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Tesla Cybertruck Turned into Silent Police Cruiser

Pickup trucks are a popular option with police departments all over the globe, and it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to envisage electric trucks also being used by them.

A California upfitter by the name of UP.FIT, a division of Tesla tuner Unplugged Performance, has taken the Tesla Cybertruck and turned it into a police cruiser. UP.FIT’s design isn’t just a concept, though. According to the company, it has already received interest from police departments and other agencies for its Cybertruck police cruiser and will start shipments later this year.

Typical police equipment include flashing lights, sirens, a PA system, as well as a separate computer system and a radio communications system. Depending on the application, UP.FIT can also customize the Cybertruck with prisoner partitions, storage for weapons and other equipment, and K9 enclosures.

Tesla Cybertruck Next-Gen Patrol by UP.FIT

To handle long stints of hard driving, UP.FIT can also install heavy-duty suspension and brake hardware. An off-road package is also available for agencies involved in search and rescue or military fields.

UP.FIT isn’t the first to build an electric truck for police duty. Ford’s SSV (Special Service Vehicle) program already presented one as early as 2022 based on the F-150 Lightning.

Modern EVs with their strong acceleration and range estimates of 300 miles or more have the potential to be excellent police cruisers. It’s not hard to imagine police officers using them to silently creep up on perps or jump ahead of a vehicle trying to flee the scene. The quiet, smooth operation of EVs also tends to be relaxing for occupants, and this should help to reduce stress and let officers concentrate on their surroundings.

Some agencies have already deployed them in their fleets. The Los Angeles Police Department started using the BMW i3 as early as 2016. More recently, the New York Police Department has used the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

HIGH-RES GALLERY: Tesla Cybertruck Next-Gen Patrol by UP.FIT

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com

Pick of the Day: 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

The Pick of the Day is 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Click here to view the listing.) 

With the help of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT, now Ford Performance) and Carroll Shelby, of course, the Mustang Shelby GT500 made its triumphant return after a decades-long hiatus as a supercharged 2007 model with a staggering 500 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. It quickly went on to reach higher levels of performance and output. A new GT500KR (King of the Road) model that generated an extra 40 horses followed in 2008. Most recently, the 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 topped out at a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat-beating 760 horsepower. This 2007 model has traveled 34,711 miles of streets and highways (less than three years’ worth of average driving, according to 2022 figures from the Federal Highway Administration), but it’s stopped there. Now it’s time for its next owner to let it loose out on the open road. 

Wherever it ends up, it’ll be easy to spot. Its high-contrast combination of Torch Red paint and Performance White stripes is just as attention-getting as its stats. As flashy as this beast may be, it’s not a dumb animal. It’s a cunning, efficient predator whose SVT-tuned suspension and front splitter, side skirts, and rear spoiler help it stay low to the pavement while its mesh grilles feed air to the hungry 5.4-liter V8 and the hood heat extractors spit out the thermal leftovers. Those who are too far away to see the car itself will be able to hear the sonic aftershock of its presence from the X-pipe exhaust system’s dual outlets. 

Low mileage isn’t everything when it comes to the condition of a car. Time will take its toll on certain parts no matter how little they’ve been used. Fortunately, the previous owners and the last 17 years appear to have been gentle on the Charcoal Black interior’s leather seats. A closer look at the brochure and certain cabin features suggests this GT500 was configured with the optional Shaker 1000 audio system and GT500 Premium Interior Trim Package, which includes a wrapped and stitched panel above the instrument cluster, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and aluminum pedal covers. 

SVT’s influence on the ‘07 GT500 is clear when you examine the engine it paired with the six-speed manual gearbox. They combined the 5.4-liter displacement of the 2000 Cobra R with one of the major upgrades found on the 2003-2004 Cobras: a supercharger. While the GT500 doesn’t have the Terminator’s independent rear suspension, thanks in part to its nine pounds of boost, it does have an extra 110 horsepower and an additional 90 lb-ft of grunt.  

We can only guess how far the next GT500 will go in terms of one-upping its predecessor, but we do know the numbers it has to beat. We also know the price you have to pay to show Camaro and Challenger drivers that some legends don’t die, they just grow stronger: $37,995. 

Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.

Our Favorite Designers: Drive the Bid Podcast

In the automotive world, designers and stylists tend to be better-known than engineers. Makes sense since we all have an aesthetic, while few of us understand the intricacies of automobiles mechanics without having our eyes glaze. Who are the men that stand out with their design achievements? In AutoHunter‘s Drive the Bid Podcast for this week, Derek Shiekhi, Luke Lamendola, and I each have selected a choice designer and several of his cars.

For news, we discuss the Piëch GT, a 1000-horsepower concept from a startup called Piëch Automotive run by Anton “Toni” Piëch (son of the late Ferdinand Piëch of Volkswagen Group) and Tobias Moers (past CEO of Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin). The plan is for the car to start around $200,000 and be built by Multimatic, but you know how that goes . . .

We also have several memes that were created by us, including one Luke did goofing on me, which means I have to plan a revenge!

And, of course, our AutoHunter picks, which include a funky 1999 Mitsubishi Toppo BJ, 1981 Datsun 280ZX Turbo, and an absolutely fabulous fuel-injected 1961 Chevrolet Corvette.

AutoHunter Cinema has plenty of other videos and podcasts created by the experts behind ClassicCars.com, the world’s largest online collector car marketplace. AutoHunter brings forth a dedicated live customer support team, quicker auction listings and exclusive benefits for both buyers and sellers.

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster Replica

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster replica

A car’s life doesn’t have to end when the odometer hits a certain number. Engine wears out? You can get it rebuilt, replace it with the same one from a donor car, or swap in a more powerful crate engine. Smash in a fender? There’s always the junkyard or, depending on your car, you can get a new panel – even a new frame – from an aftermarket company. Another option is a replica, especially if you want a vehicle with a certain look, such as a Shelby Cobra. Classic Porsches that went out of production decades ago live on (in a way) thanks to companies such as JPS Motorsports and Vintage Motorcars. This 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster replica was built by a San Diego-based company called EuroFineCars approximately seven years ago, according to the private seller. The registration they received when they bought the car two years ago indicated this build was based on a 1969 car. However, the California Assigned Identification Number appears to correspond with a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. 

Introduced in the 1956 model year as an evolution of the 356, the 356A was available with a variety of engine options and could be ordered with the Cabriolet, Speedster, or Convertible D body style for open-air driving if the coupe didn’t seem stimulating enough. Porsche distinguished the 356A from its predecessor with a curved one-piece windshield, a front compartment lid handle with an inset Porsche crest, and, starting in March 1957, teardrop-shaped taillights.  

As configured, EuroFineCars’ Speedster replica comes in a bluish shade of silver metallic, which gives the fiberglass body a clean simplicity with just a splash of color. Exterior elements include bright side and rocker trim, gold badging, tan removable window panels, a retractable tan soft top, and a luggage rack. Service records, two sets of keys, and a car cover will come with the purchase of the vehicle. While some cars look perfect for a romantic dinner out, this speedster would be great for driving out along the coast at sunset and finding a mom-and-pop place for ice cream. 

The cabin has diamond-stitched saddle vinyl seating for two, a handsome wood-rimmed steering wheel, lap belts, and a modern AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The equally modern digital odometer shows only 3,291 kilometers (2,044 miles). 

As the seller states, their mechanic told them the 1,776cc flat-4 received new seals. In addition, the carburetor, spark plugs, fuel tank, fuel tank sending unit, fuel filter, fuel line, fuel pump, brake master cylinder, and the seal for the four-speed manual transaxle were replaced within the last two years. 

From the sounds of it, this 356A replica has plenty of miles left to go. And the brutal heat makes now a great time to go by the water and get a refreshing treat. This car’s a no-brainer for that kind of getaway. The only thing to figure out is which flavor of ice cream to get. 

The auction for this EuroFineCars 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster replica ends Monday, June 17, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

Concours of Elegance Germany to feature world-famous 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

Among the many star cars set to be showcased at Lake Tegernsee this July for the Concours of Elegance Germany, the latest entry has true superstar quality.

Entered by German engineering house and international award-winning 300 SL restoration specialists, HK-Engineering, the ‘Rubirosa’ Gullwing is very much a car that tells a story.

The 87th 300 SL ever built, international man of mystery, Porfirio Rubirosa bought the car in 1955 from Wiesbaden, from where it was transferred to his home in Paris. Believed by many to have been Ian Fleming’s inspiration for James Bond, Rubirosa owned the car until his death in 1965. In the years that followed, the 300 SL changed hands five times up until 2000, when it was acquired by HK-Engineering’s founder, Hans Kleissl.

HK-Engineering will display the Rubirosa alongside other of its acclaimed 300 SL restorations at the Concours of Elegance Germany, with this particular car notable for its highly original character, with the interior, rim paints and chromed features untouched since 1955. The car was painted by a subsequent owner to Rubirosa, but the original matte silver colour was applied to the car by HK-Engineering, rendering it as close to original as possible.

The story of Rubirosa’s life is befitting of a Fleming novel in itself. Born in the Dominican Republic in 1909, Rubirosa showed an early talent for playing polo, the sport of Kings. Through the sport he met with dictatorial Dominican president Rafael Trujillo who hired the young sportsman to the Presidential Guard. 

From here Rubirosa rose through the ranks of the diplomatic service to serve in embassies from Berlin to Buenos Aires, Rome to Havana, and along the way would be married five times and courted many movie stars, models and heiresses, amassing a fortune in divorce settlements and alimonies.  He continued to serve as a close confidant and ‘man in’ various countries around the world for President Trujillo, dodging many a criminal charge and even prison several times through the 1940s and 50s.

He met his end in Paris in 1965, with his passions for fast cars and polo in full swing. After celebrating victory at the Polo Coupe de France late in to the night on July 4, he went on an early morning drive in his Ferrari 250 GT cabriolet, where he hit a tree and died on impact.

The Concours of Elegance Germany is grateful to HK-Engineering for bringing this exceptional 300 SL to the Lake Tegernsee event in July, fresh from another successful completion of the Mille Miglia, and marking 70 years of this most iconic of German sportscars. 

Pick of the Day: 2008 Dodge Magnum R/T

Fun, meet function. Today, let’s appreciate a vehicle that wears multiple hats. Just because an individual needs to tote family members (and their cargo) around doesn’t that mean he or she has to settle for a ho-hum minivan or crossover. How about opting for a versatile station wagon with a high-horsepower HEMI V8 under the hood instead?

The Pick of the Day is a 2008 Dodge Magnum HEMI R/T station wagon listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Seattle, Washington. (Click the link to view the listing)

“In fantastic shape, shockingly low miles,” the seller says. In all fairness, the 61,820 indicated miles are not necessarily shocking for a 2008, but they are low: That figure comes out to about 3,900 miles per year. And the car looks the part of a garage-kept example – its red metallic paint and gray leather upholstery are preserved, and the seller says the car split its time between Phoenix and Seattle since new. A tow hitch has been equipped for added versatility.

Based on the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler LX platform (which also underpinned the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger, and even the Mercedes-Benz W211 E-Class), the Magnum station wagon was introduced in 2005 and was sold for four model years. Dodge’s marketing materials used the tagline “Open it up from either end,” emphasizing the fact that the car offered both performance credentials as well as cargo-hauling capabilities. I enjoyed this lighthearted commercial with the Magnum giving a Lotus Esprit a run for its money.

Today’s featured station wagon comes from the final year for the model, which was unique in the sense that it received a one-year-only facelift along with an updated interior. The design language similarities between the Magnum and its sedan sibling, the Charger, became more evident than ever before. In November 2007, Chrysler published the announcement that the Magnum, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and Pacifica were being discontinued due to slow sales so this would be the final send-off.

“This sleek sled has had a pampered life,” the seller says. “Garaged and diligently maintained.” The car was reportedly ordered new by a female in her mid-70s and it is now being offered for sale by her son since she has passed away. The car’s HEMI 5.7-liter V8 remains unmodified, and the powerplant was originally rated by the manufacturer as producing 340 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque.

This Magnum is right in line with the Future Collector Car Show, especially since it comes from the final year for the model. Pick it up while you can! The asking price is $18,500.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, motor over to the archives at Pick of the Day.

An American Sedan in the USSR

My parents visited the USSR in the early 1980s, as my dad had a business trip there. They brought me a diecast of a Volga and Lada, plus many other trinkets. I recall them telling me that there was a Coke machine that used one cup that everyone shared. People could not express themselves, and they’d go to jail if they did. Even my Sunday school teacher told us that there was no freedom of religion in the Soviet Union while parading a classmate’s cousin for all to see.

I can imagine things were even more stark 10 years earlier when two American embassy staffers hopped in a contemporary Chevrolet sedan (model undetermined) and made an excursion to various areas that were open to foreign visitors. In this case, they left Moscow and stopped by Tbilisi, Georgia, and three towns in the North Caucasus region before heading to Rostov and returning to Moscow. The whole trip took about five days.

Two foreign service officers prepared a report for the State Department, dated November 16, 1972, which you can read here. Car fans will get a kick out of the reactions the Soviet citizens had with the strange American car that was out of place in the republic.

To go out on a limb, we’ll guess the car was a Nova or Chevelle, not a full-size car ill-equipped to handle the environment built for smaller cars.

Be sure to check out the National Archives’ The Text Message for more interesting historical American ephemera.

Interesting Finds: 1967 Shelby King Cobra

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ClassicCars TV heads back in time to discuss the Shelby King Cobra. Emerging in 1963 from Carroll Shelby’s relentless pursuit of performance, the King Cobra was designed to dominate the Can-Am Series. It originated with a Cooper-based Ford small-block, but its development was paused as Shelby focused on the GT40 program. Post-Le Mans victory, Shelby enlisted Len Terry to craft an advanced chassis with an innovative suspension system and an experimental Ford big-block.

Despite its potential, the King Cobra’s journey was marred by delays, mechanical issues, and accidents, leading to its decline as Ford withdrew support. After years of obscurity, chassis #3 car was resurrected by Steve Johns, reviving the legend and showcasing it at the 2024 Arizona Concours d’Elegance.

Make sure to subscribe to the ClassicCars TV YouTube channel for more interesting finds, car reviews, and interviews!

Pick of the Day: 1970 Ford Thunderbird Landau

The drive for longer/lower/wider in Detroit in the mid/late 1960s created some memorable automobiles, but it’s arguable that it was a positive thing. Especially in the moment when government regulations were creeping in, it’s entirely possible that the trend was a negative aspect in the evolution of personal luxury models. Our Pick of the Day, a 1970 Ford Thunderbird Landau two-door, shows how the personal luxury car from Dearborn weathered the new decade before finding new success with a 1972 redesign. It’s listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Click the link to view the listing)

Thunderbird folks have names for different generations:

  • 1955-57: Classic Bird
  • 1958-60: Square Bird
  • 1961-63: Bullet Bird
  • 1964-66: Flair Bird
  • 1967-71: Glamour Bird
  • 1972-76 Big Bird
1967 Ford Thunderbird Landau two-door

When the 1967 Thunderbird was introduced, it was readily apparent it was larger and more luxurious than before, though it was less sporty. In many ways, it looked like a show car that came to life, especially with the wide-mouth grille hiding quad headlamps with a distinctive jutting  “lip” that give the impression of the front end popping out from the fenders. The full-width looped taillights were another fancy element (sequential, of course!). Inside, styling was more traditional to the Thunderbird’s lineage.

The body styles were also shuffled, with the convertible disappearing and a four-door Landau replacing it, the first time a four-door Thunderbird was ever offered. The four-door Landau even featured suicide doors, something that was a signature of its upscale cousin, the Lincoln Continental.

Power among the first three years evolved from FE-series 390 and 428 V8s to the 385-series 429 Thunder Jet. This engine was the only one available during Thunderbird’s 1970 restyle. The hidden headlights were tossed, while the coupe was given a semi-fastback roofline. A protruding proboscis (aka “beak”) was the most apparent feature up front, rumored to be instigated by Ford President “Bunkie” Knudsen, a former general manager of both Pontiac and Chevrolet. The front valence also was painted body color, giving the Thunderbird a striking, almost bumper-less appearance.

There were several packages to personalize your Thunderbird. Order the Special Brougham Option for two-doors (Thunderbird and Thunderbird Landau) and you’d get high-back bucket seats, center console, three-spoke Rim-Blow steering wheel, cut-pile carpeting, rear center armrest, door pull handles, and courtesy lights, but outside you’d find auxiliary grill lamps, color-keyed wheel covers, moldings that included color-keyed inserts, and color-keyed front stone shield and deflector.

Another way to make your Thunderbird fancy was with the Brougham Interior Trim package, which gave you a choice of rich quilted cloth and vinyl, or vinyl with leather seating surfaces, plus special door trim, wood-tone appointments, cut-pile carpeting, courtesy lights, Rim-Blow steering wheel, and rear seat fold-down armrest.

This 67,000-mile 1970 Ford Thunderbird Landau two-door is in the stunning color combination of what appears to be Burgundy Fire metallic with light tan vinyl top. A Ginger Brougham interior is furnished in cloth and vinyl. Like all Thunderbirds, it is powered by the 429 V8 and automatic transmission. We spy the optional Driver’s Control Console Armrest with power windows, power door locks, power seats, and outside remote-control mirror, cruise control, AM/FM radio, rear defogger, and turbine wheel covers, though the seller doesn’t indicate much otherwise.

These Thunderbirds are often squeezed between the earlier 1967-69 Glamour Birds and the redesigned 1972-76 Big Birds, both of which sold better. With sleeker looks and the last of the sequential taillights, they are an interesting and underrated collectible. At $13,970, affordable too!

Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini 4WD

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini XR-II 4WD 5-Speed.

Good things often come in small packages, and the benefits that a compact sport-utility vehicle might sacrifice in cargo capacity are made up for by nimble handling, parking ease, and fuel efficiency. The Pajero Mini is a vehicle that will feel right at home on tight trails, and this one, offered by a dealership in Texas, boasts fewer than 50,000 miles on it. The auction will end tomorrow.

In recent months, AutoHunter has sold a number of right-hand-drive vehicles that were imported from Japan, including a Suzuki pickup. Part of the reason for the influx of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles is that the “25-year rule” allows the legal importation of motor vehicles to the United States if they exceed a certain age. Get used to seeing foreign vehicles like this!

The Emerald Green and Coronado Silver two-tone exterior is adorned with a lot of accessories that offer both form and function. Among them are auxiliary lights, a chrome push bar, a fender-mounted rearview mirror, and window visors. The right-hand-drive cabin has some niceties like woodgrain trim, power windows, air conditioning, and a radio.

The Pajero reached various parts of the globe throughout its 40-year lifespan between 1981 and 2021, although it went by different names according to region. In North America, Mitsubishi called it the Montero, and in the United Kingdom, it was the Shogun. As Mitsubishi and many other automakers have learned, naming conventions can make or break a car, and the term “pajero” has derogatory connotations in some parts of the globe.

Though sharing some styling elements and the name, the Pajero “Mini rode on a separate platform that was much smaller than the traditional Pajero. It was a compact kei-class sport-utility vehicle produced from 1994 through 2012, and it was only available as a three-door. Chassis underpinnings were shared with the “Minica” series of Mitsubishi’s passenger vehicles, and models designated with a “II” in the name were of higher trim (most easily identified by things like two-tone paint and alloy wheels).

When Mitsubishi designers called this a “Mini,” they weren’t kidding. Vehicle length comes out to just 10.8 feet, which is about two feet shorter than a subcompact Mitsubishi Mirage passenger car. The engine is similarly teeny. Power comes from a 659cc inline-four mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. While not likely to accelerate furiously, the fuel-economy benefits are guaranteed.

If you are in the market for a trail-ready 4×4 that’s unique, easy to park, and fun to drive, this right-hand-drive Pajero Mini is right up your alley.

The auction for this 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero Mini XR-II 4WD 5-Speed ends tomorrow – Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery