Events
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The C2 Corvette, introduced for the 1963 model year, was already a radical and futuristic departure from the styling of the previous car. That wasn’t enough for some buyers, who wanted a personalized creation that was even more over-the-top. One such customer was speedboat racer Bob Nordskog, who ordered a 1963 Corvette from the factory sans paint. The car was shipped to legendary customizer George Barris, who transformed it into the soon-to-be-famous “Asteroid” show car. Starting with an extended nose that added to the car’s stingray-like appearance, Barris tucked the...
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Aston Martin’s Centenary Celebrations ContinueTo mark its first 100 years, Aston Martin has already introduced new Centenary Edition models and flown a Vanquish coupe via helicopter to the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Now it’s announced the largest-ever vintage racing event for Aston Martin cars, to be held at England’s...
Kurt Ernst -
Chrysler Scripts More Memorable Super Bowl Ads: VideoFor Super Bowl XLV, in 2011, Chrysler hired Eminem to deliver a loud and clear message: the American auto industry, most noticeably Chrysler and its affiliated companies, were back. Perhaps even more relevant was the theme that Detroit, America’s motor city, was also on an upswing. Last year...
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Mustangs Across America Announces 50th Anniversary Drive DatesFord’s beloved pony car, the Mustang, turns 50 years old in April of 2014. To honor the event, Mustangs Across America is planning a seven-day trip that will take participants from Los Angeles, California to Charlotte, North Carolina, arriving in time for the Mustang Club of America’s...
Kurt Ernst -
VW Celebrates 50 Years Of Racing With Formula Vee ReunionVolkswagen’s debut in motorsports officially began in Daytona, Florida, in August 1963. That’s when the first sanctioned Formula Vee race was held, launching a series that, in the beginning, was founded by racing enthusiasts for racing enthusiasts. Formula Vee was born with one simple...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction RecapIf you spent last weekend glued to Speed, watching the Barrett-Jackson Auction live from Scottsdale, Arizona, you probably came away with the same confused outlook we did. While some cars sold for impressive amounts, like the $1.1 million paid for the first production 2014 Corvette Stingray, or the...
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In stock form, the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang cranks out an impressive 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque, will reportedly top out at 200 miles per hour and can be purchased by anyone with the $54,995 price of admission. That makes it a performance bargain by anyone’s standards, but it also glosses over one important fact: for many enthusiasts, $55,000 is more money than they can afford to spend on four-wheeled amusement. Speed feels your pain, as does Ford, so the two companies are teaming up to award on lucky winner a customized 2013 Shelby GT500. “Murdered...
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Detroit Auto Show To Again Feature 'The Gallery' Of Luxury CarsWhile the Detroit Auto Show will again serve up something for everyone, those shopping for luxury and ultra-luxury cars may object to waiting in line behind a gaggle of unsupervised children to get a glimpse at the latest wares from the likes of Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus or Porsche. If you’re...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Goodwood Revival To Honor 50 Years Of The Ford GT40In 1963, the Ford Motor Company came very close to acquiring Ferrari, which was (discreetly) up for sale. Ford spent a significant amount of time and money conducting due diligence, and the deal was close to signing when Ferrari suddenly broke off negotiations. Under the terms demanded by Ford...
Kurt Ernst -
Volkswagen Confirms Advertising For Super Bowl XLVIIIn 2011, Volkswagen’s unforgettable Super Bowl XLV ad (featuring a young Darth Vader, amazed at the sudden emergence of his mystical powers) earned the brand the Number One Ad of 2011 award from Adweek. Last year, it’s follow-up, called “The Dog Strikes Back,” earned it...
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The Petersen Automotive Museum’s Secret Vault (Temporarily) Opens To The PublicIf you’ve never been to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, the only word we can think of to sum it up is “impressive.” Regardless of where your automotive passion lies, there’s something at the Petersen to get you salivating like one of Pavlov’s dogs at a...
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Mayan Apocalypse: 10 Cars To Lease (Just) Before The World EndsIf the Mayans were correct, the world will come to an end in just 17 days. Though the specific event is open to interpretation, colliding with a planet called Nibiru, being swallowed by a black hole or suffering through a sudden loss of gravity will all produce the same results, and none of us will...
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If you don’t know who Kate Upton is, chances are good you’re not in the demographic that Mercedes-Benz is trying to attract with its upcoming upcoming CLA Class four-door coupe. In case the Sports Illustrated cover model isn’t enough of a draw, the automaker will reportedly use music icon Usher to launch the car as well. So says Automotive News (subscription required), which reports that Mercedes-Benz is returning to Super Bowl advertising in a big way after spending last year on the bench. It makes perfect sense, especially since the big game will be played in the...
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Barrett-Jackson To Auction Off The Original TV BatmobileIf you grew up in the late 1960s or early 1970s, you know this absolute truth: there is only one Batmobile, and it was driven by the only real Batman, Adam West, on the television show that pioneered the concept of starring a car alongside an actor. Despite the success of the Batman movie...
Kurt Ernst -
Exhibit Honors 40 Years Of Porsche DesignFerdinand Alexander Porsche is best known as the designer of the iconic Porsche 911, but his artistic vision extended far beyond the world of the automobile. In 1972 F.A. Porsche founded the Porsche Design Studio, which would ultimately bring trend-setting style to the world of consumer goods...
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Rides 'n Smiles Recap - Driving Fast For A Great CauseTo outsiders, the life of an automotive journalist is second only to the life of fictional spy James Bond. After all, we get to travel to exotic locations, drive the latest, fastest cars and eat meals we couldn’t possibly pay for on our own dime. Sadly, the reality of the job is countless...
Kurt Ernst -
Ford's Oldest Known Survivor Sells For $264kLast month, we told you that a rare 1903 Ford Model A Rear Entry Tonneau would be crossing the block in mid-October, at the RM Auctions sale in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Built in the first batch of cars to come from Ford’s Mack Avenue plant, this Model A is believed to be the oldest surviving...
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Aston Martin's centenary logo celebrates 100 years of gloryAston Martin began producing sports cars in 1913, and since then has become something of an iconic luxury brand, indelibly linked to the world’s best-known fictional spy, James Bond. While Bond's driven many different vehicles throughout 22 films, none is more familiar that the...
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This year’s Goodwood Revival set a new attendance record, with some 146,000 racing, vintage car and vintage aircraft fans (most dressed in period costume) entering the gates for the three-day celebration of all things motorized or mechanical. We brought you coverage of this year’s event, which honored American racer, car designer and team owner Dan Gurney. On Sunday, the final day of the event, a string of Gurney’s cars took to the track as P51 Mustang fighters flew overhead and Lord March payed tribute to the motor racing legend. The event also marked the 50th anniversary...
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Mika Hakkinen, Street Racing In An SLS AMG GT3: VideoSometimes, street racing is a good thing, as is the case with the Verva Street Racing spectacular, held annually in Warsaw, Poland. Visitors gets to see some of the world’s best known historic race cars, dicing wheel to wheel on the (disturbingly narrow) streets of Poland’s largest...
Kurt Ernst -
Oldest Ford Motor Company Car To Cross The Block (Again)The oldest known surviving product of Ford Motor Company, a 1903 Model A Rear Entry Tonneau, has had only five owners since it left the factory over a century ago. On October 11 an 12, one bidder will have the opportunity to become buyer number six as the car is again scheduled to cross the block...
Kurt Ernst -
Aston Martin Kicks Off 'Power, Beauty, Soul' TourNot content to wait for buyers to grace its showrooms, Aston Martin is taking three of its cars on an ambitious tour of Europe. Over the next three months, Aston Martin’s “Power, Beauty, Soul” tour will visit 27 cities in nine countries. It may be your best chance to see an Aston...
Kurt Ernst -
Pebble Beach Auctions Generate Serious Sales Despite Sagging Global EconomyIf you read (or watch) the news, doom and gloom over the economy on both sides of the Atlantic is nearly inescapable. While the world may be on the brink of economic ruin, this past weekend’s Pebble Beach auctions show that buyers’ appetites for collector cars aren’t affected...
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Ford Marks 20 Years Of SVT Performance With Past And Present MustangsFord’s Special Vehicle Team, or SVT, has been making Mustangs (and other Ford products) faster since the debut of the SVT Mustang Cobra in early 1993. To honor the 20th anniversary of SVT, Ford will roll out a special display in Mustang Alley at this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise. Over...
Kurt Ernst