There are few Volvos in this world that you can consider iconic cars, but if there ever was one, the old P1800 definitely tops that list. Unfortunately, the classic Swedish coupe has been lost in time, discontinued long ago with only memories serving proof of its existence.
This year, the P1800 is celebrating what would have been its 50th anniversary, and even if there’s no direct successor to the model, Volvo’s chief designer at its Monitoring and Concept Center, Chris Benjamin, has produced a visual sketch of what a modern-day P1800 could look like.
As a reminder of what-could-have-been, the "new" P1800 is certainly a car that would look pretty darn good in today’s world, but seeing as the Swedish company is currently in flux with drastic changes expected to be made in the coming months, there’s no telling if this sketch will even see the light of day - even as a concept.
Then again, the auto industry has proven time and again that you can never count out anything. If a modern-day P1800 is to be developed, we certainly wouldn’t hold back Volvo - and Geely, for that matter - from attempting to do so.
After all, it wasn’t that long ago when a couple of Korean brands were considered as mere afterthoughts. Now, Hyundai and Kia have become two of the biggest brands in the world.
So yeah, if there’s a model that deserves to have it’s silver anniversary celebrated, it’s the Volvo P1800. Cross your fingers that this "new-look" sketch comes to life in the near future.
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!
The new Jensen Interceptor - called the Interceptor R - is scheduled to be launched at some point next year, although we’ve just received fresh details about the project. One of the more important new details is that CPP Global Holdings, the British group that bought Bowler earlier this year, will be in charge of developing and building the Interceptor R. Eventually, CPP will also be in on finalizing and assembling the car in 2014.
In addition to its acquisition of Bowler, CPP is in talks to purchase Dutch supercar brand, Spyker. With all of this swirling around CPP, there’s no doubt that the company is fast becoming a name in the industry. Currently, the company has over 250 auto specialists, technicians, and craftsmen in its fold.
The original Jensen Interceptor was a GT-class car that was completely hand-built by Jensen Motors from 1966 to 1976 in the United Kingdom. Engine options available at that time for the Interceptor included a Chrysler-sourced 6.3-liter V8 engine and, later on, a more powerful 7.2-liter V8 engine that produced somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 horsepower.
For the new Interceptor R, the engine is expected to be a Dodge Viper-sourced 8.3-liter V10 engine with an output of 510 horsepower and 535 lb/ft of torque.
The Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlineta is one of the most unique cars on the market, fetching an astounding $4.3 million at the RM Auctions in March 2011. That princely sum is justified considering the 340 Mexico only consists of three different chassis, each built exclusively for the 1952 Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico. One of these units, chassis number 0224 AT driven by Luigi Chinetti, was successful in crossing the finish lane in third place behind two Mercedes 300SL Gullwing models and this is the car GWA Tuning has chosen to celebrate with a tributary model.
Using a Ferrari456 platform as a base, GWA Tuning was able to bring the classic 340 Mexico Berlinetta to modern times. This 456 platform was re-bodied by Coach Building master, Mark Nungent, from Australia. The body was then fixed up with a new diffuser, rear spoiler, side vents, and front splitters, all from newer Ferraris. The body was also stretched by about 15 inches (mostly in the middle) to fit the new platform, but the wheelbase remained the same.
More details on the tributary Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by GWA-Tuning after the jump.
Thirty years after his death, Steve McQueen’s name still reverberates within the auto industry. The man known as the “King of Cool” was not only one of his generation’s biggest movie stars, but also made a name for himself for his love of cars, racing, and a combination of the two.
Speaking of cars, McQueen owned a pretty amazing collection of cars back in the day, one of which is this 1970 Porsche 911 that’s headed for the auction block at RM Auctions in Monterey, California this coming August.
According to RM, the car, all 40 years old of it, still "remains in exceptionally original condition". While some people will be skeptical of buying an old Porsche that undoubtedly has had its fair share of work done to it, those who prefer to see the glass as half-full will point out that this particular 911 still stands as one of the most iconic 911 models in history.
Even if it’s gone through a number of owners after the original, you still can’t deny that this particular model’s first owner is no other than the "King of Cool" himself, Steve McQueen.
UPDATE 08/22/2011: Steve McQueen’s slate gray Porsche 911S ended up selling for a lavish $1,375,000 at RM Auctions this past weekend.
Details on Steve McQueen’s Porsche 911 after the jump.
James Bond may be a fictional character to all of us, but the dashing debonair / awesome secret agent is still an inspiration to all of us. Who wouldn’t want to be in his shoes? He’s got a killer job, he scores the hottest women, and best of all - at least in our case - he drives the fanciest cars.
That last part is such an integral part of the Bond legend that an exhibition is actually being planned to showcase the largest collection of James Bond vehicle to ever be displayed. The whole event is being prepared through the collaborative efforts of the UK’s National Motor Museum, Beaulieu and EON Productions, which is doing the groundwork for the event in preparation for the 50th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s Bond franchise.
Around 50 cars are expected to be included in the exhibit highlighted by the 2008 Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace, the 2002 Jaguar XKR with SFX weapons from Die Another Day, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldeneye, and the 1937 Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger.
The exhibit will be held at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, United Kingdom and will run the entire length of the 2012 calendar year.
“Following the success of the first Bond cars exhibition staged at Beaulieu in 2001, we are delighted to be working with EON again on this new display, bringing together the world’s largest collection of Bond vehicles, Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn said.
The exhibit won’t open for another few months, but it’s safe to say that we’ll be dropping by to check it out if we find ourselves in the area next year.
