Friday, November 30, 2018

Lamborghini Urus

Behold, according to Lambo, the world’s first "Super Sport Utility Vehicle." That means a turbocharged 8 pushing a very significant 650hp @ 6,000 rpm and 624 lb.-ft of twist to 4 wheels through an 8-speed automatic.

0-62 mph comes in 3.6s for the 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) juggernaut.
The Urus goes on sale in the spring, with prices starting from an estimated rock bottom $200k in the US. Expect it to go much higher with any options.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 'Split-Window' Coupe

1963 marked the 10-year anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette. It was celebrated with a new 'Sting Ray' design.

The new Corvette featured an independent rear suspension, optional power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning. The iconic ‘split-window’ was a one year only design.
The car was fitted with the L75 300-hp, 327-cu. in. V-8 engine and a Powerglide automatic transmission. This ‘Split-Window’ was listed at $5,648.95 when new, including a $59 delivery charge.
This example is very much the way it left the factory in 1963. The car made $ 93k against an estimate of $100k to $150k.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

1966 Shelby GT350H

The GT350H was a purpose-built special edition GT350 designed to be offered by the Hertz rental company as one of its fleet cars. The goal was to get potential buyers for the GT350 behind the wheel. Just over 1000 examples were built, with an unknown number of surviors. The Shelby-built Cobra 289 cubic-inch V8 car made 306 hp and 329 lb.-ft. In 1966 these were serious numbers, especially from a rental car.
These cars are highly desirable. How so? Hagerty suggests a concours example trends around $ 140k.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Barn-Find 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger

The old Dart didn't look great. Under the hood was a small-block V-8 with a four-barrel, which looked 100 percent stock. Was this a high-performance 340?
The Dart was an economy car. Still, it was an economy car with attitude, a budget muscle car when equiped with the 340-cu.in. engine.

Our barn-find was indeed the coveted 340 and in concours condition is worth in excess of $ 30k.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Bugatti Divo

Bugatti pulled back an electric blue sheet to reveal the Bugatti Divo. Bugatti says 0 to 60 is 2.4 seconds onto a top speed of 236 mph. Propulsion comes from an eight-liter, W16 engine, which makes 1,500 horsepower. If you have to ask the price for damn sure you aren't getting one. ($5.80 million.)

You’re also too late. Bugatti is only making 40 cars, and they’ve all been sold.
If fuel rating makes or breaks the deal it's 22.5L/100km. The Divo is said to drink 35.2L/100km in town, and 15.2L/100km on the highway. Goodbye cup holders too.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Cheap Sports Cars III

2005 Viper. For a supercar that was being sold north of $125,000 when it first appeared, a pre-owned Dodge Viper might be had for as low as $25k today. For that money you're getting 500 hp and 525 lb-ft of twist.

The viper has developed a cult following, meaning the price may have bottomed.
2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe. Not many come close to the jaw dropping looks of the Alfa Romeo 4C, and believe it or not these babies can be had for around $45k. 0 to 60 mph comes in 4.3 seconds.

If you see a fully optioned example don't hesitate, somebody will beat you to it.
2009 Maserati GranTurismo Coupe. The car stickered around $ 125k when new but might be had today for $30k or less.

The standard 2009 Maserati GranTurismo features a 405 hp, 4.2-liter V-8, while the 4.7-liter in the S makes 433 hp. The dash to 60 mph takes 5.1 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. If that fails to satisfy the S gets there in 4.5 seconds on the way to 183 mph.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Cheap Sports Cars II

Aston Martin DB7. The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin from 1994 to 2004. The six-cylinder DB7 was positioned as an "entry-level" model below the hand-built V8 Virage. This model was the highest production Aston Martin vehicle ever, with more than 7,000 built. For as low as $30,000 on Autotrader it doesn't get a lot better than this.
2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S. The latest Porsche 911 Turbo S model costs something north of $ 150k. Fear not.

Look a bit further down the food chain and you might get a 2005 for less than $45k. For that money you're getting a real supercar bang for the buck.
2016 Chevrolet Stingray. You might land a 2016 Corvette Stingray for $36,000.

If you have any doubts take one for a test drive and see what 455 hp means. Experts are saying the 2016 Corvette Stingray might be the world's best sports-car bargain.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Cheap Sports Cars I

Corvette C5. The 5th generation Corvette was produced for the 1997 through 2004 model years. Not many could beat the Corvette C5 Z06 when it first appeared. The C5's 0–60 mph times could match the likes of the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, and Ferrari 355. At around 4.5 seconds with a standing quarter-mile time of 13.3 seconds at 108 mph the C5 was no slouch. The LS1 engine initially produced 345 hp. Hagerty says the price has bottomed. If you see a manual-transmission C5 around $ 20k, especially a FRC or a Z06, buy it now.
2010 Nissan GT-R. With a twin-turbo V-6, 3.8-liter engine boasting 485 hp, all-wheel drive, and automated manual paddle-shifted 6-speed transmission, the 2010 Nissan GT-R is a supercar in all but the price tag.

0-60 comes in about 3.3 seconds onto a top speed of 193 mph. A low mileage example in good condition is a bargain around $ 40k.
2001 Ferrari 456 GT. It's not exactly the most popular Ferrari ever built, nor is it the prettiest or fastest appreciating. But you might land one for $40k and it is still a decent supercar that can put most modern cars to shame.

A bonus is that you can fit 4 humans inside, something not common from the car maker. Plus you can say you drive a Ferrari, which a body can't put a price on.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

1958 Cadillac Series 62 at Mecum

The Cadillac Series 62 is a series of cars produced by Cadillac from 1940 through 1964. The 1958 model was the 5th generation.

It featured "shark" style fins and "dagmar" bumpers. The later term is derived from Dagmar, a well endowed early 1950s television personality known for her low-cut gowns and cleavage. She was amused by the tribute.
The example being offered is unrestored with an original 11,750 miles. These cars are eagerly collected by Cadillac fans.

Values range much more widely according to bodystyle than normal, but as usual convertibles are highest. A concours quality 1958 Cadillac Series 62 trends around $ 60k according to Hagerty.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Ferrari F40 tribute

Developed to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the F40 has a hallowed place in supercar history. At the time of its release in 1987, it was the fastest, most powerful, and priciest Ferrari production model. Slightly more than 1,300 examples left the gates of the Maranello factory until 1992 when the model was discontinued. Samir Sadikhov has digitally envisioned an F40 for the 21st century that builds upon Pininfarina’s design. His efforts are amazing.

Saturday, November 10, 2018

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Tanker

One of only two built in 1967. The explanation for the rarity of this 1967 Tanker Corvette lies in the fact that a new generation of Corvette had been planned for that year. Fraught with design issues, the new Corvette was delayed until 1968.

After a frame-off restoration that earned NCRS Top Flight honors, the car was inducted into the Bloomington Gold Special Collection.
The car is powered by the L79 327/350 HP small-block backed by a Muncie M20 4-speed and G81 3.36 Positraction rear end. This example is fully optioned with factory air conditioning, power steering and brakes, power windows, Soft Ray-tinted glass, whitewall tires, an AM/FM radio and the N03 fuel tank.
The car made $418,000 this spring at Mecum.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

World's largest private supercar collection

What is likely the largest private supercar collection is found in Bahrain. Perched on a turntable is a McLaren F1, chassis number six. Next to it is a P1, also number six, then a chronological history of Ferrari hypercars: LaFerrari, Enzo, F50, F40, 288 GTO, and 599 GTO.Hennessey Venom
Then there's cool stuff: a Porsche 918 Spyder, 911 GT1 Strassenversion, Mercedes AMG CLK GTR. A Maserati MC12 sits beside a brand-new Chiron and Veyron. Lamborghini Reventon