lived with for 25 years. After a much-needed restoration, he decides to enter it into the Targa Tasmania Rally, one of Australia's most dangerous races.
And the end? It's not pretty, but probably still worth watching.
Here's the first of what are sure to be many heads-up battles between the 2010 Ford Mustang GT and the 2009 Nissan 370Z. Sure, the Nissan might not have rear seats and the Mustang is more muscle car than sports car, but if you're looking to spend $30-35K what else are you going to buy?
Ok, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is another strong contender in that price range, but it's not on sale just yet. Rest assured we'll have one of those in the mix too at some point. For now, the 370Z tops the Mustang, at least in our book.
Will it be much of a fight? On paper it doesn't look like it, but as Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief of Inside Line, points out in our latest road test, this Mustang is already faster than the Dodge and should hold its own against the Camaro.
This of course leads to a bigger question: Does anybody care? Are big muscle coupes like these destined to linger on dealer lots as buyers save their money for more practical purchases?
Or maybe it's the other way around. Maybe these retro-themed muscle cars will remind Americans why the Big Three are worth saving.
No surprise here, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will serve as the pace car for the 2009 Indianapolis 500 in May. The announcement was made by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at a press conference that included past winners Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser Jr. and Eddie Cheever Jr.
Like so many pace cars before it, this 2010 Camaro sports a hideous paint job that only a collector could love. In fact, other than the paint scheme and roof-mounted light bar, there are no changes to this Camaro SS.
If it were only true. Instead I hear Hollywood's braintrust is working on another Harry Potter. And there isn't a single Trans Am in the entire movie. Sad.
In what will surely be seen as a provocative move by the new administration, President Barack Obama announced last night in a televised address to the U.S. Congress that all inventions of note from at least the last 200 years will now be credited to Americans.
The president revealed last evening that credit for the invention of the automobile will be transferred from one Karl Benz of Germany to an unspecified American. In the president's words: "...the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it."
Karl Who?
"Look, if credit for its invention happens to fall in our pocket and we forget about it until we get home from the inventions store, then, you know, it's all good," Obama did not continue.
It is widely assumed credit will eventually be awarded to Henry Ford, or possibly Kato Kaelin.
In related news, the Obama administration has laid out an aggressive agenda for the re-assignment of credit for the diesel engine, the pretzel, pants, asparagus-breath, elaborately engineered eyeglasses, Heidi Klum and darkness from Germany to their rightful home of the US of A. As a token of gratitude, the Obama administration if offering Germany credit for Oxi-Clean.
The Corvette Stingray Concept, set to appear soon as Sideswipe in the second Transformers movie, was easily the talk of a relatively quiet Chicago Auto Show. The Stingray, which was inspired by the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray split window coupe and the 1959 Sting Ray race car, owned by GM styling king Bill Mitchell, was not actually designed for the movie though.
According to Ed Welburn, the current GM design chief, the mock-up for the concept was already sitting in design studio when he took Transformers director Michael Bay for a tour. While it will likely be remembered best as "the Transformer Corvette," the Stingray Concept is an homage to iconic GM design by GM designers taking their crack at reviving the good old days.
But unlike the Ford GT, VW New Beetle, Mini or Dodge Challenger, the Corvette Stingray Concept is less literal. What exactly makes this concept evocative of the 1959 racer and the 1963 production car? And where does it leave the past behind? And what is up with those four tailpipes, anyway?
Join up after the jump for answers to those and possibly other questions.
A rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe sold for 3.1 million Euros, or roughly $4M, at the Retromobile Vintage Cars show in Paris on Saturday. The car earned cult status when it was found in a barn late last year after being parked there in the early 1960s.
The circumstances surrounding its secrecy makes us wonder just how much of a true "barn find" this car really was, but clearly someone with deep pockets was convinced.
To see some of the greatest barn finds of all time, check out this article by Ken Gross:
Oregon governor Theodore Kulongoski with Oregon native Les Schwab, a tire dealer that probably wouldn't have liked the governor's plan, if he were still alive.
Oregon Governor Theodore Kulongoski is pushing for the passage of a state bill that would effectively ban aftermarket parts for automobiles. Among other provisions, House Bill 2186 contains this frightening passage:
Restrictions and prohibitions on the sale and distribution of after-market motor vehicle parts, including but not limited to tires, if alternatives are available that decrease greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles;
Yes, you read that correctly. The Oregon governor actually thinks he can tackle global warming by outlawing that new set of PS2s you're had your eyes on. Guess he's jealous of all the attention Schwarzenegger was getting for California's big CO2 plan.
SEMA has conveniently collected all the names and email addresses of the legislators involved, so if you live in Oregon, or just want to pretend like you do, feel free to drop them a letter with your opinion on the matter. We know what we're going to say.
The automotive world has generated its fair share of groundbreaking innovations over the last century or so. Mass production, the automatic transmission, computer-controlled engines, seat heaters.
There have been plenty of bad ideas too, some of them more museum-worthy than others. The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles gathered up a few of the most notable examples for its upcoming "What Were They Thinking?" exhibit.
It includes oddballs like the 1932 Helicron (pictured above), a propeller-driven car which claims to be street-legal in its home country of France, and the 1908 Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo (below), a V8-powered, aluminum-bodied motorcycle with outrigger wheels for balance and copper piping for cooling.
The exhibit runs from February 28 to September 20.
There you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about the upcoming retro coupe. There are photos galore, up-to-the-minute news updates, and if you're lucky you might even catch one of the Camaro program engineers just hanging out in the forums!
And it's all brought to you by the collective enthusiasm of Camaro lovers from all across the country, with no corporate suits from Chevrolet to get in the way. Isn't the internet great?
I live a half-mile away from the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, meaning I get to enjoy a bit of irony by walking to a car museum. There are hundreds of classic cars in the Petersen collection, plus the usual visiting vehicles, but a scant few are shown at any given time due to space restrictions. This means you usually get to see something new/old every time you stop by. It's a great way to spend a few hours.
Here are some of the current highlights, and please forgive the picture quality. My camera's reduced to crap in museum lighting.
The often hysterical atmosphere of past Barrett-Jackson auctions was missing this year, replaced by cautious bidders who rarely ventured out of their comfort zones. The resulting prices were some of the lowest we've seen in years, and a reminder that classic cars aren't any better than a brokerage account when it comes to parking money safely.
Here are just a few examples of how far the fortunes of classic muscle cars have fallen in just the last two years alone.
If only General Motors could sell every 2010 Chevrolet Camaro for this much. Actually, it's not going to do much for GM's bottom line as all the money generated by the sale of this Camaro goes to charity. For the tidy sum of $350,000, the winning bidder not only lent a helping hand to the American Heart Association, he will receive the very first production Camaro off the assembly line. Not really much of a deal, although he stands a good chance of getting some of that money back at Barrett-Jackson 2040.
Ford has announced a 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, a 2010 Shelby GT500 and a Mustang FR500CJ (an NHRA-legal Ford Racing Cobra Jet Mustang) will be on the auction block Saturday at Barrett-Jackson. Proceeds will go the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. If you have a few hundred thousand cluttering your bank account and feel so inclined, we suggest you bid on the Raptor, which is one of the most unusual products to come out of SVT in the last decade.
You can watch the auction live on Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. EST on the Speed TV network.
Well, if the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro wasn't already the most modified car never to have set a tire inside a dealership, then it most assuredly is now.
Behold the 2010 Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE)700 Camaro, a surprisingly tasteful aftermarket package that blends revised bodywork with the guts of the ZR1 Corvette. It's the Camaro that GM couldn't build on its own, or at least couldn't justify to the accountants.
One of the highlights of the upcoming automobile auction season is guaranteed to be this iconic Corvette. Set to go on the block at RM Auctions on January 16th, this is one of just five Grand Sports ever made. It has a 377 cubic inch V8 that produces 616-horsepower and custom body work that makes it look like some kind of movie prop. Expect the final price to go well into the seven figure range.
Here we have that scary blend of the words "hemi", "cuda" and "celebrity" all rolled into one. We're talking Nicolas Cage here, so it's reasonable to assume that although any 1970 Hemi 'Cuda hardtop is already a highly sought after auction prize, this one has that little extra ounce of wall-opening leverage.
You know that second coming of the muscle car war we've been talking about for years now? Well, come this spring it's finally on. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Ford Mustang and 2009 Dodge Challenger will all be available on dealer lots, and the three models detailed after the jump represent the most potent versions of each. Looks like Ford will have the edge initially, but if things start looking up for Chevy and Dodge, a more potent SRT8 or Camaro Z28 could arrive later in 2009.
So here it is, the first "surprise" of 2009, the 2010 Shelby GT500. As you might expect, it's much like last year's GT500 except for the new bodywork and a healthy bump in horsepower. Our man in Detroit has all the details on the 2010 Shelby Mustang here, and rest assured it is quite the potent pony car.
We will take a moment, however, to point out one annoying trend that we hope disappears like Madoff money in 2009: the fuel efficient muscle car. It's not that we don't appreciate a few extra miles-per-gallon here and there, but when the first paragraph of a Shelby GT500 press release talks about its improved fuel economy on the highway we just want to puke.
Remember Ford, it's a 540-horsepower, supercharged Mustang, not a Focus.
No, Pontiac did not make a "Super Duty" pickup, in the Ford mold. Rather, back in '63 they built a very few (as in 6), very special drag-racing Tempest Le Mans specials that were labeled "Super Duty."
So how how much this car go for? $226K. What's more the car was junker that listed for $500. To top it off--the car was missing the engine, transmission and keys!
A Lotus sports car featured in the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me" is expected to bring $185,000 in a London auction next week.
The '76 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a (for show, and is not real) surface-to-air-missile button on the gearshift.
"This Esprit featured in the scene where Bond takes collection of the car from Q, but is paying more attention to Barbara Bach," said Bonhams specialist, Tim Schofield.
Surprised? You thought the Yugo was long dead and buried? Not so, as these East-European 4-wheeled tin cans have been quietly in production up until last Thursday.
In the U.S. the Yugo is best remembered as being the Euro-equivalent to the Edsel or Aztek, as it was most often on the receiving end of barroom jokes, some of which are:
> Why does a Yugo have a defroster on the rear window? To keep your hands warm while you push it.
> What do you call a Yugo's shock absorbers? Passengers.
> The new Yugo has an air bag. Before an accident, start pumping real fast.
> How do you double the value of a Yugo? Fill the gas tank!
> What do you call a Yugo at the top of a hill? A miracle.
Stopped over at Hemmings.com (here) to see what they're up to these days. As you know, that's a site that lives in the automotive past--but in a good way. Much of what they write about pertains to vehicle brands that no longer exist, many of which used to be part of the American automotive landscape: Studebaker, Plymouth, Henry J, Packard, Kaiser, Pierce Arrow, Cord, Willys; the list is almost endless.
So it was interesting to see a blog entry there on the current situation with Domestic Motors. While no new insight was shed on the topic, their concern is that what is currently being produced here in the Heartland just might join that list in the preceding paragraph.
Okay, this event is planned for next summer. If, however, you have a microcar, and are planning to drive it there you may want to start packing, as it may take you that long to get there.
From the web site:
Local microcar collectors and owner/curators of the Small Wonders Micro Car Museum, Ken & Sylvia Weger, along with three other couples, will be hosting the MICRO/MINI CAR WORLD MEET in downtown Crystal Lake at the University Center, located at 100 S. Main Street, on August 21-22, 2010. This is the same group that successfully organized the National Micro/Mini Car meet in 2006, drawing 300 cars and thousands of spectators, making it the biggest National Mini/Micro car event to date.
This will be the first ever WORLD MEET of its kind. Microcar and Minicar owners and their cars, will gather from all over the world to share their enthusiasm for these small wonders. The Weger's are expecting over 500 Micro and Mini cars. Those cars under 500cc are considered to be "Microcars", and those between 500-1500cc are considered "Minicars". Many marques are expected to fill the lush lawns surrounding the University Center. Vendors will provide food and beverages. Alongside the car show, workshops and classes/seminars are being planned.
While most of us reading these blogs are into big horsepower, there's a small but very devoted group who get their jollies from little cars--as in really little cars. Yep, there's a micro car fetish out there, and there's nothing perverse or weird (okay, maybe a bit weird) about it.
MPH Specialties of Portland Oregon is one such shop. Mark Hatten, the owner, has one neat Subie 360 that's sporting a street rod flame paint job. In addition to old Subies, Hatten works on Messerschmitt KR 200s, Honda 600s, Ramblers, and other rare small cars.
Hard to believe that this tiny 360cc Subie eventually evolved into the barnstorming STI...
Hot on the heels of FINS, the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey will open its next feature exhibition, a new installment of its Collector's Series, featuring vehicles from A. Ross and Beth Myers. Housed in Boyertown, Pennsylvania and publicly known as "The Three Dog Garage," the Myer's collection is an eclectic and historically significant mix of antiques, classics, race cars and period hot rods, many of which were Hot Rod magazine cover cars in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Model T Ford debuted in 1908, making it exactly one hundred years old. What better way to celebrate and honor this oh-so-important vehicle, than to have a design contest aimed to create the Model T for the next century.
Can it be done? Is it possible to create another vehicle that will have the same profound impact over the next 100 years as did the original Model T for the past century? Wow, talk about a challenge!Full story here.
Comedian Jay Leno is being sued over a 1931 Model J Duesenburg that he bought from a New York garage. It turns out the car belonged to an heir of Macys, the department store chain. The car had been stored for more than 50 years, and had piled up storage fees that totaled around $36,000.
The Macy heir, John Straus, suffered from dementia, and died last spring. Now heirs of Straus are claiming that Leno and the garage owners set up up a phony auction, in which Leno was able to obtain the vehicle."It was a sham," said Nathan Goldberg, a lawyer for Straus' daughter, Wendy Lubin. "It was designed by the garage company to provide Jay Leno with an unlawful private sale. This car meant a lot to this family. It was a precious family heirloom."Leno knew this car was not for sale, and Straus had made that clear to him," said Goldberg, adding that it is worth more than $1.5 million."Mr. Leno bought the car in good faith," states lawyer Bruce Bronster, speaking on Leno's behalf.Leno owns several Duesenburgs. I'm not sure if the one pictured above is the vehicle in question.Full story here.
Taken a hit in the stock market recently? I have--and a big one at that...
According to Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, it makes mores sense to invest in collectible vehicles. Over the past decade top cars have performed better than the stock market or gold.
"Though most people buy a collector car to enjoy, they have also proven to be one of the soundest investment vehicles in the global marketplace over the past 10 years. It's rare that a hobby and someone's passion has the potential of being a great investment."
"These numbers paint a vivid picture of the intrinsic value and growth of the collector car market," said Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson. "A financial analyst will tell you that every market has year-to-year fluctuations, but that the true measure is performance over time. We're proud to be part of that great performance of the collector car market and we believe our expansion this week into Las Vegas will reinforce the view that collector cars are not only our consumers' passion but offer the potential of providing long-term value. Most enthusiasts like me take great solace that as a car collector, we own tangible assets that have not only stood up to the test of time in value, but can also be driven and enjoyed."
Here's your chance to obtain a bit of Hollywood history. The '59 Cadillac ambulance from the movie Ghostbusters is up on eBay Motors. As of this posting the bid stands at $25,400--and the reserve has not been met. The buyer will be responsible for pick-up and shipping; the vehicle is currently located in Dandridge, TN.
If you're wondering as to why the image is so tiny, well, it's a postage stamp; and they are tiny, right? I don't think I've done a blog on automotive stamps, so this is likely a first folks (if that means anything).
The state of Idaho is being honored by the US Postal Service by creating a stamp of a 300C owned by Twin Falls, Idaho resident George McKovich. The stamp is part of the Fifties Fins and Chrome stamp series, and will go on sale October 3rd. More than 50 million of the stamps featuring McKovich's car will be up for sale.
"This is your chance to own a rare vehicle," states Twin Falls Postmaster Bill Reese. "It's a great tribute to our community. We are honored that a local car will soon adorn millions of letters nationwide."
Other cars in the series include a 1957 Pontiac Safari, 1957 Lincoln Premiere, 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk and 1959 Cadillac Eldorado.
The Model T Ford is 100 years old this year, and as such the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA is honoring this event. The following is from the press release:
Centennial Celebration Details
The celebration runs from 9 AM - 4 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2008 and will include a feature car show, children's activities, how-to seminars and an address by Wally Hagen of Ford Motor Company at 12:30 PM. It is open to the public and fifty private owners will be bringing their Model Ts. "We anticipate a wide variety of Model Ts from the earliest brass radiator versions to the final designs of the mid-1920s, plus commercial Ts and specially built vehicles," states Museum Curator, Jeff Bliemeister. "The Model T is one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century," continues Bliemeister. "Its role in changing not only transportation, but in reshaping society cannot be overstated. It altered the way people lived in the early 20th Century in a manner that is comparable to that of the personal computer and the World Wide Web at the end of the 20th Century." The Museum also has a significant collection of Model Ts which will be on exhibition in the lobby and throughout the building. Maguire's Ford of Hershey has sponsored a "Best T" trophy which will be awarded at the end of the event. Hero cards, featuring Henry Ford, will be provided to all attendees and a special Model T brochure will be given to all registered Model T owners all courtesy of Ford Motor Company. The Museum will also be offering a special admission price of $5.00 per person for the day. Food will be available and a tour of the Museum's new storage facility will round out the day. As an added historical attraction, visitors will be able to view the Museum's "Alphabet Ford" collection. Prior to changing the world with his Model T, Henry Ford built cars in a more conventional manner. His earliest efforts were limited production vehicles with letter designations. The Museum hosts what may be the only complete collection of these Fords. Assembled by Ohio collector, Larry Porter, the Alphabet Ford Collection features the following rare vehicles: 1903 Model A, 1904 Model B, 1905 Model C, 1906 Model F, 1906 Model N, 1907 Model R, 1908 Model K, 1908 Model S and 1909 Model T. In addition, our working early 1900's machine shop features a reproduction of Ford's first vehicle, the 1896 Quadricycle Runabout. All in all, this will be a great day to visit the Museum and learn about a significant part of America's transportation history."One-hundred years ago, the Ford Model T changed the way Americans lived and enhanced the nation's prosperity by providing a simple, affordable and reliable means of transportation," said Wally Hagen Philadelphia Regional Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company. "Ford views the Model T centennial as a reminder of Henry Ford's commitment to quality and innovation. We're proud to honor this iconic vehicle with Model T enthusiasts in Pennsylvania, and to share with them the spirit of the Model T that lives on today at Ford."AACA 8th Annual Auction news after the jump.
In the Hershey, PA area this week? And a fan of Studebakers? Then check out what's happening at the AACA Museum.
In combination with the Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC), the AACA Museum is hosting the 44th Annual International Meet this week. The exhibit is now open and ends September 20, 2008, and it features vehicles ranging from horse-drawn Studebaker vehicles of the 1800's to those of the 60's. Vehicles to be displayed include a Doctor's carriage from the 1890's, a 1911 Studebaker EMF, 1927 Erskine, 1931 President Convertible, 1941 President 4-door sedan, 1950 Pick Up, 1952 Convertible and a 1963 Avanti R-2.
Studebaker is a brand that has roots that date back to 1852, and a company that gave Americans the westward-bound Conestoga wagon (pictured with with a '55 Champion Conestoga 2-door station wagon).
RM Auctions, in conjunction with the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) will shine a spotlight on a spectacular range of 'miniature classics' when the annual Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction event rolls into Pennsylvania next month.
Scheduled for October 10th, held in conjunction with the annual AACA Eastern Division Fall Meet, will present approximately 100 vintage automobiles for auction.
Also set to capture the attention of bidders and spur lively bidding will be a series of unique, individually customized pedal cars. Handcrafted especially for the Hershey event and inspired by some of America's favorite classics, these tiny treasures are set to prove that sometimes the most interesting and valuable objects come in small packages.
The Solid Axle Corvette Club held their National convention in Harrisburg and Hershey this week. A total of 27 Solid Axle Corvettes and their owners visited the AACA Museum in Hershey.
So, just what is a solid axle Corvette? The rear axle housing on all 1953 to 1962 Corvettes was a one-piece shell. The rear differential (rear gears) and the axles were mounted within this rear axle housing. (The rear axle housing is sometimes called a solid [or straight] axle housing.)
Beginning with the 1963 model year, Corvettes had an independent rear suspension (IRS). The rear differential is built into the center housing: universal joints and short shafts (called jack shafts) transfer power to the rear wheels. Each rear wheel reacts independently to the road surface, and has earned the nickname "rubber axle".
More AACA Museum fun stuff (4 Club Car Show / Cruise In and Drive-in Theaters make a comeback in Hershey) after the jump.
Celebrating 30 Years of Saab Turbocharging North American Saab Owners Reconvene near Boston this Weekend
Detroit - Saab owners and enthusiasts from all over North America and beyond are planning on gathering for the annual Saab Owners Convention in Devens, Massachusetts west of Boston this weekend. Celebrating the passion for their cars and the Saab brand, around five hundred owners and their cars are expected to attend the event which opens Thursday, August 21 and runs through Sunday, August 24.
The 26th consecutive annual Saab Owners Convention is organized by the Saab Club of North America. The center of activities is the Marriott Spring Hill Suites Hotel at the Common Center in Devens, Massachusetts. The venue has excellent facilities and is ideally located, as it is close to most attractions in the area. Though registration for this year's event is now closed, day passes can still be obtained at the Saab Club registration desk in the hotel. Continuing updates, including details on the exact location and program activities are available at http://www.saabclub.com/soc08.html.
Main theme of the 2008 SOC is 30 Years of Saab Turbocharging Leadership, which started with the 1978 Saab 99 Turbo. Now widely known as a true "cult car", the original 99 Turbo laid the foundation for many of the essentials that carry on in Saab's current product portfolio, largely consisting of cars with highly efficient turbocharged engines.
Steve Shannon, Saab Automobile USA General Manager and a native of the Boston area, is scheduled as the keynote speaker at the Banquet Dinner on Saturday night. "I am looking forward meeting many owners and their cars in person again, and participate in their unparalleled passion for Saab", Shannon said.
Beyond exhibiting the very best examples of its turbo heritage collection and latest array of products, Saab Automobile USA has selected this venue to showcase potential future classics such as the all-black 2008 Turbo X performance car as well as the exclusive and very sunny-looking Convertible "yellow edition". In addition, the award-winning 2008 Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept car is coming over from Sweden to be one of the key attractions.
Already labeled "Best Concept" by AutoWeek Magazine upon its world debut at the Geneva auto show last March, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid has been voted "Specialty Concept Car of the Year" by a jury of 25 professional North American automotive journalists. The award ceremony took place last June at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.
"The Saab 9-X BioHybrid blends organic form with ecologically sound propulsion for both aesthetic and environmental appeal", said jury panel member Arv Voss of Auto Impressions. Added Bob Kroupa of the Automotive Writers Group: "Saab takes center stage with a new design approach for a compact vehicle. With the BioHybrid turbo engine included, we have a winner".
"We are honored by this important recognition from an expert North American media organization," said Saab Automobile USA marketing director Roger McCormack accepting the award. "Following in the footsteps of the highly inspirational Aero X, and the 9-4X BioPower crossover concept which also debuted earlier this year, the 9-X BioHybrid demonstrates that Saab is truly on the move."
If you have any doubt as to the historical significance of this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, check out the gallery of photos put together by the good folks over at Autoblog.
There are 88 images here, including Jay Leno's incredible "tank car." Yep, it is powered by a Chrysler tank engine!
This was quite a weekend for car afficienados across the country. On the left coast there was the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, an automotive extravaganza of epic proportions for automotive scholars, historians and the wealthy--as in really, really wealthy. And in the heartland, there was the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise, an equally impressive event, but geared to those of more mainstream intellect and of more meager means. Regardless, it was a good weekend for gearheads, no matter what your place in life happens to be.
As for Pebble Beach winners, a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta took "Best in Show." Built by Touring, this 8C 2900 is one of which maybe five were made. It has a supercharged straight 8 that put out 180 hp. Roughly 30 8Cs were produced by Farina and Touring between 1937-1939.
So how do you top what is arguably the most impressive road car on the planet, the Bugatti Veyron? Well, you take the top off.
That's exactly what Bugatti did, and then renamed it the Bugatti Veryon 16.4 Grand Sport. As per all Veryons, the Grand Sport is powered by a 1001 hp W16. Sending all that 1-K+1 power to all four wheels is accomplished via a 7-speed DSG. With the top up it has a top speed of 253 mph, and sans top, the maximum velocity is limited to 190 mph. Can you imagine what it must be like doing 190 mph in an open-top car? Yikes!
Only 150 copies will be built, with 50 going to existing Bugatti owners. The car debuted at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, with the proceeds of the first unit being auctioned off going to charity. Price? 1.4 million euros excluding tax. First deliveries are expected in March of 2009.
Autoblog had a streaming video up (here) of the 2008 Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise while the vent was going on. More Autoblog Dream Cruise images can be found here. Also here is a video of the GM Century Cruise Parade that was part of the Dream Cruise.
Hot Damn! A new Caddy wagon based on the slick CTS!
Two V6s are available. The base engine puts out 263 hp, and the hotter direct-injection version a healthy 304 hp; with both hooked up to either a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed row-it-yourself gearbox.
If the CTS doesn't grab you, how 'bout the new next-gen 2010 SRX? This will be debuting at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend. No word yet on the mechanicals, but expect a V6, possibly a 4-cylinder engine (!), but a V8 is unlikely.
There's been a lot of news on the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance recently, and Straightline has sure done its share of posting on that event. However, there's several other classic car news events worthy to report on as well.
How about getting chance to bid on Carroll Shelby's 1949 MG TC? This car, which by the way, set him off on a career in auto racing, will be going up for auction at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Las Vegas this October.
Here are a couple from the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA.
Porsche through Time, August 16-21 August 24-27
Porsche Cars North America will be hosting a North American dealer training event here in Hershey with special events at the AACA Museum. As part the updated 2009 911 Carrera training, Porsche will bring a total of six (6) vintage 911 cars for public display at the Museum from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily.
This exhibit will include the earliest 911, which is actually a 1963 Porsche 901 Prototype with chassis 13327. It is the only survivor of the original development prototypes.
Visitors will be able to see more than forty years of evolutionary advances in engineering, technology and styling to the iconic 911 model line.
This year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is shaping up to being one heck of an event, as Straightline has reported on several very special vehicles that will be on display. Here's one more:
It's a special one-off Rolls-Royce called the Hyperion. This tiny Roller (by usual Rolls standards) was built by Pininfarina; and probably most incredible, is that it is fitted with a gun rack in the cabin!
Got a hankering to bring back a classic American car brand? All that's needed is $1.5 million to get you started. That will get you all the rights and engineering designs to Packard and a 1998 stillborn V12 prototype. The rest is up to you to get this up and moving forward.
Frankly, I'd love to see the Packard come back to life. Back in the 1920s Packard made some absolutely stunning cars, and was one of the first carmakers to offer a V12, which was called the "Twin-Six."
Packard is also a brand with a number of exquisite styling cues, which visually defined the brand. In the hands of a gifted designer--and a gifted engineering and marketing team--this could really turn into something extraordinary; much as the (neo) Bugatti Veyron has become.
This year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is going to be "A Real Duesy" (the term A Real Duesy came from admirers of the Duesenberg automobile, and was often applied to anything truly exceptional), as Straightline has reported on a number of exciting cars that will be on display. Here's one more: Bugatti will debut their stunning Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, which is a roadster version of of their already stunning Veyron. Only 75 - 80 will be built making each one a true collector's item.
Here's Inside Line's take: Revealed: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
PRESERVATION TREASURES, INCLUDING FIRST PRODUCTION PORSCHE, TO APPEAR AT AUG. 17 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE
Prewar and postwar preservation classes show cars can be original only once
Every third Sunday in August, rows and rows of pristinely restored Duesenbergs, Packards and Bugattis decorate the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links®. It's the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®, an automotive time capsule where entries are judged for their elegance and authenticity.
In recent years, though, some graying interlopers have cropped up amidst the spotless, automotive jewels.
Immaculately restored vehicles assuredly still capture the majority of the Concours limelight, but the unrefurbished cars of the Pebble Beach prewar and postwar preservation classes are garnering more and more public and media attention.
"There's something stately about these treasures that actually show their history; once regal vehicles that have been left unrestored by their owners," says Sandra Kasky Button, Pebble Beach Concours Chairman. "Some have sat untouched for decades in barns, under tarps or buried in the back of deserted warehouses while others have been lovingly driven around town. In each instance, they're unique, beautiful and bear witness to the passage of time -- not only to those who created them, but to those who drove them."
A prime example of historic beauty and relevance in this year's Concours is Porsche
No. 1. Dr. Ferry Porsche once said, "I couldn't find the car I'd been dreaming of. So I decided to build it myself."
On June 8, 1948 his dream car became a reality and signaled the birth of the sports car company bearing his name. The car spent many years with numerous owners before being recovered and returned in 1958 to the Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart, where it has remained the centerpiece of Porsche's automotive history.
Porsche No. 1's appearance at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance is Porsche's second chance to display this piece of history in the U.S. Ten years ago, on the occasion of the company's 50th anniversary, the first attempt was foiled by a shipping accident that damaged the car and prevented its debut. On Aug. 17, though, Porsche will make good on its quest to show No. 1 in its original glory at Pebble Beach when it joins 16 of its preservation brethren to create the largest showing of unrestored cars in the event's history.
When horseless carriages began ruling the road about 100 years ago, many vehicles were discarded once they began to age. By the late 1950s, as the collector car pastime began to blossom, the emphasis was solely focused on restoring these older cars -- making them as good or better than new. More recently, though, some auto aficionados have come to believe that cars restored to "as new" condition can lose a portion of their historical significance. While some purists are still unable to see beauty amid the chipped paint, rusted rims and sun-shredded upholstery, leaders in the preservation movement insist that the patina of age has a beauty all its own, that these "rescued" automotive time capsules maintain peak historical importance by keeping the cars in their original unchanged condition.
The Pebble Beach Concours initially recognized preservation cars in 1999 when a trophy was awarded for Best Preserved Car. The first class at Pebble Beach solely devoted to pre-war preservation vehicles was in 2001, and in 2007 a post-war preservation class was created.
"Our preservation classes cover a wide range of cars - from the untouched, long-hidden finds to much-loved automobiles that have been used, well maintained (but not restored) and passed down through many generations of owners," says Button. "Everyone talks about the untouched barn find and bemoans the fact that they're increasingly rare. To be truly preserved for a long period of time, though, cars require lots of care. So over time, I think everybody's preference will swing toward lovingly preserved cars."
General Motors to Showcase Historic Motorama Collection Vehicles Together for the First Time at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
More than fifty years ago, General Motors' traveling Motorama showcased dramatic concept "Dream Cars" as interpretations of future automobile design. From 1949 through 1960, expressive vehicles including the Cadillac Lemans and Firebird I traveled the United States as a statement of General Motors design leadership.
"I was eight years old when my father took me to the Philadelphia Auto Show where I first saw the Cadillac Cyclone". Says Ed Welburn, Vice President of GM Global Design. "That was the dream car that made me want to be a designer. Motorama served as creative impetus for a generation of designers, enthusiasts and everyday people".
On Saturday, August 16, 2008, GM's Motorama will return for an exclusive engagement at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This unique event will feature a collection of iconic vehicles showcased together for the first time including:
1939 Buick Y-Job (pictured)
1951 LeSabre1951 Buick XP 300
1953 Chevrolet Corvette "Dream Car"
1953 Cadillac LeMans
1953 GM Futureliner
1953 Pontiac Parisienne
1953 Buick Wildcat I
1954 Buick Wildcat II
1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special
1954 Firebird
1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Sedan
1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Roadster
1955 Chevrolet Biscayne
1956 Buick Centurion
1956 Firebird II
1956 Firebird II Titanium
1958 Firebird III
1959 Cadillac Cyclone
1959 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Special Racer
"I vividly remember the excitement," said Chuck Jordan, retired GM Vice President of Design. "Motorama was elegant, spectacular and provided visitors a sneak peak into the future. People loved it. To GM, Motorama was a priceless experience. I believe the design of our Motorama cars had a profound influence on America's golden era of Automobile design of the 1950's and 1960's".
In concert with GM Concept vehicles including the Buick Invica and Cadillac CTS Coupe, the 2008 Motorama at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will illustrate GM Design's past, present and future as global innovators.
"Today, our designers have returned to the creative spirit of Motorama with our newest concepts," said Ed Welburn. "We've got our spirit back at Design - the proof is in our vehicles".
Details on vehicles to be featured after the jump.
Legendary Harley Earl designed Dream Cars at the Antique Auto Museum
September 27 through October 12
Fifty years ago, before the internet, television and modern mass marketing transformed how we shop for our cars, America's automakers went to great lengths to dazzle the public with their annual offerings. Each year, the new designs would make their debut to much fanfare and public excitement. Dealer's often papered their windows in anticipation of the crowds that would lineup outside for a first look at a much anticipated new model or the redesign of a best-selling favorite.
In many cases, people really did not know what to expect. Now days, thanks to TV commercials and an abundance of automotive publications and websites, we all know almost exactly what every new car will look like long before it reaches a dealer's showroom. Beginning in the late 1930s Detroit's automakers began to introduce their new ideas through what came to be known as concept or Dream Cars. These machines were straight out of the design studio and they were intended to capture the imagination of the car-buying public. Beautiful, striking and outrageous they sometimes gave hints of the new technology and features that buyers might expect to find in their production car of the future. These cars traveled the country starring in auto shows from coast to coast.
While all the major automakers built dream cars for the auto shows, the best known and probably the most enduring came from GM in the 1950s. GM took the concept to its highest level by creating the Motorama, an all-General Motors show that traveled across the country in convoy of 125 tractor trailers complete with stage hands, singers, actors, musicians and technicians. Of course, the real stars of this show were the cars. Initially designed in large part by Harley Earl, General Motors legendary first styling chief, these vehicles were offered as a glimpse into the corporation's and America's automotive future.
Among the most enduring of the Motorama's Dream Cars are the turbine-powered Firebirds, a series of three highly aerodynamic vehicles inspired by the jet age. Firebird I made its debut in 1954, 13 years before General Motors reapplied the name to its newPontiac pony car. Firebird I was meant as a showcase for turbine power and its aero theme originated in the Douglas F4D Skyray jet airplane, as evidenced by its needle nose, single-seat bubble cockpit, wings and tailfin. Its body was constructed of fiberglass and wind tunnel tests indicated it was capable of traveling at more than 200 miles per hour. The turbine engine produced about 400 horsepower and fuel economy was roughly 5 miles per gallon.
Firebird II came out in 1956. It was slightly larger than its predecessor and it offered seating for four in its center bubble cockpit. It was billed as "the family sedan of the future." While rounder and less defined than Firebird I, the second dream remained extremely aero in design.
The final Firebird dream car of 1959 continued the theme. Firebird III had seating for two, in separate bubble cockpits. The instrument panel resembled the dash from an airplane and an all-in-one joystick replaced the traditional steering wheel, brake pedal and accelerator. Firebird III had seven fins and its overall shape was more missile than jet airplane. By now, its turbine engine was up to about 20 miles per gallon, but this technology never made it into any of GM's production vehicles.
The Motoramas ended 1961 with the last version showing no dream cars, focusing instead on enhanced production models. Over the years, the Motorama cars have traveled in many different directions. Some went to private collections; a few were found discarded in junkyards and lovingly restored; others have remained with General Motors as part of their Heritage Collection. This year, about 15 of the cars being assembled for display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in recognition of their design influence over the last 50 years. After Pebble Beach, the three Firebirds will travel to the AACA Museum in Hershey.
"This is truly a landmark event for the Museum," states Curator, Jeffrey Bliemeister. "These vehicles were radical designs when new and they have become automotive icons over the last half century. They are rarely seen together in a museum setting outside of Michigan. It is an honor to host them at the AACA Museum. We appreciate the support the GM Heritage Collection has shown us in providing these legendary dream cars for our exhibition."
A 1923 specially restored Ford Model T returned to the famous Le Mans 24 Hours circuit for the 2008 Le Mans Classic. This significant car took part in the very first Le Mans 24 hour race in 1923, and never before has such an old car participated in this prestigious biennial meeting of Le Mans Classic.
Lancia, the Italian auto manufacturer known for its elegant originality and innovative spirit, will be celebrated as a featured marque at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, Aug. 17. Seventeen significant Lancia vehicles will be on display, ranging from a rarely seen 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 Rally Car to one of the oldest Lancias on record, a 1908 12 hp Alpha (pictured). Lancia will be highlighted at the Concours along with Lamborghini and the centennial of General Motors.
"The Lancia history is quite remarkable," says Sandra Kasky Button, Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours. "Lancia emerged as one of the most progressive, spirited car companies at the turn of the 20th century, producing their first car exactly 100 years ago. Their racing heritage includes wins in Formula One, rallying and sports cars."
In addition to producing the first narrow-angle V-4 and V-6 production engines, Lancia is recognized for numerous additional engineering advances that outdistanced other pre-war auto manufacturers. Founded in Turin, Italy by Vincenzo Lancia, the first Lancia, a 12 hp Alpha, debuted in 1908, and an example will be brought to the Concours by Milano, Italy car collector Corrado Lopresto, a 2005 Pebble Beach winner.
"Big, majestic and not very sporty, the Alpha's attraction is quality and reliability with advanced comfort," says Lopresto, whose '08 Alpha is one of just 108 that were built.
The Lancia Lambda, which debuted in 1922 sporting a groundbreaking single-body frame and independent front suspension, will be represented at the Concours.
Other notable Lancias coming to Pebble Beach include: the D24, one of Lancia's most innovative vehicles and the subject of the poster for the 2008 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance presented by Rolex; a 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 coupe - one of six designed to for competition (it won the 1953 Liège-Rome-Liège Rally); and the original Lancia Stratos HF Prototype Bertone Coupe, which made its world debut at the 1971 Turin Auto Show..
"It's truly a remarkable achievement for Lancia to be a featured marque at this year's Concours," says Francesco Gandolfi, Pebble Beach Concours Chief Class Judge. "This is the first time since I became involved in collectible cars in 1971 that I've seen Lancia being honored at a major event...and I don't know when, and if, I will see the same again."
Image: Courtesy of Mr. Corrado Lopresto. Used by permission of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. All rights reserved.
In 1958, Ferrari began production of a race-inspired convertible named after its best-selling market - the Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California. Only 105 "Cal Spyders" were manufactured overall. In addition to the prototype, there were six variants--long and short wheelbase models with differing headline treatments and competition versions.
Six of these now iconic roadsters will be displayed among the world's elite vehicles at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 17 (here).
"The Spyder California exemplifies Ferrari's unrivaled racing heritage and matchless individuality," said Sandra Kasky Button, chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, "This is the first time that six variations, including the prototype, will appear together in one place. Once again automotive history will be made at Pebble Beach."
According to Ed Gilbertson, Chief Judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and a Ferrari expert, "The Spyder California was a factory-built road car that you could drive to the track and race. We're bringing together examples from around the world - from people who don't often show their cars - to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime display of Ferrari legends."
Saturday, June 28, the ACCA Museum in Hershey, PA is having their CARnival, which sounds like a fun event. The following is from their press release: _______________
Come to CARnival! AACA Museum’s 13TH Annual Celebration of the Motoring Hobby
Cruise back in time as the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey presents its CARnival 2008. It’s a day designed for car collectors, weekend cruisers, and people who just like cars. This year’s CARnival will highlight antique and classic cars, street rods, motorcycles, even trucks and buses, all from 1982 or earlier. Festivities will take place on the grounds surrounding the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey from 9 AM – 3 PM. CARnival events are free. The Museum will be open from 9 AM – 5 PM with aspecial $5.00 admission fee in celebration of the Museum’s 5th Anniversary!
The CARnival Car Show runs from 9 AM – 2:30 PM. A cornerstone of the festivities, it’s a cruise-in style car show for “anything with wheels.” JimBo the Clown will be on site providing balloons for children of all ages from 9:30 AM – 11 AM. Food will be available all day, beginning at 9:00 AM...
Times were good in America during the 1950s. Returning WWII vets had jobs, families, money to spend, and dreams of a prosperous, positive future. It was the time of big hair, full employment, rock and roll, drive-in movies, and hamburger stands serviced by roller-skating waitresses. Rock and Roll meant dancing, and to dance, you went to the Hop.
Relive the days when Ike was President and Elvis was king at the AACA Museum on Friday, June 20th from 6-10 PM as we re-create The Sock Hop! R.J. Harris from WHP-580 will be the master of ceremonies and DJ Rockin’ Charlie will be playing all those great oldies from the 50’s and 60’s to dance the night away. Other activities will include a 50/50 raffle, dance contests, dance demonstrations by PA Dance Sport, Hula Hoop contest, Best Dressed contest and 50’s Trivia...
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The Solid Axle Corvette Club held their National convention in Harrisburg and Hershey this week. A total of 27 Solid Axle Corvettes and their owners visited the AACA Museum in Hershey. 
