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1946 Beetle

The Beetle speedo of 1946 is almost identical with the speedometer
of the very first Porsche 356 from 1947. 

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It’s not that unusual to find that true car guys are often real watch guys as well, which is why we were excited, if not overly surprised, to find out about the Volkswagen-themed work of German watchmakers Bavarian Chrono. Each member of this series of fine, handmade timepieces seeks to perfectly replicate the unmistakable speedometer from a Volkswagen Beetle, from the production model of 1946 all the way through the Mexican-built cars that ceased production just a few years ago. The watchmaker is also working on Karman Ghia (1966) and Bus (1961) versions, but hasn’t yet posted images to its web space.

Offering what looks like impeccable quality and Swiss movement at fairly reasonable prices (starting around 155 Euro), we guess that this series could make a huge hit in the voracious VW collector market. Got a Beetle owner on you Christmas list this year?

Take a moment to browse through our gallery of Bavarian Chrono watches, tracing the change to the iconic Beetle as you go.

+ Bavarian Chrono

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The good news is that the car with which Subaru is celebrating the WRX STI’s 20th birthday, seen in the gallery above, is appropriately boy-racer hot. The bad news—and we know most of you saw this one coming—is that the limited edition car will sell its mere 300 examples entirely in Japan. Sucks to the western world yet again.

The tantalizingly unavailable STI gets a firmer suspension package to go with a revised lip spoiler and rear wing, as well as having special badging and 18-inch alloys to finish the look. New look Recaro seats, red stitching, and an updated gear lever knob won’t let the driver forget what a special edition he’s in—same with the price tag, which will crest 4.2 million Yen ($42,000 or so). 

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In the market for a take no prisoners supercar for the kind of money that usually will only buy a very fast sports car? As usual, eBay Motors has got just what you’re looking for, with this Toyota Supra that has been tuned to achieve a mind-shattering 949 horsepower. Sellers claim that the gonzo Supra has not only recorded a top speed of 225 miles per hour, but also maintain that it is the “fastest Toyota” in the European Union—a claim that Toyota’s F1 program might take issue with.

While we’re certain that the Supra is indeed quite fast, potential buyers may want to take caution on a few fronts before handing over their $80,000. For one thing, the car will need to be shipped from Warsaw, Poland, a frightening logistical journey even under the best of circumstance (re: not dealing with the eBay sellers shown in the photo), and quite possibly a nightmarish one here. The rather artistic photography that’s being used to shift the Supra is another potential red flag, as we’d generally prefer images that haven’t been heavily photoshopped (no matter how interesting the results) when dealing with showing the condition of a purchase.

Have a closer look at this Toyota powerhouse in our gallery above.

+ eBay Motors: 2004 Other Makes  Toyota Supra

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Caption:

2008 Audi R8   
72.3% Boomer owned

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According to information gathered by J.D. Power’s vast network of statisticians, the aging Baby Boomer demographic (ages 44 through 63-years-old) is still a key one for U.S. car sales. The Boomers have purchased 44.2 percent of all vehicles sold in the country during the first seven months of 2008.

While this much discussed demographic has had a huge impact on the whole industry this year, there are still certain models that Boomers seem to be almost inexplicably drawn to. A generally high level of purchasing power, combined with a desire for cars that exude both power and luxury, does a lot to color the choices that these buyers make.

In the gallery above you’ll find the 10 cars that boasted the highest percentage of Baby Boomer Buyers—an eclectic collection of machinery for sure—which span both price range and class, while all doing something to pull the heartstrings of a generation. Have a look at the group in our gallery above and tell us which cars surprised you by their inclusion, or omission, in comments.

+ J.D. Power

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A great piece for the enthusiast garage, NASCAR den, or automotive workplace (hint hint), these customizable soda machines from American Soda Machines are a great piece of automobilia for the thirsty driver. The machines can be adorned with any vehicle make or model, manufacturer logos, a personal vehicle, or pretty much what ever a customer may prefer. Put as many as seven different varieties of canned or bottled drinks in your machine (the hoppier the better in our book), and name your price. Check out a few of ASM’s demos in the gallery above.

It may have been recorded before the advent of easy access to audio, but the film on display in vintage footage of the Indianapolis 500 is nevertheless quite amazing. Claiming to be filmed at the 1934 running of Indy—back in the days when the Brickyard was still (mostly) brick—this view from the grandstands gives a glimpse of what it must have been like to take in some of history’s most impressive motoring machines. Though the track is a bit obscured by boater hats and head tops at all times, this clip still manages to convey a bit of the spirit from racing’s bygone era. Enjoy.

+ YouTube: Indianapolis 500 1934

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As a pristine example, of a limited edition, of a very exclusive sports car from an extremely small manufacturer, this 1974 Iso Rivolta Lele Sport represents a true find for the eBay Motors shopper. The exotic (and very 1970s) 2+2 styling and black on brilliant yellow paint may not be the right fit for every collector, but there’s little doubt that this eccentric Italian will attract eyeballs wherever it’s driven.

The heroic Iso offered muscle car shove in 1974, with something like 360 horsepower being wrung from its 5.7-liter, Ford-sourced V-8 engine, and a top speed that was claimed to be around 150 miles per hour. One of the last products that rolled out of the Iso doors, only 20 Lele Sports were known to have been produced. We’d guess then that the starting bid of $30,000 on this auction will have to move considerably before the seller’s reserve is met. Happy bidding.

+ eBay Motors: 1974 Other Makes

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When Chevy announced pricing on the 2010 Camaro today, we were immediately sent scrambling in an effort to find another car that offered as much grunt for as little scratch. Not an easy job. Is there a better performance bargain than the upcoming Camaro on sale today? Give us your opinion, in comments.

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We learn something new every day, most of the time regarding a vehicle (or some piece of one), and often courtesy of the wealth of information contained within the virtual domain of eBay Motors.

Today our lesson was about the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered vehicle in recorded history, at least if this seller’s information is correct, the 1959 Opel P1/T1. The shockingly frugal Opel has owned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the last 35-years, after traveling just over 376 miles on one gallon of gasoline at an airfield test track in Wood River, Illinois in 1973. The amazing Opel was designed by a team from the Shell Oil Company, and has spent the intervening three decades since its world record run as a permanent member of the Talladega Super Speedway Motorsports Hall of Fame.

The car was built around a 1959 Opel CaraVan, though the bodywork was hugely modified in addition to major changes performed on its four-cylinder push-rod engine. The seller is either unclear or unsure of the reasons behind the car’s superb consumption performance, but he’s much more confident regarding the Opel’s value. A $500,000 Buy It Now price may be a little steep for the casual hypermiler, but we’d hope that a more reasonable sum with find a good home for this historic piece.

+ eBay Motors: 1959 Other Makes Other Guinness Bk

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Westport, Connecticut –

A 1963 Corvette and a 1938 Tatra were the principal winners in Sunday’s Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance, staged for the second time on the spacious grounds of the Fairfield County Hunt Club.

The Corvette, owned by Michael Schudroff of nearby Greenwich, and the Czech Tatra, T77a brought from Toronto by John Long, were awarded what the Concours called a “Grand Prix d’Honneur,” one of which was given to the best domestic entry and one to the best foreign-built vehicle. In the case of the Tatra, it was fortunate the award did not include the word “elegance.”

The event drew a 200-car field and a healthy crowd.

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Jalopy Journal member Kennedy has just finished a minimal restoration of his ’32 Deuce, taking a car that had been of the road for nearly 50 years and making it streetable once again. Bringing old hot rods back to life may not be much of a story but we’ve rarely seen a rod done with this much restrain, and to such pleasing effect. The Deuce has been left with most of the patina that nature worked so hard to bestow upon it, without going the rather over-the-top “rat rod” route that has been a popular response to high-gloss hot rods of late. The ’32 has gotten a refreshing of its original interior but with nothing more exotic than a little flash of chrome on the instrument cluster to make it stand out at modern.

A great job overall for a car that deserves to be driven in roughly the same trim that made it so iconic to begin with. Check out the finished product in our gallery above.

+ Jalopy Journal

Though the brazenly bachelor staff here at NextAutos are all lacking in progeny (as far as we know), we’ve all heard horror stories of newly-minted fathers and mothers having to sacrifice some loved sports car in the name of family utility. What vehicles have you (or you folks) had to give up for the blessing of children? Tell us about your heartbreak and small, moldering resentment, in comments.

What? A car flick that doesn't involve chases, explosions, and scantily clad women as its selling premise? Opening October 3, the movie Flash of Genius stars Greg Kinnear as Dr. Robert Kearns, a professor at the University of Detroit who invented intermittent windshield wipers and received his first patent on the design back in 1967. After his invention, he spent much of his life fighting Ford, Chrysler, and other automakers to recognize and honor his patent.  

Co-starring is Lauren Graham from the television series Gilmore Girls, with support coming from Dermot Mulroney and Alan Alda. The film is directed by Marc Abraham working from a script written by Philip Railsback.

Though it can still probably be considered a "car" movie, Flash of Genius isn't exactly action packed, and it requires a deeper emotional commitment than say, the Fast and the Furious. Oddly enough however, the studio that produced the Fast and the Furious series, NBC Universal, is also producing Flash of Genius.

+ Edmunds Inside Line: Flash of Genius: The Windshield Wiper Drama You've Been Waiting For

http://www.deepglamour.net/deep_glamour/2008/09/lambo----what-d.html

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The 1950’s were a bizarre stretch for hot rodders it seems, golden era of the automobile or no. Witness this amazingly strange portion of an article from a 1959 issue of Rod & Custom magazine, with attendant comic strip, which manages to be cringingly funny, artistically compelling, and culturally inelegant all at once. Illustrations in the gallery above, excerpt from R&C below. 

Although Dodge’s new Challenger hasn’t been on sale for very long, that hasn’t stopped J.D. Power’s PIN Network from chronicling some interesting emerging purchasing trends. In fact, the firm has even gone a step further by comparing some early statistics with buyers of the Ford Mustang, the Challenger’s main rival.

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Factory Five Racing, a company that gave the world yet another option for a Shelby Mk3 Roaster replica, has recently launched their newly developed '33 Ford replica kits and began shipping them to customers last weekend. The original launch date was set for January 2009 but because testing and prototype evaluations were much better than expected, the release was pushed nearly three months ahead of schedule.

The hot rod replica was designed from the ground up, discarding the old Ford frame and replacing it with a modern tubular frame designed by computers and other fancy gizmo wizardry. The finished product weighs in at around 2,000 lbs, so when powered by any of the small block Ford engines (282,302, 351W) or even the 4.6-liter, coupled with modernized brakes and suspension, it's undeniably going to be much, much faster than the original counterpart.

Though the kits are shipping out, a number of parts are on order due to the early production time. These include the spindles, the same ones used on the Mk3 Roadster replica, as well as Roadster windshields, engine side covers, hard top, removable fenders, and a few other miscellaneous parts.

All in all, this bit of modernized and tweaked history will set a dreamer back $19,990. And although Factory Five won't build a turnkey, they will supply a list of custom shops that could.

+ Factory Five Racing Inc.

Phil Hill
April 20, 1927 – August 28, 2008

We all have to die somewhere, and Phil Hill died on the Monterey Peninsula in August, after collapsing at Pebble Beach. He was the winner of the first Pebble Beach Road Race on Seventeen Mile Drive in 1951, driving a modified Jaguar XK-120, and he was very much an icon around that gorgeous stretch of California real estate. His victory at Pebble Beach in 1951 and his death there almost sixty years later, were like bookends, holding between them a great, great life, one which we might all hope to emulate.

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Caption:

Ford Contour SVT

Produced: 1998-2000

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European, and to a slightly smaller extent Japanese, automakers have never had a problem turning out four-door cars that are quick, handle superbly, and general do great impressions of their sports car brothers. Historically in the U.S. on the other hand manufacturers have tended to churn out sedans that, while in some cases quite powerful and fast, won’t necessarily feel at home on a twisty back road.

There are (and have been) of course, plenty of exceptions to that generalized rule and that’s where our American sports sedan list comes into play. We devised an initial group of ten sedans from the last 25 years by placing a high level of importance on handling over outright power – though being fast is certainly no detriment. We also decided that a manual transmission option was worth added consideration, but shouldn’t be a must for inclusion.

You’ll no doubt see a considerably more fleshed out version of this list at a later date but not before we can get your feedback on where we’ve gone wrong, right, or otherwise. Take a look through our list of ten in the gallery above and then tell us what we’ve left out, incorrectly included, or totally missed the boat on. Feel free to post some images of your favorite Yankee sports sedans as well, in comments.