Custom Cars Topic Hub

Dream Garage – Superformance LOLA MkIII Can-Am Spyders

Lola racecars are extremely special for their value-for-money today, racing pedigree, and also their incredibly timeless grace and beauty. This was a racing team directly formed in the late 1950s with one goal: build a car from scratch to win LeMans. The resulting semi-monocoque chassis design – now known as a unibody – was revolutionary at the time of frame-based racers from nearly every other racing company and nearly every single road car. A semi-monocoque? Oh yes. The other part is also pretty advanced for the time: a steel spaceframe for the engine and rear suspension cradle. In fact, the …

Mar 12, 2016 Read more

Superformance GT40 Mk1 – Gulf Racing Livery in 90 Gorgeous Photos + 2 Videos

Update1 – Republishing this with new gallery formats. While editing these photos just now, I am trying to think of the right description for the beauty shown by the Superformance GT40 Mark I. (And its humble photographer…!) All I keep thinking is: “These Photos Are Wet-Your-Pants Gorgeous!” The 100-plus photos below hopefully make up for the very disappointing camerawork in my GT40 ride-along. Yes, for most of it, I am narrating into an iPhone that was not actually, ahem, recording… VIDEO PART ONE Ride-Along VIDEO PART TWO Overall, owning a Superformance GT40 is now near the top of my long …

Feb 10, 2015 Read more

2014 SEAT Leon Cupra Now Offered in Very Cool ST Wagon

Updated 1.10.2015 The sexy Leon ST wagon is now available in the Cupra trim! This cool dynamic and style upgrade includes the availability of the postent Cupra 280 pack and its huge-boost turbo gasoline engine. Six styling packs are also available on the Leon Cupras — with the Dynamic Grey shown in the press shots an ST Cupra exclusive that is not offered on Leon ST’s with lesser engines. We also anticipate the Sub8 performance packs to be offered on the ST wagon – these trims commemorate that the Leon Cupra is the quickest front-drive car of all time around …

Jan 10, 2015 Read more

2015 Ford Mustang GT – Custom Colorizer

Originally Published March 2014 Is the Mustang order book open already for first deliveries in late 2014!? That thought passed through my head while already elbow-deep in PhotoShop this morning. I usually only try to change the color of a car that is: — out of production (like the McLaren F1) — or not released in full detail yet (ie Lambo Huracan). These next Huracan ones are the official colors options versus my photochop above. Adding too many colors that are not factory options might make automakers care even less about our little website. It is good to tread a …

Dec 27, 2014 Read more

Fantasy ChopTop Renders – 2015 Cadillac Escalade Feeling Lowww!

Big drama in development work on the site today. The only respite for this author – to stay busy and resist panicking as all images went down? Making more custom images, oddly enough. A chop-top conversion is one of the hardest to handle with OEM quality. A widebody is almost exclusively an exterior upgrade, but a chopped roofline requires some serious changes. Roll cages, electronics, cabin trims, doors, doorframes and glass all need to be redone. Not exactly something you can eyeball along the way, or carbon-fiber your way out of CAD-CAM studies in advance. But for visual impact, a …

Dec 20, 2014 Read more

2014 Caterham Seven in the USA! Turn-Key, Street-Legal 280s Available Now From $50k

The dream track car is now alive and roaring around the USA, thanks to Superformance! More than two dozen Caterham Sevens have been sold so far by the Superformance and Hillbank Motorsports distribution network, and more are arriving fresh every week. We explain all the trim levels and specifications below — but here is the shortcut: The engine installation and selection is just a quick option box to tick. The car arrives to you ready to register for plates, and ready to race on the weekends! So hang those elbows out, floor the throttle and get shopping! The Caterham 280 …

Dec 04, 2014 Read more

4.3s, 400HP 2015 VENTURI America EV SUV Reaches Limited-Production!

Exciting news from Venturi in Paris this week! The well-resolved America dune-buggy has a redesigned powertrain and will now grow past concept and prototype stages. Limited-production of the EV off-roader begins in early 2015 — but there is a catch. Only 25 initial copies of this innovative and stylish crossover will be made. Performance stats are looking very impressive, however, and the carbon-kevlar tub will make this thing unstoppable on the rough stuff. And likely a fun canyon-carver on hard surfaces or, gasp, tarmac! TECHNICAL MASTERPIECE (Sorry for the watermark.) SPECIFICATIONS Like the Local Motors Rally Fighter and many …

Oct 06, 2014 Read more

Best of Awards: Track Drive Video – 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Is A Racecar With License Plates

Nailing apexes in this Camaro Z/28 was the most fun this driver has ever had on a racetrack. The car is absolutely surreal in its power and performance in all dimensions. Brakes and road-holding via those Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires are unreal, while the power delivery from the 7.0-liter, 505HP V8 is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Skip to minute two of the above video to see the Z28 in track bliss with cars like the Hellcat, 2015 Mustang GT, Nissan GT-R, Lexus RCF and BMW M4….! One thought? We would recommend speccing the optional A/C on the …

Oct 03, 2014 Read more

Update1 Racing Heritage: the Silver Arrows from Mercedes-Benz (100+ Rare Photos)

Imagine a combination of all forms of racing – off-road to high-speed – done by one core chassis design. During the 1930s, the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were storming every type of racing one could imagine: both competitively in Formula races and for world record attempts outside the circuit. This sent the Silver Arrows up hillclimb events, on ultimate Vmax runs, and even a few winter setups that included a dually rear wheel and a closed shell cockpit at one point. All these variants were highly ingenious engineering achievements around one core chassis design. The open-wheel profile of any …

Sep 20, 2014 Read more

2014 Peugeot EXALT Concept Refreshed for Paris – Will Future 509 Sedan Reach This Level?

UPDATED 9.5.14 2014 Peugeot EXALT Concept PEUGEOT EXALT CONCEPT: A NEW INCARNATION FOR THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW 04/09/14 European version of PEUGEOT EXALT Concept Car brings a host of innovative features Hybrid petrol-electric power train has a combined output of 340hp A new version of ‘Newspaper Wood’ returns to uniquely tailor the Concept’s bespoke interior PEUGEOT is showcasing the EXALT Concept Car in a new livery at the Paris Motor Show next month. The bodywork features shades of grey that emanate from the bare steel covering the majority of the exterior to the distinctive ‘Shark Skin’ rear end. Inside, the …

Sep 05, 2014 Read more

EXCLUSIVE! 2014 Bugatti Veyron Legend ETTORE BUGATTI in 45 Stunning Photos

Updated 8.27.14 We owe a deep nod of gratitude to Bugatti executive leadership for letting our camera lens into this exclusive Bugatti luncheon at Pebble Beach on Concours day. Like everything in the world of Bugatti – and especially Los Legendes de Bugatti – it is a land of velvet-rope access. Limited availability. Manufactured scarcity. That is part of the Bugatti myth as well as the entire client experience. Mobs of people is not on the agenda. But flashbulbs and press guys? Lucky for us — that is part of the cult of Bugatti. Great to play any part available …

Aug 27, 2014 Read more

Update1 Photos and Video – 3.7s 2014 BMW M5 Jahre 30 Hits 600HP Horsepower, Adds Active M Rear Diff

Updated 8.23.14 with real-life USA debut details. We are trying out a new YouTube intro/branding clip ahead of all the videos — and have the current BMW M6 with M Performance exhaust as the audio overlay (for the time being…). This is relevant to the BMW M5 Jahre 30 edition because it shows what this engine can really sound like with an aftermarket addition. It also shows that the Pebble Beach audio recording of the Jahre 30 is not nearly as vivid. In fact, the Jahre 30 sounds really terrific in person, with much more engine rumble and hum …

Aug 23, 2014 Read more

Veyron GS Vitesse Legend ETTORE BUGATTI is Pebble Beach 2014 Debut

A blue-carbon and brushed-alloy finish for the Ettore Bugatti Legends car is a stunning combination – perfectly complementing the saddle leather inside for dramatic effect. The leather and horses theme is pervasive, with Cordovan leather featured in design sketches early on. The muted tones reflect the low-sheen appeal of horseshoes and other early steel machinery. This is a machine you can image would look amazing at speed. In Ettoe Bugatti’s day, many photos had a lively buzzy effect from trying to keep focus in a fast racing environment. Once stopped, the subtle and timeless beauty of this final Legends Veyron …

Aug 07, 2014 Read more

2015 Corvette Z06 – Tech Specs, Arrival Dates, Pricing and Z07 Package + 105 ALL-NEW Photos

These exclusive Car-Revs-Daily.com photos of the Corvette Z06 in Amelia Island in March are still some of the best out there. But Gene Leeds from Leeds.io and CorvetteForum.com certainly has my skills beat when it comes to detail shots from the NY auto show. Leeds captures not only the production Z06 hardtop and convertible in stunning, high-res detail — he also has a look all around the display car’s chassis, suspension and inner workings. A huge thankyou to Gene Leeds for his permission to use these photos. More updates on his new website as it becomes available. Back to 2015 …

Jul 21, 2014 Read more

Updated with 60 New Photos – 2014 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Gets RESULTS with 580HP and 3.9s Sprint

If the goal of the Z/28 is to get some respect for the Camaro’s performance and track speed, the goal of the ZL1 is to get results out on the street. With 580-horsepower from the supercharged LSA V8, an available automatic with fool-proof launch control, and magnetic shocks as standard — the ZL1 is the easiest performance bargain on the market. Notably, the way the Z/28 has delivered most of its sheer pace is through weight reduction and detail handling tweaks over the ZL1. Dropped luxuries like the optional Kicker audio and ZL1 subwoofer will be missed, along with all …

Jul 20, 2014 Read more

Snapper Showcase: ItzKirb Captures the Wild Graphics of this Porsche 911 GT3 RS

ItzKirb Photography strikes again! These GT3 RS photos are dazzling, and will warm the hearts of car lovers everywhere on this chilly Monday morning. Be sure to check out ItzKirb’s Facebook page for all his latest exotic cars and exotic babes – of which he seems to have an endless supply of both! https://www.facebook.com/itzkirb There is even on of the artist himself, pondering his subject. Thanks Kirby! Tallpapers

Jun 22, 2014 Read more

Powerkit for Porsche 911 Carrera S Brings Back Classic Rumble Exhaust

Powerkit And Aero Upgrades for Porsche 911 Brings Back Classic Rumble Exhaust For many Porsche 911 owners, the rumble from out back becomes one of the car’s most loved and central features. Far more than a gimmick, the 911 breathes directly from the wind ‘backflow’ at the rear of the car at high speeds. Ideally, the Carrera S Powerkit will sound much like the Sport Classic below: Like it’s own pressure chamber, the spoiler’s effectiveness is required to channel that cold air directly into this once-air-cooled engine setup. 430HP is on tap, a jump from 400. Classic 911 …

Jun 18, 2014 Read more

Update1 – KAMAZ 4911 Dominates 2014 DAKAR Rally For 12th Truck Class Win

Update 1 June 17, 2014 Okay, so this race was in January 2014. Which makes this is bit of a late update… So you like the Ford Raptor and that feeling of being unstoppable on any terrain? Try the Kamaz-4911 on for size: – 17.2-liter, mid-mounted TD V8 engine – 730 horsepower @ 2500 rpm – 1991 pound-feet of torque @ 1300 rpm – Maximum Speed – 102.5 MPH Trust me, I had to check those numbers thrice myself. A 17-liter V8 is cool, but only the start of the fun for this multi-purpose truck platform. Initially designed with six …

Jun 17, 2014 Read more

Best Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop. The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn …

Jun 16, 2014 Read more

Iconic Classic – 1925/34 Rolls-Royce Phantom I – Round Door Aero Coupe

This Phantom Series I Rolls-Royce V12 rumbled out the factory doors in 1925, but did not add these gorgeous stream-liner panels until its coachwork was complete in 1934. There is much to learn from this Jonkheere Aerodynamique Coupe – even today. The grille treatment is remarkably swept-back, but maintains the classic proportions very artfully. It is very hard to imagine these designs being fabricated by hand, but that was the only way to achieve results like this in the early 1930s. CAD-CAM has come a long way since the Round Door Coupe – but very few of this car’s contemporaries …

Jun 16, 2014 Read more

W Motors Lykan HyperSport in 4 Color Turntables + Interior and Mechanical Detail Photos

W Motors Lykan HyperSport Hopefully the animations are a helpful and fun part of CarRevsDaily. I love them because they are auto-play, relatively small download-able GIF files, and cross-platform friendly. They are new. I have not seen anything like what CarRevsDaily offers – outside this site that is. There is a real art to creating — often from lousy images — flawless spinning turntables, dynamic motion simulations and all the others. It is really difficult, and a matter of major trial/error over a years-long learning process. Sometimes, though… when the moon is just right… There is some real …

Jun 14, 2014 Read more

Design Talent Showcase – Ugur Sahin Design Creates First Convincing 250GTO Successor + Delicious LaFerrari Alternative

Are you loving Ugur Sahin’s vision for a modern and flowing hypercar design! And it looks like we’ve not the only ones – his vision for a front-engined GT car called the USD B.V was made into a real-life car by some big fans in Utah. The name is the most awkward part – but even so, this reskinned GT car does not even seem like Sahin’s best work. Most importantly, however, Sahin’s design talent and skill is evolving just as fast as his preference for supercars. This is a designer who has come al ong, long way in skill …

May 10, 2014 Read more

Ugur Sahin Designs a Ferrari-badged Concept F Hypercar – But Style Says Koenigsegg To Us

The second Ugur Sahin Designs article today! This one is much more supercar-focused – or maybe hypercar is more like it! While Sahin based this on the Ferrari 458 and includes Ferrari branding, the style of the visor windshield, bubble canopy roof and long rear deck all seem like a far better fit as the next Koenigsegg. Cruise over to Sahin’s website portfolio below to see all his outstanding work… http://www.ugursahindesign.com/ Ugur Sahin Design – Project F

May 09, 2014 Read more

$10M Cars? Original 1925/34 Rolls-Royce Round Door Coupe vs Modern Vision by Dutch Designer Ugur Sahin

THE WHAT The thing with one-off cars made by coach-builders is that the bodywork typically has no blueprints. No panel molds or industrial stampings to use thousands of times. There is no way to even think of creating another example of a car like the 1925/24 Rolls-Royce Round Door Coupe – with its panels and every aesthetic piece made on a one-0ff basis, often by hand. And why might anyone try such a daunting task! The original chassis was completed in 1925, but it took another nine years to fabricate and complete the body — hence the 1934 tag that …

May 09, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2001 Audi Avantissmo is A8 Dreamwagon… Directly Influenced 2015 Bentley Falcon SUV

There are shades of the upcoming Bentley Falcon SUV all over this A8 Avantissmo concept from 2001. That is no bad thing! Enjoy this delightful look at superluxury transport – as envisioned in Audi’s 2001 showcar catalog.

May 08, 2014 Read more

High-Fashion JEEP Upgrades – KAHN Design Shows Sexy New Wrangler Grilles, LEDs, Wheels and Leathers

Looks like it is off-road day here at Car-Revs-Daily.com! No gathering of the coolest off-roader upfitting companies could ever be complete without KAHN Design – a UK shop best known for their lavish makeovers of new Range Rovers and Land Rovers. Whether you have the cash for a full KAHN-upgraded Range Rover is not important – anyone can see that KAHN’s overhauls are pretty impressive and comprehensive. They take the stock platforms to new highs via fashionable and very, very appealing mods outside and in. Indeed, Land Rover and Range Rover parts are KAHN’s biggest sellers here in the US …

May 07, 2014 Read more

Bowler Defender 90 Packs Challenge Rally Kit and Extra Power into Streetable Trucks Too!

How hardcore is Bowler Motorsport? The firm is just entering the booming off-road parts and accessories business after more than two decades of a laser focus on endurance rally racing across the globe. The upgrades to the Bowler Defender Challenge entries are also offered in a road truck version that is complete and ready-to-roll based on a new Defender 90. There are a handful of individual parts available as well — with more coming soon. This is handy to for guys who already have a Defender and are looking for a little customization and Bowler rally magic… Pricing for the …

May 07, 2014 Read more

Gone in 3.7s – 30th Anniversary BMW M5 Adds 25 Horsepower, New Steering and New Active M Rear Diff

Well this is interesting! The ’30 Jahre M5′ edition is actually a bit more than a run-out special ahead of an expected revamp and the long-rumored addition of xDrive to the next M5. Adding power, a new steering setup and a new controller for the Active M Differential not only improves sprint times down to 3.7-seconds to 60MPH — it is also promised to improve the overall handling balance of the ultimate super saloon car. Worth noting is that the current M5 is not exactly lacking in dynamic poise or power. But the game is moving forward on BMW’s M5 …

May 07, 2014 Read more

Defender Challenge Racing Series by Bowler Motorsport Makes YOU the Off-Road Rally Hero

Enticing, is it not? The idea of living the racing driver dream is quite vivid for many of us, but the options to do so bring huge costs of their own. For 2014, Bowler Motorsport is bringing its legendary Dakar rally know-how home to some of the UK’s most entertaining off-road regions – where professionals and beginners alike can feel the muddy rush of speed that can only originate in a professional rally car. Uprated Land Rover Defender 90’s are specially prepared by Bowler Motorsport for the series, with all the support that a professional team would bring as well. …

May 07, 2014 Read more

VENTURI Taking its Visionary EV Future-Tech to Bonneville and Formula E Racetracks

PART ONE: INTRO TO BRILLIANT CONCEPTS You cannot fault Venturi Automobiles for their ambition – here is a company with the power to envision and make concept cars that might even fail the Rinspeed or ItalDesign “reality check” test. Wild ideas like a solar streamliner for commuters, the Antarctic shuttle on treads, and the America off-road cabrio concept are certainly enticing for their rarity and bold vision. The Volage concept is perhaps the most feasible as a sale-able vehicle — with unique ideas present even six years since its first look as a concept in 2008. PART TWO: HARSH …

May 05, 2014 Read more

MINI Paceman Adventure Concept Leverages DAKAR Winning Streak – Previews Next MINI Paceman Cabrio?

Sometimes reverse psychology is the best way to read quotes written by hardcore commincations professionals – folks like PR teams and diplomats, for example. So when MINI says… “The MINI Paceman Adventure is a true one-off and there are no plans for series production.” The jaded auto journo like me reads this as true, with a big “But…” While the off-road kit outfitted to this Paceman Adventure is surely a fantasy-level that is best fit for a concept, the basic drop-top premise seems much more plausible. This cabrio soft-roader is totally do-able once the concept embellishments like the steel pickup …

May 03, 2014 Read more

Restyled 2014 Exocet is MX-5-based Trackday Dream: Ariel Atom Thrills for Miata Bills!

This 2014 Exocet Race visited the Flyin’ Miatas booth at Road Atlanta last weekend, and caused quite a stir in its panel-free glory. Yes, it is just wearing its birthday suit in my Atlanta photos, but the 2014 kits actually all feature resdesigned panels and upgraded features. Here is the low-down of what this Exomotive machine is: — Kit car that uses core components of the Mx-5, but an ultra-strong and extremely lightweight steel exoskeleton versus the heavy and less-rigid factory unibody. The Atlanta-based Exomotive design is shipped as a kit to owners, where the build is said …

May 01, 2014 Read more

NASCAR Meets Road Course?! Video of Stock Cars at Mitty 2014 + 100 Track Photos

One cannot really escape NASCAR if you are outside of a New York-LA-Chicago type of city, and especially if you are a Yankee who wakes up one day in the South. Stock Car racing is everywhere, and I am climbing down into the abyss. Overall, the cars are pretty fun to watch being driven at max attack around Road Atlanta’s challenging road course. For one, it has numerous tight corners. Second, the cars in this Stock Car class include everything from Impalas and relatively recent Charger NASCARS … all the way back in time to the Chevy Monte Carolo and …

May 01, 2014 Read more

VIDEO and Photos – Bailey Ferrari P-4 Replica Running 400i V12 + Flat-6 917 Porsche Replica Too!

A day that fires up with GT40 V8s and ends with Ferrari P4 V12’s? What could be better? Sure, both the cars in question are recreations – replicas of these arch-rival racecars that are remade in 2014 just a bit better (we would argue) than was possible in the 1960s. But even so, they are a wonderful time-capsules and even time machines for many – these cars were in their racing prime when color photography was rare enough to not know the difference between Rosso Corsa and Gulf Blue. This was racing at modern speeds — with decidedly vintage technology. …

Apr 30, 2014 Read more

2014 Superformance GT40 Mark I – MEGA Photo Shoot and Ride-Along Videos

While editing these photos just now, I am trying to think of the right description for the beauty shown by the Superformance GT40 Mark I. (And its humble photographer…!) All I keep thinking is: “These Photos Are Wet-Your-Pants Gorgeous.” The 100-plus photos below hopefully make up for the very disappointing camerawork in my GT40 ride-along. Yes, for most of it, I am narrating into an iPhone that was not actually, ahem, recording… VIDEO PART ONE VIDEO PART TWO Overall, owning a Superformance GT40 is now near the top of my long list of life goals. Enjoy. OUTDOOR PHOTOS …

Apr 30, 2014 Read more

VIDEO: Touring the Olthoff Racing Dream Factory – Superformance GT40s and Cobras Galore

Tucked beside a country highway in North Carolina, impossible dreams come to life in the form of howling racecar replicas from Superformance. The model year says 2014, but the dream of piloting a Le Mans car on the street generally share a birthday with a 196* starting point. Authorized and licensed by Safir Spares and Shelby American, Superformance is not a fly-by-night organization. Badges and paperwork are a sure thing with every model they sell from the dozen or so assembly and retail outlets like Olthoff Racing all over the world. But the one thing with racecar assembly versus mass-market …

Apr 30, 2014 Read more

McLaren M8F meets M8B Go-Kart! Seeks Posh New Home; McLaren Owner Strongly Preferred

How awesome is this (homage) McLaren M8B High Wing Go-Kart? The detail-work is remarkably accurate (for a toy…), down to that desirable McLaren Orange paintwork and the white tire stencils to match period racing rubber. The kart is not intended as a racer — which makes sense considering it was created only for kid-sized individuals. It is more of piece of art, a conversation starter, or a piece of wall decor to crave. Originally built for an owner of many, many original McLarens, the M8B (M8K?) kart is now in transition and is for sale to the highest bidder. Located …

Apr 30, 2014 Read more

1937 Shafer 8 BUICK Indy RaceCar at The Mitty – Road Atlanta 2014

Pretty shameless not to write much about this amazing machine! But the photos really tell most of the story of this handsome and streamlined Buick-powered racer. Streamlined? Yes and no. The long-tail acted to improve stability, but those silver bars along the sides? That is the full ladder chassis, with the cabin and mechanical shrouds all in-board. Coker Tire sells the best vintage tires around, with the exact Firestones seen here available today from about $475 – which is not a bad deal overall! Adjusted for inflation, that would be barely $2 per tire in the 1930s…! http://blog.cokertire.com/shafer-eight/

Apr 28, 2014 Read more

Mazda MX-5 Adds 40HP, Drops 800LB: BAUER Catfish Shell Over Flyin Miata Turbo

This is an interesting meeting of the Miata minds. Bauer Limited Production’s Catfish body overhaul for the 1990-2005 Mazda MX-5 with Flyin’ Miata’s turbocharged engine underneath. It is a recipe that delivers surprising style and divine performance, that is for sure! This Flyin’ Miata example is a bit gnarly in the headlight execution and in some tiny spots on the metallic vinyl wrap, but is still quite bewitching in the flesh. The $14,000 Bauer Catfish bodywork is a relatively simple bolt-on, bolt-off design – and also cuts 800 pounds from the cars’ curb weights. Not too shabby, especially considering the …

Apr 28, 2014 Read more

McLaren Special Ops Reveals Upgrades for 650S via Production-Ready Concept

McLaren Special Ops 650S McLaren Special Operations is fantastic – easily and safely turning any 12C into more graceful beauties via new bumpers, sills, spats and diffusers outside. Inside, your taste and modesty are the only restrictions on colors and customizations. All the MSO upgrades adhere to the same McLaren fanatical obsession with racing performance enhancement at every step – meaning they are far more than just cosmetic. They are also OEM-quality, which is less-than-a-sure-thing for other body kits. Such bodywork flying off the car at McLaren-level speeds would be a concern for me when personalizing my supercar. Bruce McLaren, …

Apr 28, 2014 Read more

Mustang 50th Anniversary – Stragglers Gallery Shows 150+ Great Photos of Your Dream Mustangs

What to do? As a junior media outlet, I really hate to let any good photos fall by the wayside and not publish them. But in order to create one of my big articles (they are all pretty Big & Tall, but I am trying to slim the text and photos down…), I need at least 40 photos. These amazing Mustangs were either too fast or too loud to stand by for the full photo shoot — and I am left without full batches. But if you were at the Mustang 50th Anniversary event in Charlotte – and especially if …

Apr 27, 2014 Read more

HD GoPro Video + Track Action Photography: Top 3 Mustang GT350s of Charlotte Motor Speedway

In the 1960s, almost all American cars came equipped with an 85-mph speedometer. Only the wildest exotics of the time dared go to 100-mph on the speedo – which was usually the ‘hoped for’ rather than ‘verified’ top speed…. So for this 65 GT350 to be so, so fast (and loud!) when howling around Charlotte Motor Speedway was really something to see, hear and feel resonating in your lungs — and brain — long after it has gone past. Days later, I was still feeling the high-def bellow of these race-prepped GT350 Mustangs – in a good way. Every …

Apr 27, 2014 Read more

Mustang 50th Favorites – 1968 Ford Drag Team – Mustang 428 Cobra Jet in Wimbledon White

It is impossible to very the authenticity of this car as a 428 Cobra Jet model without a thorough VIN inspection in multiple places, but we are leaning toward “Homage” versus “Original.” That is no bad thing when considering the care and exhaustive effort to bring this Mustang up to ‘Winternationals 1968’ spec – where eight Cobra Jet Mustangs joined the drag racing pit area, for a combined 3000-plus Mustang horsepower from each car’s FE engine making 390-horsepower. This was a real shock to the shock the competing teams, generally equipped with one car (total) plus one backup engine. The …

Apr 27, 2014 Read more

Fatcat Chic – Design Comparison ~1965 JAGUAR Mark 10 vs. 2014 XJL 3.0 AWD

The Jaguar Mark 10, or Mark X in Roman numerals, was such an odd sight that I honestly had no idea what it was until just researching it now. Not only have I not seen one, I have never even read about one. In photos, it might be easy to mistake the Mark 10 car for a 1950s Jaguar saloon car. But not in real life. This Jag is quite enormous – with the upright and tall bodywork of Rolls-Royce and Bentley fame. This (estimated) 1965 car is huge and outrageous in person. It looks like a meld of the …

Apr 27, 2014 Read more

Exclusive World Debut – 2014 Superlite SLC Le Mans Spyder – $70k, 430HP V8, Porsche Trans and 2200 Pounds Total!

Unless I am in Chicago traffic from O’Hare to Wrigleyville, I rarely like to toot my own horn. But the Superlite SLC Le Mans world debut might be a seriously exclusive piece of supercar news – seen only by readers of Car-Revs-Daily.com, so far. Why? The Spyder (or Roadster) SLC Le Mans is absolutely brand new and has never before been shown in public. This is the first complete prototype of the full Le Mans Spyder bodystyle of the Superlite SLC Coupe, an it is magnificent. Completed with a Chevrolet LS3 V8 engine and Porsche transaxle by H Craft Customs …

Apr 27, 2014 Read more

1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Racecar Awaits Engine Buildout at Charlotte Motor Speedway

A few issues in the video above, namely that when I am in the engine compartment noting the steering components. I refer to the “rack” of the typical modern rack-and-pinion steering setup. The original Mustang ran a worm-gear setup, which goes a long way toward explaining the factory car’s waywardness on the road (versus a modern car.) This recreated and not-original Shelby GT350 racecar build is just about the ideal starting point for most people. Almost any engine, transmission and interior setup are feasible with such a clean example like this. 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Racecar

Apr 24, 2014 Read more

Mustang 50th Favorites – 1966 Mustang 2+2 Coupe running Big Brake Kit and LED Brake Lights

Intro note: The hood and trunk and doors are all open in these photos on purpose. The car is running fine, but car photos with the hood up can be really confusing on first glance. This darling 1966 Mustang 2+2 Coupe stopped by Olthoff Racing for a bit before making his way to the big 50th Anniversary gathering with his 5,000 closest Mustang pals. It was a nice chance to see such a well-modded example that is also abolutely pretine inside. Drive-able upgrades all around, including radar detector and other accessories – Cold AC included. How …

Apr 23, 2014 Read more

SHOCK! Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Banned NASCAR Mustang Prototype… Actually Looks Like a Mustang

Confession time: I have not been an active NASCAR fan in more than 20 years. But I am definitely a fan of the cars’ outright speed, power and the bravery needed to take one to victory over near-identical others on the grid. This extremely homogenized approach to racing rules is epitomized outside by what NASCAR calls the “Car of Tomorrow” bodyshell. It makes all the cars the exact same shape, excluding stickers. This seems like a huge error in judgment versus what fans want to see: actual rivalries among not just drivers, but the car manufacturers’ racing technology and expertise. …

Apr 23, 2014 Read more

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

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 …

Apr 22, 2014 Read more

2014 Superformance LOLA Mk III and MkII Can-Am Spyder at Olthoff Racing – Chevy-Friendly Racing Speedster?

Lola racecars are extremely special for their value-for-money today, racing pedigree, and also their incredibly timeless grace and beauty. This was a racing team directly formed in the late 1950s with one goal: build a car from scratch to win LeMans. The resulting semi-monocoque chassis design – now known as a unibody – was revolutionary at the time of frame-based racers from nearly every other racing company and nearly every single road car. A semi-monocoque? Oh yes. The other part is also pretty advanced for the time: a steel spaceframe for the engine and rear suspension cradle. In fact, the …

Apr 22, 2014 Read more

Mustang 50th Anniverary Showcase – $150,000 Race-Prepped 1986 Mustang GT Convertible!

An unlikely hero? Here it is! The 1986, Fox-body Mustang GT Convertible. Proof that being feeling young and hip and bad-ass will never go out of style. Like all cyclical trends, the 1980s, 1990s and pre-2005 Mustangs were all firmly out-of-favor at the Mustang 50th Anniversary extravaganza in Charlotte. But even while the public moslty fawns over most-popular first and latest-gen cars, these 80s and 90s Mustangs are still the epitome of fast and brash youth culture to their owners. This was my key take-away from meeting hundreds of Mustang guys: The Mustang of all years and styles embodies being …

Apr 22, 2014 Read more

Race-Prepped 1967 Mustang Hardtop in SB Yellow

Learned a great deal about Mustang culture and Mustangs themselves last week in Charlotte, but the identity and owner of this amazing race-prepped coupe escaped me. I assumed these were Steeda Autosport‘s cars – based on proximity to their giant trailer – until they explained that their cars were elsewhere in the main display areas. But these pit-garage beauties certainly did not go unnoticed by us! The School-Bus Yellow example was an instant favorite. It is intense in the flesh, and based on the less-popular Notchback Coupe versus the fastback that was preferred by Shelby and most other go-fast teams …

Apr 22, 2014 Read more

2014 Dodge Dart Engines Are Eager for Tuning! SCAT Pack Concept Shows How To Open HP Taps

Update1: A pretty glaring fact error in this article, but kindly pointed out by a loyal reader. The error surrounds the Tigershark engines versus the MultiAir engines – only the smallest 1.4-liter is a turbocharged unit. The larger 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Tigershark engines are naturally aspirated – meaning any horsepower gains will be more than just an ECU re-flash away. Even so, a cold-air intake and a less-restrictive exhaust setup are sure to liberate an extra 15 ponies each – along with this engine’s true shriek! Orig Published Dec 23, 2013 @ 13:04 The Dodge Dart GT is the sportiest …

Apr 21, 2014 Read more

To Denali or not to Denali? 2014 GMC Sierra Style and Equipment Comparison

Q:) Why go for the top-of-the-line Sierra Denali ? A:) Allows optional 6.2-liter engine, style and cabin materials. The Denali is the only Sierra 1500 that is offered with the 6.2-liter V8 versus the top 5.3-liter engine in the standard trims. It is also equipped with perhaps 50 pieces of desirable equipment, including mechanical pieces like the external diff and transmission coolers, tougher undertrays, and a huge overhaul inside to bring this truck near-Escalade refinement levels. The road noise reduction and standard equipment inclusion is likely to biggest reason to go Denali over the $2,000-less SLE trim at the …

Apr 21, 2014 Read more

SHELBY COBRA – How These Two Words Ultimately Killed the Ford Takeover of Ferrari in 1963

No series of articles about the GT40 can begin without a look at how the car came to exist. A battle of spite between Ferrari and Ford? Yes. But also a battle to establish Ford as a racing powerhouse – which was a new opportunity to regain face as Chevrolet and General Motors dominated the coolest car news via Motorama shows and Corvettes in the 1950s. FROM DE-FACTO BANS ON BOTH RACING CARS AND RACY MOVIES… Racing was also heavily discouraged by the United States government of the time – until the case was made that racing improved the breed. …

Apr 20, 2014 Read more

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

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 …

Apr 20, 2014 Read more

Update1 Meet the Nissan Frontier Baja 1000 Upgrade from Fiberwerx – Best $1400 Nose and Fender Mods Ever?

Update from Josh Campbell, owner of this beast! Shipping and painting were both about $500 each, and the install was done by him in about one day. This requires some heavy/huge wrenches, as well as knowledge about bodywork repair — but can theoretically be done on a DIY basis for most guys. He said the most time was spent fabricating mounts for the new Titan headlamps as well as the hood mounting pins. Great results overall! A new high in lifted trucks? A new low in my automotive writing career? We saw this amazing Nissan Frontier on the way home …

Apr 18, 2014 Read more

Fixing the Acura Woodchuck Nose Is Easy – Speculative Design Renderings Without Shield Nose Piece

It is not fun to review a car that … is … not living up to its potential. Many cars that should be good are not. Design is important from my vantage because I have not been wined/dined on some swanky launch event. Those types of personal relationships with the people behind the car tend to water down most of the harsh critiques. But your humble scribe must share these views on behalf of you, the little guy! Little guy? C’mon now. Big Boss Hog is more like it! Car buyers make or break any brand — not the writing …

Apr 18, 2014 Read more

GT40 vs Cobra Track Battle VIDEOS! Superformance Brings American Racecar Glory Global via Shelby Asia

Superformance Ford GT40 – in-car track cam Editor’s Intro: Can you tell I am getting excited to visit Olthoff Racing tomorrow in Charlotte, NC? Have you ever wished you could just wake up tomorrow day inside Gran Turismo? Or even better, in the pit lane of Daytona circa 1965 ? Well beyond 3D — and into 4D of not just SSM (sight, sound and motion) but SSMTSFG — Sight, Sound, Motion, Touch, Smell, Fear and Glory? Well, for a modest amount of cash and enough skill – Superformance racecar recreations can do just that. These two videos demonstrate the …

Apr 15, 2014 Read more

The Case for a 2016 Legacy GT – Latest Outback is Full 8 Inches Taller, Hurting Planted Stance and Handling Dramatically

Less of a case as a visual and performance appeal. The benefits of ground clearance are many, and the Outback does still handle with a far more hunkered-down feel than any SUV or crossover out there. But nothing compares with the look and road feel of a road-hugging stance, to thisguy at least. For reference, this is the 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited versus the 2014 Subaru Outback. 2005 Legacy is on stock Bilstein suspension but +1 18-inch wheels and a roof rack delete, which really helps sink the car visually.

Apr 15, 2014 Read more

VIDEOS – Charleston Cars & Coffee – 1967 Chevy Nova, Drag-Prepped Hudson, Hemi Cuda and 2002 Superformance Cobra

Okay! Trying to plow through all these Cars and Coffee photos before heading up to Charlotte tomorrow for the Mustang 50th Anniversary Celebrations — three days of playful work in the infield of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hoping to come back with some track videos and driving impressions to share — but one thing is certain: I will have more photos than most car magazines publish in a full calendar year! My Amelia adventure? More than 3000 photos, 99-percent of which are in-focus and use-able. But still 600 that I am too fatigued to write about (so far). Rainy day… …

Apr 15, 2014 Read more

The NSX Effect — Own One, And You Will Never Sell It — Black NSX Series I and Red NSX-R Series II

I have met more than a few NSX guys recently — and they all have two things in common: — undying devotion to the machine — unwillingness to even consider parting ways with it This is exceptionally rare for supercars — or any car, for that matter. But as the years pass, the NSX’s charms grow stronger for almost every owner. It is a captivating machine in the flesh even today, to be sure. Our investigation continues on the NSX’s chokehold over its owners — wish updates as soon as we know more this summer with the next car’s (expected) …

Apr 14, 2014 Read more

2014 Camaro ZL1 Convertible Blasts Off in Wild Sprint Starts — 2 In-Car and 1 HD GoPro Hood-mounted Video

These videos really speak for themselves, do they not? They speak in a language of burnt rubber, supercharger hum and exhaust bellow — but the message is loud and clear: the ZL1 is a huge monster of a machine and a dream muscle car without a doubt. Even with an automatic… this car is a heat-seeking missile! In-Car Video of Same Launch Above First Corner… Bonus! the Z06 Convertible is front and center in the new Chevrolet performance lineup images released today. Our United States Navy pal’s 2014 ZL1 Convertible

Apr 14, 2014 Read more

1976 BMW 2002 – Seafoam Green with Flawless Bodywork + Updated 325i Wheels

The BMW 2002 is such a special car. This cherished example is tastefully updated with a set of 325i rims from the 1980s and also a comfy pair of racing seats that surely provide far more support than the originals in vinyl ever could. As a previous owner of a 1975 VW SuperBeetle in this exact shade of green — I can assure you that it is one of the most love-able colors out there. But what makes this 1976 BMW so special is that is is clearly so adored by its driver. Not a spot of grime anywhere inside …

Apr 14, 2014 Read more

Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec – Wheel Colors Visualizer! Plasti-Dip Fantastic Voyage

The Genesis Coupe is well-loved among the auto tuning community –for good reason! It is a wonderful canvas. But is tuning just a left-coast thing? This group in the Southeastern US seems just as passionate as our pals in SoCal. Evidence? This Plasti-dip wheel respray was the second or third color choice our pal’s GC had worn. He loves wheel color! Said he developed a taste for it after adding a 9PSI turbocharger to his previous Toyota Yaris — bringing its total power tally of more than double what it was from the factory. A hooner’s delight in its 13-inch …

Apr 13, 2014 Read more

2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.6 R-Spec at Cars & Coffee – Wearing Custom Lime Green Wheels!

Colors like this custom Plasti-Dip shade can be ordered as a special formulation from Plasti-Dip website. My solution was much jankier when doing my wheels in anthracite grey — a quick blast of color into the wet black Plasti-dip that was the only variety I could find in Chicago. But color is harder than adding a grey flash. These most likely start with a white Plasti-dip base and add color from there. The effect on the Genesis Coupe is definitely striking in person, but also the right amount of mature — these green wheels are actually pretty subtle versus …

Apr 13, 2014 Read more

VIDEO: 2014 BMW M6 Coupe — Before / After M Performance Upgrades — Exhaust Roars Like A ScramJet

Did you watch this video! You must! It is 40 seconds of shrieking roar. This M6 sounds absolutely ferocious. Far rougher and meaner than a jet engine. It sounds like a solid-state rocket… The M6 is available as a two-door hard or soft-top, or my choice: for four-door Gran Coupe. The key style differences in the three cars below concerns the grille finish: from totally blacked-out on the M Performance upgraded car, to the (my prefererence) chrome vertical clats on the the indoor cars, to the standard M6 coupe bringing up the bottom set of images. All …

Apr 13, 2014 Read more

Classic Sports Cars — Datsun 240Z at Cars & Coffee — Immaculate in 30 Glowing Orange Photos

Cars and Coffee in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina was a huge success yesterday! Over 250 cars were in attendence — with everything from Lamborghini Diablo’s to 1950s Jaguars to 2014 Camaro ZL1s — and nearly everything in between. I enjoyed my visited very much, and encourage car guys everywhere to do a five-minute look for a similar event in their areas. In general, I thought Cars & Coffee was a small phenomenon occurring in just a handful of large cities. I could not have been more wrong! Not only is there one in my small city of Charleston, SC — …

Apr 13, 2014 Read more

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

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 …

Apr 11, 2014 Read more

Jeep Wrangler MOAB Concepts Are All Do-Able Via Latest MOPAR Upgrades + Cool Option Animations

Part two of the Jeep Moab 2014 Concept series! These trucks can all be built with the help of MOPAR Jeep Performance Parts — via my heavy-handed hyperlinking far below… If you are shopping for a new Wrangler, definitely worth checking out the Car-Revs-Daily.com animated buyers guide and full article as well. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/02/22/buyers-guide-2014-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-trims-tops-options-colors-visualized/ Jeep Wrangler Level Red is a nod to the most challenging off-road trails Jeep Wrangler MOJO gets Wrangler Level Red off-road gear, with 37-inch tires, shortened bumpers, winch and higher-clearance fenders Jeep Wrangler Maximum Performance created for hard-core enthusiasts who seek the ultimate in power and capability …

Apr 11, 2014 Read more

Presto, Here-We-Go! Animated Evolution of GMC from 1902 Rapid Truck to 2015 Sierra Denali HD + Brand Origin Explained

GMC really has some deep truck roots! Even while Chevrolet hoovers up most of the sales volume these days — and has for many years — the GMC legacy actually predates Chevrolet. Something that has never changed in the 102 years of this evolution span is the need by Americans for heavy-lifting trucks. The GMC line added two-ton weights, panel cabs and chassis cabs in 1915, and has never looked back. But what did GMC really “stand” for when added to the General Motors portfolio as GMTC, selling Rapid and Reliance trucks from around 1909? Two clues are right there …

Apr 11, 2014 Read more

Exclusive! Caterham Seven — USA Buyers Guide — LHD, Street-Legal Superformance From $38k! — 5 Engines: 160, 280, 360, 480 and 620R

The only questions to ask yourself when ordering a Caterham from Superformance are remarkably basic: — How quickly would you like to have a huge grin on your face via monster performance and uber-tactile handling? — Will 2.8-seconds to 60-mph be worth an extra $30,000 or so versus the devastatingly-rapid Seven 480’s 3.4-second sprint? Or is 4.9-seconds in the affordable Seven 280 acceptable? — How wild do you prefer to be with color and style — as this can ratchet up all the below pricing dramatically. Easy, right? The Superformance distribution deal with Caterham finally allows these hilarious machines to …

Apr 10, 2014 Read more

MOPAR Adding Huge JEEP Upgrade Options — Cherokee Adventurer, Cherokee Dakar and Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Trail Warrior

Jeep just debuted a six-pack of new concepts for next week’s Moab off-road rally — which annually gathers thousands of Jeeps and Jeepers together for adventures out on the rocky desert trails. And more than a little fun back at base camp, too! This annual event is a huge part of Jeep culture — and is surely one of the biggest off-road extravaganza’s anywhere in the world. The new Cherokee adds Adventurer and Dakar spec levels via the MOPAR upgrades, while the Grand Cherokee is now upfit as a Trail Warrior in EcoDiesel spec. A diesel is perfect for off-roading …

Apr 10, 2014 Read more

WOW! 2014 Peugeot EXALT Concept — Onyx 4-Door GT — Raw Alloy Body with Sharkskin Textile Wrap + 340HP HYbrid4 Power

One has to admire the resilient spirit of Peugeot Citroen. Budgets too tight to stay in LeMans? Take the powertrain up Pikes Peak in the new 208’s body shell! And then keep rocking that super-diesel at the 2015 Dakar rally’s of Chile! A similar feat today with the just-revealed Exalt concept for Beijing. It carries forward many of the ideas first explored on the bare-metal Onyx hypercar concept, but this time with the gorgeous proportions of a RWD four-door coupe. That cab-backward layout is something French engineers and the buying public have been clamoring for since the demise of the …

Apr 10, 2014 Read more

VIDEO — Andy Stella’s Top 5 Cars to Street Park in Chicago, Year-round! Wrangler, MINI… Jaguar XJ?

By Special Contributor Andy Stella Spring is almost here in Chicago, and you know what that means: people forget that they just spent six months acting surprised every time it snowed. With snow comes decreased street width, huge banks plowed against our cars, and mounds of Honda Fit-sized snow piles taking up precious parking space. Once the snow clears, we must not forget to let some practicality guide our summer car shopping! What is my experience, you ask? Well, before I lived in Chicago, I endured even colder, snowier winters in Minnesota while attending college, and before that, I was …

Apr 09, 2014 Read more

Build Your Own 500HP Chevy Truck with Valvoline! 5 Body Styles, 5 Engines, 10 Colors, Wheels, Graphics!

Valvoline and Hendrick Motorsports have nabbed two of the biggest names in US auto racing for the entertaining and fun ‘Reinvention Project.’ It pits Dale Jr. versus Jimmie Johnson in a battle of resto-modding wits — five vintage Chevy truck bodies to choose among, and engines up pushing nearly 600 horsepower! It is both an on-track grudge match with drag racing and burnout contests for the resulting real-life pickup trucks each racer designed himself — a riot of power and semi-politeness among the guys. Cruise over to Facebook.com/valvoline to give them a thumbs up, and vote on your favorite. The …

Apr 08, 2014 Read more

Car Basics: How To Jumpstart A Dead Car… in less than 10 Words

Jumpstarting Reminder: Red to Red, Black to Black With the good car running: Red to red, black to black. Step-by-step guide from GEICO’s Dawn McCaslin: Start by protecting your clothes and your hands with protective clothing or a blanket on the ground and gloves. Open the hood to your car. Sometimes when you “pop” the hood, you need to also release the latch. This can be found by running your fingers under the slightly open hood until you find a little lever to push on. Use the stick to prop the hood open while you work. Locate the …

Apr 06, 2014 Read more

Speculative Renderings – 2016 Cadillac Escalade V – How Does 650HP ZR1 Supercharged 6.2-liter V8 Sound?

Guess who does not like renderings one bit? Manufacturers….! A great Escalade buyers guide article is in final draft form, and coming soon to actually drive sales versus just unique visitors to this news website. But as long as I’m burning bridges shore to shore… A Cadillac Escalade V-Series? The idea is a bit tough to fathom or accept at first, but is a firm fit with buyer wants in this segment. One look at the aftermarket or even the GL63 AMG shows that once cost is no object, buyers often simply want it all. Light off-road ability plus a …

Apr 05, 2014 Read more

DIY Car Mods Series — $20 Honeycomb Grille Insert — From the Ford Crown Vic!

Easy and Cheap Honeycomb Grille Insert DIY This Subaru did not come with a honeycomb grille, obviously — nor is it an STI! So silly looking back at all these absurd modifications — many of which are circa 2006-2007. But I digress. Honeycombs are awesome. Want one? Sweet! Many online performance shops will sell you a fancy custom grille — but here’s the thing: they usually cost $400 or more, and are unpainted and perhaps ridiculously-bad quality. My solution to update the Legacy GT’s nose? Cut out inner grille bars, replace with Ford Crown Victoria honeycomb mesh. Cost …

Apr 03, 2014 Read more

Honda Heritage Celebration — Official Togichi Museum PhotoSpheres — 71 Honda-isms and Milestone Achievements Since 1936

Auto Museums are super cool. Even if your eyes glaze over at the thought of visiting a dark and endless art museum — if you like cars, you will be ecstatic the moment you walk into any car museum. Why? The cars are there because they are objectively so, so important. So important that they cannot even be stored in the basement archives of the car company — but need to be proudly displayed for both internal teams and the public to admire. Another amazing reason car museums should be on your radar? These collections are expertly-curated and laid out …

Apr 02, 2014 Read more

Okay Now! European JUKE Nismo RS Features Matching LEDs Above and Below The New Round HID Lamps

The recent European Nissan JUKE article spent a faintly absurd amount of words and on the color choice of the show car, as well as the LED lighting functionality of the JUKE Nismo. Hiding on my desktop is another Geneva debut I have yet to cover: The JUKE Nismo RS with the solution to both the LED and icky color problems! This photo of the JUKE Nismo RS for Europe confirms: all three lighting elements can now be used simultaneously. Perhaps a trivial distinction, but one that American JUKE Nismo owners will understand. The JUKE Nismo RS in …

Apr 01, 2014 Read more

Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia at Mullin Automotive Museum

Orig Published on: Nov 5, 2013 @ 13:12 If it seems like we have an unhealthy fascination for the Mullin Automotive Museum, you might be right. The cars inside this Oxnard, California collection just… write their own stories. I have a dozen more that I would like to feature, but we must start at the true nexus – or “Xenia” perhaps – of the art of French coach-building by Jacques Saoutchik and his contemporaries. How all these cars got to sunny California is no accident. In many cases – the cars in the collection were painstakingly built – sometimes …

Apr 01, 2014 Read more

Amelia Island Time Capsules: $903k 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster — Leaves Me Cold — Find Out Why?

Plowing through my gigantic Amelia Island photo folders. =] Not only do I rarely meet a Bugatti I do not like — I think the Amelia Island 2014 event was the first time I have ever touched any Bugatti, whatsoever! Therefore, you can imagine my internal surprise at my blase feelings toward this magnificent 1939 57C — which were less than positive. I just didn’t like it. The color seemed off, the coachwork overwrought, and certainly not nearly as stunning, genuine and authentically-desirable as the racecars across the room. I blamed poor lighting on day one due to the car …

Mar 26, 2014 Read more

2015 INFINITI QX80 Eau Rouge – Digital Rendering – 700HP Turbo V8 To Stomp GL63 AMG?

Okay, this is admittedly very silly on many levels. But here you go! It started out as a Photoshop experiment to de-chrome the QX80, but then, it got really out of control. The roof chop is particularly delightful to these eyes, but not necessary for the below performance upgrades of a possible IPL or Eau Rouge edition. Next thing I knew, I was adding Q50 Eau Rouge details left and right! Ahhh! But one thing is certain: the 5.6-liter V8 in the QX80 could, in theory, make 700 horsepower with some of the GT-R’s turbo technology. Heck, with a K&N …

Mar 26, 2014 Read more

My #LED #FailWhales — 123 Photo Showcase of Later-Junked DIY Headlights — Quad Projectors, LED Blades, LED Eagle Eyes… and 10 Other Icky Iterations

Many of you may wonder about some of the eye-catching elements in my headlights over the years. The LED passion obsession started in 2009 for me, and took three years and six pairs of headlamps for me to realize: stop wasting time and money. But I was convinced! The tech to build DIY LED headlights was out there, I would say to myself over and over. For context, this was after I had already spent much time in 2007-2008 upgrading to HID low-beams and stripping the middle element of the headlights (the chrome shroud) out completely. But what style …

Mar 25, 2014 Read more

Cosmetic Car Mods Part 5 – White LED Emblem Baseplate

Cosmetic Car Mods Part 5 – White LED Emblem Baseplate LED emblem base-plate. (Sticks under badge, wired into low-beams) This one is self-explanatory. Can be fun, and also comes in various styles for the rear ends of many brand logo’s as well — making the white outline flip to red under braking. But these are just the single white baseplate I had on my Subaru (briefly). Quality is dismal, and this one was never the exact same oval shape as my OEM Subaru badge — but for $12 or so, you definitely get some up-close curb appeal. Who else has …

Mar 25, 2014 Read more

Top Cosmetic Mods — Part Four — DIY LED Brake Light Bar Under Glass — Total Cost Barely $20

And now, Part Four of the DIY cosmetic mods series. LED light bar under glass: Unique and V.Cool LED style enhancement. This one is not easy to find, but is very cheap to buy and a 5-minute install for most applications. Full article coming up about this in the future. — Why? Brings a Bentley or Audi A7 look to any car, better safety, makes car look impossibly low and wide at night. — Cost: this LED set from a junkyard Cadillac Catera cost me $2.50. Two dollars, and 50 cents. Total. — CAVEAT — You must find a DIY …

Mar 25, 2014 Read more

Black Swan SLS AMG GT3 In Detail — Incredibly Fascinating Aerodynamic Solutions Under Disguise Mirror Wraps

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has long been the oversteer king of Deutschland. We all recall Clarkson cooking many, many sets of tires in his — and even trying to locate a replacement in rural North Carolina a few years ago. So how would this car do on the track with that handling attitude and tail-first handling mantra? Well, of course. But only once it spent countless hours in the wind tunnels of Mercedes-Benz. For racecars, the engineers’ brief on aerodynamics is much easier overall than road-going supercars. Yes, tons of downforce and Yes: zero lift whatsoever, no matter what it …

Mar 24, 2014 Read more

Top Cosmetic Car Mods Under $50 — Part 3 — Plasti-Dip Your Wheels Into Metallic Anthracite Grey — How-To Instructions and Photo Results

Part Three of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. …

Mar 23, 2014 Read more

Top Cosmetic DIY Car Mods Under $50 — Part 2 — Fake Brembo Caliper Covers — How-To Instructions and Photo Results

Part Two of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. And …

Mar 23, 2014 Read more

Updated With Night Photos — Top Cosmetic Car Mods Under $50 — Part 1 — Switchback LED Blinkers — How-To Instructions

Part One of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. And …

Mar 23, 2014 Read more

BUGATTI Marque Showcase — Geneva, Salon Prive and Pebble Beach — Veyron Vitesse and GS Rembrandt — Plus Venet, Jean Bugatti, L’Or Blanc and GS Vitesse

So many Bugatti’s, so little time! Just kidding. It really is the opposite, in fact, with a production run closing in on the final 75 units pretty soon on the horizon in 2015. But when your car costs as much as these magnificent specimens, who wouldn’t want a custom theme and livery? Quick shorthand: GS signifies the targa cars, while the Vitesse models are the fastest and newest of the all. The Vitesse wears significant updates and shaping to the entire nose, with a mid-wing in the air ducts that is not present on the earlier cars. Geneva 2014 …

Mar 23, 2014 Read more

My MINI Build-Out: Hardtop Customizer Shows Cool Upgrades Throughout + At Least Half Are Zero-Cost Additions —

The new 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop is arriving now in the US — and not a moment too soon for the many loyal fans this car has earned! But which is best for you? The four themes explored on the previous article highlight only a small smattering of the customizations available outside, inside and within the all-new 2014 MINI Cooper line. We spent a good chunk of time building out our perfect MINI — highlighting the most critical options and style upgrades available. Overall, a few key discoveries to share: — the interior is where the real customization action gets …

Mar 22, 2014 Read more

2014 MINI Hardtop Debuts Four Theme Packs to Kickstart Your Wild Imagination — Arriving Now from $23k

Okay, perhaps $35k is a better price cap for that bold claim — which we are eager to prove if need be. It is far more than Union Jack flags on the roof and mirrors these days at MINI, as well, even though that classic staple remains available. Vivid Green: gives accessories a youthful, fresh look with striking dashes of rich green against a black background. Speedwell Blue: adds a touch of sporty flair and a sense of tradition, thanks to a reinterpretation of the red, white and blue of the Union Jack, combined with a warm brown tone. John Cooper Works …

Mar 22, 2014 Read more

TurboSquid 3D: Mercedes SSK, Jaguar D-TYPE Longnose and Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

Including TurboSquid.com’s 3D design models of the Pagani Huayra ‘Extreme’ last night opened a really stinky can of worms for your humble scribe — who tries to Do The Right Thing more than even Spike Lee. On the one hand, these design models can and should be used for ethical and legal purposes. On the other hand: let’s imagine you own the intellectual property at play. Making the entire design available for just $100 or so to anyone online would be like Coca-Cola giving away the secret recipe after a customer takes their first sip of soda. Not in anyone’s …

Mar 22, 2014 Read more

Unpainted Black Carbon-Fiber is Draining Hypercars of their Beauty! McLaren P1 Before/After Digitally Painted Surfaces

The epidemic of unpainted or dark-lacquered carbon-fiber is magnificent to behold from just a few paces. But for the rest of us, from far away, there is little beauty in these dark, cavernous ‘holes’ in the latest hypercar bodywork. Both the Pagani Huayra and the McLaren P1 have liberal amounts of unpainted CF — but must it be this way? Without a McLaren P1 configurator available to the public — the car is already sold out — we have taken it upon ourselves to visualize the P1 with fully-painted surfaces. Of course, nothing is simple in the hypercar battle royale …

Mar 21, 2014 Read more

Video Walk-Around + 33 Photos – 1935 Amilcar G36 Pegasé Boattail Roadster

This car is quite special. The video notes that thhe Pegase Boattail Roadster was by Jacques Soutchek, but that may not be the case. The tiny Amilcar company of Paris certainly shared much of the Soutchek style shown in various custom Delehaye’s and Bugatti’s — a style which was typically hand-formed alloy and steel by only a small group of skilled craftsmen like Mr. S. Overall, the Pegase Boattail Roadster is most notable for its rarity and immaculate presentation, if not its sheer pace or the grandeur of some of the gigantic Delehaye’s and Bugatti’s from this interwar period. Tent/Lawn …

Mar 21, 2014 Read more

My 30PSI-Boosting Subaru Legacy GT on HD GoPro Video + Photo Comparo vs Cadillac CTS 3.6 Wagon

This one is pretty fun. My first external GoPro mounting that also includes some very hard driving. Challenge: Name that Video’s Locale! At least half the time in this film was spent worrying that the camera would fly off the hood at any moment! Got lucky this time, but definitely looking into a more reliable and stick-able suction mount. My Personal Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon in photo comparo versus 2011 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Wagon. Which would you prefer? Worth noting is that the Subaru is currently in the shop at the moment for a 115,000-mile service. A “Custom Tune” …

Mar 20, 2014 Read more

Amelia Time Capsules — 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limo by Park Ward — 60 Delightful Photos — Sold for $99,000 By RM

This stately car was such a huge milestone for Rolls-Royce that the core template and style of this 1960 car barely changed for the next thirty years. In fact, Queen Elizabeth probably still wishes this were her daily cruiser. Such is its elegant simplicity, comfort and joyousness outside and in. The Phantom V Park Ward is still the utmost in formal living, so this realistic auction result is even more appreciable. Channel4 in the UK will air a relatively candid look inside Rolls-Royce this evening, but candid is a relative term in Goodwood. While the youthfulness of the staff and …

Mar 20, 2014 Read more