1969

550HP 1969 Ford Bronco Supercharged by Velocity Restorations

by

On the long list of incredible big-boy (or girl!) toys to get once you make it big, a classic Ford Bronco is definitely up there near the top for many of us. A perfectly resto-modded example makes driving it a pleasure from day one, and also reduces the years-long headaches most DIYers would encounter trying to restore one themselves. Velocity Restorations specializes in Broncos and has a few turn-key examples ready for delivery. This latest example might be my favorite — its glossy wet-look black paint, beefy stance and gorgeous cabin make quite an impression even while parked. Favorite details …

Keep reading

RM Monaco 2016 – 1969 MG MGC GTS Sebring

by

Generally speaking, the more acronyms after a car’s name the better. It usually means it is some rare, high-performance variant that may or may not have even been road-legal. And the best possible indication that speed is a sure thing?   If that long name ends with a famous racetrack! Think 599 GTB Fiorano, 365GTB/4 Daytona… This MGC GTS Sebring is the most intense MG we’ve ever laid eyes on!  The black and gold livery is lovely, as is the widebody, wide rubber and wide-open throttle in this featherweight slugger.   1969 MG MGC GTS Sebring RM Sotheby’s Monaco 14 …

Keep reading

1987 Buick GNX by ASC McLaren – Detail Photo Flyaround Inside and Out

by

The GNX left a sweet mark on the brand and perhaps the car business in general.  It was the announcement of POWER and speed — rejoining mainstream car lines after more than a decade of downsizing, Cimmarons and K-cars. The heart and soul of the GNX is of course its McLaren-upgraded V6 engine. The 3.8-liter, intercooled turbo was a revolution at the time. Its output bested most V8s and its power delivery was the best part. Through the also-racier standard automatic transmission in the GNX, the giant lump of turbo torque made the most of its lag. Momentary boost-up for …

Keep reading

1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 in Raven Black 28

Mecum 2016 Florida Favorites – 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 in Raven Black

by

This Mustang Boss 429 was the top ponycar of its year: fast, loud and even slightly luxurious! This example is a four-speed manual (v desirable) with period Magnum 500 wheels.  An alloy intake and rumble hood scoop complete the Boss appeal when static.  When rolling, this thunderclap of a car is happiest on a tire-shredding launch start. The mean style, wide and large new dimensions, plus rear-window louvres and spoiler would set the tone for 70s supercars and even superminis. 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429

1969 Ford BRONCO by Chimera 12

Mecum 2016 – 1969 Ford BRONCO by Chimera Customs

by

This amazing one-off Bronco has a special ops / Lambo Rambo vibe in all the best ways. That’s no accident: this beaut by Chimera Customs was made to taise money for the Armed Forces FOundation. ANd did it deliver! A cool half-mill bought this desert jackal in 2013. The 2016 estimate is a snip then, at just $125k. Mecum 2016 – 1969 Ford BRONCO by Chimera Customs Lot T205// Kissimmee 2016 // Jan 15-24 1969 Ford Bronco Built by Chimera Customs   Engine 406 CI Trans 5-Speed Color Black Interior Black ESTIMATE: $100,000 – $125,000 Chimera Customs of North Palm …

Keep reading

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback in Candyapple Red 1

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback in Candyapple Red

by

Update:  Or maybe THIS is the car? This is the car. The one. Perhaps the pinnacle of muscle-car design and culture… a forever car. 1969 BOSS 429.  Candyapple Red.   http://www.nvsaac.com/Details/1969_ford_mustang_paint_colors.htm Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons …

Keep reading

R223_1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback 13

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 Fastback in Wimbledon White

by

This is the car. The one. Perhaps the pinnacle of muscle-car design and culture… a forever car. BOSS 429.   Is it Wimbledon White or Polo White?  The Wimbledon shade was a bit creamier, and we think that is the color code of this rolling erotica. Update: yes, it is Wimbledon White.   Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But …

Keep reading

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 11

Mecum 2016 Musclecars – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

by

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Get ready for a rapid-fire of awesome musclecars on their way to auction! The Mecum Kissimmee, Florida auction is billed as the largest in the world — and we believe them wholeheartedly after a visit to the event last year. Wish we could preview them all… But there are just too many special beauties to handle individually. Even so, we pulled out a dozen or so very unique icons to showcase in a series of posts today.  Forgive the lack of writeups, please, and cruise over to Mecum.com for the full auction details, list of lots …

Keep reading

1969 DeTomaso Mangusta by Ghia 18

RM NY 2015 Preview – 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta by Ghia Is Flawless in Sunburst Orange

by

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 …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback – 1969 Abarth 2000 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina

by

This photoshoot recalls Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous to me, but the car under her is not half bad either.  The Abarth 2000 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina explored a doorless wedge design with forward-hinged full glass canopy. Shrouded and integrated lamps in front were also fairly revolutionary for the time — and a cue that would be adopted by supercars by the mid-1970s.     1969 Abarth 2000 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina

eb1zm3h0

Ferrari Bringing FXX-K + 488GTB and More to 2015 Goodwood FOS in New Concours Strategy

by

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 …

Keep reading

1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi 1

RM Monterey 2015 – 1969 Lamborghini 400GT Islero S by Marazzi

by

If there is one car that truly defies what we call the “Lambo GT curse,” it would be this stunning 400GT Islero S. Somehow escaping the frumpy style decisions of the earlier 350GT and too-large 1970s GT cars, the 400GT is a fantastic coupe style statement with V12 power up front and a leather-wrapped 2+2 cabin with real trunk out back. You can tell that the 400GT Islero S is a real timeless classic because its style almost directly previews the designs of 1980s sports coupes from around the world. The Ferrari 400i and 412i from the early 1980s would …

Keep reading

1969 Lancia Fulvia 12

Amelia Island 2015 – 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Rallye Car

by

The Lancia Rally legends series? Not just winners in the racing arena, but also the historical influencers and taste-maker charts. If the Delta Integrale inspired the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX, what did this Lancia Fulvia spur to life? None other than the also-important BMW 2002. Important groundwork was laid here for the rear-drive Stratos, which would dominate the first few years of the official WRC race series with its lightweight panels, ultra-compact design and supercar performance — optimized for the dirty, dusty and ice-covered rally race routes. 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Rallye

1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA 18

Mecum Florida 2015 Hero – 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Brings $900k

by

 Stunning total sale prices for the star of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection: this flawlessly original 1969 Daytona Charger. HD Video walkaround below, plus 30 new photos of the car in person. Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the …

Keep reading

mustang mach 1

Future Car Renderings – 2017 Ford Mustang Mach 1

by

  Doing a photochop of the new 2015 Mustang GT might seem almost sacrilegious these days. The car is a huge, huge hit already and is set to be the most popular pony-car in decades. We’ve see dozens of custom Mustangs so far at SEMA and now the Shelby GT350 ups the ante dramatically. But what about a truly futuristic fantasy Mustang? Something almost unreal in its stunning proportions? The ideas shown here follow the original Ford Mach 1 sketches in 1966 — they read almost like an instruction manual for a step-by-step Mustang Mach 1 for 2017. Let’s disregard …

Keep reading

mustang concepts

Concept Flashbacks – 1966 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Allegro II and Mustang Milano

by

When you style and produce a car as successful as the Mustang in 1964, you have to start thinking next steps almost immediately. How to evolve, and how to keep up the excitement of the original, but with the thrill of the new. Ford explored a variety of wild ideas for the future of the Mustang. From the short-wheelbase, to the Ranchero — Ford was open to nearly any and all ideas. But the enthusiast vision shined brightest. How to make the Mustang even cooler, and even more hardcore as a sports-car. In this folder lives the 1966 Mustang Mach …

Keep reading

gullwings

The Evolution of Mercedes-Benz Gullwing Supercars in 9 Cars Since 1952

by

As the SLS AMG bows out to be replaced by the new AMG GT as the Mercedes supercar, many people are unemotional about the change from gullwing to traditional hinged doors. In this regard, the gullwing doors of the SLS are so iconic that they have become a bit passe as a result. But the special magic of twin, central-hinged doors opening upward and meeting mid-roof is truly a cultural touchstone in the car business. Much as Lamborghini defines scissor doors, Mercedes gullwing doors are a huge part of the 300SL legend — and therefore the Mercedes legend — since …

Keep reading

365gtb4

RM Paris 2015 Preview – 1969 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta – Euro-Spec Plexiglass Nose

by

It is hard to believe that the austere and perennially grumpy Europe we know today was once the largest market for supercars like this 1969 Daytona. This car may have itself marked a tipping point – when American sales of Ferrari and Lamborghini exotics would overtake the Continent for the first time. There was plenty of cash in American buyer hands, but the distribution of exotic imports was extremely limited until the mid-1960s. Unless you lived in Greenwich, CT or Malibu — there simply was no place to buy and service most European supercars. Rapid distribution expansion by Ferrari followed …

Keep reading

1970-Dodge-Challenger-TA22

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1970 Dodge Challenger TA

by

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

Keep reading

1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500

by

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Liberated? Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered …

Keep reading

1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1967 Dodge Hemi Charger Show Car

by

The time has come. Charger-palooza today with eight back-to-back posts of some of the amazing Mopar machines liberated from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection. Just kidding. These cars lived a happy and pristine life in the Wellborn Museum. As true collector pieces, though, they may not have been doing as many stoplight dragraces as the badges intended. Sunny conditions and cost-no-object acquisition and restorations by the Wellborn Collection means that these Chargers are arguably the world’s finest. Wellborn Musclecar Museum Collection If you fall in love with one of these, know you might never find a better one offered for …

Keep reading

mclaren m6gt fantasy colorizer

#BlackSwanMoments – 1969 McLaren M6GT – Fantasy Colorizer

by

 McLaren is running a series of teasers dubbed #BlackSwanMoments ahead of the arrival of the newest, and cheapest, sportscar some time in 2015. We are on number 5 of 13 moments so far. They all touch on the magic of how McLaren came to be, what the company is proudest to have achieved, and how these impactful, breakthrough moments have inspired the new 2016 Sport Series of cars. It is a dark and relatively moody look back at history, racing, innovation and Bruce McLaren himself. It’s deep. Number 5 #BlackSwanMoment is our cherished 1969 McLaren M6GT, a car intended to …

Keep reading

daytona

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Has Just 6k Original Miles

by

Do you like classic musclecars? Then you are in luck this week – we are featuring a dozen of the finest available from the Mecum Florida auctions in January 2015. https://www.mecum.com/text-list.cfm?auctionid=FL0115 1969 Dodge Charger Hemi DAYTONA Lot R218// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan 16-25 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona 426/425 HP, 4-Speed, 6,400 Miles Engine 426/425 HP Trans 4-Speed Color Copper Interior Tan The word “restraint” is seldom associated with the muscle car era of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it certainly applies to the owners of this astounding 1969 Dodge Hemi 4-speed Daytona, which has been driven an amazing 6,435 …

Keep reading

c111

1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II: Wankel vs V8 Proved Piston-Engine Dominance

by

Updated 12.15.14 Including the first two C111 prototype designs here: the C111 proper from 1969 with a Wankel engine, and a C111-II running a 3.5-liter V8. The way to tell them apart is that the V8-powered C111-II has open spaces in the rear flying pillars, while the C111-I has louvered and solid-looking pillars.   1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II     PREVIOUS The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into …

Keep reading

1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel 14

201MPH 1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel World Speed Record Car

by

The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into new segments, in this case the supercar market. We will cover the orange-colored C111 and C111-2 models in a later article. This post is dedicated to the much-later iteration on the theme from 1977 and 1978. The original C111’s Wankel engine was shelved indefinitely by the early 1970s, and production of the car was a non-starter due to dramatic Wankel failures in Audi …

Keep reading

gt500 convertible

RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible

by

So easy to forget how quickly the Mustang evolved between 1965 and 1972. The style of this 1969 is cool but a bit polarizing in some places – where it tends to look less pure than the 1965-1966 cars but less well-resolved than the wider and lower 1970 and onward. Even so, this car is a clear trendsetter and there are awesome details like the milled dual-chamber center exhaust element, or the NACA ducts in the hood, to delight the eye. The one catch with this particular car is the transmission: it is an automatic. 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible …

Keep reading

mustang 1970 boss trans am

RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Kar Kraft Trans Am

by

In more than a few ways, the new Mustang invokes the styling of the 1970 Boss 302 more than it does even the 1965 GT350 or the 1969 GT500. The over-wide stance and race-ready upgrades of this Kar Kraft Trans Am racer are just the right icing on the cake. Expect big loot for this School-Bus Yellow Boss 302 at RM Auctions in Arizona this January 15th. Arizona 15 – 16 January 2015 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Kar Kraft Trans Am  

miura p400s

RM Monterey 2014 Highlights – 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S Earns $1.2M

by

  After being declined an RM Auctions press pass for this year’s Monterey (Pebble Beach) auction, we froze RM coverage for a few months to focus on Gooding and Bonhams. But this stunning Lamborghini has brought us back into the fold. A combination of the right spec and the right colors makes it one of the hottest classic supercars in the world in 2014. Originally yellow, this early P400S runs an original engine and shows just 30,000 miles under its Carrara White exterior. We have learned a bit about the Carrara White color recently – being named after the Carrara …

Keep reading

Spicup gif

Concept Debrief – 1969 BMW 2800 Spicup Was Bertone Spider-Coupe Prototype

by

Named for its dual purpose, the Spicup is a contraction of ‘Spider’ and ‘Coupe’ into one word. This one was a joint effort and actually led with Bertone proposing the idea of a spider coupe with a retractable hardtop to BMW. A 2.8-liter straight six lives up front and the one-off Spicup BMW opened the door to more Bertone-BMW collaboration later in the 1970s. The machine is certainly unique and eye-popping today: imagine it today as some form of BMW Z4 variant: a cabrio two-door built off a traditional sedan platform. More accurately, considering the roof and semi-popup headlamps, was …

Keep reading

daytona comp gif12

Gooding Pebble Beach 2014 Highlights – 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Competizione

by

When it comes to classic sports cars, any link to Le Mans is generally as good as gold. For this amazing machine, that gold is shiny and pure.  This Daytona Competizione is a factory-prepped race car delivered to Chinetti Motors at Le Mans a week before the 1971 race. The car came in 5th overall and later second in its class in the 1972 Daytona race — proving its worth on nearly every major global circuit. The racing upgrades make the car worth nearly 10X what a Daytona coupe is worth, however, with the estimate topping $5.5-million in pre-sale materials. …

Keep reading

M6BGT gif header1

Hypercar Icons – 1969 McLaren M6B GT with 2014 McLaren 650S at The Quail

by

The McLaren M6B GT is perhaps even more important to the foundation bedrock of McLaren Automotive than the all-conquering F1. In many ways, the latest McLaren Automotive division is the realization of founder Bruce McLaren’s dream of a supercar operation that is enhanced and supported by the racing team. 35 or so years on from the first prototype M6GT, the dream is more than some future longing. It is real and thriving with the latest 650S and P1 cars building a devoted following among hypercar fans all over the world. Even among those who do not follow Formula One closely, …

Keep reading

Ferrari 512 S Coupe Speciale GIF1

Concept Flashback – 1969 Ferrari 512S Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina in Leopard Onesie at Marble Quarry

by

This car is RARE! Of course, many concept cars were one-off creations for a specific auto show or other event. And many more are not actual cars at all – they cannot roll on their own power whatsoever. But almost all of them are trotted out of the archives at some point after their initial show. If only to be sold at auction, they are almost always seen again at some point. This allows there to be more photos of the car than just one or two. Cars from the 1960s are almost nonexistent in photos from their original debut. …

Keep reading

m10a gif

Own This Authentic 1969 McLaren M10-A To Be A Racing Hero

by

One thing I love about the English car mag culture is their enthusiasm for track days – and track day cars. I hope this catches on here, and am doing my part with a few ‘first-times’ under my Dunlop belt.   But one thing that will always beat an Exige S or other time-attack miracles? A real, fire-breathing race car. Nothing will bring all those study hall sketches to life like this 1969 McLaren M10A currently for sale by FantasyJunction in Emeryville, California. Priced at $160,000, this car comes with a drooling list of included equipment, and stretch-folders full of …

Keep reading

M6GT ANimation header1

Hypercar Evolution – 1969 McLaren M6GT vs. 1995 McLaren F1 vs. 2014 McLaren P1

by

  Only one of these LT1-powered road cars was officially made by McLaren. At the time, “by McLaren” literally meant that Bruce’s racing crew had created a road car for the boss. The saying goes that the original M6GT was his daily driver: attending events and developing the production plans of this racing prototype for the road. His plan was for a run of 250 cars, but only three more were created by Trojan, a fellow racing shop with the ability to complete the street-legal fiberglass bodywork, doors, and all the other trimmings like wipers and blinkers. It was a …

Keep reading

DeTomaso Mangusta Header GIF999

RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta Brings $367k of Supercar Hedonism

by

Oh, this is a great total to see. Overall, DeTomaso machines typically do not deliver the value they should when you consider their beauty and hand-made Italian designs. The shortcut of using an American engine has never been kind to the values of classics, with even the Face Vega’s of Paris and many others really not delivering the stratospheric sales prices of Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s of the same provenance and era. This Mangusta is quite a sinfully delicious design, with a brutality to its nose that was and is a nice counterpoint to the streamlined Daytona Ferrari, pin-sharp Maserati Ghibli …

Keep reading

Miura S Jota GIF header

RM Monaco 2014 Highlights – 1969 Lamborghini Miura S Jota

by

Flip lamps or flush lamps? The eternal supercar question plays out with this 1969 Lamborghini Miura S, which includes the Jota-specification flush lamps. The overall appearance is far more modern than the original Miura’s oval and black-shrouded flip-up headlights, and likely much sleeker through the air with them on as well. The Miura S models banished much of the front-end lift at high speeds for which the original Miura was criticized, but, we wonder: are those flip-up headlights also a factor? They would act like a wall of air in the nose, causing inevitable weighting onto the back of the …

Keep reading

Monoposto Classic and Formula GIF

The Mitty 2014 at Road Atlanta – Monoposto Classic – Group 4A and 4B Brabham, Lotus, Lola…

by

 The Mitty is really a grab-bag of racers in every group, making it hard to know what is even zooming past. That was certainly the case for this group! Here are the cars in Group 4A – The Monoposto Classic 1969 Lotus 61 1969 Bragham BT-29 1970 Chevron B17B 1969 March 693 1972 Crossle 25 1972 Ensign FB 1067 Brabham BT21   Group 4B Monoposto Formula 1975 Lola T332 1976 March 762 F2 1971 McRae GM1 1979 March 79 SV 1973 Lola T330 1980 March 80A 1980 March 80A 1972 GRD 372 1975 March Fm. Atlantic 7      

Car-Revs-Daily

Speculative Renderings – 2014 Superformance GT40 Can-Am Spyder or Street-Able Convertible

by

So, if the Ford GT40 and the LOLA T70 Mk II Spyder share so much under the skin, and if the Lola is already available from Superformance — why bother with a meld of both these ideas?   Three reasons: – The Lola cars have a far smaller following among the world’s enthusiasts, and therefore are a very niche machine – If Ford had continued racing the GT40 concept after its four LeMans victories from 1966 to 1969, it is likely that the car would have adopted this style to match FIA’s rule changes. Can-Am was much closer to home …

Keep reading

GT40 Mk II Header GIF

VIDEO: Olthoff Racing Factory – Superformance GT40 Mark II – Specs, History + High-Res Photo Comparison Vs. GT40 Mark I

by

Is there beauty in functionality? That is the question to ask when debating a GT40 Mark I versus its successor, the GT40 Mark II. Is authenticity of the actual 1-2-3 1966 7.0-liter Mark II race win better than the clean lines and simple aesthetic of the Mark I — which was actually a trouble-prone testing bed for the losing 1964 and 1965 seasons? The 24 Hours of LeMans is widely known as the most grueling durability and endurance test ever fathomed, let alone run annually with a field of more than sixty cars across four racing categories: LMP1, LMP2, GT2 …

Keep reading

Concept Flashback -- 1969 Alfa-Romeo Tipo 332 Coupe Speciale -- Gullwing Mid-Engine Supercar That Never Was 12

Concept Debrief – 1969 Alfa-Romeo Tipo 332 Coupe Speciale – Gullwing Canary in Supercar Coal Mine

by

This Alfa is Canary Yellow. It was also a dying canary in the coal-mine of Italian supercar fates of the next decade. When a canary dies in his cage deep undergound, miners knew the toxicity of the air was going from bad to worse. In mid-1960s Italy, the momentum to start one’s own hypercar legacy was a powerful draw. By 1969, all in the small sports-car business at the time marvelled at Feruccio Lamborghini’s success in carving sales away from Ferrari. Ferrari had quashed nearly all attempts by Maserati and Alfa-Romeo at reclaiming their past glory, and non-Ferrari people were …

Keep reading

2014-Chevrolet-CamaroZ28-088

Latest 28 Photos and 28 Tech Facts About Camaro Z/28 Will Make Your Knees Weak + Z/28.R Preview

by

Amazing tidbit: the Chevrolet bow-tie on this Z/28 is just a clear outline. Saves weight, helps aero — no doubt. The Camaro Z/28 is setting an immensely high bar for any 2015 Mustang to match. In fact, the full adamantium rigidity and weight-loss program of the Z/28 seems likely to make this 505-horsepower screamer a very brutal BMW M4 track benchmark as well. Chevy just released a fresh batch of mouth-watering facts and images of the Z/28 in white and super duper red. All over gloss black for the street-racer performance mods all around. This is a close match for …

Keep reading

1969 McLaren M6GT - Specs vs F1 and P1 - Photo 67

Supercar Icons – 1969 McLaren M6GT vs. F1 vs. P1 – Style and Specs Compared

by

[Orig Published on: Dec 30, 2013 @ 19:14 Only one of these LT1-powered road cars was officially made by McLaren. At the time, “by McLaren” literally meant that Bruce’s racing crew had created a road car for the boss. The saying goes that the original M6GT was his daily driver: attending events and developing the production plans of this racing prototype for the road. His plan was for a run of 250 cars, but only three more were created by Trojan, a fellow racing shop with the ability to complete the street-legal fiberglass bodywork, doors, and all the other trimmings …

Keep reading

Video Walk-around and Photos - Near-Mint 1969 Land Rover Series II Defender at Baker LR in CHarleston 16

Video Walk-around and Photos – Near-Mint 1969 Land Rover Series II Defender

by

A left-hand-drive Series II from 1969? Flawless condition and only 22,500 miles showing on the odometer? Yessirs, this Series II Land Rover is about as perfect, rare and special as it gets. A factory restoration sees all-new canvas for the top, not a spot of grime or wear on the underbody, and even seven seats inside. A seven-seater? Not in the traditional sense… This Series II seats seven via three up front and four in back. The bucket seats are all hilariously undersized, and the rear passengers will lock knees and boots a bit more often than soldiers prefer. Even …

Keep reading

RM Auctions - Paris 2014 Previews - 1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIb by Sbarro20

RM Auctions – Paris 2014 Preview Series, Part1 – 1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIb by Sbarro

by

Wow. RM Auctions had a record year in 2013, with a top-five list so classy there are barely any non-Duesenbergs. But things are even brighter so far in 2014. The Porsche below is one example. 1961 Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder – Sold for $2,750,000 on Thursday, January 16, 2014   Chassis no. 718-066 Engine no. P90316 This is part one in a series of articles highlighting a handful of favorites ahead of the Place Vauban on February 5th from 5pm. A selection of the 50-plus cars being sold that night will be on display February 4th, after the International …

Keep reading

Hero Racecars - 1970 Alfa-Romeo Tipo 33-4 TASMAN 15

Racing Evolution 1968-1970 – Alfa Romeo T33 Mugello, T33/2 LeMans + T33/4 Tasman

by

This is part two of the Alfa Romeo endurance racer showcase. These long-tail machinesdirectly evolved from the original Tipo 33 Periscopo and Stradale prototypes – but made huge changes. Far less glass lowers the center of mass, while aerodynamic ground effects became a critical part of racing. This put an end to the smooth flowing surfaces of the curvy 1967 T33 Stradale and its siblings. The Tipo 33 series diverged in 1969 in anticipation of rule changes in the 1970s that would prefer an open cockpit layout. Yes, for trivia buffs, Le Mans has alternated between open and closed cars …

Keep reading

alfa-romeo-33-67artipo332spydertv05pb

Hero Racecars – 1967-1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale

by

Okay, the Tipo 33 Stradale is not quite a street-legal supercar: this is a racing prototype that competed in some of the fiercest LeMans racing battles ever seen. Among its six-plus variants in body style, length, and mechanical package: the Tipo 33 was considered to be among the top three contenders for the late-60’s golden age of endurance racing. Ultimately: the Tipo 33 proved slower than Ford and Porsche, but ahead of McLaren, Ferrari, and the numerous other LMP1 teams. Was the Tipo 33 not a race-winner? Does being spanked by Ford every year it competed mean it is a …

Keep reading

m10a gif

Own This Authentic 1969 McLaren M10-A To Be A Racing Hero

by

One thing I love about the English car mag culture is their enthusiasm for track days – and track day cars. I hope this catches on here, and am doing my part with a few ‘first-times’ under my Dunlop belt.   But one thing that will always beat an Exige S or other time-attack miracles? A real, fire-breathing race car. Nothing will bring all those study hall sketches to life like this 1969 McLaren M10A currently for sale by FantasyJunction in Emeryville, California. Priced at $160,000, this car comes with a drooling list of included equipment, and stretch-folders full of …

Keep reading

2013SEMA_2012_Lexus_LFA_De_Alwis_001

Update1 Lexus Rocks SEMA – Wild IS350 Widebodies Showcase

by

Lexus Rocks SEMA – Wild IS350 Widebodies Showcase   Lexus is also getting very clever. Showroom experiences have broadened from just a warm dealer with leather chairs and dough-nuts. The brand is fully immersed in the art, media, fashion and culture segments. One stunning piece of this Lexus culture mission is the below “Swarm” Video links from Lexus International. Lexus – ‘Swarm – Coding Motion’ from Rogue Films on Vimeo. Director: Mark Jenkinson   Lexus Design Award-Winners Showcase 2014 IS350 AWD F Sport