CORVETTE CHIEFS: ZORA ARKUS-DUNTOV

Posted on August 14, 2020August 14, 2020 by MartynL

Corvette historian and illustrator Scott Teeters blogs about the men who made the Corvette America’s Sports Car. This is part 1 of a series: CORVETTE CHIEFS: ZORA ARKUS-DUNTOV. Duntov carried the heart and soul of the Corvette into racing and created an American legend. Arguably, there had never been a chief engineer of an American car the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov. When Duntov was hired to work at Chevrolet on May 1, 1953, the 43-year-old European-trained engineer brought a background...

PORSCHE PANAMERA: RECORD ON THE ‘RING

Posted on August 13, 2020 by MartynL

New 2021 PORSCHE PANAMERA: RECORD ON THE ‘RING in the ‘Executive Cars’ category, around 13 seconds faster than the previous model! Porsche has proven the performance potential of the new Panamera even before the car’s world premiere. In a slightly camouflaged series production car, test driver Lars Kern (32) completed a full lap of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife over a distance of 20.832 kilometers in exactly 7:29.81 minutes. In the official ranking of the Nürburgring GmbH, this ti...

’73 BUICK: STAGE 1 455 GRAN SPORT

Posted on August 12, 2020 by MartynL

Scott Oldham does a deep dive on Phil Roitman’s rare - and extremely well done – ’73 BUICK: STAGE 1 455 GRAN SPORT, one of the quickest, fastest and most forgotten Musclecars of the 1970s! Buick’s public relations department was asleep at the wheel in 1973. Although the brand’s Gran Sport Stage 1 was among the stoutest of the remaining midsize muscle cars offered that year, it was largely ignored by most of the major contemporary car magazines. Car and Driver, Road & Track, Hot Rod,...

CONCOURS VIRTUAL: MERCEDES, PORSCHE, LANCIA

Posted on August 11, 2020 by MartynL

Judges' votes for Best of the Best at the inaugural CONCOURS VIRTUAL: MERCEDES, PORSCHE, LANCIA go to legendary makes and models, racecars and Concept. The inaugural Concours Virtual, presented by Hagerty and in aid of UNICEF, announces its winning cars in the Best of Show, the People's Choice and the Special Awards categories. Best in Show went to the famous Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR '722' racing car that Stirling Moss, with Denis 'Jenks' Jenkinson as co-driver, drove to victory in the 1,000-mile ...

BRAWN AND BEAUTY: ‘21 LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE

Posted on August 1, 2020 by MartynL

The long-awaited drop-top version of Lexus' muscular LC Coupe drives as exquisitely as it looks. It’s the definition of BRAWN AND BEAUTY: ‘21 LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE, says Road Test Editor Howard Walker. Five minutes ensconced behind the perforated leather helm of Lexus' sublime new ‘21 LC 500 Convertible leaves you in no doubt you're in the company of a grand tourer of the highest order. Here's the perfect two-seat, drop-top cruiser for gliding down Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur, o...

‘OHIO GEORGE’ MONTGOMERY: FIRST DRAG COUPE

Posted on July 28, 2020July 28, 2020 by MartynL

Rod and Custom’s Pat Ganahl blogs about Gasser legend ‘OHIO GEORGE’ MONTGOMERY: FIRST DRAG COUPE. We add a couple of photos of Ohio’s most iconic quarter-mile rides: Malco Willys & Mustang Gassers powered by blown Ford SOHC engines. I am going absolutely bonkers. No, it’s not from being cooped up at home for the past four-plus months. Anna and I are doing very well in that regard, thankfully. Plus I got one car finished in the garage, another to build, and I even finally got some ti...

‘20 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO: Q4 QUADRIFOGLIO

Posted on July 25, 2020July 25, 2020 by MartynL

The ‘20 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO: Q4 QUADRIFOGLIO is a crossover I could drive every day, anywhere, with wonderful power, great handling and distinctive sound and looks. Looks great next to my Alfa Milano too, blogs Dan Scanlan. Alfa Romeo makes a crossover. That’s right – a tall mom and pop station wagon. Except, this one has a bit of Ferrari under the bonnet, as you might expect from the folks who employed Enzo himself way back when they began winning Grands Prix and other races. Andiamo – ...

IAN CALLUM: ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH 25

Posted on July 22, 2020July 22, 2020 by MartynL

Swiss-based R-Reforged’s IAN CALLUM: ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH 25 has gone from concept to production in less than one year! Just nine months after announcing the project, the production IAN CALLUM: ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH 25 by R-Reforged has been revealed and customer car build will commence in September. Designer Ian Callum has evolved the concept shown in 2019 with a revised interior, more trim options and definitive chassis and powertrain set up. Ian Cullum’s stunning Vanquish feature...

SHELBY GT350R: WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE MUSTANG

Posted on July 21, 2020 by MartynL

Crossing the block at $3.85 million, the first SHELBY GT350R: WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE MUSTANG sets a new record. Hagerty’s Grace Houghton blogs about the Mustang that started a revolution! Back in January, we wondered if any Mustang could beat the Bullitt’s momentous $3.74 sale. Six months later, the first-ever GT350R prototype answered that question with a resounding yes. With a final price of $3,850,000, the Wimbledon White fastback became the most expensive Mustang ever sold at public ...

ANTI-AGING: TOYOTA AVALON TRD

Posted on July 17, 2020 by MartynL

Someone dunked the ANTI-AGING: TOYOTA AVALON TRD AARP sedan in the fountain of youth, says Road Test Editor Howard Walker! Imagine grandpa strapping a turbo to his walker. Or your great-aunt Mildred taking her Buzzaround EX mobility scooter into the shop and getting it back with 19-inch rims and a racy body kit! Not gonna happen? Think again, because I've just been piloting a version of Toyota's normally somnambulant, Prozac-infused Avalon luxury liner with tuning by Toyota Racing De...