Autoblog

Bloc Rockin' Beat(er): Volga GAZ-21 meets Porsche Cayenne

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Etc., Porsche, Humor

Click above for high-res image gallery of this heavily disguised Cayenne Turbo

We recently told you that the Porsche Panamera would be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, but it turns out that it has already debuted in Russia. This Porsche-powered four-door just popped up with a retro body that seems to have caught the whole automotive world by surprise. We thought that the last batch of pics were the real deal, but apparently no. Actually we are just messing with you. What you see above is another motoring mashup by Cardi. It's a '60s era Volga GAZ-21 body sitting atop a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Russian design house Cardi claims that with 450 turbocharged, V8 horsepower at its disposal, the Volga Cayenne can jet to 100km/h in just 6.7 seconds on its way to a vmax of 155 mph. And just in case any passers-by are wondering where this Q-ship is from, Cardi has also applied a raher tasteful and understated graphic. Even the wheels receive a subtle reminder of the car's place of origin. Check out the gallery to see more of this Volga Cayenne. The interior, in particular, is gorgeous.

Gallery: Volga Cayenne

[Source: Autofiends]

Bloc Rockin' Beat(er): Volga GAZ-21 meets Porsche Cayenne originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: Vintage Racecar Collection

Dan Roth — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Auction Action

Of course we're checking the couch in the editors lounge for spare change, it's only natural when an impeccable collection of vintage race cars goes on the block. We've found 63 cents so far; if we can avoid the siren song of a Milky Way when we fuel up, we're well on our way to the $855,000 price for this package deal. Chuck Fausel is retiring, and his impressive stable of vintage racers is up for sale, either individually or as a collection. The newest car is a NASCAR veteran from the 1990s, and the oldest is a 1920 Model T fitted with a Rajo overhead valve conversion. The provenance and history of the cars is fascinating and genuine, unlike some of the other schlock you see on eBay. We'd gas 'em up and go off to shred some tires, but you could also build a viewing hall around them and charge admission.

Gallery: Vintage Race Car Collection

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Vintage Racecar Collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Huet Brothers Special: A classic roadster for epic journeys

Noah Joseph — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Euro, Special/Limited Editions

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Huet Brothers Special

They don't build 'em like they used to. At least, most of 'em don't. But "most" doesn't include the Huet Brothers. The Dutch duo operates classic rallies and tours across Europe. But having grown up around vintage Alfas and Bugattis, Paul and Tino Huet wanted to recreate something special. The result is the HB Special, a neo-classic roadster with a modern twist inspired by events like the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Le Mans, which hosted competitors like the Aston Martin DBR1, Maserati 300 S and Ferrari 412 S.

Based on a Triumph TR6, the HB Special uses carbon-fiber and aluminum to keep the weight down to just 750 kg (1650 lbs). The car is motivated by a simple inline-six engine, tuned to produce a modest 180 horsepower. But outright speed isn't the point: The HB Special, like the Creative Workshop's Sport Speciale, is a modern exercise in classic design. The Huet Brothers plan to produce 12 examples, but they won't be for sale; they'll be used for hire in their exclusive HB Experience tours. To complement the car and the experience, the Huet Brothers have crafted a selection of classic motoring accessories, all of which you can check out on their website, or click the images below to see the car in all its high-resolution glory.

Gallery: Huet Brothers HB Special

[Source: Huet Brothers via Autogespot]

Huet Brothers Special: A classic roadster for epic journeys originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Jersey Motorsports Park Suing Shelby American Car Club

Dan Roth — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Tuners, Etc., Shelby

The hits just keep on coming for the embattled Shelby American Automobile Club. News has quieted down about the contention between Caroll Shelby and the SAAC just in time for Ken Eber, the club's national director, to steer the organization right into another lawsuit. This time, it's New Jersey Motorsports Park suing to recover nearly $116,000 it's been owed since last August. Both parties are trying to work the issue out, but Eber's assertion that the club has reached a verbal agreement on the issue and will be adding an event to the 2009 calendar doesn't jive with the venue's schedule, though Joe Savaro, a co-owner of the park, has indicated a desire to have the Shelby club back.

Even though the park made a concession to allow the SAAC to pay for its use of the track after the event, Eber reportedly left the event early and wouldn't return to settle up. Eber says the club will be back at the park in 2009, and they'll be using whatever proceeds the event generates to make good on outstanding commitments. Let's see, a club that charges each of its reported 5,500 members $57 per year, that works out to $313,500, though the club uses those proceeds to run a decent website and produce a newsletter and magazine, as well as pay a couple of salaries. Perhaps pre-selling tickets might be a better idea this year?

[Source: TheDailyJournal.com]

New Jersey Motorsports Park Suing Shelby American Car Club originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fair Dinkum: Aussie gov't once considered trading beef for Alfas

Noah Joseph — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Time Warp, Government/Legal, Alfa Romeo, Australia, Humor

Studying history can be a tiresome pursuit, but once in a while something comes completely out of left field to make you sit up and pay attention. This is one of those moments. The Australian national archives have released government documents which reveal that, in 1978, the Australian government was prepared to endorse a deal that would have... wait for it... traded beef for cars. Alfa Romeos, to be precise.

To be fair, the deal wasn't to trade sides of beef for actual cars. No, that would come too close to actually, you know... making sense. This deal would have traded 7,000 metric tons of beef and offal (entrails, hooves and whatnot) in exchange for quotas, as in the right to import Alfas into Australia. In the late 70's, apparently, Australia had very tight regulations on the number of cars which could be imported from any particular country, while the European Economic Community had similar quotas on the importation of foreign meat. The deal would have allowed both parties - even though they were the governments themselves (Alfa was state-owned at the time) - to circumvent the trade regulations. Of course the deal didn't go through, which is just as well because the whole ideal was utterly ridiculous.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Fair Dinkum: Aussie gov't once considered trading beef for Alfas originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SEMA rallys against Cash For Clunkers legislation

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Government/Legal, Green

We're sure that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has nothing but the best intentions with her controversial "Cash for Clunkers" program, which would offer financial rewards to individuals who turn in their older cars to get crushed. It's true that environmental standards get tougher each year, so new cars are vastly more eco-friendly than those sold just a few years ago. Regardless, the backlash from classic car aficionados has already begun, and at least one heavy-hitter is putting its considerable weight behind blocking the legislation. SEMA has called on its members to write or call their Representatives, urging them to vote against the plan, arguing that classics will be destroyed and a ready supply of hard to find parts would be eliminated.

It seems unlikely that anyone who owns a vehicle of any value would hand it over to the government to crush, especially since the program couldn't offer enough cash to purchase a new car outright. So, the question of whether or not to support Pelosi's program may hinge on the future value of cars that are currently considered worthless. In other words, how much is that mint '86 Ford Taurus likely to be worth in 20 years? Perhaps a compromise of some sort can be reached that would seek to save historically significant machines from the great junkyard in the sky. Check out the full releae from SEMA after the break.

[Source SEMA via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading SEMA rallys against Cash For Clunkers legislation

SEMA rallys against Cash For Clunkers legislation originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #109

Dan Roth — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Time Warp, Etc., Opinion/Editorial

It's an end of the year extravaganza, and the final podcast of 2008 is a four-man show for added value. Chris, Sam, and Dan are joined by John Neff, and many things are covered over the course of 80 minutes. Of course, the SHO features prominently, and there's a good whack of nostalgia when talk turns to the list of cars that didn't deserve their engines. Maybe we covered some actual news, but we definitely had a great time kicking the ball around on Autoblog Podcast #109. See you next year, and keep those questions/comments/suggestions rolling in to podcast at autoblog dot com.

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
DOWNLOAD the show now

Autoblog Podcast #109 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM Performance manager to advise Barrett-Jackson bidders

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Time Warp, Auction Action, GM

GM will be "thinning the herd" of its Heritage Collection at this year's Barrett-Jackson auction, beginning January 13th in Scottsdale, AZ. As many as 250 historically significant cars, trucks and concepts are slated to go under the gavel, a few are bound to be sold well under their true value, and wise bidders are planning ahead for just such an occasion. It seems that the auction house will not be providing specific information on many of the models ahead of time, even if they may differ from the production cars they're based on in significant but unseen ways. This being the case, a few savvy shoppers have retained the services of Mark McPhail, the recently retired manager of GM Performance Engineering. Perhaps we should keep him on speed dial ourselves, ya know... just in case.

[Sources: Lansing State Journal, Ideaologists]

GM Performance manager to advise Barrett-Jackson bidders originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top 10 Cars That Don't Deserve Their Engines

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Lifestyle

The engine is the crown jewel of any automobile and can make or break a car in the eyes of an automotive enthusiast. No matter how sweet a car's handling or how neutral its balance, a limp-wristed engine can completely kill the machine's ability to put a smile on your face. Conversely, nothing screams buzzkill quite like a glorious engine cooped up in a dowdy package. Such is the case with the ten vehicles that made their way on our Top Ten Cars That Don't Deserve Their Engines list. Unfortunately, the powerplants under the hoods of these ten cars are forever destined to mediocrity. Some may consider these cars sleepers due to their often unassuming wrappers, but we maintain these engines would rather live a life free of their humble trappings; free to ingest the atmosphere with reckless abandon and exhale their burnt offerings to the gods of a good time.

Top 10 Cars That Don't Deserve Their Engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wooden wheels for the guy who doesn't have everything

Dan Roth — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Time Warp, Etc., Toys

Sure, you could take the easy way out and just go buy a boxed replica, smelted in some far off land and stamped out as nondescriptly as a tube of toothpaste, but that's not so much gift-giving as it is proxy-buying. Vehicle models made of wood are something different entirely. Juxtaposing the mechanical nature of automobiles by rendering scale models in fine woods might seem odd at first blush. What, no paint on the quarter panels? No plated plastic bumpers? But then, laying eyes on the expert craftsmanship that's gone into the models over at Wooden Classic Wheels will remove any doubt that the medium works perfectly for the subject matter. Of course, the replicas will also remove vast amounts of padding from your bank balance, but true art isn't about the money... it just costs that way. Thanks for the tip, William!

Gallery: Wooden Vehicle Models

[Source: WoodenClassicWheels.com]

Wooden wheels for the guy who doesn't have everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Aztek is all Toyota's fault - RV2 concept

Dan Roth — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Time Warp, Toyota

click the picture above for a gallery of the Toyota RV-2 concept.

If this were a Trivial Pursuit clue: "Vehicle aimed at an active lifestyle, based on much more common machinery, offering even a camper attachment for the rear," your answer might be a confident, "Pontiac Aztek." You'd be wrong. Even setting the wayback machine for 1970-something and answering "VW Camper" would be right, but also wrong. The correct reply, of course, would be "Toyota RV-2," a vehicle that never saw the light of day much beyond a display stand after the 1972-73 Auto Show season. Granted, it's a little arcane, but the Corona-based brake shows that Toyota was, once upon a time, much hipper, and we're not talking about the surgically implanted ones that Avalon owners sport. The edgy-wedgy styling belies a rear quadrant that unfolds and deploys a tent to cover a party palace more accomodating than the two seats up front. This is the car you take tailgating. Apparently, nothing ever became of the RV-2, but the idea of a car with a tent attached to its arse had surprising staying power, and didn't help the General sell its prescient, awkwardly styled crossovers, either. At least the RV-2 looked mighty natty with some Torq-Thrusts. Thanks for the tip, imoore!

Gallery: Toyota RV-2 concept

[Source: RetroThing, Photos: Stepho's Toyota Site]

The Aztek is all Toyota's fault - RV2 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lamborghini Miura No. 1 found, set for Cali restoration

Dan Roth — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Supercars

The chassis for Lamborghini Miura #1 is such a work of art, it'd be a shame to cover it up with that swoopy, classic bodywork. The Dallara-designed masterpiece first met the world in 1965 at the Turin Auto Salon and was apparently stored after that until Marios Kritkos fell in love with it in 1977. Kritkos, who handled the importation of Lamborghini cars for Cyprus, went to Sant'Agata in 1978 and dragged the chassis back to Cyprus. The chassis has recently been "discovered," not that it was ever really lost, and Los-Angeles based Joe Sackey (author of The Lamborghini Miura Bible) and Gary Bobileff (whose website has a sweet Ferrari-themed interface) now have Miura #1 at Gary's shop, where it will get a restoration to an astounding standard. Give us a pair of Snidely Whiplash goggles, and we'd drive that thing every day.

[Source: Hemmings]

Lamborghini Miura No. 1 found, set for Cali restoration originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Europe's fastest street-legal car is... a 252 MPH Pontiac Trans-Am?!

Dan Roth — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Etc., Euro

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Polly Motorsport Trans Am

"Have fun with KITT," sniffed some AMG engineers when a group of Norwegians showed up at Germany's Papenburg test track with a 1987 Trans Am. The smug smiles were quickly wiped off the faces of the Mercedes tuner crew when the ancient Pontiac's practice laps were as fast as the AMG cars, and the F-Body wasn't even working hard. Once warmed up, the 8.9-liter V8 unleashed all of its 1400 horsepower on the circuit, delivering a startling 407 kph (252 mph) also known as Bugatti Veyron fast. Better still, unlike the Bug, the Pontiac's lap is official.

Needless to say, there's not much stock underneath the skin on this particular Trans Am. The car is the work of Polly Motorsport of Norway, and there's a wealth of top tuner expertise beneath the mostly stock exterior. We're sure even in its heightened state of tune, the Polly Trans Am is infinitely less expensive than the $1.6 million you'd have to cough up for a Veyron, and its creators say it's still street legal. Hit this link for some videos, which would be even more entertaining if we could understand what they were saying. Props to reader Mitka who provided the synopsis that we've posted after the jump!

Gallery: Polly Motorsports Pontiac Trans-Am

Photos by Camilla Smistad Tofterå

Continue reading Europe's fastest street-legal car is... a 252 MPH Pontiac Trans-Am?!

Europe's fastest street-legal car is... a 252 MPH Pontiac Trans-Am?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Event Alert: January Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Motorsports, Time Warp, Auction Action, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

This year's Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) should be even bigger than last year despite dropouts

Thanks to your suggestions, last month we added a Google Calendar after the jump so you can bookmark it and constantly receive updates as we add them. We appreciate all of your input and hope you find our calendar a useful tool. We also appreciate your comments listing events we might have overlooked or that are just near-and-dear to your hearts.

Highlights for January include the North American International Auto Show, which we will be covering extensively from Detroit; the Arizona collectible car auctions featuring Barrett-Jackson, RM Auctions, Russo and Steele and others; the La Jolla Motorcar Classic at The Cove; the Cavallino Classic from The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida; and the kickoff of the 2009 motorsports season with the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

As always, we want to give a shoutout to our two favorite sources; The New York Times automotive calendar for national and international stuff, and for local stuff here in Southern California, our buddy Dave Lindsay's SoCalCarCulture pages. Dave's photographic coverage of these local events is fantastic. So check out the January event calendar we put together for you after the jump and start adding to it. Happy New Year, everyone!

Continue reading Event Alert: January Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: January Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yenko collection being unloaded at Barrett-Jackson

Drew Phillips — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action, Chevrolet

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Don Yenko's Chevrolet collection

While not necessarily to the same extent, Don Yenko was to Chevys what Carroll Shelby was to Ford. He may not have beaten Ferrari at Le Mans, but Yenko built some of the most powerful Bowtie muscle cars of the 1960s. With only a few hundred built, they're also some of the most valuable. At the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in January, a private collector will be selling off his collection of five Yenkos, which are considered to be some of the best and most original in existence. Up for grabs will be a trio of 1969 Camaros, a 1981 Turbo Z Camaro, and a rare Yenko Nova. The highlight will be the Daytona Yellow Camaro that is one of three existing cars built by Yenko for NHRA drag racing. It features a COPO 427/425 V8, 3-speed automatic transmission, Hurst shifter, and more. Follow the jump for Barrett-Jackson's press release with more details on these rare muscle cars.

Gallery: Gary Holub Yenko Collection

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

Continue reading Yenko collection being unloaded at Barrett-Jackson

Yenko collection being unloaded at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Who knew? Roger Ebert: Car Guy

Dan Roth — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Celebrities

It's not in dispute that Roger Ebert is an expert on cinema, though he never had to sit through any masterworks by this film school graduate (he's suffered enough). A Pulitzer prize reminds us that Roger's a Jedi master with prose, too. We were, however, surprised to find out that America's most famous film critic appears to be a dyed-in-the-wool car guy. He admits to not being one of us wrench-turners, but you don't have to know a trunnion from a pinion to be able to appreciate fine iron, and Ebert can wax dreamy with the best of us when talk turns to his beloved Studebaker Golden Hawk. What's not to like? Loewy style, supercharged V8, more speed than most of its contemporaries - we love the Stude, too. Regardless of whether we agree with his assessment of the latest blockbuster effects extravaganza, we feel a little more personally connected to the famous critic now that we know he's bitten with the four-wheeled bug that afflicts us.

[Source: Hemmings]

Who knew? Roger Ebert: Car Guy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Coupes, Economy, Volkswagen, Rendered Speculation

Click above for high-res renderings of a possible New Beetle

When designing a retro-style automobile like the revived MINI, Mustang or VW Beetle, the first generation is the easy one. The second go-round, on the other hand, is a tougher nut to crack, and the easy thing to do is to maintain the status quo. Volkswagen did just that when it revised its New Beetle back in 2006, but the third-generation of today's Bug is expected to ratchet things up a bit design-wise. We're expecting something more mature, perhaps along the lines of the Ragster concept from 2005, which emphasized its low-slung bodywork with a chopped top reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster. Flashier lights and more angular sheetmetal are also distinct possibilities.

Whatever the case, it won't be an easy redesign. VeeDub could stay the course by keeping the cute and charming nature of the current New Beetle intact or it could spice things up with something much more sporty. Could the German automaker do both? That's an option for the future, and current rumors indicate that VW has considered at least two separate Beetle models, one based on the Golf and another using the underpinnings from the yet-to-be-released Up! microcar. The current state of the economy, though, makes a plan like that much less likely to bear fruit.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle - renderings

[Source: Car Magazine]

New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dollar Daze - Volkswagen Vanagons for a buck

Dan Roth — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Volkswagen

There's always lots of junk on Craigslist, especially cars. There are also often screaming deals, but seven VW Vanagons for a buck still strikes us as an upside-down transaction. While they're quirky, delightful, and generally well made, Vanagons can also be appallingly unreliable, especially mit der Wasserboxer engine. Still, when you've spent a good part of your formative years rousting around in a beloved Vanagon named Big Blue, it's hard to not quickly consider rescuing the lot before they turn into a pile of fine German oxide.

The cruel reality of this gaggle of vehicles is that their value is mostly scrap. Seven Vanagons - some Westys, some standard, possibly an air-cooled engine or three in among the water-pumpers (that undoubtedly have their quirky head gaskets blowing bubbles into their water jackets) will require more funding than the Detroit Bailout to put right.

[Source: Craigslist]

Dollar Daze - Volkswagen Vanagons for a buck originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: IMSA Löwenbräu 911 tribute car

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Sports/GTs, Auction Action, Porsche, Special/Limited Editions

Click above for image gallery of the 1984 Porsche 911 Lowenbrau tribute car

Today's eBay Find of the Day is a special 1984 Porsche 911 RS 3.2 Tribute Car. What makes it special is its paintjob. Porsche fans will no doubt recognize the Löwenbräu livery on this 911. Löwenbräu was one of the first sponsors of Porsche's then-new 962 endurance racer when it entered IMSA GT racing back in 1984. The 962 was launched with driver Al Holbert, co-drivers Derek Bell, Chip Robinson, and Al Unser Jr., and sponsor Löwenbräu. "The Löwenbräu Car" became the most successful IMSA GTP racer in the series' history.

The actual vehicle up for bid is a "very clean" 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera with 140,000 miles on the clock, but only 40K since a complete engine rebuild. The car was completely stripped and repainted in factory Grand Prix White. It also received a new RS style interior and upgrades to the gearbox and suspension. Racing bodywork and additional touches were added to make it look like a period racer, although the car is set up for the street. Basically it's a chance to channel your inner Holbert on the road. The seller has it at a Buy It Now price of $49,990.

Gallery: 1984 Porsche 911 RS 3.2 Lowenbrau Tribute Car

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: IMSA Löwenbräu 911 tribute car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme: 'True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance'

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Audi, Bugatti, MINI, UK

Click above for high-res gallery of pics from the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Earl of March has announced that the theme of the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS) will be "True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance." Think monumental drive and determination from motor racing legends like Jackie Stewart, who won the 1968 German Grand Prix with a broken wrist. That sort of thing. The Festival will take place July 3-5 and hopefully we'll be there to cover it for all of you. The 1.16-mile hillclimb is always a delight, with some of the most famous drivers in motorsports history driving the cars (and bikes) that made them household names.

The 2009 FoS will also celebrate 100 years of Bugatti, Audi and Morgan, 60 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Motorcycle World Championship, 50 years of Mini and the Daytona Speedway, and the 40th anniversary of Jackie Stewart and Matra's dominant pairing. Like last year, festival attendees will also get to see another edition of the Cartier 'Style et Luxe' mini concours d'elegance, the BP Ultimate FoS-TECH technology pavilion, the Forest Rally Stage and the Junior Festival of Speed. We can't wait.

Gallery: '08 Goodwood Festival of Speed: The highlights

Continue reading 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme: 'True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance'

2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme: 'True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments