1978

1978 Pontiac Trans Am Pro Touring 15

1978 Pontiac Trans Am Pro Touring – Track-Attack Showcar Is Also Road Legal

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I defy you to find a faster, meaner and more intense second-gen Firebird Trans Am! No. Not even ‘find.’ I defy you to imagine a more hardcore upgrade of this iconic F-body. Nearly every detail under the skin, the carbon-fiber hood and bespoke racing cabin is all-new and all-modern.  Only the custom Forgeline alloys with a massive tire bite betray the original looks outside this stunner, however. That combination of old and new makes this a real dreamweaver of a machine.  The estimate of this Pro Touring custom is about $120k — for which you will have a showcar, track car …

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gullwings

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

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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 …

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rockford firebird

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files

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Jim Rockford’s hero car from The Rockford Files!? Yessir. These three Firebirds are about as nice as it gets – truly stunning. James Garner was the ultimate 1970s detective, in a broadcast schedule lousy with imitators that could never compare with his steely delivery and shrewd crime-solving skills. This Firebird Formula was painted gold to match the first Firebird Espirit from the series’ early seasons, and was Rockford’s main ride for the 1978-1980 seasons of the show. Garner disliked the 1979 restyle of the Firebird, so this kid stayed in the picture.   Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files Lot …

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1978 788 ta

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition

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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. This Y88 Gold Special Edition was a one-year release and includes all the great three-letter model codes of the era: W72 6.6-liter V8, Y88 trim and WS6 Performance Pack. The gold leaf paint and glass T-Tops are a special accent, while the 16,000 original miles make this one barely broken in – 35 years later. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y88 SE Gold Edition     Lot R204// Kissimmee 2015 //Jan …

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trans am

Mecum Kissimmee 2015 Preview – 1978 Pontiac Trans Am – Owned by Burt Reynolds

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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. Do you also like Mustaches and wild burnouts? If so, you are doubly fortunate with this Trans Am.  This Firebird is none other than Burt Reynold’s personal Pontiac Trans Am. Not a movie car — his actual daily driver for a few years. The Starlight Black* paint glows just as deeply today as it ever did, and the design of this Firebird is aging very gracefully. The C/B radio is …

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c111

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

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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 …

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1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel 14

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

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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 …

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