Ford has has just recently brought the Boss name back to the Mustang line-up, but the original Boss Mustang was offered as limited edition between 1969 and 1970. A model like this in our day in age is certainly hard to find, especially since Ford only produced 858 units of this beauty, but an original 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 has turned up on eBay with a current bid of $185,000.
The 1969 Mustang Boss 429 has a large 429 cubic inch NASCAR motor producing 375 HP at 5200 RPM and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3400 rpm. Mated to a four-speed manual transmission, this engine sprints the Boss from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds on its way up to a top speed of 118 mph.
The specific 1969 Mustang Boss 429 being offered is painted in Wimbledon White and was purchased new in New York, then sent to Tasca Ford in Providence, Rhode Island. The car only has 2,219 original miles on the odometer and is completely original.
So far the reserve has not been met - even with the current $185,000 bid - but the age and relatively small number of units for this 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 makes this an opportunity of a lifetime for an avid Mustang aficionado.
€3.5 million, or $4.83 million, will buy you a lot of things, including 12 Lamborghini Aventador supercars. Why anyone would need that many Aventadors is beyond us, but what is even more mind-boggling is why someone would spend that much money on a 1:8 scale model of the new Lamborghini supercar. Yes, one is for sale and it’s priced at $4.83 million.
This unbelievable scale model was presented by former Mercedes-Benz engineer and German model maker, Robert Gulpen, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Made from some of the most precious materials used for construction, the scale model Aventador comes wrapped in 1/1000mm thin threads of solid gold with carbon fiber forming the entire body of the car, and solid gold and platinum rims and interior to finish it off. On top of that, the material used on the windows is bulletproof glass and the Lamborghini logo adorned in the back is made from gold, platinum, and other precious gems.
All told, the whole project required €2 million ($2.8 million), which is insane just to read. The other half of that cost most likely comes as a result of 500 hours of build time.
The car is set to be auctioned off soon, possibly at Sotherby’s or Chrystie’s in New York or Dubai. Expect the model to fetch a starting bid of €3.5 million - $4.83 million - with part of the final purchase price going to charity.
Whether somebody’s insane enough to actually pay 12 times the price of an actual Lamborghini Aventador is besides the point. Paying $5 million for just about anything, let alone a scale model, is crazy enough.
UPDATE 12/02/2011: Robert Guelpen has decided to further increase the value of his Aventador by gilding it with gold. The car will be sold in December 2011 and will more than likely enter the Guinness Book of Records. The car features approximately 700 diamonds studded on each of the two seats inside, the chassis is made in solid gold, the wheel rims are platinum, and other elements are made of carbon fiber.
Hit the jump for a video showing off the Aventador scale model.
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Steve McQueen was, and is still considered to be, one of the icons of the auto industry. Sure, he didn’t design cars, nor did he start an auto company, but his indelible mark on all of us was that he was one of those Hollywood royalties that also knew how to handle his business behind the wheel of a race car.
His legendary movie, Le Mans, will always be a conversation-piece for us so it figures that some of the items that were used in that movie would fetch a pretty dollar if they went up for auction. That’s where this two-piece Gulf Racing suit comes into the picture. Not only was this piece of fabric used in the movie, but it was actually worn by McQueen himself. After being donated by the Observer to a lucky fan back in 1972 - a 12-year old won it during a competition - the suit now finds itself as one of the prize catches at the Profiles in History’s "Icons of Hollywood" auction.
Remarkably, the suit remains in tip-top condition and comes with all the trinkets and sponsor patches that were used in the movie, including the American flag, the Gulf logo, Heuer Chronograph and Firestone sponsor patches, and even Michael Delany’s name stitched on the right hand side.
The auction will take place on December 15-17, 2011 and experts have priced the suit at around $200,000 to $300,000, a hefty price tag for a classic racing suit that has a pretty interesting story behind it.
We wonder if the suit still has McQueen’s sweat stains on it...
Lotus has always had the pulse for doing charitable things as they have built numerous special edition models to help raise funds for charities. A few months ago, they built a special Evora called the Freddie Mercury Edition - Mercury was the lead vocalist of Queen - to benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust Foundation.
Recently, the British automaker went back to that same route by unveiling another special edition Evora S, this time personalized by no less than The Who front man, Roger Daltrey.
With the help of Lotus, Daltrey was given the reins in personalizing this car. In addition to signing the car himself, Daltrey also added in red striping details, as well as a number of "The Who" badges and a Union Jack logo on the tailgate. For their part, Lotus gave the special edition Evora Tech and Premium packages that include a Metallic Black paint finish, a reversing camera, and best of all, a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 engine that produces 345 horsepower.
The Evora Roger Daltrey Edition is set to be auctioned off on December 1, 2011 with proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
"Without teenagers and their energy and passion for music, we wouldn’t have Rock ’n Roll as we know it," Daltrey said. "There is no doubt in my mind that we’re really making a difference."
Interested bidders will need to bring their check books with them because the car is expected to go under the hammer for around £70,000, which is around $93,400 based on current exchange rates.
The new Bentley Continental GTC just made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and will be sold in here at a starting price of $212,800. But while people were amazed by its beauty in LA, in UK a Bentley Continental GTC has been auctioned for an impressive £240,000, or about $325,000 at the current exchange rates. All the proceeds went to this year’s Children in Need fundraising activities.
"Nearly 400 people saw the auction unfold and, as the price kept on rising, the whole place fell silent. To reach £240.000, even for the very latest Bentley which is still making its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show, just takes your breath away."
"Above all this has been an incredibly good result for Children in Need. The fact that the new owners are Bentley enthusiasts and love these cars is a bonus for us. We’re looking forward to welcoming them and their unique car to the dealership for many years to come." said Jon Crossley Managing Director of Bentley Manchester.
