Autoblog

SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Coupe, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty

2010 WD-40 Chevrolet Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

With a 600-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 residing underhood, we'd happily spray ourselves into the seats of this WD-40 showcar. The legendary lubricant company actually contracted a slew of top-shelf builders to do the custom outfitting, they just sponsored it. Either way, this blue-and-yellow 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is for a good cause - it was built to support the SEMA Cares charity and will be auctioned off at the next installment of the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale. Proceeds will benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang charities, among others.

The WD-40 Camaro also serves as a nice tribute to recently deceased company founder, John Barry. While the car was certainly well guarded, we wouldn't say we were that tempted to steal it. Don't get us wrong, it's not a bad looking Camaro. Although WD-40 had it parked in the darkest corner we found in all of SEMA, it still looked pretty striking in that bright yellow and deep blue combo. Our only complaint is that it didn't go far enough. The tiny WD-40 stickers on the fenders are way too small - this thing needs huge ones on the doors, hood and/or trunk too. And it seems almost blasphemous for them to have missed out on one of the most iconic features of the WD-40 cans, the bright red cap! Those wheels are just begging for them. Follow the jump for WD-40's full press release and check out our gallery below.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro

Continue reading SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers

SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unique porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China raises $1.77M at auction

Noah Joseph — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, China, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 China special in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao - Click above for high-res image gallery

A Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is an exceptional piece of automotive art. Even more exceptional is the latest model equipped with the Handling GT Evoluzione package. More exceptional still is the limited-edition 599 HGTE made exclusively for the Chinese market. But even in this rarified territory, there exists one 599 HGTE China special that stands apart. We reported on it about a month ago, and it's now been sold at auction.

The one-off Fiorano was hand painted by Chinese artist Lu Hao with a pattern reminiscent of the sought-after Ge Liln porcelain of the Song Dynasty. This unique example was sold on Tuesday to an anonymous collector from Shanghai, who paid the equivalent of $1.77 million for the privilege. The proceeds are earmarked towards helping aspiring Chinese automotive engineers to make it to Italy for further studies and an internship opportunity at Maranello. On hand for the auction event, held at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, were the artist, Ferrari executives, faculty members from the participating schools and none other than Michael Schumacher himself. Follow the jump for full details in the press release, and see more in our high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Unique porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China raises $1.77M at auction

Unique porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China raises $1.77M at auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: November Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Auctions, Event Alert

For many of us November means football, parades, turkey hangovers, and family dysfunctionality in the form of Thanksgiving, but we car people tend to be more thankful for SEMA, the Chase and the crowning of a new champion in Formula 1 (Well, the conclusion of another season at least, since Jenson Button already locked up his first drivers championship and Brawn likewise nabbed the constructors title in its maiden season.)

As the year begins drawing to a close, we still have a handful of Fall cruises, auctions, meets and concours going on, but the automotive calendar is otherwise looking pretty sparse as we enter the penultimate month of 2009.

Connecticut has its local auto show, the Petersen is hosting an auction and tribute to Trans-Am racing, the Best of France and Italy show hits Van Nuys, and the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals visit Rosemont, Illinois. Other than that, we can expect a lot of silly season musical chairs and a slew of new car sneak peeks ahead of the first major show of the 2010 season in Los Angeles at the beginning of December.

If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. And please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: November Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: November Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, Buick

Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

As we approach the big SEMA show in Las Vegas next week, it's time to look back at a previous star of the show. Sometime back in the mid-80s the decision was made that Buick would abandon V8 engines and instead be the home of the V6. Even for top models like Riviera and Park Avenue, turbocharged and supercharged versions of the long-lived 3.8-liter V6 would serve propulsive duties. Needless to say, not everyone in the bowels of the Warren Tech Center agreed with this approach.

In 1998 a group of GM engineers felt the Riviera should be powered by no fewer than eight cylinders and knew full well it was possible. The Riv of that era shared its platform with other models like the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Aurora, which of course were powered by the still contemporary Northstar V8. A single Northstar Riviera example was built as concept and trotted out at the 1998 SEMA Show.

Upper management did not agree with the premise and only a year later the whole Riviera program was euthanized. Somehow, that one V8 powered Riv survived and managed to get sold outside of GM on a salvage title. If the styling of that last Riviera doesn't give you convulsions, the car only has 10,200 miles on it and the Buy It Now price is $20K. The current bid of $3,550 hasn't yet hit the reserve so it's anyone's guess what this will go for - if it goes at all.

Gallery: Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Police auctioning off motorized La-Z-Boy used in DWI

Michael Harley — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Government/Legal, Humor

If you've ever had the urge to cruise your neighborhood in a self-propelled La-Z-Boy, your opportunity has arrived. Minnesota resident Dennis Anderson (no relation to the Gravedigger monster truck franchise - we think) has forfeited his notorious motorized, and over-the-top modified, recliner chair involved in his DWI incident and crash recently is going on the eBay auction block later this week.

To recap, this masterpiece of motorized furniture isn't your average run-of-the-mill family room napper. This particular innovative and highly customized chair is fitted with a nitrous-boosted lawnmower engine good for a top speed in the neighborhood of 20 mph (it is fitted with a parachute... apparently in case you happen to drive off a cliff). Dual headlights help guide you home from the late nights at the bar, while an integrated stereo sound system will make you everyone's envy at the stop lights (maybe from the curb, as we don't think it is technically street legal).

While Mr. Anderson got off with two years of probation for his antics, his prized possession is sadly being liquidated - sans reserve price - thanks to a Minnesota law allowing police to auction vehicles seized in drunk-driving cases. So, what do you think it will go for?

[Source: Engadget]

REPORT: Police auctioning off motorized La-Z-Boy used in DWI originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Etc., Chevrolet, Specialty, Design/Style

C5 Corvette based Saleen S7 replica - click above image for hi-res gallery

Steve Saleen's Saleen S7 is a totally bespoke, hand built superduper hypercar that in twin-turbo, 750 horsepower, 700 pound-feet of torque form could go about 250 mph. And it was capable of generating enough downforce to (theoretically) drive upside down. In competition, the S7R has been one of the most dominant vehicles ever fielded, having been "raced in over 264 events, with 218 Top Tens, 166 Podiums, 105 Wins, 86 Poles, 78 Fastest Laps and 9 GT Championships." Price when new was about $600,000, give or take.

Which makes the above car all the more special. Sayeth the seller, "We thought long and hard as to what chassis we would use for our replica. First of all we knew the 80's [sic] Fiero was not an option. its [sic] too old, underpowered, and not a safe frame." Oh man - the replica world has really changed if a Pontiac Fiero chassis is not good enough. But the auctioneer does inadvertently raise a good point, as the S7 is in fact a mid-engined car, and you just got to have that if you're building a replica, don't you? Apparently not.

"So we went with a C5 Corvette chassis. It offers all the driving comforts, with great brakes, Power, and a super strong frame. and we could retail the car for a reasonable price." But not only is it Chevrolet Corvette based, they made it a roadster! See, all those boring old S7s were stuffy mid-engined hardtops - this is the world's first and only front-engined roadster S7. Replica. We've got to say we're a little amazed there are only two bids.

Oh wait, no - we said that wrong. What we meant is that we're a little amazed there are two bids. Currently, the "replica" is sitting at $20,100 and ~~humorously~~ oddly, the reserve has not been met. Did we mention that it's an automatic? Also, dude, your check engine light is on. Videos after the jump. Happy bidding!

Gallery: C5 Corvette based Saleen S7 replica

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster

eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Ford RancheroStar

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Auctions, Ford, Specialty

1987 Ford RancheroStar - Click above for high-res image gallery

The last time that we spotted today's eBay find of the day, it was cruising along Woodward Ave in Birmingham, MI this past summer. The RancheroStar immediately caught our attention, but evidently the For Sale sign in the window didn't catch enough eyeballs from onlookers. Thus we now find it again.

According to its eBay listing, the creator of this minivan-trucklet died before completing the project, although he apparently had some pretty serious plans for it going forward. The truncated 1987 Ford Aerostar currently has its stock front V6, rear-wheel drive (not front-wheel drive as in the listing) configuration, but the deceased creator had plans to eventually replace it with a mid-mounted 460 cubic-inch V8. Apparently, the bodywork as it stands today is all metal, with no fiberglass or dreaded Bondo. From what we saw briefly at Woodward, the vehicle seems to be well executed for as far as it got.

If you are interested in an oddball project to complete, this one might be worth checking out. At this point, there aren't any bids, so you might get a good deal. If you do pick it up and complete it or at least paint it, let us know and it could get an Autoblog follow-up. Thanks to Scott for the tip!

Gallery: Woodward 2009: The Weird and the Wonderful

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Ford RancheroStar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: George Barris' rockin' 289 Cobra-powered 1967 Voxmobile [w/VIDEO]

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Celebrities, Specialty

1967 Voxmobile by George Barris - Click above for image gallery

Feelin' Groovy? Do you like guitars, speed and attention? If so, check out eBay Motors item number 260492703795. It's the one-and-only George Barris-created Voxmobile! Powered by a Cobra 289, it's said to be the fastest promotional vehicle ever created with an estimated top speed of 175 mph. Not that we'd recommend it. Molded from wood, plastic, steel and fiberglass, the fully-functional, guitar-sided Voxmobile was designed for publicity and incorporated a bunch of Vox musical components.

Think of it as a super-quick parade float, or better yet, a '60s calliope, with 32 guitar inputs, a Vox Super Continental organ, three Vox Beatle amplifiers, and a dozen or so additional speakers. Most of it still works, but the seller says this original, unrestored, 40-year-old custom vehicle needs a bit of work to make it all hum.

The Voxmobile was once owned by the world's fastest guitarist, Jimmy Bryant, and was almost a Hollywood star, dropped from the final cut of the Jack Nicholsen flick, Psych-Out. It still made the promotional lobby cards though. And it can be yours for the low-low price of just $175,000. The seller will even help you source a correct bass and head unit to complete the package. This thing is a hoot, but the promotional video for it is stellar. You won't believe the level of talent that came out to reminisce about this Barris creation. Check out the groovy YouTube video after the jump and the full gallery of pics by clicking below.

Gallery: 1967 Barris Voxmobile

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: George Barris' rockin' 289 Cobra-powered 1967 Voxmobile [w/VIDEO]

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris' rockin' 289 Cobra-powered 1967 Voxmobile [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auction find: Duel Peterbilt for beating up on Valiants

Dan Roth — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:46:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Event Alert

One of the most sinister automotive movie characters ever, the tanker-hauling Peterbilt from the seminal Spielberg picture, Duel, is up for auction. Perhaps only a little less evil than the '58 Plymouth in John Carpenter's adaptation of Christine, nearly 40 years have done little to dull this truck's malevolent countenance. The MotoExotica and Manheim event in St. Louis started on Friday, and finishes up today, October 17th.

The 1960 Pete has an overhauled engine, and air and electrical lines on the chassis have been replaced, too, according to the seller. It appears that this truck is the second of three used in the filming of the movie. It's a 1960 Peterbilt 281 made up to look like the 1956 model that was used for most of the scenes. Since that '56 was on its last legs, this truck was its double, and has also appeared in other productions, like a David Lee Roth video. We can't find out if there's a reserve, but it did just come out of a restoration, so it'll likely be well above the $20,000 range that normal 281s seem to trade for. Add in its matching vintage trailer and the movie provenance, which is purportedly documented, and this truck could well go for more money.

For a work vehicle, it's likely pulled its last real load a long time ago. Movie appearances tend to make people all kooky about a vehicle having some sort of added value just because it exists on a few million frames of release print somewhere. Either way, we've found both the movie's trailer and the full feature (they're embedded after the jump), where you can see the Peterbilt in action. Thanks for the tip, Greg.

Gallery: Duel Peterbilt for Auction in St. Louis

[Source: MotoeXotica]

Continue reading Auction find: Duel Peterbilt for beating up on Valiants

Auction find: Duel Peterbilt for beating up on Valiants originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hurst SEMA Scholarship Camaro eBay Auction underway

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

Hurst/SEMA Camaro - Click above image for high-res gallery

SEMA, Chevy, eBay and Hurst have teemed up to auction off a Hurst-tuned Camaro with the proceeds going to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, "a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket."

Win the auction and in addition to an all-expense-paid trip to this November's SEMA show in Las Vegas, you'll be rolling in a thoroughly-modified 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, kitted out in red and silver graphics, 20-inch polished wheels, an Eibach suspension and a host of other mods. Make the jump to get the details,.and if you want to help a poor, struggling, underprivileged automotive engineer out, here's the link to the eBay auction. Opening bid is $10,000 -- happy bidding.

Gallery: Hurst/SEMA Camaro

[Source: Hurst]

Continue reading Hurst SEMA Scholarship Camaro eBay Auction underway

Hurst SEMA Scholarship Camaro eBay Auction underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Luxury

2009 1/2 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

It looks like the top-shelf, one-off 550-hp engine upgrade for that new Iacocca Mustang is worth about $362,000, at least to one buyer. The fifth of just 45 2009 1/2 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustangs to be made crossed the block on Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas with a winning bid of $320,000. After fees, the car's final selling price was a whopping $352,000. That's well above the $89,950 MSRP of the other 44 limited-edition, coachbuilt specials. We just wrote about the Iacocca 'Stang and said that the car's exclusive dealer, Galpin Motors of California, would offer engine upgrades for an undisclosed premium. We seriously doubt that the actual surcharge will come anywhere close to the premium secured on the Barrett-Jackson car.

So what made this particular Iacocca attractive enough to bring such a lofty price? Well, for one, it had that upgraded, supercharged 550-horsepower engine. Another reason this one sold for a price nearly four times higher than the base model was that it was sold at auction, with the bidders getting whipped into a typical Barrett-Jackson feeding frenzy. Finally, it was in Las Vegas, a city where fiscal responsibility takes a backseat to, well, pretty much everything. While we love the custom composite coachwork on this special fastback Mustang, and acknowledge that this one is unique with its supercharged engine, that price just seems completely insane. The Iacocca topped many impressive other rides that were up for grabs; follow the jump to read more results. Apparently, everything that happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.

Gallery: First Drive: Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Mustang

Continue reading Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1984 Volkswagen GTI MkI

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

1984 Volkswagen GTI MkI - click above image for hi-res gallery

No doubt we've had GTI on the brain the past week or so after driving Volkswagen's new, fun, we-like-it-more-than-we-thought-we-would MkVI GTI. And if you read our review, you're aware that Volkswagen is actively trying to market the new GTI as if it's cut from the same cloth as the original gangsta GTI. It's priced nice, too, starting at just a smidge over $23,000. But what if you could get a real GTI, an ur GTI - which would you take? And what if said MkI GTI had only 517 miles on it? That's not a typo - just 517 miles! And stored properly, too. At least according to the seller, "My father had owned a Shell Service station for 50 years, he knows how to maintain a vehicle LOL and is quite the perfectionist."

Well, friends, today is your lucky day. Here we have a 1984 GTI that isn't even done with its break in period. The story -complete with lots of LOLs - goes something like this. The seller's dad bought the car new in January of 1985. He had a new Blaupunkt stereo installed (gotta have that). Then he had back surgery. Two more surgeries and twenty-five years later, the poor guy still can't drive a stick. So, the GTI has to go. And there's no reserve. Currently the bidding's at $5,600 with over six days to go. We have the strange premonition that it's going to tick up a bit higher than that. Happy bidding! Big ol' Autoblog shoutout to Mike R. for the tip!

Gallery: eBay 517 Mile 1984 Volkswagen GTI MkI

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1984 Volkswagen GTI MkI originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fine China: One-off porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 special to be auctioned for charity [w/VIDEO]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, China, Videos, Ferrari, Specialty, Design/Style

One-of-a-kind Ferrari 599 in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao - Click above for UPDATED high-res image gallery

In a communist country, all Ferraris are equal, but some are more equal than others. Take the special-edition 599 that the Italian automaker debuted exclusively for the Chinese market. Only twelve of them will be made. And now, an even more exclusive version - as exclusive as they get, really - has been presented.

This one-of-a-kind special Ferrari has been further differentiated by Lu Hao, a Chinese artist who applied the special touches that make the China special edition, well...special. It's been decked out in the cracked glaze pattern of the coveted Song Dynasty-era Ge Liln porcelain, and signed by the artist. The unique supercar will be auctioned off for charity in Beijing on November 3, but you can see it for yourself in the gallery below and the video after the jump.

UPDATE: Two new images added to the gallery below, and official press release inserted under the video after the jump.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Fine China: One-off porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 special to be auctioned for charity [w/VIDEO]

Fine China: One-off porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 special to be auctioned for charity [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: #1 of 5 1993 Lister Corvette is nothing if not ambitious

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty

1993 Lister Corvette - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in the early Nineties, Lister North America looked to recapture some of the awesomeness that is the 1959 Lister Corvette, a British car built to compete with the likes of the Jaguar and Aston Martin on the British racing scene. Opinions on whether or not the reborn company was successful are split, and the endeavor resulted in just five 1992 and 1993 Lister-bodied Chevrolet C4 Corvettes being produced.

This being the case, finding one of these rare automobiles for sale isn't a particularly common occurrence. Hence today's eBay Find of the Day - a 1993 Lister Corvette dolled up in bright yellow with a black interior. Regardless of what you think of the bespoke bodywork, the guts of the 'Vette are sound. There's certainly nothing wrong with a worked-over Chevrolet LT1 V8 engine stroked to 383 cubic inches and topped with a Vortech supercharger, right?

This particular Lister Corvette has traveled just 7,048 miles and has apparently been the subject of a magazine article or two. Bidding is currently at $16,600 (reserve not met) and there's less than a day left on the auction. Check out our gallery of images below and the listing in the link below.

Gallery: 1993 Lister Corvette

[Source: eBay Motors | Images: Viva Las Vegas Autos - Reproduced with permission]

eBay Find of the Day: #1 of 5 1993 Lister Corvette is nothing if not ambitious originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: October Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions, Tokyo Motor Show, Event Alert

October means Halloween to many, but to car people it also means Tokyo, The Chase, ALMS at Laguna Seca and the home stretch for IndyCar and Formula 1. There are also a bunch of Fall cruises, meets and concours, so the old car crowd won't be left out this month either.

Foremost on that list are two events we'll be at again this year, the 27th Annual Concours d' Elegance at The St. Regis in Dana Point, California, and the Wings Wheels Rotors & Expo in Los Alamitos. There's also Sportscar Vintage Racing Association at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Japanese Classic Car Show, Circle Yer Wagens, Scarsdale Concours, One Love Weekend, Vintage Rallies Mountain Mille, VRG Vintage Races at Watkins Glen, 2009 All-Pontiac Show, Super Stang Fest 2009, Vettes at the Village, Micro & Minicar Cruise at Bear Mountain, and the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance to close out the month.

There will be auction action too, with Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas, Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey by RM, and gigantic Classic Car Auction of Toronto. Motorsports fans are in for some late-season championship action with Formula 1 making visits to Suzuka and Brazil, ALMS at Laguna Seca, the IndyCar finale at Homestead, and NASCAR making four stops as The Chase continues - Kansas, Fontana, Charlotte and Martinsville.

Besides the ever-shrinking Tokyo Motor Show, there are also going to be a regional show in Anaheim, but Americans will have to wait until Los Angeles in December to get most of the European and Asian debuts from Frankfurt and Tokyo.

If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. And please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: October Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: October Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM reportedly ending pilot eBay program, yet claims success

Chris Shunk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, GM

Back in August, General Motors began a pilot program in which it opened up its own eBay mega store. A total of 225 dealers had participated in the California-only pilot, but GM has decided to pull the plug on the program effective today. With the program ending instead of expanding to all of the 50 U.S. States and beyond, many would call the program a failure. GM doesn't see it that way.

The General is calling its eBay experiment a success, stating that the program helped the Detroit, MI-based automaker reach potential customers who wouldn't have otherwise considered GM products. We're not so sure about that one, but then again we're not invited to many board meetings at the Ren Cen, either.

While GM and eBay aren't releasing the amount of sales generated by the program, some site statistics are being released. GM's auction site achieved a fairly impressive 1.5 million views during its month-and-a-half in existence, with a reported 15,000 dealer leads.

GM spokesman John McDonald says that the company is focusing its efforts on a new marketing campaign that touts the General's new 60 day money back guarantee. And just because GM is ending its eBay experiment, it doesn't mean that its thousands of dealers are going to stop posting new cars and trucks on eBay Motors. Dealers from all OEMs have been using the popular auction site for years, and it seems that the majority of auctions on the site now are of the dealer variety.

[Source: Seattle Times]

GM reportedly ending pilot eBay program, yet claims success originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Hyundai-based X-4 "concept car"

Dan Roth — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Auctions, Specialty

X-4 "concept car" - click above for image gallery

Here's what to do with that Elantra GT you couldn't flip for Cash for Clunkers money. The seller is listing this "X4" as a Hyundai-based concept car, though it's unlike anything we've seen on the show circuit. A lot of work went into making this a conversation piece from what looks like parts of a leftover Hyundai, some VW Type 1 bits, and a whole lot of wackiness.

The build quality, while displaying care and attention to detail, looks to lean toward the late-1970s kit-car end of the spectrum. That's not to say that this vehicular oddity doesn't display ingeniuity, it's sure to draw a crowd of curious bystanders wherever you go with its odd styling and close-set rear wheels. The open design is well suited to cruising golf courses in fair climates, but it's unclear whether you'd have a hassle trying to legally register and drive such a contraption. There's about a day left, and the reserve hasn't been met by the current $5,100 bid for this unique bit of creativity with its matching trailer.

Gallery: X4 Hyundai based concept car

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Hyundai-based X-4 "concept car" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pair of Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR road cars to be auctioned by RM in London

Drew Phillips — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Supercars like the SLS AMG and SL65 AMG Black Series might be the flagships for the current Mercedes-Benz lineup, but back in the late 1990s it was all about the CLK GTR -- an all-out race car slightly disguised as a road car. The street version you see here was built to homologate the race car that competed in the FIA's GT1 class in 1997 and 1998 (wining the championship in 1997). Each came with a 6.9-liter V12 putting out 612 horsepower as well as features found on modern supercars like a sequential six-speed transmission with paddle shifters and carbon fiber brakes. Just 25 examples were built including five roadsters, making the CLK GTR one of the most exclusive supercars ever built.

It's for this reason that the auction of two CLK GTR road cars immediately caught our attention. Both will be offered at RM Auction's Automobiles of London sale on October 28. One coupe and one roadster will go across the block, each completely brand new and unregistered with delivery miles only. Interestingly, both cars are right hand drive, custom built for the original owner. RM lists the estimated price for each CLK GTR at around 1/3 the original cost to build the cars, meaning some lucky collector might take home a supercar for a bargain. Follow the jump for more details about both cars, or check out the stunning high-resolution gallery below.

Gallery: Mercedes Benz CLK GTR Coupe and Roadster

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Pair of Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR road cars to be auctioned by RM in London

Pair of Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR road cars to be auctioned by RM in London originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: VQ35DE-powered Datsun 510 may be the perfect swap [w/VIDEO]

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Nissan, Specialty

1972 Datsun 510 with VQ35DE power - Click above for image gallery

This eBay listing has been dubbed "the perfect swap" by some of our bloggers. From the outside, it looks like any other lovable Datsun 510 with some funky wheels. Pop the hood, however, and the reason for our lust becomes obvious. Shoehorned into the slot previously occupied by the L-Series lump is a red-hot VQ35DE. Yep, the very same sweet-revving engine you'll find in a 350Z or G35. In fact, we'd love to pick this thing up and do a comparo with a Infiniti G37. Better yet, whoever buys it, get in touch with us and we'll give you the details on how to drop it off with one of our trained staff. We promise we'll treat it well.

The seller says this is the only known VQ35 510 swap in the U.S. and that it was a labor of love. Love - and $25,000, that is. The owner claims he could have built his hybrid a lot cheaper, but he overbuilt it just in case he "caught the boost bug." He reckons it'll handle up to 500 horsepower, although it's currently generating pretty close to the stock 287. Don't let that fool you though. The list of mods on this thing is almost as long as HR 3200. We've pasted them in after the jump along with a video clip of this little beast in action. Click through for the full rundown and don't forget to check out the gallery as well.

Gallery: Datsun 510 VQ35DE swap

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: VQ35DE-powered Datsun 510 may be the perfect swap [w/VIDEO]

eBay Find of the Day: VQ35DE-powered Datsun 510 may be the perfect swap [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Tim Allen's gruntworthy "Licorice Streak Special"

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Celebrities, Specialty

1932 Ford "Licorice Streak Special" Tracknose roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

When television funnyman Tim Allen rang up Steve Moal and asked for a custom Tracknose roadster, his response was the car you see here. It's known as the "Licorice Streak Special" and it's won numerous awards in the 10 years since the Home Improvement star was handed the keys. The gang at Moal Coachbuilders did their typically wonderful job of turning out an immaculate one-off that captures the attitude of a classic hot rod with modern designer touches that make this car equally at home at a week-night cruise-in or on the Links of Pebble Beach.

It's technically a '32 Ford, but very little of it would have been available to someone wandering into a Ford dealership back in the day. Just check out all of those Art Deco brass bits by "Kaki" Kakizaki. It's got an aluminum body stretched over a custom tube chassis and is powered by a built SVO 351 that definitely delivers "more power" (*Cue appropriate grunting*).

While it would take something on the order of $450,000 - $500,000 to replicate it, the Licorice Streak Special is up for bid for another 8 days or so and is currently still below its reserve at "just" $85,100. Check out the gallery below and the eBay Motors listing for all of the details about the build. Thanks for the tip, Matthew.

Gallery: Tim Allen's 1932 Ford "Licorice Streak Special" Tracknose roadster

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Tim Allen's gruntworthy "Licorice Streak Special" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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