This buy a penthouse, get a car thing seems to be catching on.
Earlier this month, architect David Adjaye and Aston Martin announced that five residences at 130 William in New York City are being specially styled by Aston Martin designers and come with a new Aston Martin DBX sport utility vehicle.
A few days later, developers of a luxury residential development on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles said the buyer of the penthouse will get a year’s lease of a McLaren 765LT.
And now, Aston Martin Residences, a 66-story high-rise residential tower in Miami, Florida, offers a new DBX or a DB11 coupe to each buyer of one of its Signature apartments. The buyer of its 27,191-square-foot “Triplex Penthouse” will get the last of the 24 Aston Martin Vulcans, a $3.2-million supercar.
Aston Martin Residences on Miami skyline
DB11 awaits
Signature apartment view
Groundbreaking at the Aston Martin Residences was done in 2017 and 60 percent of the 391 housing units have been sold. Completion of the tower is scheduled for 2022.
Hot rods came to life after WWII when former GIs turned old jalopies into street cruisers and drag-strip denizens, loaded with cool attitude and high performance. The Ford-bodied roadster became a template, still being built today in much the same configuration as the originals.
The Pick of the Day is a 1929 Ford Model A that actually is one of the originals, a hot rod built in the 1950s and kept alive and sympathetically updated through the decades, according to the Tucson, Arizona, dealer advertising the roadster on ClassicCars.com.
“This car has been a hot rod since at least the ’50s in California,” the seller says. “The earliest pictures we have of it are from April of 1960 when it was in drag racing form running A/Gas.
“It has been featured twice in Street Rodder magazine, once on the cover in 1977 and also in 2001 shortly after its last build was completed. The car today looks as fresh as it did when it was completed 19 years ago and has had only 4,000 miles put on her since.
“It’s received many awards, including ‘Dick Magoo’s Personal Choice Award’ at Daryl Starbird’s Hall of Fame Show and the Goodguys ‘Real Hot Rod’ award.”
The bright-red Ford roadster looks exceptionally clean and tidy, still true to its original intent while sporting the modern upgrades for performance, drivability and, of course, eyeball.
“This A is powered by a Crate 350 engine with Edelbrock aluminum heads, competition cam, an Offenhauser intake with 3 Rochester carbs, and Mallory ignition backed by a TH350 automatic with Lokar shifter,” the seller notes.
The original ’29 Model A body is painted Viper Red and mounted on a modified ’32 Ford frame, with a custom aluminum 3-piece hood and a ’32 Ford grille, the dealer says. The roadster has a “genuine” Mor-Drop front axle, hairpins, ’46 Ford backing plates and brakes utilizing ‘57 Buick drums, Pete and Jake shocks, “and it’s all show chromed,” the seller adds, with a Halibrand Quick Change rear, Pete and Jakes ladder bars and a Model T-style rear leaf spring.
The wheels are 15-inch “smoothies,” the hubcaps are from a ’42 Ford and the headlight housings are genuine King Bees.
“The windshield is a hand-formed bronze and then-chromed masterpiece,” the ad says.
The seats and door panels are done in Austrian Bone leather upholstery, and a ’32 Ford dashboard houses Classic Instruments gauges.
This classic, period-built hot rod with modern upgrades looks stunning in the many photos with the ad, and seems well-worth the asking price of $44,500.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
LEGO Technic opened its garage to a new track-focused supercar – the McLaren Senna GTR – and welcomes all sports car and motorsports fans to their next building project.
This 830-piece model combines “McLaren’s unrivaled power and sophistication with the LEGO Group’s design precision,” according to the press release.
“The model is the first McLaren supercar to be recreated in LEGO Technic form and is designed to provide the ultimate building thrill for those ages 10 and above.”
McLaren Automotive and the LEGO Group collaborated to create a model that was authentic to the Senna GTR’s features and designs.
“Just like the real thing, the LEGO model is packed full of incredible details from the rear spoiler to the moving pistons in the V8 engine to the dihedral doors meaning that we’re as proud of the model as we are of the real car,” said Robert Melville, the design director at McLaren Automotive.
This 12-inch-long LEGO replica also mimics the car’s aerodynamic curves and features a bright blue livery
“Just like the incredible engineers at McLaren do when designing their supercars, we really pushed things to the max so the resulting model perfectly honours the art form that is the McLaren Senna GTR,” said Technic’s senior designer Uwe Wabra.
The McLaren Senna GTR LEGO Technic model will be released globally on January 1, 2021 and will retail at $49.99. Visit LEGO’s website for more information.
More than 50 British motorcycles and four motorcycle-related cars from the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, England, will star at Bonhams Winter Sale, set for December 11 and 12 at the RAF Bomber Station hangar at Bicester Heritage in Bicester, UK.
Nearly 300 bikes in all, mainly British and Italian, will be offered during the annual auction, which was postponed one week from its original date because of Covid-19 issues. The sale will be staged as a live/online auction with a live auctioneer but viewed exclusively online, according to a Bonhams news release.
Along with the motorcycles, the auction will include a wide selection of vintage motorcycle racing gear, trophies and memorabilia.
Brough Superior SS100
The museum’s collection features a spectacular superbike from the golden age of British motorcycling, a 1936 Brough Superior 982C SS100 that bears the earliest engine number in a production model. Among its special factory features are foot gear control, small-type curved-top pannier bags, a Wasdell front guard and pillion footrests.
The Brough was restored by the museum and is valued at £240,000 to £280,000 ($318,400 to $371,500).
The National Motorcycle Museum is the largest exhibitor of British bikes, with a historic overview of more than 170 UK brands covering 120 years.
The 1960 Triumph T120 began the reign of prized Bonnevilles
“We are pleased to be offering enthusiasts and collectors the opportunity to acquire motorcycles from our Reserve Collection, with those that have been restored in our own workshop having a solid silver plaque fitted to them confirming the provenance,” said James Hewing, director of the museum.
“This year’s events have given us the time to assess our reserve and duplicate inventory, and we can now look forward to reopening having freed up some desperately needed storage space.”
Ben Walker, International Department director for Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles, added, “Bonhams is delighted to have been entrusted with this premium patriotic collection from such a prestigious name in the motorcycle world.”
1982 Hesketh 992cc Vampire, a rare luxury touring bike
The museum’s Reserve Collection includes classic British marques ranging from “Ariel and Velocette to Triumph and Vincent, via Norton and Royal Enfield,” the museum says in the Bonhams release.
Highlights of the museum’s motorcycle offerings are:
Two Nortons inspired by the brand’s sporting partnership with John Player Special, a 1990 Norton F1, estimated at £20,000 to £30,000 ($26,500 to $39,800) and a 1974 950cc JPN Replica, at £8,000 to 12,000 ($10,600 to $16,000).
The 1974 Norton 829cc John Player Commando
Among the Triumphs is an early example of its quintessential post-war Bonneville, a 1960 T120, at £10,000 to £15,000 ($13,300 to $19,900), and a trio of Valmoto racing motorcycles from the 2003 season, each estimated at £16,000 to £20,000 ($21,200 to $26,500).
The group also includes some unusual bikes, such as the oldest-surviving Hesketh Vampire from 1982, a luxury super tourer that was the brainchild of Lord Hesketh, founder of the eponymous and flamboyant 1970s Formula One racing team. Estimated at £15,000 to £25,000 ($19,900 to $33,100).
The 1921 Douglas 10.5 Tourer has been driven fewer than 4,000 miles
Four lightweight automobiles and cycle cars from the museum’s collection will be offered, a 1934 Morgan Super Sport 3-wheeler powered by a J.A.P. V-twin engine, a 1932 BSA 8.9-horsepower Scout Sports 3-wheeler, a 1930 AJS 8.9-horsepower Dickey Seat Tourer and a 1921 Douglas 10.5 Tourer, believed to be the sole survivor of six produced by the motorcycle company and with an odometer showing just 3,834 miles.
Several other fine collections will be among the motorcycles offered at the auction, including the Connoisseur Collection from a British estate, a Competition Collection of racing bikes and the Carole Nash Collection, “offered by the stalwart of the motorcycle community and founder of the namesake and industry leading motorcycle insurer,” Bonhams says.
For more information about Bonhams Winter Sale, visit the auction website.
A real “Eleanor” Ford Mustang from the 2000 remake of “Gone in 60 Seconds” is being offered for sale by German dealership ChromeCars.
First spotted by Muscle Cars & Trucks, the 1967 Ford Mustang is the seventh of 11 built for the film. Featuring bodywork designed by legendary hot rod builder Chip Foose, Eleanor was depicted in the movie as a customized Ford Shelby GT500. However, less-valuable Mustangs were used as donor cars by Cinema Vehicles Services, which built the cars for the movie.
The car offered for sale now is thought to be one of three surviving “hero” cars. That means it’s a complete, presentable car. Movie production teams typically build other cars for specific stunts or shots that are rougher around the edges. Making cars look nice costs more money, after all, and isn’t necessary when not every car is meant to survive filming.
This Eleanor Mustang currently shows 72,815 miles, according to its listing. It sports a 351-cubic inch V-8 from Ford Performance, which makes around 400 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission.
ChromeCars did not list a price, but real Eleanor Mustangs have sold for as much as $1 million.
Several companies have also sprung up to offer Eleanor replicas, and these cars can also be quite expensive. Earlier this year, Classic Recreations announced a carbon-fiber bodied Eleanor with an 810-hp supercharged V-8—priced at nearly $300,000. A more traditional replica could still set you back around $200,000.
This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.
Want to avoid the current 18-month waiting line to get your hands on a 2021 Ford Bronco? Just make a donation of $3 or more to secure a ticket in the charity drawing put together by entertainer Ludacris and the Galpin Ford dealership.
Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges
The top prize, worth $100,000, includes a 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition customized by Galpin Ford and artist Bryan Blue (aka Blue The Great) and a two-night trip plus accommodations to Los Angeles to have Chris “Ludacris” Bridges to hand you the keys at lunch.
And you won’t be the only beneficiary. The effort is being staged to raise money for Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, according to the Galpin and Ludacris announcement.
“Join KidNation, a new positive platform for kids, Ludacris and Galpin Ford in supporting and shaping the lives of 10,000 underserved kids at local Boys & Girls Club chapters in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York,” it says on the winanewbronco.com website.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission is to positively impact the lives of children and teens, by providing innovative and stimulating academic, leadership, and athletic programming in a safe and nurturing environment that prepare and inspire them to achieve Great Futures.”
“Your donations will fund a STEM Camp, create a community engagement program, provide meals for families in need and award college scholarships to deserving high school students.”
“KidNation is an online digital platform that was co-founded by award-winning artist, Ludacris and his business partner, Sandy Lal, to empower children around the world through music and visual storytelling. The interactive platform is a video and music streaming channel that allows children to access entertainment and educational videos at their demand through a monthly or annual subscription model.”
“With an extensive and diverse library of music, children ages 3-11 years old can build customized playlists catered to their musical preference. From covering topics such as emotional intelligence, health and wellness, to fostering critical thinking by educating children on current events, KidNation is the ultimate destination for children to unleash their full potential.”
Tickets are available through the WinAFordBronco website.
Yes, I know. It’s only Thanksgiving week, but here we are showing an illustration of Santa delivering presents not with his usual reindeer-propelled sleigh but in a vintage biplane.
First of all, we love this illustration. Secondly, we’re sharing it to remind everyone that plans are being made for some sort of revival of the car show and concours circuit in 2021 and that tickets are available for Gordon McCall’s 30th anniversary Motorworks Revival, scheduled for August 11, 2021, at the Monterey Jet Center in northern California.
NCM Motorsports Park lights up for the holiday season | National Corvette Museum photo
Usually, the idea on a race track is to drive as fast as possible, but slow is the way to go this season at the National Corvette Museum’s Motorsports Park and at the Irwindale Speedway.
Wendy’s Twinkle at the Track drive-through holiday light show runs from November 27 until January 1 at the Corvette track in Bowling Green, Kentucky, while the Santa’s Speedway Christmas lights drive-through at Irwindale, California, is open November 25 to January 10.
Motor4Toys reminder
In keeping with the holiday theme, this reminder that the 17th annual Motor4Toys charity toy drive has adjusted its format because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of the usual car show gathering, Dustin Troyer and his team ask people to drop off new toys to be given to California families in need from 7 a.m. until noon on December 6 at Porsche Woodland Hills. Donations also can be made through the www.motor4toys.com website.
Aston Martin Racing has announced the Vantage Legacy Collection, a trio of cars offered to commemorate the British brand’s racing success in the past decade. The set includes the final V8 Vantage GTE as well as the Vantage GT3 and GT4.
Aston Martin Vantage posted class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2014 and 2017 and earned seven FIA World Endurance Championships between 2009 and 2018, as well as other British, European and World Challenge titles.
The Legacy Vantage Collection
“The trio of Legacy Vantages, based on V8 Vantage road car launched in 2005, have been created in Aston Martin Racing’s workshops and is being offered for sale as a collection,” the company said, albeit without announcing the price.
It did say all three cars are built on “brand new chassis,” are ready to race and are identically liveried in sterling green with yellow trim lines around the radiator and above the side windows.
The Vantage GT4 in the set is the last of 108 such vehicles produced since 2009, the company noted, adding that the GTE in the collection is the seventh and final one of its kind and carries chassis number 007.
On the track in 2017 at Le Mans
“For a collector, this trio of Aston Martin Racing Vantages represents the ultimate tribute to a halcyon period for the brand in international sports car racing,” said David King, Aston Martin Racing president.
“While Aston Martin has since gone on to record world championship titles with the current generation turbo-charged V8 Vantage, the foundations laid by the huge success of the original car won it admirers the around the globe and led to it becoming a firm favorite with racing fans. The Legacy collection is a beautiful sign-off for this wonderful car.”
Porsche’s quest for world domination of obscure automotive records took another turn, or several hundred of them, recently leaving the automaker to claim the Guinness World Record for the longest drift by an electric vehicle.
Staged on a 200-meter circle at Germany’s Hockenheimring race track, a Porsche Taycan driven by Dennis Retera completed 210 laps without the front wheels ever pointing in the same direction as the curve, Porsche reports.
The Hockenheimring skidpad
“After 55 minutes the sideways expert had covered a total of 42.171 kilometers,” the company added. “By completing this marathon distance, Retera secured the world record for the longest continuous drift in an electric car. The average speed was 46 km/h (28.6 mph). The record was achieved with the rear-wheel drive version of the Taycan, which is already on sale in China.”
Skeptics will note that this record ranks right up there with Porsche’s world record claim for the 50-cone automotive slalom.
“When the driving stability programs are switched off, a power slide with the electric Porsche is extremely easy, especially of course with this model variant, which is driven exclusively via the rear wheels,” Retera, Dutch-born chief instructor at the Porsche Experience Center Hockenheimring is quoted in the Porsche announcement.
“Sufficient power is always available,” he added. “The low center of gravity and the long wheelbase ensure stability. The precise design of the chassis and steering allows for perfect control at all times, even when moving sideways.”
“Nevertheless,” he added, “it was also very tiring for me to keep my concentration high for 210 laps, especially as the irrigated asphalt of the drift circuit does not provide the same grip everywhere. I concentrated on controlling the drift with the steering – this is more efficient than using the accelerator pedal and reduces the risk of spinning.”
Porsche noted that the event was done under the supervision of Guinness record official judge Joanne Brent. Also observing from the Germany vehicle validation group Dekra, Porsche noted, was Denise Ritzmann, two-time European drifting champion.
“You can see at a glance whether the front wheels are pointing in a different direction to the curve,” she was quoted. “As long as this is the case, the car is drifting.”
Porsche added that the two women also were in charge of counting the laps.
Porsche’s Hockenheimring center has a website, but in German. For information about the company’s US experience centers at — at Atlanta, Los Angeles and Birmingham, Alabama — visit their combined website.
The first car I ever owned was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe, so I am a bit biased. I loved that Fiat as it was everything that I could have asked for in an Italian car when I was 16 years old. It had a cool twin-cam Lampredi engine, classic Italian styling and was fun to drive.
I really wanted a 124 Spider, but at 16 I could afford only that used $400 coupe in boxes, assembly not included. Many years later, I had a wonderful 1968 Spider and ended up driving it to Monterey after a sympathetic restoration.
The Pick of the Day is a 1972 Fiat 124 Spider, which looks to be in exceptional condition, finished in Oriental Yellow (orange) with a black-vinyl interior. Restoring a car gives one an eye for detail like nothing else in the world, and this one truly looks to be a fine example.
The Alsip, Illinois, dealer advertising the Fiat on Classicars.com provides many excellent pictures with the listing, plus most of the details you might want to know without going to a full inspection report.
The sports car was with its last owner for almost 40 years, the seller says. During that time, its 1,608cc inline-4 engine was ported and polished, and it received Euro-spec dual Weber carbs, a stainless-steel header and Ansa exhaust. An electric cooling fan was added and the brakes were rebuilt, including 4 new brake calipers.
The paint has to have been redone as it looks tremendous, and Fiat paint did not last this long looking this good. The owner also installed a new and correct-pattern vinyl interior, replaced the dash and the wood inserts in the dash, according to the ad.
The Fiat roadsters were styled by Pininfarina, and this model was designed by Tom Tjaarda, who also styled many cars for Ferrari, including the 275 GTS. If you see a 275 GTS side-by-side with an early non-hood-bulge 124 Spider, it becomes apparent that Tjaarda simply scaled down the Fiat and created a 5/8-sized Ferrari. The fact that the engine was also designed by former Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi solidifies this idea.
These Fiats are classic Italian cars that are very easy to own. They are roomy for anyone and have what has to be the finest roadster top ever designed.
Not to anger all the Alfa Spider owners and fans out there, but I have owned a number of Alfa spiders as well as a few 124 Spiders, and I honestly feel that the 124 is simply a better car, and less expensive to run.
This car has an asking price of $19,900, which for a Fiat as nice as this one looks to be a pretty fair deal.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
