One of the cars that really stood out to us at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show was this particular Porsche 911 (964) that was jointly built by two industry heavyweights, Mark Arcenal of Fatlace and RWB’s very own, Nakai-san.
The creation, called the RWB Porsche 911 Pandora One, is a testament to the highly influential skills of the two car builders. Before any modifications took place, RWB and Fatlace stripped down the car and all of its road equipment to give way for a new racing set-up, including a new full roll-cage. After that, two Recaro Pro-Racer SPG seats were installed and fitted along with Stack gauges. In addition, the 964’s exterior was treated to a full compliment of aerodynamic parts courtesy of Rauh-Welt Begriff, highlighted by the enormous wing on the rear of the sports race car. Other touches done on the 964 include a satin green paint finish by TNT, new KW V3 coilovers to replace the car’s standard springs and shocks, and a new set of 18" RWB wheels built by Rotiform wrapped in Falken tires on the front and Azenis tires on the back.
One unique feature of the Pandora One is a special remote-operated hydraulic lift system built by KW called the HLS System. The set-up allows the Porsche to create as much as 1.75" of additional ground clearance with just a push of a button.
Meanwhile, the car’s race-spec engine was handled by FFTEC Motorsports, which in turn took the turbo engine and tuned it to produce 6psi of boost and 398 horsepower. While that number is what’s underneath the hood of the 911 for now, the car is expected to back into FFTEC’s Mustang dyno, where the company is looking into pulling out 15psi of boost. Figure that out and you’ll probably get an output that’s near the 550-horsepower area.
The 1957 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing is without question one of the most iconic vehicles in auto history so when you’re in the presence of one, it’s important to treat the car with utmost care and delicacy.
At the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, we saw a 300SL Gullwing at the BASF Booth, except that this particular one was fine-tuned by no less than Chip Foose/Foose Design in collaboration with the world leader in automotive OEM and refinish technologies. Before being sent off to Foose Design for the cursory aerodynamic improvements, BASF was already familiar with the 300SL, having spearheaded a restoration project that was actually featured in a 2008 episode of Dream Car Garage.
As far as Foose’s responsibility on the car was concerned, the man with the tuning Midas touch was tasked to give it some subtle, yet significant styling cues. To begin his work, Foose removed the 300SL’s front and rear bumpers, replacing them with custom fabricated units that have been redesigned to offer slimmer and more elegant trim. The company also took time to make enhancements on the rear bulge just above the rear wheel, making it symmetrical to the front wheel house bulge. The car’s grille and shell, together with the nose emblem, were all treated to minor modifications while the car’s new side trim was machined, milled, filed, and polished, just before undergoing final chrome plating. New headlights were also installed while the bezels were machined out of billet aluminum before being fit back to the front fenders. And finally, Foose outfitted the 300SL Gullwing with a clean set of Foose wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Nero tires.
The Ring Brothers are staples of SEMA in large part to the many classic and restored Ford Mustangs they’ve shown over the past years. This year, the dynamic tuning company is back with a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback called the "Producer".
Dressed in a BASF Glasurit 90 Line Waterborne Paint BASF paint finish, the "Producer" was restyled with a number of Ring Brothers’ own accessories, including the hood pins, the door handles, and the taillight bezels. The classic Mustang comes with a full steel chassis with tubular A-arms working as front suspension and Watts-link suspension on the rear.
Aesthetically, the "Producer" also makes use of a new, fully custom wide-body kit that comprises of a carbon fiber roof, a carbon fiber hood, extended rockers, a 4130 full roll cage, and a set of 18" (front) and 19" (rear) Forgeline 3-piece wheels wrapped in Michelin tires. Inside, the "Producer" is treated to a one-off dash with a custom interior, details of which have yet to be revealed.
The biggest deal about the ’Producer’, though, is what’s sleeping under its hood: a Keith Craft 351/427 stroker engine mated to a Tremec T56 six-speed transmission and capable of producing a metal-bending 740 horsepower.
The return of classic auto brand Morgan is coming with the rebirth of some of its classic vehicles. We’ve already touched on reincarnated versions for some of their old model line-up, including the highly-anticipated Three-Wheeler.
Fast forward to today and we just got word that another old-school Morgan will be making a comeback at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, after a brief hiatus in the retirement block. Discontinued in 2004 after being born in 1968, the Plus 8 has an enduring appeal that very few cars can boast of, further emphasizing the car’s stature as one of Morgan’s all-time classics.
Details behind the reincarnated Plus 8 are still being kept under wraps, but a few details about the car have already leaked out, including the addition of modern components to go with the retro-futuristic styling and a choice of eight exterior finishes as well as an interior that will carry a multitude of wood-finished options. But the most important piece of news surrounding the new Plus 8 is the expected price tag its going to carry. In this case, the facelifted Plus 8 will cost £71,000, which is around $112,000 based on current exchange rates.
It’s not exactly the most affordable option out on the market, but if the new Plus 8 is being touted as a modern-day version of the classic machine, then the price may very well be justified.
Ferrari has unveiled an exclusive video from the first edition of the Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio, in 2011. The event features dozens of cars - both classic and modern - from Ferrari and has been held in some of the most spectacular places in Sicily between Catania and Palermo.
The event started on September 30th at Marina di Ragusa and continued on through October 1st at Taormina before finishing up on October 3rd at Palermo when the car’s parade arrived at the stage in front of the Politeama theatre.
The Ferrari Tribute was mainly an occasion filled with passion, shared during the special stages, mastered with innovative technology or just a stopwatch in one’s hand, followed by relaxing moments with the breathtaking views of a spectacular scenery.
A new edition will be held on the roads of Sicily in 2012!
