Classic Cars Straightline Archives

The fact that Nick Cage is in serious financial trouble is not new. He's been selling stuff left and right for months now. What caught our eye this time around is the fact that two of his cars, including a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, were leased.

Turns out a company called Premier Financial Services will lease you just about any car you can find. Vintage cars, classics, brand new exotics, whatever. Who knew?

In Cage's case, he was shelling out $7,663 a month for his classic Rolls and another $3,600 for an '02 Corniche. When the money ran out he tried to just turn them back in, but PFS wasn't having it. Now they're suing him for the cost of taking the cars back early and having to sell them cheap. Poor Nick, guy can't catch a break these days. Can't make a decent movie either.  

TMZ
 

Categories: Celebrities,Classic Cars,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce

Many beautiful cars will be sold to very rich people this week at the Gooding & Company auction at the Amelia Island Concours beginning this Friday.

Now we like the resto-mods and Hemi 'Cudas that seem to headline many auctions these days, but we flat-out love the smattering of Pininfarina-design automobiles that will cross the block at Amelia. This is because Pininfarina has produced the world's most beautiful cars. Nope, we're not hearing any arguments on this matter. It's best just to accept this fact.

As evidence, we offer the 1956 Nash Rambler "Palm Beach" Coupe Special pictured above. (Yes, a Nash Rambler). Four perfect Pininfarina-designed Ferraris wait for you after the jump.

Side note: Proof that Pininfarina still has it was on display at last week's Geneva Auto Show. That would be the 2uettottanta, which is perhaps the ugliest name a pretty concept has ever had.

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Categories: Classic Cars,Convertibles,Coupes,Ferrari,Sports Cars

Burt Reynolds has been released from a Florida hospital following a successful quintuple heart bypass operation, his manager said today.

Reynolds, 74, is of course, the star of our Editor in Chief's favorite movie, Smokey and the Bandit.

Reynolds apparently told his manager that he has "a great motor with brand new pipes."

Feel better, Bandit!

MSNBC

Inside Line Feature: Smokey and the Bandit Turns 30

Categories: Celebrities,Classic Cars,Pontiac

You've heard of the Rockford Files, right? 1970s' TV show... James Garner drove a series of gold Pontiac Firebird Esprits of 1974-1978 vintage. Well, David Shore, who created the only funny medical show, House, is working on a remake of Rockford, this time starring Dermot Mulroney. You know, Dermot Mulroney, the object of Julia Roberts' affection in the strangely intriguing My Best Friend's Wedding.

We're sure Mulroney is already hard at work practicing his J-turns in empty parking lots. But what will he drive in the new Rockford Files? There has been no shortage of current-Camaro-turned-Trans-Am creations at SEMA, but we think a Camaro Z28 might hit the spot.

Any other ideas for what Rockford Jr. should drive?

There's precious little footage of the original Rockford Firebirds, but we found a short clip and posted it after the jump. Sadly, there's no 180 in this one, nor even a burnout.

TV Squad

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Categories: Celebrities,Classic Cars,Pontiac,Trends

From the Department of Things You Never Asked For: The Munga.

This DKW/Auto Union quasi-Jeep built from 1955 through 1968 packed a stonkin' 40-plus horsepower three-cylinder and, well, not much else. Auto Union, predecessor to Audi, won a contract from the Federal German Army to built this thing, beating out Porsche (which would later unveil something called a "Cayenne").

"But Straightline," you ask, "I get that Auto Union built a Jeep rip-off  after the war but why is it called "Munga," and not something more attractive-sounding like "Flump" or "Phhhht?" Well, kind reader, we're glad you asked. Munga is a sort-of acronym taken from the German Mehrzweck Universal Gelandewagen mit Allradantrieb. Duh.

Anyway, the Munga is great for watering flowers and, apparently, dancing ladies totally dig it.

Please, to watch the video:

Categories: Audi,Classic Cars

You might not yet know the name "Monterey Motorsports Reunion," but you should certainly recognize the name of the the event's featured guest, Dan Gurney. If not, might we recommend this lovely web site.

A very brief recap: Gurney, has won races in everything from Formula One cars (of his own construction) to NASCAR stockers. His All American Racers organization built 157 Eagle race cars between 1965 and 2000, including IMSA GTP cars, Can-Am cars, Plymouth Barracuda Trans-Am cars and Indy cars.

You can get a look at some of Gurney's best work at the event (formerly known as the Monterey Historics) on August 12-15, 2010 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Gurney will be be available for autograph session on Saturday, August 14.

For tickets, visit MazdaRaceway.com or call 800-327-7322.

For more information on Gurney and his cars head over to allamericanracers.com.

Categories: Classic Cars,Motorsports

Porsche's historic Type 64 coupe is being moved from its home at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart to a Atlanta's High Museum of Art for a three-month visit.

The Type 64 was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1938 as a competition car for the Berlin-Rome long-distance race. World War II assured that would never happen, but many of the design details were eventually carried over to the Type 356 and later the iconic 911.

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Categories: Classic Cars,Porsche,Sports Cars

Better hurry. There's only 21 hours left to bid on one of the most iconic movie cars of all time, the Deathmobile from the cinematic classic Animal House, or atleast replica of it (the auction doesn't really say it is the car from the movie so we're not sure it is). But it was built from a mid-'60's Lincoln Continental just like the real movie car so it might be, but then again, it might not be. Whatever, it's for sale right now on eBay and we're thinking we found our next long term test car.

The "Buy It Now" price is $12,500. What do you think?

Ramming speed.  

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Categories: Celebrities,Classic Cars,Lincoln,Luxury Cars

Today Nissan sent us some more photos of the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition, including some shots of it frolicking on the racetrack with a 1970 240Z. Thought you might like to see them.

The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition starts out as a 370Z Coupe Touring model equipped with manual transmission and Sport Package (including SynchroRev Match, front chin spoiler, rear spoiler, Nissan Sport Brakes, 19-inch Rays forged aluminum wheels and viscous limited-slip differential) and adds a "40th Graphite" exterior color and red leather interior.

Additional exclusive equipment includes a smoke wheel finish, red brake calipers and a 40th Anniversary badge on the rear hatch and front shock tower brace. Inside, along with the red leather seats are red door panel inserts, 40th Anniversary seatbacks with debossed logo, floormat logo embroidery, red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and kneepads, smooth leather steering wheel with red stitching and interior 40th commemorative plaque. Every 40th Anniversary Z also comes with a commemorative premium satin car cover.

Price is $38,860.

"Throughout the history of the automobile, a rare handful of cars stand apart as vehicles that not only capture the imagination of the world but also embody the essence of the automaker's brand, engineering and ideals.  The Z is just such a vehicle," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc.

You said it Al.

Go to the next page to see five more images.

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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Classic Cars,Coupes,Hatchbacks,Nissan,Sports Cars

Last week we brought you a partial list of the upgrades in store for the 2011 Shelby GT500 courtesy of an order guide leak. This morning, some crafty members at TeamShelby noticed a video of the upcoming GT500 on one of Ford's media sites. The pictures you see here are screen grabs from that video which has since been taken down.

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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Classic Cars,Convertibles,Coupes,Ford,Future Vehicles,Sports Cars

Do I really need to say anything more? Just watch. And if you don't like these videos, you may not like cars.

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Categories: Classic Cars

Formerly known as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, this is the annual event that coincides with the Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance. It's basically a gathering of vintage racecars that tear around Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca for two days for no other reason than it looks and sounds cool.

In years past, it's been a somewhat staid affair, mostly because the majority of the classes featured early prewar racecars that aren't nearly as impressive now as they were back in their prime. The really good stuff like the new Formula cars and Trans Am racers usually only ran every other year and in limited numbers.

Well, new management has taken over and along with the new name is a new emphasis on cooler participants. The featured races are now Formula 1, Trans Am and a new class -- stock cars from 1966-1975. Whether you like NASCAR or not, tell me you wouldn't want to see those big American lead sleds hauling around Laguna Seca at full throttle?

 MazdaRaceway.com

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Categories: Classic Cars,Motorsports

To give you some perspective as to how long it's been since a Ford paced the Daytona 500, the last vehicle to hold that honor was a Ford Torino GT. The year was 1970.

This time around, it will be a glass-roofed 2011 Ford Mustang GT dressed in red paint and a few decals. Ford Racing also added a revised suspension, strut tower brace and new mufflers.

Adding to the mystique, Barrett-Jackson will be auctioning off the actual pace car this weekend which means you can buy the very car you'll be watching on TV, provided you care about NASCAR of course.

Categories: Car Auctions,Classic Cars,Coupes,Ford

Shelby American wasted no time coming up with its own take on the new 2011 Ford Mustang. Officially dubbed a concept, the 2011 Shelby GT350 will go into production later this year with few changes.

This is essentially an aftermarket package that you purchase after you plunk down the $30K for a Mustang GT. It includes a supercharger that pushes the new 5.0 V8 to around 500 horsepower, a set of Baer brakes, 19-inch Cragar wheels and "super sticky" Goodyear tires Shelby says. The suspension also gets new springs, struts and sway bars from Ford Racing along with adjustable camber/caster plates.

Shelby says all GT350s will be white with blue stripes. Not sure if that means you have to start out with a white car or not but it probably helps. Shelby also adds a new front fascia, revised taillight treatment and a center-exit exhaust.

All this for only $34K -- that's on top of the original car, not total. So you're looking at a minimum of $64,000 for a Shelby GT350. Hope you like white.

Categories: Car Auctions,Classic Cars,Coupes,Ford,Motorsports,Tuners and Modifications

Photo Credit: Pawel Litwinksi, Gooding & Company

As sick as Cobras look and sound with huge fender flares and a big block stuffed in their noses, the original AC Cobra with its comparatively tiny 260 cu.in. V8 is still something to behold. It's so natural you almost find it hard to believe it didn't start out that way.

This particular example is a perfectly preserved competition model that still sports a "Flamethrower" ignition and Le Mans-style fuel filler. It was the only 260-powered Cobra to win a race when it took first place at an SCCA Divisional race at Riverside Raceway in 1963. It will go up for auction next week at the Gooding and Company event in Scottsdale which starts Friday and continues on Saturday.

Gooding and Company
 

Categories: Car Auctions,Classic Cars,Convertibles,Motorsports,Sports Cars