Dealing with the insurance company is any classic car owner's worst nightmare. If you've got your ducks in a row, you've had your baby lovingly appraised at every turn of the wrench. If you're slacking on that -- or don't know how reputable your appraiser is -- every time you leave it alone or drive on a public road, the "what ifs" start creeping in.
The insurance companies get this, too. State farm has come up with this innovative Jekyll/Hyde way to show off their commitment to the classics market. "...the car is being used to educate State Farm field agents on the special challenges of assigning proper values to collector cars and owner-modified vehicles. This knowledge enables the agents to accurately assess value and correctly underwrite such special-case vehicles."
On the driver side, this '68 Chevy Camaro RS Convertible is built to high-quality factory specs. The passenger side is full of aftermarket good, custom body work, and "deliberately less-exacting craftsmanship."
State Farm will be sending the two-faced Camaro to various auto shows including the Chicago auto show which is now open to the public.
Oh, and in case you were afraid that they'd ruined a perfectly good car, this particular Camaro came in as a total loss due to fire and the company's Vehicle Research Facility decided this could be a fun project.
Continue reading...
Categories: Chevrolet,Miscellaneous,Tuners and Modifications
16-inch steelies. Non-matching bumpers, door handles and wing mirrors, no AC... I am seriously into this Toyota GT86 RC Spec.
The 86 RC is the least expensive model in the 86 line coming in some 500,000 yen less expensive than the G and aimed at the tuner/racer market. It's got a six-speed manual transmission, the same 200 horsepower flat-four from the normal one and, well, that's about it. The shifter, steering wheel and pedals are plastic. There is no air conditioning or stereo or cup holders. Significant amounts of soundproofing materials have been removed.
This adds up to not only a cheap package, but a light one as well. Curb weight here is 2,623 pounds. Unfortunately, the limited slip also gets removed for this package but that's an easy fix.
Categories: Coupes,Sports Cars,Toyota,Tuners and Modifications
Audi has just released official photos (lots in hi res after the jump) and information on the new, 'hot' TT RS Plus. The rumor mill had been grinding away at this one for some time and, as often happens, the final car is a bit more disappointing than we'd heard. It has the same 360 horsepower 2.5-liter I5 as the TT RS but is 108 pounds lighter and has these cool 19-inch 5-arm-rotor-design black wheels with red highlights. These wheels are a $400 option on the normal RS.
Visually this new car has matte aluminum accents on the front splitter, diffuser and the stalks holding up the wing ($950 option on the RS). The wing mirrors are carbon fiber ($1,900 on the RS) and there is no crossbar in the grille.
In other markets, like the normal RS, this will be available as a coupe and a hardtop with either a manual transmission or a DSG. In the US the RS is only available as a coupe with a manual transmission. We probably won't be getting this one and that's okay. Still, it's a looker. Big photos next.
Continue reading...
Categories: Audi,Coupes,Tuners and Modifications
As you'll recall, Ford is offering two engines in the 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet -- a naturally-aspirated version of the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, and a blown version of that engine with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger. Recently, engineers from Ford Racing tested both versions on the dragstrip at Palm Beach International Raceway.
Astutely, they shot video of the burnouts and quarter-mile runs, and while it's not high-def, you can certainly hear the differences between the engines. Ample tire smoke, too.
(Mustang Heaven, Ford Racing)
Continue reading...
Categories: Coupes,Ford,Motorsports,Tuners and Modifications
What better way to promote your latest tuner package for the Corvette ZR1 than to get one of the fastest men (?) in America to drive it with commitment? And so John Hennessey coaxed the American Stig behind the wheel of HPE's ZR750 Corvette, which with a claimed 755 hp, a claimed 728 lb-ft of torque and enough Michelin Pilot Sport Cup rubber to handle all that, was quick enough to set a new lap record at the Top Gear USA test track.
An extended, higher-production-value cut of this hand-held footage is undoubtedly forthcoming when the new TG season starts back up on the History Channel next week.
Continue reading...
Categories: Celebrities,Chevrolet,Sports Cars,Tuners and Modifications
Ferrari F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso are the latest victims benefactors of the unholy profitable union of the Fiat and Chrysler empires. The Ferrari ambassadors were gifted the first two 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s in Europe and they aren't just off-the-line ones, no, these have been tweaked by SRT.
The normal 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 comes with 470 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque 00 so do these. Instead of giving these two obviously unqualified characters (Seriously, race suits fully zipped in a garage? Amateurs...) more power, they gave them more style. First comes a coat of Rosso Corsa paint, a matte black grille, an offset driver's side stripe with white accent, carbon-fiber mirror caps and the Italian flag painted on the bottom of the rear spoiler. The special edition SRT8s are dropped 1.5 inches to give them a better stance on the standard 20-inch wheels. Inside we've got -- shocker -- red leather with yellow dials on the IP.
European delivers start for real in the summer.
Continue reading...
Categories: Celebrities,Ferrari,Jeep,SUVs,Tuners and Modifications
Hennessey Performance Engineering has just sent out a release stating that they have a concept for an 800 horsepower McLaren MP4-12C. The concept kit will "include upgrades to the powertrain designed to reliably increase power," and "add a more aggressive aero package to the vehicle in order to increase downforce."
Because if there are any areas where McLaren needs help, it's aero and power. Hennessey does admit that they won't be able to help with suspension or brakes as the factory setup will be "hard to beat."
In a statement John Hennessey said "I spent a lot of time around the new 12C at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed and was very impressed. We're excited to have the opportunity to take a great car and give it our own special performance touch while giving 12C owners a uniquely aggressive appearance."
Right, now all Hennessey havs to do is find someone willing to hand over their 12C and hope the upgraded intercoolers, turbos, titanium exhaust, wastegates, engine management and transmission clutch system work as advertised.
Categories: McLaren,Tuners and Modifications
We love us some Dukes of Hazzard here at IL. We've followed the re-build of the original movie car and I've even got the pillowcases (with daisy) in regular rotation. We're nowhere near the fans of the Duke boys that the owner of this Alfa 8C is.
The website that found it swears that there were numbers on the doors (obscured by the 8C Spider) but gave no word on who or, more importantly, why.
(TRC Off)
Categories: Alfa Romeo,Tuners and Modifications
Featuring a hand-painted gold dragon on each side, custom dragon embroidery and hand-stitched rear pillows, the 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom Year of the Dragon Edition is big in China. How big? Despite a $1.2m price tag, the special edition is already sold out. Rolls-Royce did not reveal how many they had actually built.
In related custom-Phantom news, RR claims that deliveries of customized Phantoms to the Middle East jumped from 75 percent in 2005 to a whopping 99 percent in 2011 while U.S. sales of custom phantoms were only 84 percent. Only 56% of all Ghosts are personalized. I would wait for a personalized Phantom, but for a fancy 7-series? Nah.
High-res images after the jump.
Continue reading...
Categories: Rolls-Royce,Sedans,Tuners and Modifications
At the top of my non-driving-related automotive bucket list right now is attending the Tokyo Auto Salon. That show seems nuts. From the tuned vans, to the tuned EVs, to this thing and this everything is just out of control over there. Oh, and then there are the models.
If, like me, you can't make it this year, sit back and browse these 231 photos from the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.
Oh, and of course there's stuff like this, too...
Continue reading...
Categories: Miscellaneous,Tuners and Modifications
Triangle Billiards and "Big Daddy Vini a.ka. The Kustomizer" have teamed up to build this...thing. It's a "fully drive-able, one-of-a-kind 100 mph Pool Table Car."
Do you want to watch a fat guy play with a measuring tape while wearing sunglasses at night? Want to watch some customizers, sorry, Kustomizers, chop a Chevy Monte Carlo in half and add casters instead of a back end? Want a regulation pool table that's actually a car? Want a car that's little more than a pool table delivery device?
The Kustomizer knows you do and has obliged.
Continue reading...
Categories: Chevrolet,Tuners and Modifications
This guy, Tim Cameron, solves problems while driving the same way I do: more throttle. The difference, though, is that he's driving an insane tube-frame buggy with a built 620 horsepower, 7.4-liter LSX 454 crate engine (with a power-glide transmission with 2k rpm stall) on 43s through the woods like a madman.
Seriously. A mad man.
Here's a list of things yelled in the office -- over the roar of that motor -- while we watched it 11 times: "That thing is just indifferent to everything!" "I'd wear a helmet and eye protection." "He's really good with the rear steering." "He just felled a tree with a buggy!"
Without a doubt this is the best video I've seen in 2012.
Continue reading...
Categories: General Motors,Trucks,Tuners and Modifications
Let's get the boring one out of the way first. In 2013 all Corvettes will be available with a special 60th Anniversary package. This package includes a ZR1-style spoiler, special badges, gray brake calipers, Pearl Silver Blue stripes (optional), Arctic White paint, Blue Diamond leather interior (we're venturing into anniversary edition Trans-Am colors here) and, on the convertible, a blue top. Even if you don't opt for the 60th Anniversary package, all 2013 cars will feature special anniversary badging.
Now, onto the fun stuff. Sitting in Chevy's parts bin is the phenomenal 427 cubic-inch 7.0-liter, 505-horsepower V8. While Chevy has a history of dumping 427s into Vettes (1966 L30 and L72, LZ1 and L88 in 67, L89 in 69) unfortunately, this engine has never sat in a Corvette convertible. The 427-convertible package fixes that and adds a bunch of cool too.
Continue reading...
Categories: Chevrolet,Convertibles,Sports Cars,Tuners and Modifications
It's been a few months now and we're finally getting to see the Nissan Juke-R being driven with some aggression. During this test session Nissan managed a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 159.6 mph giving it the title of World's Fastest Crossover.
Nissan claims that this is the final video in the build series of the Juke-R. We can only hope that the next video they send out on this car has less talking, more driving.
Continue reading...
Categories: Nissan,Tuners and Modifications
Okay, so Dodge isn't going to bring the new Viper to the Detroit Auto Show. That's okay; we can wait for New York. What are they bringing instead? This 2012 Dodge Charger Redline.
What is it? The Redline is a Mopar-tuned Charger that will be available in three kits. Stage One gets you a Mopar carbon-fiber chin spoiler, carbon-fiber door scoops and a carbon-fiber rear spoiler on top of a Charger R/T. Stage Two gets you a cat-back exhaust, front strut-tower brace and high-performance brake linings. Stage Three is the fun one. Stage three drops in a 590-horsepower Gen III 426 Hemi V8 crate engine that is for "race/off-road use only." In unrelated news, states like Wyoming, Florida, Montana, Minnesota, parts of Nevada and South Dakota (that I know of) don't have any sort of safety or emissions testing.
Pricing was not announced for the kits that will make their way into consumer's hands later this year.
Continue reading...
Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Dodge,Sedans,Tuners and Modifications
It should come as no surprise to anybody who's been paying attention to the auto show scene this year that Subaru is planning on bringing the BRZ to the Tokyo Auto Show. The theme for Subaru this year is "Proud of BOXER" and will "showcase through Subaru's unique products the Subaru's efforts to integrate enjoyable and reliable driving provided by the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine."
The first vehicle they'll be bringing is, of course, the BRZ STI Concept. Major equipment includes a carbon fiber hood, STI front under spoiler, STI trunk spoiler, STI muffler, STI flexible tower bar, STI springs, Brembo brakes, Bilstein dampers and 18-inch STI aluminum wheels.
The next concept with BRZ badging will be the BRZ Black Edition by PROVA. No further details were provided on this tuner special.
Subaru Also announced that they will be live-streaming the booth on Ustream for those who can't make it to Tokyo this January.
Categories: Sports Cars,Subaru,Tuners and Modifications
Got an extra $235,000 sitting around? Looking for a vehicle that will accelerate from 0-60 in about 3.1 seconds? Do you want that vehicle to have seating for more than 4 and weigh a lot?
God news! Hennessey Performance Engineering has the vehicle for you, the 2013 HPE800 Twin Turbo Jeep.
Continue reading...
Categories: Jeep,Tuners and Modifications
Mini and the Monster Energy X-raid Team are sending (at least) 5 Mini All4 Racing cars to compete in the 8,000+ KM 2012 Dakar race. These are the trailers they've built to tease the event, prove the capability of the Minis and generally entertain those of us who like watching cars do goofy things off road.
The first video is a fairly straight, but still impressive look at the cars and their capabilities. The second one, however, is a bit more fun. It's got X-raid driver / freeskier Guerlain Chicherit racing around the slopes of Tignes in France.
Continue reading...
Categories: MINI,Motorsports,Tuners and Modifications
GM has just dropped the official images of the 2013 Chevy Sonic RS, one of the vehicles they'll be bringing to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The 2013 Sonic RS isn't just a concept, it's going into production and will be on sale by the end of 2012. The RS is exclusively offered as a five-door hatchback and is only available with the 1.4-liter, 138-horsepower turbocharged engine.
Unique to the RS is a new front fascia with new fog lamps, RS-specific grille, near rear fascia and spoiler, new rocker panels and mirror caps, retuned sport exhaust, 17-inch wheels, lowered suspension with performance dampers and, of course, RS badging. "The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment. From every angle and every touch point it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement -- and one that drives Chevrolet's performance legacy into its second century." said John Mack, design director for Sonic.
The Sonic was already a solid handler. In our first drive we wrote, " ...the steering weight and precision are a revelation, but its ability to grip and go around corners with authority is also notable. It reminds us of the Fiesta SES in this regard, but the Fiesta's 16-inch wheels-tires don't provide the same near-silent high-limit confidence -- or the driver-defeatable stability control system." The RS should be a blast...even if we did want the RS to have more power than the normal LTZ.
Continue reading...
Categories: Chevrolet,Detroit Auto Show,Hatchbacks,Tuners and Modifications
When we saw the Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept at the 2011 SEMA Show we wanted nothing more than to see it run. C'mon, it had a 7.0-liter V8 (or a supercharged 5.3), roll cage, drag slicks and a gutted interior and it was just sitting there!
We just wanted to see one pass. Maybe a burnout contest before the tires are hot. Just something where this thing goes really, really fast and makes a bunch of (hopefully 7.0-liter) noise.
This video isn't quite the same as seeing it in person, but it'll have to do for now.
Continue reading...
Categories: Chevrolet,Coupes,SEMA Show,Sports Cars,Tuners and Modifications
