Why do we love cars? Why is it that we know nearly every make and model of vehicle on the road? Why is it that the sound of an Italian V8 or the low-down grumble of old muscle cars excites us? There are many answers to those simple, thought provoking questions.
Some of us love the automotive world because of the engineering aspect. It can be easy to have the best time of your life working under the hood of your favorite car. Some love their beauty and the way artists have sculpted such brilliant shapes. We love them because of the freedom and speed they represent.
Luckily for people like us, there are events that can give us that sense of speed and the freedom to drive as fast we want with no laws to worry about. Two events that are coming up allow anybody to come and take their machines to the limit. The Texas Mile 324 and the World of Speed 2010 at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
UPDATE 08/26/2010: This article has been updated to include another top speed event. Check out the information on the Mojave Mile!
The folks at Factory Five Racing, the premiere Shelby Cobra replica builders in the world, have just come out with their fourth generation roadster complete with a reshaped body for a more period correct look thanks to a new in house fiberglass manufacturing process that significantly reduces the costs to tool the bodywork and apply the paint as well as additional room in the footwells for a more comfortable ride for both the driver and passenger and an optional aluminum shell seat for bigger guys.
The Mk4 roadster replica also comes with an all new assembly manual for complete kits making it easier to put the cars together from scratch as well as a Koni suspension that was first offered as an option on the last generation model and are now standard with all kits, but best of all they are made to accept the all new 400 HP 5.0 Liter Coyote V8 from the new MustangGT.
Cadillac prepared the VSR Sports Rod Concept specifically for the 2009 SEMA Show and anyone who might have overlooked this retro hot rod really missed out. Just like any proper hot rod the VSR is powered by a roaring V8, in this case a 6.0 Liter GM version pumping out a total of 400 HP. The modern day street rod is a one off custom creation that combines meticulous metal work with hand laid carbon fiber to create a true 21st century stylish speed machine. At all four corners are custom oversized five spoke rims from Alcoa wrapped in sticky Toyo rubber. From any angle the exposed rollers give the VSR a unique appearance and when combined with the rear diffuser and laser cut Cadillac emblem give the Sports Rod Concept a look that is all its own.
The American aftermarket parts manufacturer Hurst Performance Vehicles is one of the most recognized and revered names in the history of hot-rodding and have long been synonymous with speed and high performance vehicles. Throughout the years Hurst has come up with a host of proven special edition racers and quite a few memorable pace cars. This modified 2010 Ford Mustang will continue the tradition when it leads a pack of purpose built Mustangs around Miller Motorsports Park on September 19th for the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge.
The special edition BFGoodrich/Hurst Mustang pace car has been beefed up with a Roush supercharger that breathes in through a high flow K&N air filter and breathes out though an unrestricted Magnaflow stainless steel exhaust system that work together to increase the pony car’s output to 435 HP and 400 lb-ft of torque. Underneath the 2010 Mustang makes use of a Hurst-tuned Eibach Suspension complete with a fully adjustable set of coilovers and a set of thicker sway bars to keep all four of the Mustang’s hoofs planted as it goes around the bends. The Hurst Mustang Pace Car rides on a set of stunning 20 inch Hurst polished, forged aluminum wheels wrapped in a set of the obligatory BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires and wears the signature Hurst gold paint scheme complete with bold stripes running down the length of the body.
Inside the Mustang convertible comes with a Hurst Competition/Plus short-throw shifter with a gold anodized T-handle. The seats are covered with white Katzkin leather with black inserts and gold details. After the pace car has served out its Mustang Challenge duties, the white and gold drop top pony car will participate in numerous parades and even make an appearance at SEMA before being auctioned off for charity next January, with all proceeds benefiting the newest Victory Junction Camp in Kansas City.
The American automaker Ford recently sent their Formula Drift driver Vaughn Gittin Jr over to the land of the rising sun along with a 2010 Ford Mustang packed with all sorts of goodies from the Ford Racing Parts catalog in order for the only American to win a round of D1 competition to get a better feel for the origins of the sport while at the same time showing all of the drifting enthusiasts in Japan just what an American car can do. J.R. explains that drifting at the Ebisu circuit is one of those things that he has been dreaming of ever since he began getting his car sideways; Ebisu is one of those infamous circuits in Japan, built by Team Orange founder Nobushige Kumakubo into the side of a privately owned mountain Ebisu is the ultimate destination for drifting enthusiasts from around the world. Thanks to the blue oval, Gitten’s dreams are coming true.
Vaughn was scheduled to arrive just in time to watch some of the D1 professionals perform in front of Option’s cameras and even make an appearance while they shot footage for an upcoming episode of the video magazine. Despite a little inclement weather everything went off without a hitch, not even rain and bald tires could keep J.R. away from having the time of his life.
There are man types of automobiles represented at Boneville’s annual speed trials. So it was very fortunate that Rod Chong from Speedhunters managed to capture this ruby of a Nissan S-chassis hidden amongst mountains of salt. There are a few fast 240SXs in the world, the platform has been around for quite some time and tuners have managed to extract the most from some of the Nissan engineering department’s best work. There is one particular example that comes to mind. The first is the Japanese equivalent of a funny car, the HKS Drag 180SX, chosen for its sleek aerodynamic body the performance specialists paired it with and RB26DETT from the Nissan Skyline GT-R. It competed in Japan’s “Pro Stock” class where it won the Big End Drag Racing Series for two years in a row. The purpose built racecar ran a 7.184 @ 190.62 MPH at New Jersey’s Englishtown Raceway Park.
This particular Nissan 240SX is the property of the McMeekin Brothers Race Team and they have quite a bit of experience going fast in their red and white striped S13. The car has done over 235 MPH with a screaming Oldsmobile Aurora Indy V8 and a less stellar 156.7 MPH with a Ford Flathead V8. These cars are more accustomed to seeing Nissan’s turbocharged four cylinder SR20DET swapped in as opposed to domestic V8s. But the McMeekin Brothers are running in the XO/GALT class, a category for naturally aspirated vintage engines, so at first glance what looks to be and L-28 from an old Datsun turns out to be a classic Buick Straight 8, figures for these blue oval boys.
This year the McMeekin Brothers only ran 158 MPH on the long stretch of salt, only 8 MPH short of setting a record. Nevertheless with a one time 235 MPH top speed run, this Nissan 240SX is most definitely the world’s fastest S13.
It may seem like an unholy union, the combination of a 1960 Nash Rambler Wagon and a Ferrari 360, but its definitely unique. The car known as the "Ferrambo" is ready for sale. The cross-breed between body of a Rambler and the 3.6L V8 engine from a 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena, with some major help from some custom fabrication. Much of the car is hand made, including the custom frame that accommodates the car behind the two front seats.
The car made such a big splash at the 2008 Detroit Autorama that it won the coveted Riddler award. It features a set of custom leather luggage related to the upholstery. Although the Ferrambo is not a car fits everyone’s tastes, it may just be the perfect expensive grocery-getter. Anyone interested may need deep pockets, because apparently the price is high. Information is available through the GP Imports, but there has not been an official price list provided yet.
The first Foose Coupe was delivered to its happy owner last week in California. The car is limited to only 50 units and this one is the fourth built: the first two were prototypes built for the SEMA Show in 2006 and one was sold to a private owner.
The Foose Coupe is powered by either a 392ci (6.4L) Hemi V8 with an output of 500 Hp and 480 lb-ft torque or a Ford 5.4-liter V8.
The car also features: plush leather seating, carbon fiber trim, a pistol grip shifter for the five-speed manual, a fully independent front and rear suspension, 14-inch brake discs with six-piston Baer calipers and 20-inch polished alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires.
Boyd Coddington, legendary builder of some of the world’s most beautiful hot rods, has died at the age of 63. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. However, Coddington had been hospitalized last month following a fall.
Coddington raised the building of hot rods to an unparalleled level of beauty. Among his signature works are Chezoom (a gloriously modified ’57 Chevy) and Cadzilla, a sleekly modified ’49 Cadillac.
Coddington won the award for “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” at the Oakland Roadster Show - the ultimate trophy in the world of hot rodding – a record six times.
Volvo will unveil at the Volvo Museum in Göteborg the Jakob hot rod, a hand-built hot-rod based on the first ever Volvo to roll off the production line in 1927, the ÖV4 (the Swedish abbreviation for Open Car, 4 cylinders)
Hot Rod Jakob is far smaller than the original. It is a two-seater instead of offering space for four. And it has those typical Hot Rod attributes: large wheels, no wings and a muscular rear axle. And if you get a bit closer it is possible to see differences in terms of materials and details. The chassis is built of lightweight carbon fibre, just like today’s most advanced racing cars, not from heavy steel beams as in bygone times.
The brake discs are remarkably slim, but their huge diameter (450 mm front, 515 mm rear) guarantee that the braking surface is still going to be more than sufficient. The wheel spokes are made of aluminium instead of wood, but they are exactly the same in number. The massive tyres with their specially milled tread in the form of Volvo’s iron symbol give an assertive, modern aura, while the charming luggage compartment at the very front - in actual fact an elegant leather case - instead conjures up images of white suits, straw hats and wide skirts.
