Latest News | Page 414 of 1695 | ClassicCars.com Journal

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November 11, 2021

Audrain opening Nick Begovich Collection exhibit

“Engineering + Design = Passion” is the title of the new exhibit running November 20, 2021, through February 20, 2022, at the Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The exhibit features 14 post-war sports and grand touring cars from the Nick Begovich Collection.

Among those vehicles is an 1,800-mile 1964 Porsche 904, which the museum notes “is considered one of the most original 904s in the world. The car has never been taken apart and has been recently recommissioned by SpeedSport Tuning and is once again road worthy.”

Also featured is a 1969 Lamborghini Miura, purchased new by Begovich in Rome, driven while there and then shipped home and put into storage, and one of only six still-existing ATS 2500 GTS coupes.

Begovich was a retired engineer, scientist, tinkerer, philanthropist and car collector in Fullerton, California. His cars were sold after his death at age 98 in 2020.

One reason for the low mileage on so many of his vehicles was the fact that his home was about a mile from where he worked, and he liked to walk back and forth.

Lane welcomes vets and Toys for Tots

The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, offers free admission through November 15 to active and retired members of the US military. It also is accepting Toys for Tots donations and offers free admission through December 6 to those donating an unwrapped toy worth at least $10.

Those visiting the museum now through May 30, 2022, can see several special exhibits, including a stack of vehicles, propeller-driven vehicles that were not designed to fly, fabric-covered cars, open-wheel racing cars, a celebration of cars of the 1980s and ‘90s, and “Oil & Water,” vehicles with amphibious capabilities.

The museum also offers free 30-minute vault tours of its downstairs vehicle storage area.

Hypercars at the Petersen

Koenigsegg Agera RS FE Thor among hypercard on display | Museum photo by TED

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles says its two-part exhibit opening December is designed in part to define the world of hypercars, “the fastest and most exclusive cars money can buy.” Over an 18-month period, the museum will rotate 30 such vehicles through its exhibit, “Hypercars: The Allure of the Extreme.”

Among vehicles to be displayed are the Aria FXE concept, Bugatti Veyron 16.4, Caparo T1, Devel Sixteen, Hennessey Venom F5, Laraki Sahara, McLaren Speedtail, Rimac Concept One, and more. Two motorcycles also will be showcased — the Lotus C-01 and the Aston Martin AMB 001.

Saratoga adds Florida auction

The Saratoga Automobile Museum in upstate New York stages an annual fund-raising classic car auction and has announced a second such event for 2022, but this one will be held in Naples, Florida, at the Ultimate Garages venue and will benefit the St Matthew’s House as well as the museum.

The auction will be staged in conjunction with the 18th annual Cars on the 5th concours and Jetport reception.

Gilmore offers free admission to vets

The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, offers free admission November 11-14 to active and former US military personnel.

Docent training at Sacramento museum

The California Automobile Museum in Sacramento is accepting applications for its docent training program, which beings January 19, 2022. The course runs 20 sessions, meeting from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Special events this weekend

“The Future of Motorsports” will be the subject of a special presentation from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. November 12 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in a partnership between the Petersen Automotive Museum and Velocity International.

The Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord, North Carolina, hosts a Veteran Mustang Day car show November 13.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on November 13, Autobooks-Aerobooks in Burbank, California, hosts author Dave Wolin and his book, Riverside, a 484-page Volume 1 history — in words, photos and with a DVD included — of the famous Southern California road racing circuit.

It’s a Hoods-Up Weekend on November 13-14 at the Newport Car Museum in Rhode Island.

The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum and Main Line Cars and Coffee will host a cruise-in with concours-style judging from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. November 14 at the museum in Philadelphia. In addition to hosting the event, the museum will be open without admission fees to all participants.

BritWeek, a celebration of British culture and innovation, is scheduled for November 14 with 75 of the “most iconic British automobiles” parading from the Petersen Automotive Museum through Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. The cars can be viewed on the museum’s rooftop parking deck before the tour begins at 10 a.m.

Mark your calendar

LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, launches its book club at 6 p.m. (Pacific) November 16 via Zoom. Its first selection is The Brown Bullet: Rajo Jack’s Drive to Integrate Auto Racing by Bill Poehler.

The Canadian Automobile Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, will feature Canada’s first automobile at its Third Thursday presentation November 18 at 7 p.m. The subject is “Father Belcourt’s Automobile Untangled,” with historian Rudy Croken sharing facts and legends behind the automobile imported to Prince Edward Island in 1866.

Two new exhibits open November 18 at the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania — “Survivors: Unrestored Classic Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles,” antique vehicles that retain most of their original components, typically paint, interior and other major parts, and “Packard Showroom,” featuring, of course, Packards of various models.

The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, opens its “Winter Wonderland” holiday lights show from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 24, featuring classic cars in snow globes, rides in vintage vehicles, a maze of holiday inflatables, a visit to Santa’s Garage, outdoor artwork, a vintage Christmas tree lot with Shasta camper trailer, and more.

Brian Redman will be presented the 2021 Spirit of Competition award December 1 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. The annual award goes to someone who has made significant contributions to motorsports. Redman is a nine-time sports car racing champion and continues to be an ambassador for the sport and for vintage racing.

Former General Motors design director Ed Welburn will present “The Golden Age of American Automotive Design” from noon until 3 p.m. December 4 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.

The new Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, midway between Chattanooga and Atlanta, has announced December 8 as its opening day for visitors. The museum is on a 35-acre site and includes three buildings with 65,000-square-feet of display space and a cafe. It is part of the Georgia Museums Inc., which includes the Booth Western Art Museum, Bartow History Museum and Tellus Science Museum.

Beaulieu, England, home of the National Motor Museum, and Palace House, will host a new outdoor Christmas Fair from December 10-12.

The National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, hosts the “Run, Run Rudolph 5K” at 5 p.m. December 11. The run travels through 3.2-miles of holiday lights and supports Toys for Tots.

The Motor bar and restaurant at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee will host ugly sweater parties from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on December 11 and 18. It will feature Breakfast with Santa events on December 12 and 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Canadian Automobile Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, offers its Third Thursday lecture at 7 p.m. December 16 on Zoom with Dumaresq de Pencier featuring “Early Electric Cars of Canada: 1897-1927.” The museum also is working on its next exhibtion, “Wires to Wheels: Electric Vehicles in Canada and Beyond,” scheduled to open in July 2022.

The Montagu family Palace House, which shares its grounds with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, England, offers a trip back to 1889 with its Victorian Christmas event from December 18 to January 2.

The grand opening of the Segerstrom Shelby museum and event center has been rescheduled for January 20, 2022, in Irvine, California.

Does your local car museum have special events or exhibitions planned? Let us know. Email [email protected] .

Fangio Gordini, Bandini collection on Artcurial’s Retromobile auction docket

News and Events

Larry Edsall

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November 11, 2021

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Fangio Gordini, Bandini collection on Artcurial’s Retromobile auction docket

(Editor’s note: With the postponement of Retromobile to March, this auction has been rescheduled for March 18-19.)

Although the auction doesn’t take place until February 4, 2022, Artcurial Motorcars already is touting its docket, which includes the Gordini Type 18S driven by Juan Manual Fangio and Jose Froilan Gonzalez in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1950.

Also on the docket are the 2011 Peugeot 908 that won the Zhuhai 6 Hours, the Bandini collection of nine competition cars, a group of 19 rally cars from the estate of Beaudoin Lempereur, and the Bruno Lafourcade collection of four Bugattis and two Alfa Romeos collected by the architect.

Only two of the Gordini Type 18S racers were built with aerodynamic bodies made of duralumin, and the chassis No. 020S berlinetta being offered remains in “exceptionally original condition,” still with its 1950 upholstery and with the only Gordini compressor engine remaining, Artcurial reports.

The car remains in its guise after Fangio’s drive in the 1951 Rome-Liege-Rome race. Artcurial expects it to sell for €800,000 to €1.6 million ($925,500 to $18.5 million).

Zhuhai-winning 2011 Peugeot 908 | DPPI photo

The Zhuhai-winning 2011 Peugeot 908 is powered by a turbocharged V12 diesel-fueled engine and is chassis 07 driven to victory in China by Sebastien Bourdais and Anthony Davidson. The victory was Peugeot’ sixth (and last) in seven races.

Since that race, the car was overhauled by Peugeot Sport and delivered to the consignor. since then, it has been started ony for demonstrations.

Bandini Collection | Peter Singhof photo

The Bandini Collection is consigned by Dino Bandini, nephew of car-builder Ilario Bandini. Dino Bandini is the author of a book on the company’s history and a complete register of the 75 automobiles built by his uncle in Emilia-Romagna.

Among the cars being offered are the 1957 Bandini 750 Internazionale with streamlined aluminum coachwork, the 1953 Bandini 750 Sport Siluro still looking like it did when Ilario Bandini drove it in the Mille Miglia, and a 1957 Bandidni 750 Gt Veloce Berlinette Zagato that won first prize in the 1959 Rimini Concours d’elegance before racing at Daytona and Sebring.

The Lafourcade Collection includes a quartet of Bugattis — a 35C with racing provenance, an original 44 Faux cabriolet bodied by Labourette, a Type 13 and a 37 “Petit-Coupe” re-construction, as well as an Alfa Romeo SZ Coda tonda and Guilietta Sprint veloce Alleggerita.

The Lempereur Collection of rally cars includes several Fords, among them a Lotus Cortina, Sierra RS Cosworth and RS200.

Also on the docket is a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6B that has been part of the consignor’s family since his grandfather acquired the car in 1925. The car went into storage in World War II, with mechanical components protected with paraffin and with the engine crank handle turned regularly, Artcurial reports. The car was discovered during Artcurial’s recent tour de France excursion.

Jay Leno’s Garage hosts Hot Wheels Legends Tour finale

Car Culture

Larry Edsall

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November 11, 2021

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Jay Leno’s Garage hosts Hot Wheels Legends Tour finale

Don’t tell my youngest grandson, but I’m just back from the local grocery, where they were selling Hot Wheels toy cars 10 for $10, so I selected 10 to put under his family Christmas tree for him. Well, that is, unless I decide to open one or two of them to play with on my desk.

That’s the thing about Hot Wheels: We love them as children, and we still love them as children of a certain age, even old age.

Which brings me to this: The 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour “Global Grand Finale” will be staged November 13 in Jay Leno’s Garage. Don’t worry if Jay won’t let you in; the event will be livestreamed beginning at 9 a.m. (Pacific). You can watch on the Hot Wheels Facebook page or on the Jay Leno’s Garage channel on YouTube.

In the Garage, 10 full-size, home-built vehicles will be competing with the winning car joining the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and becoming a 1:64 sale die-cast toy to be sold around the world — and in a few years likely offered in one of those 10-for-a-dollar deals.

The 10 finalists have emerged from various Tour stops in the US and abroad, and finalists are entered from New Zealand, Malaysia, Germany, the UK, Mexico and Canada as well as from California, New Mexico, Michigan and California. Judging the Grand Finale will be a panel of Hot Wheels designers, automotive authorities and celebrity car enthusiasts, Mattel reports.

Pick of the Day: 1980 Datsun 280ZX coupe in ‘showroom condition’

Pick of the Day

Tyson Hugie

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November 11, 2021

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Pick of the Day: 1980 Datsun 280ZX coupe in ‘showroom condition’

All it takes is the mention of one letter from the alphabet to bring on a wave of nostalgia for many Japanese car collectors. The Z sports coupe has been a motoring icon since the late 1960s and has now evolved into its seventh generation. As Nissan enthusiasts eagerly await the on-sale date of the recently debuted 2023 model year Z, the car’s Datsun predecessors deserve their time in the limelight, too.

The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1980 Datsun 280ZX listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Miami, Florida. At only 54,000 miles, it’s described as being stock and original, with the exception of reupholstered seats.

“Garage-kept and meticulously maintained since new,” the ad says. “Adult-owned, Florida car, unrestored almost-new showroom condition.”

Relatively few four-decade-old classic cars are still wearing original coats of paint, but this Datsun Z is one of them. Its 41-year-old body is dressed in a rare Gold Mist Metallic finish in “superb condition” per the seller, and the car comes with such features as removable T-top roof panels, machined aluminum wheels, and color-keyed side mirrors.

The Datsun 280ZX, known otherwise as the Fairlady Z in overseas markets, launched in 1978 on the S130 chassis. Toyota introduced its rival Supra at the same time, and the increasing marketplace competition brought a need for additional content and better performance.

The 280ZX received T-tops in 1980 and upgrades to the drivetrain, including the availability of a turbocharged model beginning in 1981. Datsun’s marketing promoted the car as more of a grand tourer than an all-out sports car.

While the listing omits photos of the engine compartment, this Datsun 280’s L28E inline-six is said to “perform flawlessly and responsively at all levels.” The powerplant is naturally aspirated as opposed to being turbocharged like later versions, but it produces a respectable 135 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque, which is ample for scooting the 2,675-pound two-seater around.

“Mechanically, it starts, idles and drives as you would expect for a well-cared performance car,” the seller states. “Air conditioning, belts, coolant, fluids all changed and maintained at the proper intervals.”

A five-speed manual transmission sends power to the BFGoodrich radials at the rear.

Preservation of this Datsun Z continues on the interior, where reupholstered suede buckets provide bolstered seating and all the electronic equipment functions as designed – even the radio’s power antenna. The seller has provided detailed imaging of areas like the door jambs which look just as clean as the rest of the vehicle.

“You will be hard pressed to find a 1980 280ZX in this condition,” the seller adds. “The car is turn-key, needs nothing, and is suitable as a daily driver.”

The seller is asking $31,900 for this well-kept Z.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

AutoHunter Spotlight: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

AutoHunter

Racheal Colbert

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November 10, 2021

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AutoHunter Spotlight: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Visit AutoHunter Spotlight

Up for auction on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS two-door hardtop true original 396 muscle car.

“The midsize Chevelle was engineered on the General Motors A-body platform and began production in 1963 for the inaugural 1964 model year, with body styles encompassing coupes, sedans, convertibles, and station wagons,” AutoHunter notes in the muscle car’s listing.

“A new generation rolled out four years later in 1968 with more rounded design language and modified trim optioning.”

This 1970 example was assembled in top-line SS 396 form and is finished in red with black accent stripes on the cowl induction hood and trunk lid.

The interior features reupholstered split-bench vinyl bench seats, a Hurst shifter, Kenwood Bluetooth-enabled AM/FM/CD radio and factory-tinted glass.

Under the hood, the numbers-matching Turbo-Jet 396cid V8 is upgraded with Moroso chrome-finished valve covers and linked to a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission.

The odometer reads approximately 11,000 miles, although true mileage is unknown.

This Chevelle’s auction ends November 17 at 11:40 a.m. MST.

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and gallery of photos.

Top 10 tips for storing your classic vehicle over the winter

Featured Vehicles

Bob Golfen

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November 10, 2021

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Top 10 tips for storing your classic vehicle over the winter

(Editor’s note: During the month of November, the ClassicCars.com Journal will publish a series of stories about outfitting your garage, whether it’s a just-completed shell or one in which you’ve been working but are ready to redo and upgrade. As always, your comments are welcome, and if you have a story about how you equipped your own garage, we’d like to share your tale and photos with others. Contact us at [email protected].)

Storing your classic car over the long, cold winter takes a lot more than just parking and ignoring it until spring. When cruising weather finally returns, you want to be able to take your baby out for a drive, not spend time, money and effort resurrecting it after six months of neglect.

Bad gas, dead batteries, damaged paint and interiors, tire issues, rodent and insect infestation, even rust and mechanical problems from accumulated moisture can be avoided by taking some simple measures of care before you put your classic down for its winter hibernation.

This guide is written with the assumption that the vehicle will not be started or driven during the storage period. Go with the idea that you’re putting your collector vehicle away for the winter, not to be disturbed until spring.

While these tips are designed for collector cars and trucks, they can also be applied to motorcycles, as well as tractors and other gas-powered implements.

Here are 10 steps for keeping your vehicle in good condition during long-term storage:

• Wash and detail your vehicle thoroughly. Apply a coat of wax and polish the chrome and other shiny bits. Clean the tires, too, and treat them with a good non-solvent-based tire dressing. If your car has a convertible top, store it with the top up (otherwise the fabric will shrink), clean the fabric and treat it with a product designed for that purpose.

• Clean the interior. Vacuum it thoroughly to get rid of all those little crumbs and bits that can attract vermin. Polish the leather and vinyl. Get some packs of desiccant, available at the hardware store, to wick away moisture. As well as providing protection, you will be thankful in the spring when you step into an interior that’s clean and dry.

• Store your car indoors in a weatherproof structure on a concrete surface, never a dirt floor. Sweep and wash the floor before parking, then lay down a large sheet of plastic to serve as a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from coming up through the concrete floor and reaching the underside of your car. Even if your floor is painted or epoxy coated, a plastic tarp is cheap insurance.

• Change the oil. Used oil is full of contaminants and residue that can damage your engine if left in the crankcase. Always store a vehicle with fresh oil. As long as the car is not started during storage, you can keep that fresh oil and drive away in the spring – unused oil will not go bad. Check all fluids and top them off if needed. If your brake fluid is a few years old, you might consider changing that as well. Lube the front end and chassis as needed.

• Make sure your cooling system contains the proper blend of antifreeze so it doesn’t freeze up, which can cause the engine block to crack. In very cold climates, you might consider using an engine-block heater just as you do for your daily drivers.

• Put the battery on a good-quality battery tender. Make sure the device has an automatic shut off to avoid overcharging, which will wreck the battery. If possible, take the battery out of the vehicle, and if the garage is unheated, bring it into the house for the winter.

• Add a fuel-stabilization product to the gas, then fill the tank to the brim. This will extend the usable life of the fuel while protecting the tank, fuel system and engine from corrosion. Take the car out for a 20-minute drive to circulate the chemical-laden gas throughout the system, then top off the tank again. The ethanol in gas attracts moisture, and the filled tank allows less room for moist air to collect.

• Plug the exhaust pipe and any other openings, such as engine intakes, with wads of steel wool to keep critters out. Periodically check the car to make sure no unwelcomed guests have taken up residence in the interior, engine compartment, trunk or under the car.

• Jack up the vehicle and put it on sturdy jack stands – never use cinder blocks or any other type of make-do stands that could unexpectedly fail. There is some dispute over storing vehicles on jack stands over a long period because it could place unnatural strain on the suspension – decide for yourself how you want to approach this. One solution is to remove the wheels to take the weight off the raised suspension.

Basically, raising the car off its tires keeps them from flat-spotting, but that’s not as big a deal with modern tires. There are also so-called tire cradles that can help avoid flat spotting; some folks use thick sections of corrugated cardboard. Inflate the tires a bit higher than normal and, if possible, wrap the wheels and tires in plastic sheeting. Always release the hand brake to keep it from getting stuck.

• Keep the vehicle under a high-quality cover, preferably one with a soft inside surface that won’t damage the paint and thick enough to protect the body from bumps. The cover does not have to be waterproof since your car is indoors; a cover made from material that breathes is preferable.

You might not agree with every piece of advice given here, and you can alter your approach depending on your specific needs and conditions. But remember, the ounces of prevention that you take when putting away a vehicle for long-term winter storage can prevent pounds of heartache when the time comes for getting it out again.

Dodge bringing back Direct Connection as part of ‘Never Lift’ program

Media

Larry Edsall

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November 10, 2021

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Dodge bringing back Direct Connection as part of ‘Never Lift’ program

Dodge is launching a new two-year business plan labeled “Never Lift,” which among other things promises at least one enthusiast-related announcement every three months, including the return of Direct Connection as the exclusive source for performance parts and enthusiast customer service.

Kicking off “Never Lift” will be Operation 25/8, an 8-week, 25-car giveaway, with detailed to be announced November 12. Operation 25/8, Dodge said, is part of its “Brotherhood of Muscle,” which goes above and beyond 24/7.

“More than gas, more than batteries, what fuels our run to tomorrow is attitude, a belief that we can always push harder, run faster and flat-out over-deliver on behalf of the brand and the Brotherhood of Muscle,” Dodge brand chief executive Tim Kuniskis is quoted. “25/8 recognizes the spirit that makes Dodge, well, Dodge.”

1977 Direct Connection parts catalog cover

Also coming is a search for a Dodge-brand “Chief Donut Maker,” with details coming in January, 2022, according to the Dodge news release. Kuniskis said the “donut maker” will celebrate one of “the unsung enthusiasts that make up the backbone” of the brand, an ambassador who embodies the spirit of the founding Dodge brothers, John and Horace.

“The Dodge brothers were scrappy go-getters,” he said. “Never content to follow the trends, they were the seekers of a better, faster, more outrageous way of doing things. We’re looking to hire someone just like them as an ambassador of Never Lift.”

By the way, he added, the position includes a Dodge Hellcat to drive, a $150,000 salary, a wardrobe and a business card that carries the title, Chief Donut Maker. Details to come in mid-January 2022.

“Dodge is a pure performance brand, and the reintroduction of Direct Connection will empower members of the brotherhood looking for increased performance without violating emission requirements or the factory warranty,” Kuniskis added.

Dodge said Direct Connection will launch with a full line of factory-tuned parts, including exclusive new Direct Connection “Tuner” and “Stage” kits that will allow Dodge owners to install factory-tuned, 50-state-legal stage kit calibrations.

“The Direct Connection Stage II kit can unlock nearly 100 additional horsepower, while a Stage III kit is under development to unlock even more,” the company said.

Now a part of Stellantis, Dodge originally launched Direct Connection back in 1974 offering “ready-to-run performance parts sold through the dealer network with how-to performance-upgrade guides known as performance recipes. The Direct Connection hotline, catalog and more armed racers and enthusiasts with the information they desired. Whatever the performance need – street, track or strip – Direct Connection provided the parts and knowledge.”

Toyota touts new Tundra

Toyota has unveiled its next-generation full-size pickup truck in the form of the 2022 Tundra, which is switching from its former V8 engine to a more-powerful twin-turbocharged V6.

The i-Force 3.5-liter twin-turbo powerplant comes in two versions, with 348 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque (and a 20-mpg rating) or with 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

However, even more powerful is the hybrid version, the i-Force Max with 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque.

The truck has a base price of $35,950, can tow as much as 12,000 pounds (with the Max hybrid setup), and is available with a 14-inch touchscreen multi-media system. Toyota said it also has upgraded the 4×4 system on its TRD Pro model, and that the upgrades are available on other 4×4 Tundras as well.

French truck maker fuels Dakar entry with hydrogen

Gaussin’s H2 Racing Truck debuts in Dakar Rally in January | Pininfarina photos

French truck producer Gaussin has unveiled what it says will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing truck, which will enter the 2022 Dakar Rally that begins in January. The truck was designed by Pininfarina.

“The H2 Racing Truck incorporates high-performance design to withstand extreme environments, and it is intended to demonstrate the performance and reliability of the hydrogen-electric motorization developed by Gaussin,” according a news release sent by Pininfarina.

“The data and information collected during the 2022 Dakar Rally will be used to further develop Gaussin’s range of road trucks scheduled for launch from 2022.”

“We are the first generation to feel the effects of climate change and the last generation to act,” Gaussin chief executive Christophe Gaussin is quoted. “By entering the first 100 percent hydrogen and electric truck in the Dakar, Gaussin intends to demonstrate the reliability and performance of its hydrogen road range in a difficult environment. New technologies based on renewable energies are available and mature and should help accelerate the energy transition.”

Gaussin said its fleet of on-road trucks will be available for long-distance travel with a range of 800 kilometers before the hydrogen fuel will have to be refilled, which is says will be a 20-minute process, as well as a battery-only version for shorter distances with a 3-minute recharge good for another 400 kilometers of travel.

The zero-emission trucks will be available in road tractor, autonomous, delivery and construction versions, each designed by Pininfarina.

For the Dakar and other off-road rallies, the H2 Racing Truck will have a pair of 300 kW electric motors powered by 380 kW hydrogen fuel cells. The truck will have a 250 kilometer range in racing conditions and will need 20 minutes to replenish the hydrogen supply.

Gaussin plans full range of Pininfarina-designed hydrogen and electric trucks

SNL reminds us why learning how to drive a stick is critical

Car Culture

Racheal Colbert

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November 10, 2021

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SNL reminds us why learning how to drive a stick is critical

Picture this – you’ve just broken into a billionaire’s garage packed with collector vehicles with one mission – to steal a Lamborghini Diablo.

With your eyes on the prize and just two minutes on the clock for a successful escape, you hop in the driver’s seat and put your foot on the gas.

You hear the V12 engine rev up, your adrenaline pumping, and then… nothing, the engine stalls.

Saturday Night Live, with guest host Kieran Culkin, tells this story in its hilarious yet cringe-inducing skit, “Car Heist.”

The driver, completely unaware of how to drive a stick, is frantically given driving instructions from his boss in his earpiece so he can make it out of the garage and complete the mission.

Does he make it in time? Watch the skit and find out.

SEMA Seen: Lifted, slammed and tire-smokin’ power

News and Events

Larry Edsall

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November 10, 2021

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SEMA Seen: Lifted, slammed and tire-smokin’ power

Although the trend we saw a week ago at the 2021 SEMA Show was electrification, that doesn’t mean the Las Vegas Convention Center and its parking lots were anywhere near void of the rootin’ tootin’ petroleum burnin’ and tire smokin’ rides that have been the show’s stars ever since a bunch of hot-rod parts supplier got together decades ago to display their wares.

Here is just a sampling:

1973 Plymouth ‘Hellrunner’

Take a 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner and insert the thousand-horsepower engine from a 2016 Dodge Hellcat and do other updates and you get the “426 Hellrunner,” built by Jems Classics and displayed at the Racing.Junk booth at the SEMA Show. The car is owned by Vance Kershner and was built because a ’73 Roadrunner was his first car.

Jeff Jones’ 1953 Ford Custom

Florida resident Jeff Jones turned a 1953 Ford into one of the most beautiful and well-done custom cars we saw this year at the SEMA Show. It was a 4-year project, and when the show ended, he was heading home to customize his brother’s vintage Mercury.

John D’Agostino’s ‘The Phantom Auburn’

This boattail speedster, which made its American debut at the Grand National Roadster Show in 2020, was built in 1968 in Sweden by Anders Jacobsson and is part of the John D’Agostino Celebrity Kustoms collection.

Redcat RC vehicles

Redcat has been producing remote-control 1/8-scale vehicles since 2005. At the 2021 SEMA Show, it wowed visitors with its lowrider and off-road displays. These vehicles are not inexpensive — running several hundred dollars — but they put on an amazing show, just like their full-size counterparts.

Jamo 1948 Ford tractor

Jamo Performance Exhaust didn’t use a conventional SEMA vehicle to showcase its products for trucks and sport utility vehicles. Instead, it put its new system on this 1948 Ford 8N tractor, which was further modified with a turbocharged 7.3-liter Powerstroke diesel engine.

Born Again ’49 Ford

Maniacs Garage quotes a Bible verse about being born again and dubbed this 1949 Ford Shoebox the “Born 49ain.” The car’s body is chopped and shortened and lowered and mounted on the running gear (and air conditioning) of a 2008 BMW 335i.

1984 Toyota AE86 Trueno

Built by Japanese turning specialist Tec-Art’s and displayed on the Cusco Progressive Equipment stand was this highly modified beneath the sheetmetal and carbon fiber 1984 Toyota Sprinter Tueno coupe, known on this side of the Pacific as the Corolla.

Jeep Gladiator Ultimate Bug Out

Somewhere up there atop those massive HellTraxx triangular snow treads is a Jeep Gladiator equipped with a refrigerator, water filtration system and topped by a Freespirit Recreation roof-top tent.

But wait, there’s more…

Unfortunately, those displaying the vehicles below provided no information about them:

This amazing pice of sculpture appears to be a functioning bicycle. It was on the stand of artist Nick Crouch

Pick of the Day: 1967 Pontiac Tempest convertible that’s not a GTO clone

Pick of the Day

Bob Golfen

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November 10, 2021

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Pick of the Day: 1967 Pontiac Tempest convertible that’s not a GTO clone

The Pontiac GTO is so prevalent among collector cars that it seems odd to find a 1967 Tempest that’s not a GTO – indeed because so many of them have been cloned to appear as original examples of the iconic muscle car.

The Pick of the Day is a 1967 Pontiac Tempest convertible with an honest presentation as a standard model, although notably equipped with the same 400cid, 335-horsepower 4-barrel V8 of the GTO, and with a 4-speed manual transmission.

The Tempest was completely restored a few years back “and looks awesome,” according to the Gladstone, Oregon, dealer advertising the Pontiac on ClassicCars.com.

“The burgundy exterior paint and convertible tan power top are in excellent condition,” the seller says. “The front and rear bumper is nicely chrome. All the glass has no cracks or stars.

“Equipped with tilt steering, power steering, power brakes, power top and dual exhaust. The burgundy interior bench seat looks great without any rips or tears. The dash also has no cracks.”

This is the second-generation Tempest, upsized to midsize, and which received a restyling for 1966, carried over to ’67. The optional 400cid V8 was new for 1967, and became the mid-performance-level engine for the GTO.

In my book, this was the best-looking era stylistically for the Tempest/GTO, the stacked headlights and “Coke-bottle” shape working to make it both sporty and classy. These are great-driving cars, too.

Although muscle car fans might see the lack of GTO badging as a detriment, as well the extra sport features, the Tempest version is essentially the same car, especially set up like this one with the big engine and manual shifting.

The big difference is the pricing, with the value of the regular Tempest significantly undercutting that of comparable GTOs. Which is another reason why it’s rare to find one in correct condition.

This one is fairly priced at $37,500, which seems like a lot of beautiful and muscular convertible for the money.

“These Tempest convertibles are rare, with continued care and maintenance should continue to increase in value over time,” the dealer notes.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day