Daytona Icons Gallery – 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera IROC RSR
Just a gallery and fly-around GIF for this beauty. Â Feeling rather defeated today. 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera IROC RSR
Race Cars
1964 SHELBY COBRA DAYTONA 24H Coupe – Reborn from 1965 Bonneville World Speed Record-Holder
Few better ways to kick off the 2016 Daytona 24-Hour race this weekend than to meet one of the all-time greats! The Shelby Cobra Coupe had no official name when it took the grid for this grueling 1964 race — then the fastest in the world. Â But being designed and prepped for this track earned the Daytona Coupe its forever name the moment it started leading the race. This car is *exactly* like the Shelby that took the green flag around Daytona, but bowed out after an engine fire. That Daytona Coupe no longer wears the medium blue metallic over …
Daytona Icons – Jaegermeister 1979 Porsche 935 K3 Kremer
I don’t care how many racecars or exotics you have driven or loved. Nothing in this universe can prepare you for the Kremer 935 K3 Porsche. The fire-spitting widebody raced at the Daytona 24-hour in 1981 after two years of fine-tuning in German race series. There, the original 911 under all the bespoke bodywork became virtually unrecognizable. Drilled lightweighting, massive widebody additions, ground-effect aero, slatted and active aero vents across the entire slantnose. Â And that is just the front! Around back, the flared fenders with their integrated winglets on top come into view. Â Or the magnesium-alloy BBS wheels with …
2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – Bondurant Black Mamba
Updated 1.31.16 Just drove the 2016 Viper GT on track and am still in V10 nirvana. But there is a new king in the Viper range: the road-legal American Club Racer. Seeing the car in person is a jaw-dropping experience — this exterior is the coolest supercar since the TVR Sagaris! Huge new fender vent slashes, a underbody fully shrouded with air channels, and a nose and tail treatment more aggressive than even the wildest tuners can make real. Let alone make for sale as a $20k option! 2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – Bondurant Black 2016 Dodge VIPER ACR PREVIOUS …
RM Arizona 2016 – 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra DRAGONSNAKE
Quite a few gorgeous classics included in a row. Â These are a bit of a niche interest among readers… we know you guys prefer 2016-2020 models far more than these oldie foldies. Here is one to get you young bucks back onboard: the most successful dragracing Shelby Cobra of all time! Certainly, the Cobra is best known for its circuit racing and international endurance racing prowess. But it turns of the delicate-looking original 289 Cobra was also a world-beater on the dragstrips of the USA. So light, so grippy and so powerful…. literally nothing could keep up with this fuchsia …
3.3s, 850HP 2005 SALEEN S7 Twin Turbo Competition Package – RM Arizona 2016
The S7 is a strange bird. One the one hand, it has little to no hypercar brand prestige beside a Bugatti, McLaren, Ferrari or Pagani. On the other hand, it is road-legal in the USA — where it was designed and assembled as well. Â And it is also far better-finished and more reliable than most racecars adapted for the road. Overall, the S7 promises a rare guilty pleasure for owners. Almost all the speed of any hypercar in the world, but none of the baggage. Â The S7 is RAPID, by the way. It leaves its contemporary rival, the 2005 Ford …
Mecum 2016 Favorite – 2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special Is Mid-Engine Vette!
If you ever wondered why Chevy flirts with a mid-engine Corvette so regularly… here is proof positive. The concept works. The concept works. The sum of stock Corvette parts flipped to mid-engine is a race-winning car right out of the box. Fast barely begins to capture the experience. This 2013 GTM Special is the car we most wanted to rip away from the Mecum auction lineup for 2016! 2012 Factory Five GTM Road Special Mecum Auctions Lot F276// Kissimmee 2016 // Jan 15-24 2012 Factory Five GTM LS3/480 HP, 5-Speed Engine LS3/480 HP Trans 5-Speed Color Red Interior …
2016 Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept Throws Down Gauntlet – Now or Never, Laggards
Well, this is it!  Nearly 24 hours after the leaks began, and a full 12 since the press conference in Vegas last night, the Faraday Future concept car for CES is now in clear focus. Before you get too excited about a full reveal — with the normal specs, pricing and a production roadmap —it is best to temper expectations. This fantasy concept from Faraday Future is not headed for the road. Nor is it really headed for any race series. But racetracks? That is another story.  The quad-motor, AWD EV promises 1000+ horsepower and a 200-mph-plus top speed.  The electric motors are …
DAKAR 2016 – Prologue and First Stage Gallery – Red Bull PEUGEOT-TOTAL DKR16
Dakar got off to a fairly rough start this year: a big crash canceled the timed events of the Trucks class, while a smaller incident saw the four-time defending champion MINI Countryman careen off the course and injure multiple spectators. Reuters and AP report a father and son were seriously hurt and are in serious condition. The MINI driver was the first female driver from China, and she also sustained injuries.  Initial reports are of a hard jump landing and subsequent loss of control of the vehicle. This was always a very, very dangerous race. And at least these traumatic events …
Meet the Original Black Swan: The McLaren M1
Wow. There is a reason you have not seen or heard many of these killer McLaren racecars. Â The original McLaren origin story as a driver who starts his own race shop, and sells a few chips of genius to other enthusiasts and race crews. Refined and stiffened over the M1A, the B is one of the most sought-after of its era. Just 28 of these M1B Can-Am cars were sold to be raced in the Can-Am racing series. The North American market was obviously the focus of these races, so the fact that just 28 were ever sold makes this …
1965 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Tubolare ZAGATO Brings Racing Patina to RM Sotheby’s Paris 2016
This Giulia TZ is sublime. The car is delightfully compact yet fearsome in its aggressive motorsport details. That applies well below the featherlight alloy body panels: the chassis with a tubular space-frame formed an exceptionally brilliant way to make a racecar exceptionally strong, yet also super-light. 155 ponies mean you will work hard to squeeze every last drop of power from up front — but that is all part of the Giulia Tubolare Zagato’s authenticity. 1965 Alfa Romeo GIULIA Tubolare ZAGATO RM Sotheby’s Paris 2016 Feb 3, 2016 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato Chassis no. AR10511 750087 Engine no. AR0511 …
2017 Jannarelly Design JD1 is All-New, Rear-Engine Exotic from Talent Behind LYKAN HyperSport and Zarooq Sandracer
WHat happens when two of the most skilled talents in bespoke supercars come together?  Fusing design vision, carbon-fiber production and a bit of marketing magic? The JD1 from Jannarelly Design! This is a fantastic bit of absolutely breaking news: Anthony Jannarelly is a clear favorite of ours since obsessing over his crisp, layered aesthetic as seen on the W Motors Lykan and Fenyr, plus the recently-revealed Zarooq SandRacer. This new venture pairs Jannarelly with Frederic Juillot, lead at Equation Composite, to make their own supercar vision a reality. A look behind the curtain of the two Frenchmen’s lives shows that their …
JAGUAR Joins Formula E to Perfect Electric Skills and Thrills
Pretty cool news today from Jaguar! The firm has officially signed on to race in FIA Formula E for the 2017 season. This means the team will have almost a full year to perfect their car and study the second season of the series for competitive insights. The Formula E teams all share a dedicated power unit supplied by McLaren, so the effort here is about power management, smart charging and overall racing strategy. Jaguar hopes to transfer much of their new EV track learnings back onto the road — but in a manner that matches the firm’s new Art …
1973 Dodge Challenger Race Car – Ex-Dale Earnhardt – Saturday Night Special By PETTY
Our previous attempts at chronicling NASCAR history and Petty racecars have been pretty shoddy — so please see the full Mecum Auctions writeup below the AMAZING photo set here. Fast facts are: — this is believed to be the only 1973 Petty-built racecar still surviving — entered circuit for the ’74 season, and was raced until the late 1980s — original driver? None other than Dale Earnhardt The most shocking detail? The price estimate of $40k to $80k! Another semi interesting tidbit? There seems to be a possible ‘special mode’ — or something — right above the gauge bezels. Some …
McLaren MP4-X Detailed – Fascinating 2025 F1 Car Prototype Re-imagines Everything
This is much more than just a set of fantasy closed-cockpit renderings, as we first thought. This is a deeply interesting revision of the F1 racecar theme — so advanced that it might not just replace the current open-wheeled racers. It might be even more fascinating to watch run alongside them in an alternative race class! Call it FX1? Whatever the case, this official MP4-X concept car from McLaren Applied Technologies is a chock full of applicable design elements that could be racing tomorrow, if the circumstances allowed. The most noticeable change right off the bat is the closed and …
F1 NewsBriefs: INFINITI and Red Bull Are Dunzo; Texas 2016 GP On Hold in Contract Dispute
Update: Reports indicate TAG Heuer and Renault will be the title sponsors of the TAG-Red Bull Racing effort in 2016. Woooowww…. This is pretty intense news wrapped in mature, civilized corporate speech. Infiniti and Red Bull have broken up their world-beating Formula One partnership — effective immediately. Who ended it? That remains confidential, but it is safe to say both firms were unhappy to have their four-year winning streak so violently nabbed by Mercedes-AMG since 2013. The original INFINITI sponsorship agreement was actually a huge marketing coup at the time. INFINITI was going global and spreading its wings far …
TrendWatch – Stenciled Tires Escape Racetrack, Sex Up Ferrari and Porsche Road Cars
Here is a trend that looks set to expand bigtime in the next few years:Â race-branded tire sidewalls! This trend is really in the early stages of the curve — like dark wheels were in 2007 or 2008. The only production car we can think of featuring loud tire letters and colors so far is the Lamborghini Aventador Pirelli Edition, but more are surely on the way from OEM supercar brands and tire companies alike. Until then, the real tastemakers are taking matters into their own hands. These two stunning white exotics are extensively customized by GT Auto Concepts of …
2015 Bentley GT3 Soaks Up Fearless/Fearsome B-Boy Spirit with 1930 Birkin Blower LeMans Icon
Trading paint on a racetrack has always been precarious for all involved. But for open-wheeled racecars like today’s F1 or Indy cars, any contact is almost instantly catastrophic. First you lose grip, then if the car goes sideways or airborn even a tiny bit, you lose all downforce. The results of a track clash were even more stark in the early days of Le Mans racing. Racing back in the day was 1000X more dangerous than today — so just imagine the balls it would take to pass a race-leading Mercedes-Benz on the side grass of the Mulsanne straight! That …
2016 Audi R8 LMS – New Open-Aero Design Analysis, Specs and Pricing
The new R8 is big news, of course, for supercar shoppers. Three models are set for the US range: the R8, R8 V10 and R8 V10 Plus. All sport AWD as standard and curb weights of 3500- and 3600-pounds. America will miss out on the limited-release R8 E-Tron but we will definitely see the fifth family member: the nearly unbeatable 2016 R8 LMS. This factory racecar is already outselling the existing model among dozens of top-tier sportscar racing teams. The reasons are simple: it is faster than ever thanks to cunning new aero and mechanicals. The biggest changes versus the …
Land Rover DEFENDER CHALLENGE Race Series Wraps Epic 2015 Season, Crowns Winner!
The Land Rover Defender might be concluding series production after more than 50 years, but its loyal following around the world is still burning bright. Nowhere more so than in rainy, chilly Britain! Land Rover enlisted the rally experts at Bowler Motorsport to launch an all-Defender rally series in the UK this year, with dozens of race teams bringing their semi-pro skills up to scratch with their race-prepped Bowler Defenders. The final stage sounds like it was a thrilling conclusion to a season full of adrenaline, sweaty helmets and wet race shoes. Crashes were common but typically bruised egos more …
2016 Dodge VIPER ACR – First Real-Life Photos Show Insane Aerokit
Just drove the 2016 Viper GT on track and am still in V10 nirvana. But there is a new king in the Viper range: the road-legal American Club Racer. Seeing the car in person is a jaw-dropping experience — this exterior is the coolest supercar since the TVR Sagaris! Huge new fender vent slashes, a underbody fully shrouded with air channels, and a nose and tail treatment more aggressive than even the wildest tuners can make real. Let alone make for sale as a $20k option! 2016 Dodge VIPER ACR PREVIOUS Welcome to the fastest road-legal Viper of …
Group B Debrief – 1986 Ford RS200 – Road-Legal Rally Legend Up For Sale
Imagine if suddenly all the power-cap rules for a major racing series were abolished overnight. A mad rush of skunkworks projects would be fast-tracked, with racecars zinging out their red-hot turbochargers through the World Rally Championship stages just 18-months later. Porsche, Ferrari, Lancia, Ford, and Audi all dove into the Group B program with both feet. The results on track were mixed for many of these cars: the lack of power cap rules meant that intagibles like chassis control, visibility and reliability were paramount for winning rallies in the short Group B time on the global stage. The excitement of …
1955 Carlo Mollino Record Car Model by Stola S.p.A., 2006
Really an exceptional group of vehicles heading to auction at RM Sotheby’s New York event next month. Lots of 1950s icons to share, but this is one of the highlights. A few reasons. First, this exotic streamliner prototype flashes both back and forward in time: these aero ideals applied to vehicles for the first time in the mid-century, when aeronautics took massive leaps forward thanks to the atrocious WWII battle needs. Engineers swapping back to the car business brought their knowledge with them. Wind tunnels were a new piece of tech, yet complex simulations were still decades away from determining …
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Barchetta by Scaglietti
They do not come any finer than this. 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Barchetta by Scaglietti New York – Driven By Disruption 10 December 2015 Lot 224 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial by Scaglietti To be auctioned on Thursday, December 10, 2015 $5,000,000 – $6,500,000 *Premium Lot – Bidding via Internet will not be available for this lot. Should you have any questions please contact Client Services. 170 bhp, 1,984 cc DOHC inline four-cylinder engine with two Weber 40 DCOA/3 carburetors, five-speed manual transaxle, tubular steel chassis, independent front suspension with transverse leaf springs, De Dion rear axle with parallel …
RM NYC 2015 – 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series II May Be Most-Valuable BMW with $3M Highball Estimate
If this absolutely magnificent BMW 507 clears its pre-sale estimate of between 2.3 and 2.6 million, it will become one of — if not the — most valuable BMW of all time. The top five list from premier auction house RM Sotheby’s is exclusively 507 Roadsters, with the top sale earning $2.42M at Amelia Island 2014. With the presentation and provenance of this rare cabrio, we’d be surprised if the total sale was under $3-million. Â Top 5 BMWs of all Time from RM Auctions Lot 152 | 2014 – Amelia Island – The Pray Collection 1958 BMW 507 …
RM NYC 2015 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Sportabteilung Gullwing Seeks $7M
One of the rarest Gullwings in the world? One of only four race-prepped W198 300SLs, featuring the upgraded NSL engine with 240HP? A surviving competition car that placed second in the 1956 Tour de France, and driven by Sir Striling Moss? Oh yes. For the first time in more than 25 years, an authentic ‘Sports Department’ Sportabteilung seeks a new home. RM Sotheby’s will sell the special Merc at their December event in Manhattan. No internet bids, riffraff! 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Sportabteilung Gullwing RM Sotheby’s New York – Driven By Disruption 10 December 2015 Lot 223 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL …
Ferrari Finali Mondiali at Mugello – World Debuts of F12 TdF Special, 488 GTE + FXX K Sightings
Ferrari just wrapped up its weeklong extravaganza for the World Finals of the Ferrari Challenge one-make race series — and crowned the huge week by debuting the new F12TdF in front of the packed crowd of 50,000-plus tifosi at Mugello circuit. The new F12 Tour de France special model wears new aero, extra power and track-optimized handling settings. This makes running around the ultra-quick circuit with 599XXs, FXX K’s and even F1 cars a natural habit for the limited-run 2016 model — despite the F12 TdF being street-legal worldwide. In real-life photos, the F12TdF is quite striking, with design elements …
Blood Type Racing Makes 500HP Hyundai VELOSTER Turbo R-Spec for SEMA 2015
Blood Type Racing delivered a Best of SEMA concept last year in its 800HP Genesis Coupe (photo gallery below). Stunning ideas and execution made that hemoglobin-hued showcar so special, we’d be scared to drive it on the highway — let alone sideways on a racetrack! BTR earned a pretty high honor for its incredible 2014 efforts: another slot in the Hyundai official SEMA customs roster. This year brought a pretty big challenge, however, for the Blood Type hoons: a Veloster Turbo R-Spec as the starting point. The Veloster is a challenging tuner platform for a variety of reasons, but none …
Hyundai SEMA 2015 – Genesis Coupes From ARK and TJIN Are 1200HP of Sideways Bliss
Two Genesis Coupes are among the six-pack of official customs from Hyundai for the 2015 SEMA show. While the results from ARK Performance and TJIN are quite distinct, interesting similarities are present and notable between the two. Most critically, the standard-equipment 3.8-liter, 350HP V6 is boosted up to quite extreme power levels via supercharged induction. TJIN runs a Vortex V4 supercharger with Bisimoto ECU tune, but few other mechanical mods to the engine internals. A ballpark output from this conversion is around 475 horsepower. Clearly enough to make the Genesis Coupe a powerhouse, of course, and one that looks divine …
RM NY 2015 Preview – 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta by Ghia Is Flawless in Sunburst Orange
DeTomaso was one of a very talented group of ex-Ferrari men who broke out and founded their own dream supercar companies in the early 1960s. Like ISO, Siata, Bizzarrini and Lamborghini, the mid-1960s were sweet to all these new marques. Export markets to the US and elsewhere were all-new possibilities for the firms, and increases in sales were achieved for almost all the brands. Only a few really made it past the tumult of the early 1970s Arab Oil Embargo and new crash/emissions rules coming into force in America, by now dwarfing Europe in overall sales volumes for supercars. Lamborghini …
RM NY 2015 Preview – 1956 Ferrari 290MM Racecar Piloted by Fangio and Phil Hill
Not just a surviving Ferrari racecar from the golden era of the 1950s, but one that looks as fresh today as it did 60 years ago! This Ferrari 290MM is headed for sale at the RM Sotheby’s New York gala on December 10th, where it is expected to be among the high earners in a growing and mighty impressive list of classic-car icons. Ballpark beyond “buku-bucks” for the estimate? Well, let’s assume a bare skeleton of this car after a burnedout wreck would be worth $5-million. Then we have actuality: it is near-perfect (+$5M) — was driven in numerous famous …
2015 RenaultSport RS01 Blasts Around Jerez Circuit in New Video and Photoset
Fresh videos and photos of the Renault RS01 racecars blasting around Circuit Jerez this week in Spain! And crucially, a look under the hood of this mid-engine stunner — confirming the well-known rumors that the 3.8-liter engine under that back canopy has GT-R origins. [Actually, Renault confirmed this right from the start: see tech specs included below video.] What a prospect. Imagine not just a true mid-engine racing GT-R, but actually a pure speed-demon with bespoke CF chassis and bodywork, racing suspension and all that power to just the back wheels! Just the thought of such a machine is enough …
1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato May Fetch $20M at RM NY 2015 Auction
1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato RM Sotheby’s NEW YORK, NEW YORK | An exclusive exhibition and sale located on Sotheby’s 10th floor gallery 10 December 2015 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT by Zagato Chassis no. DB4GT/0186/R Engine no. 370/0186/GT Photo Credit: Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s In the early 1960s, Aston Martin and Ferrari were in a heated battle for supremacy in the World Sports Car Championship. It seemed as if every season brought about a new, race-ready vehicle to ensure each company’s victory, and the teams were consistently fighting each other for first place. Competition was just …
Nissan NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo Debuts New Nose, Color and Wheels
The NC2020 will star at Nissan’s packed exhibit for the Tokyo Auto Show starting in late October — with a few all-new details to captivate showgoers. An all-new satin red finish is the clearest change from the original Goodwood concept in its smokey silver. This shade is called Fire Knight and is a deeper and more sinister shade than the Nissan LMP1 in its GT-R race red. Other tweaks versus the first outing for the NC2020? Dark wheels with a sharper blade look to its five spokes, plus a cleaned-up nose with more sculptural and prominent V-motion grille bar. This …
Bad-Ass Volvo S60 POLESTAR TC1 Racer Taking Fight to WTCC in 2016 With Cyan Racing
How awesomely evil does Volvo’s new WTCC car look — and sound! Volvo just signed on for the 2016 World Touring Car Championship with its Polestar TC1 racecar — which is a highly upgraded version of the street machine. Now pushing out close to 600HP and wearing an all-new widebody aero kit, the S60 TC1 will compete with Polestar Cyan Racing next season (2016) and for at least two more years after that. What is Cyan Racing? It is the new name of the Polestar motorsports team, which remains independent even after Volvo announced a takeover of the Polestar brand …
Mecum Kissimmee 2016 – 1989 Porsche 962 Miller High Life 24H Daytona-Winner
The 959 might hold most Porsche glory for taking turbocharging to the next level of performance. But in truth, the turbo racing engine was fine-tuned into a world-beater in the Porsche 962. This particular example is a racing-winning stunner with a unique Miller livery — shimmery in eighties gold and green over white with Porsche Andial title sponsorship. The magesty of the 962 is that it was the ultimate evolution of the wedge race profile. Decked out in ductwork and extra intakes all over the bodywork, the 962 and its open-backed design was optimized for 250-mph-plus runs down the Mulsanne …
2016 Aston Martin VULCAN Meets Legendary Avro Vulcan Namesake
More than a few days late on this news, but it is too good to skip! Aston Martin’s ultra-high-performance flagship just had a meet and greet with its namesake, the Avro Vulcan nuclear bomber! The Vulcan of the RAF has kept Britain and the world safe from the threat of nuclear weapons for the last 50 years, but will retire this month to the annals of history. And in doing so, this nuclear deterrent will enter the hall of fame for long-range strategic bombers. The beauty of the aircraft and its innovative, ahead-of-its-time delta wing design are icons for all …
Concept Flashback – RENNtech 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 SPEC.R Hybrid Pikes Peak
Renntech won the Mercedes SEMA 2010 tuner challenge, and was awarded a little present as a result! Another iteration of the concept — but this time as a real rally car! All the enhanced aero is needed when climbing up to 14,000-feet at Pikes Peak International Hillclimb — when the KW springs and new NITTO grip setup are also helpful. The powertrain is a RENNtech-tuned V6 pushing 350HP, an increase of around 80 ponies versus the atmospheric petrol. Non-turbo at Pikes Peak is challenging, so the SPEC.R Hybrid adds a jumbo PHEV battery under the rear floor. Finally, custom graphics …
Flawless 917K Launches Porsche Racecar Resto and Race Mgmt Services
Caveat on the header image! Porsche is not resto-modding its priceless racing icons. Just a bit of photoshop fun for the header graphic — melding 917K with 2016 Cayenne quad LEDs. The Gulf-Porsche 917K LeMans-winner must be one of the most iconic racecars of all time. Celebrated and hated in equal measure by track opponents during its competitive reign, the stunning champion is now a universal all-star at classic races like the Mitty Reunion at Road Atlanta every Springtime. Porsche knows its classic racecar owners love nothing more than tracking and competing hard — so is rolling out …
Peugeot DKR16 Gets Floored Redesign: Group B Fury in 200 New Images + Tech Specs and Dirty Video!
Reviewing this nearly all-new 2016 Peugeot Dakar racer almost brings tears to a racer’s eye! And the blatt of the V6TT making 800Nm of torque is just the immersion to make your month. Will this make Peugeot and Red Bull’s year down in Chile in January? You’d be a fool to bet against this breathtaking prototype from the far future. Check out this animated evolution in GIF form showing the huge change in scale, proportions and stance for the newly-renamed Peugeot 2008 DKR16 racer. As we scroll through the past year, the original 2015 spec became the 2015+ configuration for …
PRIOR DESIGN Ferrari 458 Widebody AeroKit Now Shipping!
Prior Design can make some of the craziest, most-exotic customs look absolutely flawless. Truly factory-fresh in appearance, the Prior Design upgrades are a fabulous treat on any supercar. But the Ferrari 458 Italia wearing 2.4-inch wider front fenders, an all-new aero tray with LaFerrari-esque single upright, and racing flics all around? A nose to write home about, for some. Around back, the PD458 makeover is even more extreme: a width stretch of 4.7-inches makes room for giant 21-inch rubber and custom alloys. The overall impact is stunning — a true racecar for the road. PRIOR DESIGN Ferrari 458 Widebody …
Best of Frankfurt 2015 – Honda Project 2&4 Concept – Floating Seats Promise Surreal Track Pleasure
Updated 9.16.15 With 35 New Photos Check out the Honda Project 2&4 up close and in detail! This is one of the most outrageous concepts from Honda in years. Not just Honda, any manufacturer, really. And this is not just some track car, either, as we surmised below. By engineering the 2&4 with outboard seating, the drive experience should also blend the joy of two-wheeling. But with the cornering pace of a four-wheeled vehicle. Not having any panels, doors or bodywork anywhere to your left shoulder, hip or pedals will be a revolution on the road. Far more exposed than …
2015 Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is Ready to Race
The thrill of leading a race is a core Bugatti trait. Along with stratospheric pricing for any Bugatti new or old, the firm has always built itself on being the fastest. The best. The ultimate in automotive engineering, design and haute couture is about to have a new rival. An in-house rival for the Veyron glory, world records and completed production run. All 450 Veyrons have been configured, customized, personalized and delivered to owners around the world, however. So what is next? This concept Vision Gran Turismo debut today in Frankfurt shows the core speed fundamentals underneath the showcar. This …
600HP 2016 BMW M6 Competition Coupe Salutes Hardcore GT3 Racecar + Coming to USA!
Almost all the curb appeal, but a fifth of the price? Yep, the new M6 Competition Edition is a faithful recreation of the all-new GT3 racer. No word on US availability of this machine, but pricing around $110k will be a snip versus the half-mil for the privateer racecar. Actually, the embossed cabin emblems prove that the M6 Comp Coupe will be coming to America. 2016 BMW M6 Competition Edition BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition. The new BMW M6 Coupe Competition Edition to be presented by BMW M GmbH at the 66th Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) from 17 – 27 September 2015 raises …
2015 Bugatti Vision GT in 60 Stunning Images – RWD Atmospheric W16 for LeMans 2016?
The thrill of leading a race is a core Bugatti trait. Along with stratospheric pricing for any Bugatti new or old, the firm has always built itself on being the fastest. The best. The ultimate in automotive engineering, design and haute couture is about to have a new rival. An in-house rival for the Veyron glory, world records and completed production run. All 450 Veyrons have been configured, customized, personalized and delivered to owners around the world, however. So what is next? This concept Vision Gran Turismo debut today in Frankfurt shows the core speed fundamentals underneath the showcar. This …
RM Hershey 2015 Preview – 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe
This feels timely. But is outre and fabulous on its own, even without Dawn intro…! This 1950s Cloud is just lovely. It shows how far Rolls-Royce has come, but the luxury standard continuing uninterrupted. In example? A giant air conditioner unit up front in this ragtop, plus rear table trays in matching burl walnut. 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe RM London 2015 London 7 September 2015 Lot 160 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupé Adaptation by H.J. Mulliner To be auctioned on Monday, September 7, 2015 Sold for £218,400 Chassis no. SNH14 Engine no. SN139 Body no. 6213 …
RM London 2015 – 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 Is Ultimate Soapbox Fantasy Racecar
If the debate between Huracan and Miura might be clearly won by the new model, the same is not true for track cars. Imagine actually driving a snorting, rorting racecar to your local track, racing a few hot laps til afternoon, then rumbling home. The design and ultra-short wheelbase of this 1974 Abarth 2000 SE makes it pin-prick accurate. And fiesty. 280-horsepower from a LM-spec four-cylinder? Yep. Rearing to go! RM London 2015 – 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 RM London 7 September 2015 Lot 127 1974 Abarth 2000 SE 027 To be auctioned on Monday, September 7, 2015 Sold …
2015 Honda Project 2&4 Concept – World Premiere of 14000-RPM Baby NSX
 Much as the world (and especially Japanese K-car buyers) love the S660 roadster, the sports potential of that mid-engine roadster is limited. Limited by power caps, safety rules and exhange rates — the S660 is not a global halo car, and definitely not a mini-NSX. What about the latest in Honda engine tech, paired with an open-wheeled racing design fresh from 2025? Now that would be something! Running the ultra-potent RC213V MotoGP bike engine, the Project 2&4 is ultra light and ultra simple. Ultra fresh sci-fi looks are just part of its charm, however. The real thrills will come …
2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé Edition 1 + 2016 DTM Racecar Preview
Can you tell that the Mercedes-AMG racing team has been eager for a new C-Class Coupe!? Just days after the reveal of the new C63-S Coupe, we have our first look at the 2016 DTM racecar. Even without being a fan of this hardcore German touring car series, you know that the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 and Merc CLK are locked in a three-way battle for checkered flags, flashbulbs and column inches. The new C63 DTM car is almost a perfect mirror image of a custom C63 Coupe Edition 1 model to be produced in limited numbers, and only …
RECON MC8 Is 1000HP Audi R8 V10 Plus with LMS Carbon Reskin and GT3 Aero
 This is our first intro to English supercar boutique Potter and Rich — but they are making a strong impression even across an ocean! The latest P&R custom is dubbed the RECON MC8 — and is a wildly ugraded Audi R8 V10 Plus. Ten are planned for sale to customers, with a laundry list of racing upgrades and custom details. Most importantly … the RECON MC8 is a racecar for the road! Anyone with eyes or ears will know that as the beast rumbles past. A supercharged and strengthened V10 engine comes from McChip-DKR in Germany, while the shouty …
2015 Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo World Premiere – 300MPH Fantasy LM Racer Is Close To Reality
The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo bowed this morning — as a stunning masterpiece, of course! The full-scale prototype will be on the Frankfurt show stand mid-month, where this racing-focused redesign of the Veyron SS Vitesse will fill in for a next-generation Bugatti reveal. A Veyron-shaped machine is currently in hot and cold weather testing at the moment — quashing rumors of a Bugatti SUV or limousine as the Veyron replacement. This shared overall mid-engine look is all that we know from the test cars dubbed Chiron in some auto mags. In this regard, the currently-testing Bugatti is likely to be …
2016 BMW i8 FIA Formula E Pacecar – Wireless Charging + M8 Mods Roadmap?
BMW has re-signed as the official safety and medical car provider for the second-ever Formula E race series! The 2015/2016 series will feature a number of electric BMW’s on track for assistance and support duties, including bikes and an X5 eDrive. The i3 will be a medical support vehicle as well. But the really fast laps demand a fast safety and pacecar, of course! And here is the perfect machine, the PHEV BMW i8. And not just any i8, either. A few interesting tidbits about this pacecar are extremely promising. Wireless charging and a huge chassis upgrade that may point …
Revised Peugeot DKR 2015+ Battle-Testing New Engine/Suspension Setups Ahead of Dakar 2016
No person (or rally race) should be treated like ‘a means to an end.’ But when that ultimate goal looms larger than anything else in sight, you tend to focus on the main event. All others are just prep work. And so it is for the refreshed Peugeot 2008 DKR 2015+ racecar. That 2015+ coding is the internal tag for the heavy upgrade work done by the racing boffins at Peugeot Sport. The DKR was our clear favorite to win the Dakar rally in 2015, but lost out to the brutally fast MINI Countryman race squad, who are shooting for …
Update1 – 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept Makes Race-Ready Debut at Pebble Beach
Updated 8.16.15 with 22 new photos At this very hour last year, we were limping away from the BMW Pebble Beach mansion after a party celebrating the M5 Jahre 30 Edition and Vision Future Luxury. A day of roaming the Pebble Beach grounds left our feet blistered and bloody — but the Nikon SD card full of fantastic photos. This year, we are covering the events from afar — feet intact and dress shoes safely stowed in closet. It is cars like this new Hommage R concept that make us wish were spending $1000 a day to not drive any …
2001 BMW M3 GTR Race and Road Cars Attending Autobahn Concours in Monterey
BMW is mining some fairly recent greatest hits for the Autobahn Concours in Monterey this week. As you probably know, Pebble Beach Concours often dominates the headlines of the Monterey Bay’s automotive week, but it is just one of more than a dozen locales and events throughout Carmel and the town of Monterey itself. The M3 GTR racecar in stars and stripes livery has just completed a wheels-up restoration, and is a proud member of the BMW racing legacy. The road variant of this killer racecar will also be in attendance. What might these cars signal for the future BMW …
2015 RenaultSport R.S. 01 Racecar Headlines World Series Renault at Silverstone Next Month
Renaultsport is revving up its fanbase this month ahead of the World Series of Renault race weekend extravaganza at Silverstone in early September. F1 cars, Clio Cup cars and 115 years of Renaultsport racing legends will be proudly attending this petrolhead woodstock. The UK debut of the RS01 racecar is perhaps the most exciting new detail for this fun event: the global racing series is part branding, part driver development and part technical R&D. The RS01 features in 30 or so new photos ahead of the big race — shown below along with details on the $12 tickets to join …
2015 Lexus RCF Saatchi BPM Concept Debuts Stunning Biometric Paint
rcf bpm video crop PART TWO: RCF BPM You can tell how excited Lexus is about their new RC Coupe from the global customs, concepts and performance packs galore. The latest wild upgrades to the RC come from opposite sides of the world, but are each pretty exciting in their own right. RCF BPM The second upgrade is far more cosmetic, but just as exotic. This Australian creation displays a dynamic paint finish based on the driver’s heart rate. As his or her beats-per-minute go up, the electro-luminescent paintwork outside glows in unique cascading patterns. From 100-bpm upward, the …
2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept Drops 900Lbs For Pikes Peak
You can tell how excited Lexus is about their new RC Coupe from the global customs, concepts and performance packs galore. The latest wild upgrades to the RC come from opposite sides of the world, but are each pretty exciting in their own right. The first? An all-new 2015 Lexus RCF GT Concept, which raced up to 14,500 feet the other week at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. Billed as a true development prototype, the RCF GT is a race-ready lightweighting exercise. From the factory curb weight for the RCF at 4048-pounds, the RCF GT drops almost 1000 pounds to …
RM Monterey 2015 – 1960 Chevrolet CERV I – Zora’s F1 Dream Prototype
If there were two words more taboo than ‘racing’ at General Motors in the 1950s, they would be: open-wheeled and mid-engine. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the world’s largest automaker was a big prude when it came to racecars and production exotics. Safety pressure from DC was woven into the product planning and board rooms with an iron lock. But the late 1950s opened many doors. A total ban on racing sponsorship or factory participation was fading fast. Moral leaders and crazy think-tanks of the day were losing their grip on culture thanks to mass media and tectonic advancements …
RM Monterey 2015 – 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C
Very special Aston Martin to see on the market! This Speed C streamliner was engineered and built as a LM-ready race prototype. Just eight of this C spec were produced, with this exact car thought to be the last Aston delivered before WWII. Army green paintwork is fitting, then, and quite fetching on the exotic shapes of the speedster fenders and bobtail trunk. 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C RM Monterey 13-15 August 2015 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C $750,000 – $950,000 Chassis no. G40/718/U 125 bhp, 1,949 cc SOHC inline four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors, …
2015 VUHL 05 Carbon Track Racer – Full Specs, Pricing and Configurator Details
A refreshed VUHL 05 is now available for global trackday aces with pricing from around $100k for this cross between a Lotus and Radical. The UK sportscar industry is not only an inspiration for this trackday special, but also a target for its dual-use configuration. VUHL hopes to have certification for English roads in the near future. But even though road and track are both viable in a VUHL… one is far more heavily emphasized. A completely smooth underbody is race-ready, as is the doorless racing frame below the skin. You can guess how fast the 3.7-second VUHL is on …
2015 Mazda LM55 Vision GT Tops Goodwood With 787B LeMans Legend + GT6 Updates
Twin glory spires at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year are capped by the LeMans-winning Mazda 787B and the 2015 Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo — two kindred spirits together in the metal publicly for the first time. This is a huge year for Mazda. The lineup is stronger than ever, while the new MX-5 and all-new CX-3 compact SUV are creating more buzz than ever for the Japanese sportscar brand. The Central Sculpture and OEM title sponsorship for Mazda at Goodwood is a big vote of confidence in their growth strategy. Typically this high-dollar placement has gone …
2010 Red Bull X1 Launched Gran Turismo As Ultimate MMO R&D Engine
As we look to the future of disruptive, breakthrough innovations in racing — it helps to start with a blank sheet of paper. This is counterintuitive, of course, versus the typical half-step of evolution among all species — racecars included. What is needed to deliver the TV ratings and championship trophies all race series crave? Speed, beauty, drama and technical innovation. There must be balance between outright speed, sound and safety. In short, a revolution is needed to put put racing into hyperdrive. The world championship Red Bull and Vettel pairing from 2010 provided a clever look at priorities of …
Goodwood #FoS 2015 Day One RACECARS & CLASSICS in 212 Pics
Goodwood #FoS 2015 Day One RACECARS & CLASSICS in 212 Pics
2019 McLaren-Honda F1 Racer Rendered With Gorgeous Closed-Cockpit Canopy
 Andries Van Overbeeke’s third set of future F1 car designs is his most intriguing yet — thanks to a subtle tweak up top and a revolution down below. Up top in the Overbeeke F1 McLaren-Honda we have a closed cockpit for the first time. No F1 car has run enclosed in the history or the event. Shaped like a fighter jet canopy, this forward-hinged cockpit promises smoother aero at high speeds and enhanced safety in any accident. F1 cars have typically been open for practical reasons. Venting exhaust fumes at first, then allowing drivers to be ejected or extracted …
LeMans Legends from Porsche – Sweet 16 Becomes Magnificent 17 With New 919 Win
Porsche just swept LeMans, crowning its 17th racecar with the most-coveted trophy on the auto racing circuit. What cars came before? Porsche has competed and succeeded at Le Mans since the early 1950s, but only entered the highest echelons of competition in the mid-1960s. Shut out of victory by the Ford GT40 Mark II’s winning streak from 1966-1969, Porsche did the impossible with its massive 1970 victory. Let’s take a walk back through Porsche LeMans Winners, starting from the most recent in 1998. But first, the all-star group and the people behind these wins. Porsche LeMans …
LeMans 2015 Video: Porsche 919 Hybrid Takes One-Two Victory!
Ladies and gentleman, the day has come! Porsche reclaimed overall LeMans victory 45 years since its first in 1970 and last in 1998. The 919 Hybrid was so fast it passed even LMP2 cars (and more than a few LMP1 cars) like they were standing still on the track. A stunning feat of brilliant engineering, driving and motorsports — together pushing the 919 to a decisive victory in first and second place. 2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid One-two for the Porsche 919 Hybrids in Le Mans Stuttgart. Mission accomplished: Porsche has achieved its 17th overall Le Mans victory …
SHOCK! 2017 Ford GT Will Race LeMans 2016 – HD Track Test Video + 75 Photos
Alternative headline grabbers? FTW! New Vmax Bomber! Shock & Awesome! Stormin’ Normandy! Ford Libs LeMans for 6th Time in 2016? Now on to this heartwarming news: the 2017 Ford GT supercar will race in Le Mans next year, the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT’s first win in 1966. Since 1944, we add 1967, 68 and 69 to reach five overall American trips to Le Mans, France. Le Sarthe for Ford means nothing less than agony, ecstasy and a lasting legacy. The 2016 24-hour race one year from tomorrow will mark a high water mark in Ford Performance’s return …
2016 Honda RC213V-S MotoGP Champ Coming to Select USA Owners By Year-End!
It is very, very rare that a pure racer of any kind is offered to the public for sale. Heck, for most racing teams, even divulging key mechanical specs can be an act of high treason. But after two MotoGP World Championships, the impossible is now confirmed: Honda will sell the bike in the US market. Ever-so-slighty tweaked to add license plate brackets, the looser safety rules for two-wheelers make this a genius move by Honda. This is beyond performance flagship or halo model. The RC213V-S is a knockout blow to all other superbikes. Pricing and availability are not yet …
LeMans 2015 Spotters Guide to All Racecars c/o Nissan GT-R LM Nismo – Truly Innovative Excitement?
Innovation That Excites. Sound familiar? Of course it does. This Nissan tagline raises half an eyebrow when attached to cars like the Altima or Versa. Arguably neither innovative nor exciting, it is almost like calling Taco Bell haute cuisine. It just is not in any way. Categorical denial of tagline principles! But the new 2015 LMP1 car from Nissan is actually hugely innovative and hugely exciting. It is the newest entrant in the top class to compete with the Ultra-boring Audi Sport R19s, Porsche 919 and somewhat dull Toyota Gazoo TS040. The GT-R LM NISMO is also a total wildcard …
2015 W Motors Lykan Hypersport – Animated Turntables Gallery
 Longtime readers know we adore the W Motors Lykan HyperSport. We created some super-cool and exclusive animated turntables of the four official rendered colors — and are still patting ourselves on the back for their mezmerizing beauty! But after hundreds of rounds of image optimizations and uploads, many of these prized GIFs became de-animated. Static panda! Some great news, sad pandas: just re-uploaded the color spinners in all their moving glory. I think the timing varies among these, but we’ll see together momentarily. And if you think the 3MB-per-file is a big large, just know that these are drastically …
RM Monterey 2015 Preview – 2013 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione
Ferrari Challenge cars are brutal, hardcore and seriously extreme. If your senses have been dulled by supercars as daily drivers, these cars are a harsh wakeup call to the terror and glory of a true racecar. It is extremely rare to see one with the most current technology come up for sale, and this 458 Challenge Evo is basically brand new. It just returned to the US from Maranello, where it was upgraded to the quickest ‘Evo’ form with new mechanicals and aero updates via all-new nose and tail. Before that voyage, it only had a few hours of total …
404MPH via 2590HP! SRT Tomahawk X Tops Raceable Trio of S, GTS-R and X Models
Stunning reveal today for the SRT Tomahawk Vision GT car for Gran Turismo. The details are as great as the sweeping airfoils all around the Tomahawk’s graphene glass and bodywork. Three variants of this ultra-futuristic supercar prototype are engineered and raceable at different levels of the game. All with record-setting levels of theoretical performance! A mid-mounted, wide-block V10 engine provides primary thrust, with the front axle on-demand AWD. Performance will be obscene. All run a combination of wide-block V10 plus hydaulic AWD and active aero. The Tomahawk S comes in with 1007-horsepower, while the GTS-R is race-optimized throughout. The white …
TVR Inks New Sportscar Deal with Gordon Murray and Cosworth – 2018 Launch Possible!
If there are two better names than Gordon Murray and Cosworth to attach to the TVR rebirth, we cannot imagine them. All are icons of English performance — and together promise great things. A new sportscar announcement today includes no new sketches or even outlines of the upcoming new TVR, but it does signal work behind the scenes. The car will be designed and produced using iStream from GMD and engine mechanicals via Cosworth. iStream is intended to be a highly robotized assembly system using the latest in 3D printing and materials to give low-weight and high-strength components. The iStream …
LeMans 2015 – Toyota TS040 Hybrid Gets New Nose, More Power and New Suspension Setup
 What the TS040 lacks in outright drama, it clearly makes up for with outstanding engineering and bulletproof reliability. Le Mans 2014 was one of the three World Endurance Championship races that the TS040 Hybrid did not win — but the team cleaned up by going 5 in 8 overall during the 2014 season. This dominance was enough to score Toyota the World Championship titles for the car as well as its drivers — which is certainly an impressive feat. The newly-renamed Toyota Gazoo Racing team wants to keep the winning glory in this 2015 season with the ultimate crowning …
2015 SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo Teases Extreme Mid-Engine Hypercar
 First look at the upcoming 2015 SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo! This latest installment of the VGT series is a fantasy concept created and engineered for racing in Gran Turismo on PlayStation — but is also a solid look into the dream wishlist of the SRT performance and design teams. Only a few official images so far, but what we see is a stunning track car that features adaptive aerodynamics with a massive rear wing, side flap air brakes, and numerous other delicious details. Five giant exhaust pipes in the center of the Tomahawk’s tail hint at some kind …
LeMans 2015 – Nissan GT-R LM NISMO Stuns On Track With Vacuum Aero!
Update: Observers of the GTR-LM at NCM Motorsports Park in Kentucky have confirmed the sound of high-power electric vans at speed around the track — answering a fundamental question posed below. __ Well, I’ll be damned! The shocking design and tech solutions of the all-new Nissan LMP1 car continue to mystify in the runup to LeMans 2015. The tech specs are out and included here, along with a fascinating video revealing one of the GT-R LM NISMO’s big secret weapons: vacuum aero. Nissan shows these full-length channels in the design in the below video, describing how the full-length piping helps …
Ferrari Bringing FXX-K + 488GTB and More to 2015 Goodwood FOS in New Concours Strategy
Ferrari is the most-collectible car brand of all time. Vehicles from the company’s storied past have owned the top-ten vehicle value charts for at least the last 20 years — with that dominance set to continue indefinitely. Especially considering the brilliance of the current range! As the dominant force in supercars, racing and exotics — Ferrari can be choosy about the events it attends officially, and the coolness of the cars they bring along to show. Case in point? The FXX K has not been seen again in public since its debut at Yas Marina the other month. The F12 …
2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid Adds Black and Red LeMans Liveries in 917K Salute
Porsche is extremely eager to show how fast and reliable its 2015 919 Hybrid is in the marquee endurance race of the year: LeMans. Just 18 days from now, a trio of Porsche 919s will battle a mad pack of Audi R19 racecars, the secretive 2015 Toyota LMP1 update, and an all-new contender: the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo. This front-drive Nissan is a real wildcard in the tech blueprint adopted by the other big three: rear-mid-engine with electric front-axle AWD. The Porsche 919 Hybrid looks extremely similar to last year’s car, but features dramatic updates under the skin. The core …
1088HP RIMAC Concept_One eHypercar Nearing Production + Now Raceable in DRIVECLUB
Three massive tech leaps have lowered the barriers to hypercar creation dramatically: — affordable cad-cam and engineering software — small-batch carbon fiber chassis and panel creation — electric propulsion to deliver the power of race-car gasoline engines, but with all companies essentially starting from the same block. Years of experience are no longer (as big of…) an advantage for EV supercars Without any of the above, designing and creating a car from scratch easily required banks of computer servers and million-dollar industrial panel stampers. Therefore, the time is right for startup tech companies all over the world to take the …
2014 Pagani Zonda Revolucion Adds DRS Dynamic Downforce + 50HP for Ultimate Time-Attack Prowess
If the 2009-2010 Pagani Zonda R is shocking in its depth of changes versus the ‘regular’ Zonda, this R-EVO model honors the near-perfection of the original model. Even so, the ‘Evo’ version of any supercar is generally far better. Benefiting from real-world tuning and production tweaks, the Zonda Revolucion is no exception to this rule. Power from the AMG V12 is up to 800 ponies, while the on-track dynamics are massively enhanced by a new Drag Reduction System out back. Controlled via a steering-wheel button, DRS can selectively engage as needed on track, or a two-second push of the button …
2015 Porsche 911 GT3 R vs. GT3 Cup vs. GT3 RSR – Visual and Specs Comparison
Porsche has three core racing 911’s for 2015: the brand-new GT3 R, the GT3 Cup and works racing 9911 RSR. All three are now on the 991 platform now that the GT3 R is updated from its previous 2013-2014 iteration. Only the GT3 R and GT3 Cup are offered for sale, with pricing ratcheting up to multiples of the traditional Carrera GT3 road car. The Cup comes in around $250,00 while the new GT3 R is priced for customer racing teams at euro $430,000. If the RSR were for sale today, it would likely come in around $800,000. In terms …
2016 Aston Martin VULCAN in 40 New Photos from Dubai and Manhattan
Updated 5.10.15 The 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan has been a real showstopper since its surprise reveal in Geneva. Replacing the One-77 as the ultra-fast brand flagship, the Vulcan will be a track-only wonder when it arrives to its 25 ultra-wealthy owners. But boy is this car hard to photograph in auto show environments! Its gloss-black lower aero treatment is delicious and highly advanced, but washes out in most indoor light. So in-person viewing will be extra important to clinch prized deposits. To that end, the Vulcan swooped into Dubai recently to be the local showroom’s electro-magnet… drawing in the great …
Racing Icons Series – 1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 Daytona Is Legendary Bubble-Top Targa
Part Five of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Welcome to one of the most beautiful racecars of all time: the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Daytona. Wearing the fabulous bubble glass windshield of the Periscopo T33, but a long-tail aero treatment and even a targa top — the Daytona is like a dream come true for vintage racecar aficionados. One interesting T33 detail is that the car has none of the imposing and heavy-roof feel of the Porsche 917 or Ford GT40. Where those cars are all giant A-pillars and letterbox visibility, the Alfa is chopped like a speedster …
Racing Icons Series – 1969 Alfa Romeo T33 Sports Racer
Part Four of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Proof that beauty and open-air thrills are critical elements of a million-dollar sale? Yes indeed! Even with pure-bred racecars like this Sports Racer Tipo 33 from Alfa Romeo, the most important details are often obvious to classic-car shoppers and spectators alike. Even though this Sports Racer was not one of the quickest T33 Alfa’s on the world’s racetracks, it is clearly the most desirable today versus its younger siblings — and arguably more visually sublime than its fabulous hard-top older brothers. The reason for this is clear: there is still …
Racing Icons Series – 1970 Alfa Romeo TT3 Spider Was Lightweight Short-Tail Special
Part Three of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series  1970 saw the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3 Spider evolve into a much shorter and much more brutal track attacker. Switchable noses include the lamp-free style shown here. A fairly brutal and chopped style appears at the front and rear of this Alfa racecar, with less of the glamourous design of the Sports Racer 33 that came before it. The changes worked on the racing circuit – with this Spider earning numerous race wins and ranking between Porsche and Ferrari in the top three points for the Le Mans season. …
Racing Icons Series – 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3 Wears Stunning Batmobile Tailfins
Part Two of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series  Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s. This open-topped TT3 from 1972 shows a really battle-hardened racing hero. Still wearing its striking Autodelta racing livery and …
Racing Icons Series – 1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Made 500HP at 11k RPM!
 Part One of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars. We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others. But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s, adapting to new racing rules and new tech innovations to make one of the quickest Alfa Romeo racecars of …
1968 Ford GT40 Gulf Mirage Lightweight LM Racecar – Most Valuable American Car Of All Time?
When it comes to racing greats and the all-time automotive hall of fame, this Gulf GT40 is certainly in the top ten. This exact car was the first to win a race wearing the now-legendary Gulf racing livery. Until this GT40 crossed the finish line in first place at Spa, these iconic powder blue and marigold colors were just another racing stripe. This GT40 is also the most valuable American car ever sold at auction, and likely ever made. It is unlikely that any other American car has changed hands privately for a bigger sum. (But is the GT40 even …
875HP, 1.7s 2015 Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo Is LMP1 Contender With Hypercar Beauty
As you already know if you have played Gran Turismo, the most intense parts of the game have to be earned. You have to build your skills and trade up from little nothing-powered Miata’s up the power and speed ladder. Toward the top of the performance spectrum, you are racing in LMP1 cars and beyond. The vast majority of concepts seen so far in the Vision GT collection fall into two categories: a racing-upfit version of a normal production car (ie the VW GTI SS) and a pure fantasy take on future racing (ie Chevrolet 2X Chaparral VGT). The latest …
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SLS Racing + Exclusive SLS-R Speedster Renderings
This is a cool one. As you may know, Mercedes had a spotty record of hanging on to rare classics among the hundreds of models the company has produced. This applies double for the racecars – which are often either lost to track damage or to privateer teams. Either way, gone from the safety of the MB Museum. Such was the case for a pair of American-commissioned racing overhauls to a pair of 1957 300 SL’s. While Mercedes retired from racing for 1956-forward, the SL was still a plum basis for a race-winning track car. A priciple named Jim O’Shea …
1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder Was Racing Streamliner with Tailfins!
A surviving 1947 Mille Miglia racecar, one of three works vehicles raced that season? Yep. One of less than ten cars in the MOMA New York permanent collection? Yessir. Tail-fins more than a decade before this look would sweep automobile-dom? Mhmm. Stunning. 28 total Nuvolari Spyders are thought to have been produced, so collecting any at less than half a million is a shrewd move. 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder Villa Erba 25 May 2013 Lot 110 1947 Cisitalia 202 SMM ‘Nuvolari’ Spyder by Carrozzeria Garella To be auctioned on Saturday, May 25, 2013 Sold for €425.600 Chassis …
1929 Bugatti Type 44 Grand Sport Is Straight-8 GP Racer as 4-Seat Ragtop!
Imagine a current F1 car stretched three feet in wheelbase, then fitted with a rudimentary canopy of a roof. Then flash back to 1929. Bugatti 44 Grand Sport. As you can probably tell, we pour over the auction lists of rare and special cars. A list of priceless classics, all sold by the pound and to the mood of the moment. Seeing a 1920’s Bugatti headline is almost a cliche in this rarefied world. Stunning racecar evolution, open-wheeled and potent by the end of the decade. The dream of fans was coming true as well — a LWB chassis with …
LeMans Homologation Specials – 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR SuperSport
The CLK GTR has an altogether less impressive record than the McLaren F1 GTR and Porsche 911 GT1 it was designed to beat. The CLK GTR was the most eagerly-sought road model, however, with 300 buyers trying to own one of the 25 road cars to be produced by AMG and the re-established M-B factory racing team. Re-established? Mercedes took the ultimate in gentlemen’s intermissions from LeMans after the tragic accident of 1955 killed dozens of spectators. A car out of control and taking flight before a huge crash was too similar to the 1930s Silver Arrows accidents, wherein famous …
LeMans Homologation Specials – 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Evo Strassenversion
A brief overlap in racing rules took place between 1996 and 1998 — as the World GT race series was acquired by FIA and folded into LeMans and the World Endurance Challenge proper. Previous rules for the GT cars like the McLaren F1 GTR stated that the car had to technically be available for customers to buy and use on the road. This rare piece of legislation led to road versions of the ultimate racecars of the time, including this Porsche 911 GT1 and the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. The Porsche 911 GT1 was by far the most successful racer of the …
Racing Hero – 1986 Toyota Celica IMSA GTO Is a Rear-Drive Boost-Monster
There is something about this purpose-built Celica racecar that feels like the best of all worlds: rear-drive with a rear-mounted transaxle, a 2.0-liter Toyota “T” turbo engine detuned from 600HP to 450HP, and a grip setup to shame any other race series. This beautiful carbon-skinned racecar is hiding tires wider than a NASCAR racer, yet is as low as any modern hypercar. We just love its relative simplicity versus the tech-overloaded racecars of today. One purpose: be faster than anything else ever made… but only with the right driver aboard. This car earned $242,000 when sold in 2014. 1986 Toyota …
RM Villa Erba 2015 – 1960 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Competizione SWB Alloy by Scaglietti
Sometimes, an auction description just rings through your head like a cash register at the grocery store — each additional word creating a “cha-ching” sound that you know will add a million dollars to the sale price. This 1960 Ferrari (cha-ching) 250GT (again…) Berlinetta (brrring) Competizione (super cha-ching) might top $20 million when sold this summer at Lake Como for the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale. One of 45 aluminum-skinned 250GT’s made in 1960, this car rolled out the SWB ‘passo corto’ chassis for extra maneuverability on tight tracks or winding roads. It also chopped around 100 pounds from the …
2.3s, 1020HP 2015 ULTIMA Evolution Is Quickest Car In World?!
As McLaren GTR models, Porsche GT3 and Ferrari XX cars show — there is a huge business for track-focused and track-only supercars. Stripped of production frippery and shod with racing shocks and rubber, these cars are undoubtedly more intense and more focused on track. But what if you went the other way entirely? Instead of beefing up a production supercar for racing, how about adding some comforts to a pure race-car? The result is the very new 2015 Ultima Evolution Coupe and Spider. Three power outputs of Chevrolet Racing V8’s are available, with the top dog delivering a massive 1020 …
RM Andrews 2015 Preview – 1962 Chevrolet Corvette RPO Big Tank Gulf Oil Race Car
Talk about important Corvettes, and this beauty is on the top of many lists. A late first-generation model, this is one of the special RPO order code cars, of which only 240 or so were made in 1962. The upgrades are thorough for a race-prepped car right from the factory:including the 37-gallon ‘Big Tank’ for endurance racing. This actual car raced in numerous International events before going into the time capsule until recently. How much? Brace yourself: the estimate says the sale price could hit $2.8-million. 1962 Chevrolet Corvette RPO Big Tank Gulf Oil Race Car The Andrews Collection 2 …