The last remaining Super Snake went on the block at Barrett Jackson. Two were made, but the other was destroyed. This 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 was once owned by Carroll Shebly and was the highlight of the Ron Pratte Collection auctioned off in Scottsdale earlier this month.
The video below shows the bidding on this truly one-of-a-kind car. While the final bid of $4.7 million did not meet the reserve price, the Shelby family purchased the car immediately following the close of bids for a final pric [...more]
Barrett-Jackson auctions new, classic, and rebuilt vehicles. In Scottsdale, one car that fell into the latter category was a 1991 Ferrari F40 Coupe that sold for $742,500.00 (including the buyers commission).
Presented by the legendary Reggie Jackson, this Ferrari was restored by Fast N'Loud Gas Monkey Garage.
Watch the exciting auction below:
One of the featured vehicles at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale was a 1950 General Motors Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus from the Ron Pratte Collection. Only 12 of these were made with just nine surviving -- and only three of those are in running order.
Pratte is donating the proceeds from this bus to the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF). Many active duty and veteran military personnel were present for the auction. The winning bid was $4.1 million. An additional $650,000 wa [...more]
With 2015 only days away, most car fans are looking toward Arizona as January brings the annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event. The annual auction, which lands in Arizona January 10th-18th, features some of the most famous and expensive cars and some of the most exciting bidding.
With over 1,400 items on the block, the highlight of the event for many will be the Ron Pratte Collection. This special collection includes over 120 historic vehicles. Here are some previews of the Pratte Collection: [...more]
Rust is the enemy of every classic car. Unless you are in the business of bodywork, rust is a major annoyance that if left untreated can turn into an expensive repair. Let’s take a look at how to prevent rust, and how to repair your vehicle if it has minor rust issues.
First though, you might be asking “Why does my car rust in the first place?” Good question. Rust is the result of a chemical change in the metal. Basically, exposure to oxygen and water causes iron and steel to give up electrons, [...more]
On average, 30 people are killed by drunk drivers every day in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While accidents happen, the sad fact is drunk driving is not an accident; it is the result of poor choices. Like many other poor choices, drunk driving is a preventable crime.
To this effect, the President of the United States designates each December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is [...more]
In case you missed it, a new Guinness World Record was set when a semi rig jumped 83 feet and 7 inches. And if that wasn't enough, the truck, complete with trailer, jumped OVER a F1 racing car, that was also in motion at the time.
The feat was a promotion featuring one of the 2013 race cars from the Lotus Formula One team in conjunction EMC, the team's sponsor. The semi was a Renault, who just happens to provide the engines for the Lotus team.
But enough about what, just sit back and watch [...more]
If you, or someone you know, is obsessed with everything car culture, there are a ton of interesting gift options out there. Why spend hours surfing the ‘net, when all the coolest car related gift ideas are right here, starting from super cheap, to less so.
Die-casts ($1 and up)
Die-cast vehicles have been made for almost a century, and the variety is staggering. Every single production car made in the last few decades has a die-cast model out there. Yes, even your ugly first car, a 1986 Ford Es [...more]
If you're thinking about buying new rims, our experts have reviewed a bunch. The video below gives you a look at the Panorama Rim from TSW Wheel. As with our other reviews, the video tells you where the name "Panorama" came from and how the wheels are made. It also tells you the sizes available and suggests vehicles that might look good with these wheels.
The rims are available in Matte Black and Silver with Mirror Cut Face.
Take a closer look:
If you have a beautiful classic, an overpowered muscle car, or a vehicle you regularly show, it’s just about time to put it away for winter. There are a few options on storing your vehicle, each with their own pros and cons. This quick overview will offer a look at what is involved in paying for storage, or doing it yourself.
Off-Site Storage
Storage units are mainly known for making it easy to hold onto the country’s junk, but are also a popular way to store a car over the long winter. Paying a [...more]
Our tire experts have created video reviews of numerous wheels that you can find on our YouTube channel.
In this video, they look at the TSW Wheel Nurburgring Rim, explaining how the rims are forged and even why this specific name was chosen. Learn which sizes are available and what vehicles the rims fit. The rims come in gunmetal with mirror cut face, matte bronze, and matte gunmetal.
Watch now:
It’s been over half a decade since the Smart Automobile Fortwo launched in the States, and the tiny car has made an impact. But is that impact a home run, or bird droppings hitting a windshield? The years have been more honest than than Smart’s press releases, so let’s have a look.
Pros
This thing is TINY. At 106 inches, the Fortwo is about eight and a half feet long. Or, about half the length of a Chevy Impala. This has some advantages, especially when looking for a parking space. Crowded city [...more]
This may come as somewhat of a surprise, but no car comes from the factory as a low-rider. Weird, huh? That means every low-rider was once a humble family sedan, sporty coupe, or work truck, changed forever by an owner with vision. If you’re in the market to make one yourself, here’s the most sought after cars and trucks to help you get your scrape on.
1985 – 97 Nissan Hardbody
Sure, these days most laid-out minitrucks are S-10s, Tacomas, Rangers, or some compact import. That’s not old-school th [...more]
All the great car movies have one thing in common: awesome stunt driving.
Sitting in the dark theater, you probably have imagined what it would be like to drive that way, just once, but you remember the "don't try this at home" warning.
Tom McComas, a professional stunt driver, demonstrates a few basic car moves that you'll recognize from countless movies & TV shows. While you may not want to try this at home, you'll certainly appreciate the "how" of stunt driving better after watching th [...more]
The last three months of the year don’t get a lot of love from the automotive community. The weather isn’t great in most of the country, and a lot of people are focusing on school or the holidays. Still, fall and early winter shows are out there, so if you’re looking to escape the drudgery this fall, head to one of these shows.
New Hampshire Auto Show, Oct 24 – 26
No one really thinks of Bedford, NH as a hotbed of automotive activity. For the most part, they’re right, but once a year it seems al [...more]
While most of us are limited to realistic speed limits on public highways, some adrenaline junkies can hit race tracks, the Autobahn, or Bonneville for the ultimate top speed run. Here are the top 5 production cars engineered to safely go as fast as possible.
Saleen S7 TT, 248 MPH
On a whim, long time Mustang tuner Steve Saleen decided to build his own supercar. It worked. The hand-built carbon fiber body on an aluminum frame weighs well under 2,800 lbs, and the Ford 427 has no problem belting o [...more]
Tires have not always been those long lasting, comfy riding, high grip units we are used to. Not so long ago, vehicle tires were an entirely different looking, and performing, piece of technology.
While the wheel is positively ancient, at around 5,000 years old, the tire is much newer, at about 150 years old. Horse-drawn carriages of the time used hand-crafted wooden wheels with a steel band as the tire. This band was called a “tie”, and may have led to the word “tire.” The tire was heated in a [...more]
There's a new title holder for "most expensive car sold at auction" and it's a 1962 Ferrari.
The record-setting sale took place on August 14th at Bohnman's Pebble Beach (California). The Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta was always the show piece of the week-long auction and some speculated that the car might go for as much as $50 -$60 million (USD). The final price came in at $38.1 million (including fees). The winning bid was $34 million.
The previous record was set in 2013 when Bonhams sold a 19 [...more]
Antique race cars can be the most exciting automotive finds, and the most valuable at auction. Follow along, as we consider your first steps in restoring a drivable piece of history.
Find Your Car
The last 20 years have made searching for obscure old cars a lot easier than it used to be. Google is a huge help, but there are a few sites in particular that you will probably trawl. eBay is great, of course, as some families throw together an un-researched auction, just to get rid of grandpa’s “junk [...more]
Car movies and summer go hand in hand. Both offer escape from the daily grind, travel, fun or excitement, and sometimes nostalgia. There is lots of possibility in those long summer days and nights. Here are a few of the best car movies of this century that capture the feeling of summer.
Gone in 60 Seconds (1974), (2000)
It doesn’t matter which one you go with, you can’t lose. The original movie has a questionable plot, terrible dialog, but an amazing chase scene. The remake in 2000 pretty much s [...more]
The 2014 Concours d’Elegance of America may be over, but the memories will live on with those who were in attendance at this annual event. Thanks to the power of the internet, however, there are countless videos & photos chronicling this year's show.
The 36th annual show was held July 25-27th in Plymouth, Michigan. Over 250 vehicles were on display and Best in Show went to a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Victoria and a 1939 Bugatti T57C Cabriolet.
Watch a few of the videos below. It [...more]
Gas prices have eased a bit lately, but they’re still way too high. Many shoppers are still looking at gas mileage as a major factor when buying a car. Fortunately, manufacturers have responded to the demand the last few years, and there are a several excellent options.
Tesla Model S, 90 MPGe
Want to drive the future? You can with the Model S. Tesla Motors’ second car, after the sporty Roadster, instantly changed the world of electric vehicles upon release in 2012. First, this car is gorgeous, t [...more]
Summer has brought the heat, but it’s still possible for your ride to be cool. A cooler ride is more enjoyable to drive and ride in, plus it can be better for you vehicle. You can run the A/C less often, and will prevent sun damage to the interior. Here’s some tips on how to beat the heat this summer.
Park in the shade. Hey, it’s free! Find a tree or tall building and park there. Just as you notice the decrease in heat, your car will feel that much cooler when you return. If you are in a parki [...more]
Not every restoration is to original specs. Sometimes you want to upgrade various systems/parts in order to improve the performance of a vehicle.
In the video below, a 1941 American LaFrance Fire Truck gets a new brake system. In this case, presented by Jay Leno's Garage, an innovative induction brake system requires some major re-arrangement of the vehicle's innards to install this system. These brakes have a lifespan of 4-5 years, versus the much shorter life span of traditional brakes in com [...more]
Restoring a 1969 Camaro SS, or a 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO just makes sense. There is a lot of desirability, and the auction market is there. Anyone finishing a restoration can easily turn a profit. However, not all car restorations are about money. Sometimes they are a labor of love, or simply for the historical value. Those restorations are usually among the weirdest. Here’s three of them.
GM Futurliner
Yup, future without the “e.” The Futurliners were part of GM’s “Parade of Progress,” a travellin [...more]