Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Stillborn: 1989 BMW M5 convertible]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/stillborn-1989-bmw-m5-convertible/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/stillborn-1989-bmw-m5-convertible/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/stillborn-1989-bmw-m5-convertible/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for hi-res gallery of the '89 BMW M5 cabrio

These days BMW's M division is pretty busy, cranking out all manner of sport-tuned models in every form. You can get an M3 as a coupe, convertible or sedan, the M5 in sedan or wagon form, and the M6 as either a coupe or a convertible, in addition to M versions of the Z4. But back in the late '80s, the selection of M cars was much more limited. Not that the engineers in the sporting division weren't trying, though. Case in point is this M5 cabrio prototype that almost made it into production, but was canceled at the last minute.

Starting with an E34-generation M5 sedan, engineers in Munich chopped off the roof, strengthened the chassis and replaced the four doors with two longer ones. (If you think the idea is entirely absurd, just look at the Audi A4 cabrio and its quattro GmbH-tuned versions.) The resulting M5 convertible prototype was actually scheduled to debut at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show and even priced at £50k for the British market, but fearing that its addition to the BMW line-up would create demand for a conventional 5-series convertible and subsequently harm sales of the existing 3-series cabrio, BMW executives decided to kill the project. Only one prototype of the M5 convertible was made bearing ZS license plates from the BMW Individual program, as you can see in the gallery below.

Gallery: 1989 BMW M5 convertible prototype


[Source: TeamSpeed.com via Auto Unleashed]

 

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]]>bmwbmw mbmw m5bmw m5 cabriobmw m5 cabrioletbmw m5 convertibleBmwMBmwM5BmwM5CabrioBmwM5CabrioletBmwM5Convertiblem2008-08-21T19:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Frank's "Million Mile" Chevy Silverado]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/ebay-find-of-the-day-franks-million-mile-chevy-silverado/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/ebay-find-of-the-day-franks-million-mile-chevy-silverado/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/ebay-find-of-the-day-franks-million-mile-chevy-silverado/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



You've got thirty grand and you want a pickup truck, do you A) buy new, or B) hit eBay for a million-mile Silverado. Frank, who had a mild brush with celebrity when the odometer on his truck hit seven-figures recently, would like you to buy his truck. The 1991 Chevy Silverado 1500 is still on its original 350 small-block, though it's chewed up 5 trannies. Frank raves on and on about its remarkable engine and wants it to go to a collector who will appreciate it, but still go out for a ride from time to time. It is an impressive mileage total, but really, who's going to question that a small block V8 is one of the best engines ever? Maintenance has apparently been rather thorough, which is a help keeping any car alive, though we're surprised it hasn't been ravaged by the tinworm. Frank's auction ends in three days and so far hasn't moved beyond its starting bid of $29,999.99. With Employee Pricing back, however, you can get a brand new Chevy Silverado Regular Cab with a short box and zero miles for just $19,899.

Gallery: Million Mile Silverado


[Source: eBay]

 

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]]>ebay silveradoEbaySilveradomillion mile pickupmillion mile silverado ebaymillion mile truckmillion mile truck for saleMillionMilePickupMillionMileSilveradoEbayMillionMileTruckMillionMileTruckForSale2008-08-21T11:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[Ford Flex gets the woody treatment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/ford-flex-gets-the-woody-treatment/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/ford-flex-gets-the-woody-treatment/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/ford-flex-gets-the-woody-treatment/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Well, that didn't take long. A company by the name of Auto Tech Plastics has gone and done what seemed inevitable and many a blogger feared would happen: endow the new Ford Flex's slab-sidedness with fake woodgrain. Make no mistake, we have absolutely no problem whatsoever with the classic woody wagons from a bygone era. Sure, they may take a bit more upkeep than normal, but the classic models with their real wood paneling are just fine by us. This... thing? Not so much. The last wood-applique'd machine that rolled off the assembly lines should have been in '91 when the final Grand Wagoneer met its demise.

For those of you who don't share our opinion, there are plenty of choices with which to fill your plasti-wood fix. If you must, *sigh* click here to see some of your options.

[Source: The Car Connection]

 

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]]>ford flex woodyford flex woody kitFordFlexWoodyFordFlexWoodyKitwoodieswoodywoody kitWoodyKit2008-08-20T16:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Gilles: Chrysler done with 'Edge' look, going 'Organic']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/gilles-chrysler-done-with-edge-look-going-organic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/gilles-chrysler-done-with-edge-look-going-organic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/gilles-chrysler-done-with-edge-look-going-organic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're already encouraged by the fact that Ralph Gilles has ascended to the top of Chrysler's design department, as the past vehicles penned under his supervision have all been some of Chrysler's best. Say what you want about the reborn 300 now, but when it was first introduced, it's styling set in motion a major tidal wave of accolades and was a fresh direction for Detroit's number 3. The 'Edge' look, as Gilles calls it, though, is getting a bit stale these days and Chrysler needs a new direction -- Sebring anyone? According to the new design chief, ChryCo's new look will be 'Organic', which Gilles says will get "our cars to be sexy again." Remember "cab forward"? That moniker could make a comeback along with the more stylish interiors that Chrysler so desperately needs.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

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]]>cab forwardCabForwardchrysler designChryslerDesignedge stylingEdgeStylingorganic stylingOrganicStylingralph gillesRalphGilles2008-08-20T12:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-concours-delegance/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-concours-delegance/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-concours-delegance/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a high-res gallery.

By the time Sunday rolls around during Monterey Week, we're pretty exhausted. Too many cars and so little time. Still, that doesn't stop us from getting to the 18th fairway before the sun comes up to see the cars drive onto the grass. Duesenbergs, Bentleys, Cadillacs, Ferraris, Bugattis, and more come rolling into the show, causing us to scurry back and forth to photograph as many of them as possible. There was so much to look at this year -- the Lamborghinis, Lancias, V16 Cadillacs, 250 GT California Spyders, GM's Motorama, and Leno's tank car -- before we knew it, the Best of Show had been crowned and the day was over. We can't go through all of the class winners and special awards, but if you are interested, you can view them on the Pebble Beach Concours web site. We've put together a comprehensive gallery of high resolution photos for you, many with captions in case you aren't familiar with the cars. Enjoy!

Gallery: 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

 

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]]>2008 Pebble Beach Concours2008 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance2008PebbleBeachConcours2008PebbleBeachConcoursDeleganceMonterey 2008Monterey2008Pebble BeachPebble Beach 2008PebbleBeachPebbleBeach20082008-08-20T10:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[Craiglist Find of the Day: Collection of Cadillac Cimarrons... oh, yeah]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/craiglist-find-of-the-day-collection-of-cadillac-cimarrons-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/craiglist-find-of-the-day-collection-of-cadillac-cimarrons-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/craiglist-find-of-the-day-collection-of-cadillac-cimarrons-o/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Cadillac Cimarron from the '80s is perhaps the very best (or worst) example of rebranding gone awry. Based on the never-meant-for-a-Caddy J Platform, which underpinned the Pontiac Sunfire through 2005, the Cimarron marked the lowest point in Cadillac's illustrious history. The Caddy-that-wasn't is so bad, in fact, that it's claimed iconic status way earlier than most of Detroit's past iron, as evidenced by our reader-submitted Future Classics post from last year.

Those of you wanting to get in on the Cimarron action before all of them are crushed the prices skyrocket should check out this posting on Craigslist. Here we have three Cimarron's from the late '80s all needing to be saved from that great crusher in the sky, and each equipped with the General's 130-horsepower 60-degree 2.8-liter boat anchor V6 engine. But wait, there's more! Act now and the seller will throw in a fourth car for parts. All this for the low, low price of just $6,000. Act now! Thanks for the tip, Matt!

[Source: Craigslist]

 

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]]>cadillaccadillac cimarronCadillacCimarroncimarrongm j platformGmJPlatformj platformJPlatform2008-08-20T09:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[C4 Corvette ZR-1s gather for the coming out of their successors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/c4-corvette-zr-1s-gather-for-the-coming-out-of-their-successors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/c4-corvette-zr-1s-gather-for-the-coming-out-of-their-successors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/c4-corvette-zr-1s-gather-for-the-coming-out-of-their-successors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click the DR-1 above for a high-res gallery of the C4 ZR-1

At the coming out party for the new ZR1 Corvette last week at Milford Proving Grounds, General Motors decided to bring out a handful of ZR-1s (note the dash to distinguish it from the new model) from the first go around in the early '90s to remind us all of how far things have progressed in the past 18 years. The original ZR-1 was built from 1990-95 and, as with the new model, its engine was the heart of the car. In the late '80s when the ZR-1 was conceived, GM owned Lotus. The British sports car specialist designed the LT5 V8 specifically for the ZR-1. Aside from sharing bore spacing with the regular small-block, they had nothing else in common. The LT5 was an all-aluminum, dual overhead cam, 32 valve V8. At the time of its introduction, the motor had an output of 375 hp (eventually bumped to 405 hp in the last couple years of production), which was huge for the day, though tame by today's standards.

Unfortunately, the C4 Corvette wasn't a great car to start with. Even with the beefed up sills that were added to to the convertible, the C4 wasn't particularly rigid. The car rode hard and the huge clam-shell hood quivered constantly on anything but glass smooth pavement. While the expensive ZR-1 never sold in huge numbers, it did spawn some interesting derivatives that GM keeps in its Heritage Collection. Among the ones brought to Milford were one of the active suspension prototypes. These used a fully active hydraulic suspension system with no springs, but the hydraulics reportedly consumed upwards of 40 hp. One unique car from the collection is the DR-1 (above). This was the only ZR-1 convertible ever built and was produced for Don Runkle (hence the DR), who at the time was chief engineer at Chevrolet. The other three cars were stock ZR-1s of various vintages.

Check back here at 12:01 AM EST for our First Drive of the new Corvette ZR1.

Gallery: Corvette C4 ZR-1


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

 

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]]>corvette zr-1corvette zr1corvette zr1 picturesCorvetteZr-1CorvetteZr1CorvetteZr1Pictures2008-08-19T14:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/sema-preview-rossi-66-melds-corvette-c2-looks-with-c6-hardware/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/sema-preview-rossi-66-melds-corvette-c2-looks-with-c6-hardware/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/sema-preview-rossi-66-melds-corvette-c2-looks-with-c6-hardware/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the image to enlarge and view another angle of the Rossi 66

There is a trend in the works that takes a modern Corvette chassis, jettisons the stock fiberglass bodywork and adds a new shell that mimics the look of an older, classic 'Vette. We have seen Classic Reflection Coachworks' take on the '62 'vert with C5 underpinnings, and now a company by the name of Blue Fusion has tackled the iconic split window. One problem: their press release continually refers to the 1966 split window, which doesn't exist as the only year the two-piece rear glass was produced was '63. But, let's not let silly little things like facts get in the way. The resultant Rossi 66 cribs the workings of a modern C6 Corvette and adds a unique Sting Ray look.

Blue Fusion plans to debut its Rossi 66 at the upcoming SEMA event in November, assuming that the company is able to find the funding it needs to actually produce its first car. So far, all we have to look at are the renderings below, though we can clearly see that the '66 '63 body looks much better grafted onto a modern platform than the '62 does. We'll see if it makes an appearance in Sin City later this year.

Gallery: Blue Fusion Rossi 66


[Source: Blue Fusion via Jalopnik]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware

 

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]]>blue fusionblue fusion rossi 66BlueFusionBlueFusionRossi66c2 corvetteC2Corvettec6 corvetteC6Corvettecorvettecorvette c6corvette rebodycorvette sting raycorvette stingrayCorvetteC6CorvetteRebodyCorvetteStingrayrossi 66Rossi66sema2008-08-19T14:00:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: Lamborghini featured at Pebble Beach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/monterey-2008-lamborghini-featured-at-pebble-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/monterey-2008-lamborghini-featured-at-pebble-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/monterey-2008-lamborghini-featured-at-pebble-beach/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the featured Lamborghinis at Pebble

While Pebble Beach is perhaps best known as a place to honor classic American and European cars, sports cars have always held a special place in the hearts of the Concours committee and judges. With 45 years under its belt, Lamborghini is certainly deserving of a special place on both counts. As a featured marque here at Pebble, Lamborghini was extremely well represented with a selection of exquisite rare examples. Nine vehicles were on display being judged by 40-year test pilot Valentino Balboni among others.


The lineup of seldom-seen Lambos included the earliest known Lamborghini 350GT, the earliest known Miura, the earliest Miura SV, the Miura Roadster fresh from a yearlong restoration that swapped its army green paint for the correct blue metalflake, a 350GTS, 350GTZ by Zagato, an early LP400 Countach, and three one-off concepts - the 1990 P140, 1996 Raptor, and the Gallardo Concept S. A truly spectacular selection of models representing the fabled Italian marque. Check out the gallery below and follow the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Lamborghini at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Lamborghini featured at Pebble Beach

 

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]]>montereymonterey 2008Monterey2008pebble beachpebble beach 2008pebble beach concourspebble beach concours delegancepebble beach week 2008PebbleBeachPebbleBeach2008PebbleBeachConcoursPebbleBeachConcoursDelegancePebbleBeachWeek20082008-08-19T09:57:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: Pebble Beach celebrates California Spyder's 50th]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-celebrates-california-spyders-50th/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-celebrates-california-spyders-50th/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-celebrates-california-spyders-50th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click image above for high-res gallery of pics of the Ferrari California Spyders

The 250 GT California Spyder is one of Ferrari's most celebrated (and valuable) models, most often remembered by the general public for its starring role in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This year marked the Spyder's 50th anniversary, and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance celebrated the occasion by giving the car its very own class. Six variations of the car were produced, all of which were displayed on the 18th fairway including the original prototype and a competition version that raced at both Sebring and Le Mans. Follow the jump for more information on these amazing cars and enjoy the high resolution gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder 50th Anniversary


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

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]]>ferrari california spiderFerrari California SpyderFerrariCaliforniaSpiderFerrariCaliforniaSpyderpebble beachpebble beach 2008pebble beach concours delegancePebbleBeachPebbleBeach2008PebbleBeachConcoursDelegance2008-08-18T20:02:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: Leno's Tank Car storms Pebble Beach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/monterey-2008-lenos-tank-car-storms-pebble-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/monterey-2008-lenos-tank-car-storms-pebble-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/monterey-2008-lenos-tank-car-storms-pebble-beach/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of Jay's Tank Car in Monterey

We were as surprised as anyone to see Jay Leno's name on the entry list for this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Then we saw that he would be arriving in a 1953 Chrysler. As nice as 1953 Chryslers may be, Jay's is pretty special. It's an imposing custom hot rod that is powered by a 28.4-liter Chrysler built tank engine. Most people call it the Tank Car, and last year this time it was on display across the country at the Woodward Dream Cruise. The heart of the Tank Car is the 1792 cid V-12 Continental-designed, Chrsyler-built tank engine that in turbocharged form puts out something like 1,600 hp and 3,000 ft-lbs. of torque. The engine alone weighs 2,000 lbs and easily qualifies Jay's car in this year's featured 20+ liter class.

While performance isn't this car's main goal, it can scoot along pretty well with all of that power being routed through an Allison 6-speed transmission. Switching from the original 3-speed trans doubled Leno's gas mileage, which now stands at around 5 mpg. As bad as that might seem, it comes across as almost reasonable when you hear it guzzles 80 quarts of oil every time Jay swings through a Jiffy Lube. We have to admit that we were among the many fans who rushed to see the car as Jay entered the Pebble Beach fairway. It's really a spectacular sight, even at an event that is known to stop even seasoned auto afficianados in their tracks every few seconds.

Gallery: Jay Leno's Tank Car at Pebble


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

 

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]]>jay lenoJayLenopebble beachpebble beach 2008PebbleBeachPebbleBeach2008tank carTankCar2008-08-18T16:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[Woodward 2008: Monday morning recap]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/wooward-2008-monday-morning-recap/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/wooward-2008-monday-morning-recap/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/wooward-2008-monday-morning-recap/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're the type who disappears on the weekend only to spend your first hour of work on Monday morning going through all the posts you missed on Autoblog, well, then you missed a lot this past weekend. In addition to our extensive coverage of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and all the events that occurred in Monterey, we also took you to Detroit for the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise. Below you'll find a comprehensive yet easy to navigate group of our posts and galleries from the Dream Cruise. Be warned, it may take longer than usual to absorb everything you missed this weekend, but it's absolutely worth it. Below you'll find booth tours for each of the Detroit Three, and there's lots more after the jump. Enjoy and we'll see you next year on Woodward Ave.

GM Booth Tour - Post | Gallery
Ford Booth Tour - Post | Gallery
Chrysler Booth Tour - Post | Gallery

Continue reading Woodward 2008: Monday morning recap

 

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]]>featuredwoodwardwoodward 2008woodward dream cruiseWoodward2008WoodwardDreamCruise2008-08-18T08:54:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: Pebble Beach Best of Show goes to the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-best-of-show-goes-to-the-1938-alfa-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-best-of-show-goes-to-the-1938-alfa-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-pebble-beach-best-of-show-goes-to-the-1938-alfa-r/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res gallery of this year's Pebble Beach Best of Show

The confetti has fallen, the champagne corks have flown, and the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show award has gone to the gorgeous 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta owned by John and Mary Shirley of Medina Washington. While every car here is truly extraordinary, the Best of Show car is always a stunner. This year was no exception. One of possibly five 8C 2900s bodied by Touring, this 8C has the supercharged straight 8 that was good for an amazing 180 hp. Some 30 8Cs were produced by Farina and Touring from 1937-1939, and few are the same or as nice as this particular example. Besides the trinkets and trophy, the Best of Show car also gets a boost in MSRP typically, being able to justifiably call itself the best collector car around. While we might fill in a few more galleries and posts to round out our coverage of Monterey 2008, we wanted to get this news to you asap. So click on the pics and enjoy.

Gallery: 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

 

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]]>breakingnewsmontereymonterey 2008Monterey2008pebble beach 2008pebble beach concourspebble beach concours delegancepebblebeachPebbleBeach2008PebbleBeachConcoursPebbleBeachConcoursDelegance2008-08-17T20:19:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: GM's Motorama cars at Pebble Beach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-gms-motorama-cars-at-pebble-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-gms-motorama-cars-at-pebble-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-gms-motorama-cars-at-pebble-beach/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click image above for high-res gallery of Motorama Cars from Pebble

Along with the 20+ liter class, the Lancias, Lamborghinis and Ferrari California Spiders, GM's Motorama cars were among the featured groups at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this year. For those of a certain age, the Motorama cars were some of the wildest dream cars ever created. GM created a traveling road show of concepts that went from town to town. These vehicles were styled by some of the greatest names in the design biz and have had a lasting impact on many that followed. The cars themselves explored design themes that stretched the imagination and incorporated some of the latest, greatest technology of the day. Some were used for a year or two to show people the possibilities, and then were discarded like yesterday's newspaper. Others were outright destroyed because they were never designed to be drivable. Thanks to at least one dedicated fan, their remains were salvaged and the cars rebuilt when possible. To help celebrate GM's 100th anniversary, Pebble gathered them together to show them off once again. Many look spectacular but a couple still need some TLC. Check out the press release after the jump and the full gallery below.

Gallery: GM Motorama Dream Cars at Pebble

1954 Firebird XP-211938 Buick Y-Job1956 Buick Centurion XP-3011953 Buick Wildcat 11954 Buick Wildcat II

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Monterey 2008: GM's Motorama cars at Pebble Beach

 

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]]>GM MotoramaGmMotoramamotoramapebble beachpebble beach 2008pebble beach week 2008PebbleBeachPebbleBeach2008PebbleBeachWeek20082008-08-17T19:18:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: Saturday's Monterey Historic Automobile Races]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-saturdays-monterey-historic-automobile-races/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-saturdays-monterey-historic-automobile-races/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-saturdays-monterey-historic-automobile-races/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image above for huge high-res gallery of the AB team's pics from the track

The 35th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Toyota at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a long title for a spectacular event. Saturday was actually day two of the Historics, which will conclude on Sunday. While the races are exciting and the action very real, the results are slightly less important here than just witnessing the spectacle. The sounds alone are worth a trip to Laguna Seca in August. Saturday's action featured the Toyota Race of Legends, with several other classes having their day in the sun as well.

We had photographers all around the track capturing glimpses of the action, so make sure to click through the gallery to see what you are missing. After witnessing Mario Andretti throw the checkered flag for the Legends and then completing what seemed like dozens of "demo" laps in his old Lotus F1 car, we thought we knew what makes this event so special. And then we saw Patrick Dempsey getting some demo laps in an old Chrysler, and we had to rethink our theory. Okay, Dempsey is probably a bit more maligned here than he deserves, but he does seem to be featured here a lot lately. Personally we were happy to see the Keno twins of Antiques Roadshow fame just as much.

Look through the gallery and you will see some of these encounters and dozenz of pics of the great cars you practically trip over in the open paddock. It's just sick how many of the greatest cars from throughout automotive history are here and being driven as they should be. Saturday's classes included the finals for Pre-1940 Sports and Touring Cars, 1925-1950 Racing Cars and Indy Roadsters, 1950-1960 Sports Racing Cars, 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars, 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars and 1964-1975 FIA Sports Racing Cars. We also got to see some of the cars that will be running Sunday as their owners tweaked them for the final day of competition. If you make it out to the track on Sunday you'll likely catch the featured Alfa Romeos as well as 1955-1966 Production Sports Cars, 1967-1978 Historic F-1 Cars, and 1972-1983 Historic IMSA Cars. If you can't find something you like in those groups, you're not trying.

Press release after the jump with results and quotes from Saturday.

Gallery: 2008 Monterey Historics


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Saturday's Monterey Historic Automobile Races

 

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Click above for a gallery of Hot Rods on Woodward

Cruising amongst the various cars down Woodward this weekend were quite a few machines that fit into the Hot Rod genre. Starting with a classic old-school vehicle platform, adding power and lowering it to the ground, the Hot Rod ethos still manages to attract its fair share of gawkers, including those of us wielding cameras. Take a look at the gallery we assembled below for the coolest 'rods and customs we could find.

Gallery: Woodward 2008: Hot Rods

 

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]]>hot rodhot rodsHotRodHotRodswoodwardwoodward 2008woodward dream cruisewoodward dream cruise 2008woodward2008WoodwardDreamCruiseWoodwardDreamCruise20082008-08-17T10:34:00+00:00<![CDATA[Monterey 2008: The Toyota Race of Legends]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-the-toyota-race-of-legends/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-the-toyota-race-of-legends/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/17/monterey-2008-the-toyota-race-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image above for high-res gallery from Laguna Seca

This year's edition of The Toyota Race of Legends looked to be another exciting race, giving fans a chance to see former racing greats mix it up in identically prepared Scion tCs. Basically they are the same cars that are used in Long Beach for the Pro/Celebrity Race. The lineup of drivers included last year's winner, Derek Bell, along with other former F1 and sports car racers like Eddie Cheever, Danny Sullivan, Johnny Herbert, Alan Jones, John Watson, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Patrick Tambay, and Alain de Cadenet, as well as current Toyota F1 hot shoe, Timo Glock.

As a bit of a twist in the proceedings, local tuner and sometime racer Bruce Canepa had won a spot on the grid during a charity auction. Bruce quickly promised to beat the pants off the pros, citing his experience at Laguna Seca (his shop is just down the road), his prior racing experience (he has teamed with Bobby Rahal and Rick Mears at the Daytona 24 Hours and was on the Porsche AG 935 factory team), and his recent Scion tC track training.

Alain de Cadenet, for one, wasn't about to take that challenge lying down. He told us as much on Wednesday night at the Jet Center. A little friendly rivalry could only add to the fun. The stakes were raised when the officials held the draw for starting positions. Wouldn't you know it, Canepa landed the pole. Well, the gauntlet was thrown down and when the flag was waived, it was time to put up or shut up. Follow the jump for a brief rundown of the results.

Gallery: Monterey 2008: Toyota Race of Legends


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

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Click above for more high-res images of muscle cars on Woodward

It's with fond memories that we look back on the age of the muscle car, their big-inch V8 engines belching power and burning tires long before it was politically incorrect to do so. Starting with humble mid-size coupe origins, the Pontiac GTO ignited a trend that is just now starting to come back in style after decades of gathering dust in the corner. Still, those classic stoplight predators from the '60s and early '70s get their day in the sun today on Woodward Avenue. Take a look at all the classic American muscle we found in the gallery below.

Gallery: Woodward 2008: Musclecars

 

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]]>musclemuscle carmuscle carsMuscleCarmusclecarswoodwardwoodward 2008woodward dream cruisewoodward2008WoodwardDreamCruise2008-08-16T20:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[Woodward 2008: Ford Booth Tour at 9 Mile]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/16/woodward-2008-ford-booth-tour-at-9-mile/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/16/woodward-2008-ford-booth-tour-at-9-mile/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/16/woodward-2008-ford-booth-tour-at-9-mile/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res gallery of Ford's booth on Woodward Ave.

Ford's display for the Woodward Dream Cruise used to be located at 15 Mile, but this year the Blue Oval picked up and moved all the way down to 9 Mile in Ferndale. And when we say 9 Mile, we mean the whole street. Ford's display is literally on the road and stretches for blocks and blocks east of Woodward. The heart of it is Mustang Alley, at the entrance of which are three Ford GTs of varying color and two racing Mustangs turned on their sides so their undercarriages can be inspected up close. Enter Mustang Alley and you'll travel back in time as you stroll down the street. First are the late model pony cars followed by the '90s, '80s and older. Here is where you can also find booths for SVT, Ford Racing, Shelby and ROUSH, as well. Ford only occupies about half a block on the other side of Woodward where a pair of 2009 Ford F-150s flank the Blue Thunder Monster truck. Oh, and behind that is a motorized bull, because nothing says "Ford" like a motorized bull.

Gallery: Woodward 2008: Ford Booth Tour

 

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UPDATE: After streaming a view of Woodward Ave. for over 8 hours, the live feed has been turned off. It was a great success and we plan on doing it again next year. If you have any suggestions on how to improve this feature, let us know in the comments.

Can't make it to Detroit for the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise? We got your back. Follow the jump for a live streaming view of Woodward Ave. and watch the famous four-lane road (one way) fill up with classics, muscle cars, exotics and the oddest autos you've ever seen. We're going to keep the stream going all day long (barring technical difficulties), so check back often. Peak time of the cruise is 12-4 PM EST, at which time Woodward turns into a parking lot so each car has plenty of time to stop and wave at the camera.

CLICK HERE to watch live stream of the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise.

Continue reading Woodward 2008: LIVE STREAMING the Cruise!

 

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