Now if only this thing didn't stand out quite so much...

Alfisti wrote: Well, he did have practice driving trucks at speed... that Audi wasn't exactly the lightest of the Group B crowd.

Yeah, Audi led the 4wd revolution, but got left behind the power curve (by Peugeot & Lancia) pretty quick. They were the only Group B car to maintain a front engine layout, and I think they paid for it.

For when the SWA has a mission in America, they send this vehicle over with the fratello:

1964 "Hank Williams Jr." GM Pontiac Bonneville convertible

This car was built for recording artist Hank Williams Jr. by his mother and features 350 authentic U.S. silver dollars embedded into the all-leather interior. The car also packs 12 .22-caliber six-shooter pistols, six .38 handguns, and three trunk-mounted .22 rifles. Known as "The Silver Dollar Pontiac," it was created by "Rodeo Tailor to the Stars" Nudie Cohn

It's up for auction again if you're interested.

Kiskaloo wrote:For when the SWA has a mission in America, they send this vehicle over with the fratello:

1964 "Hank Williams Jr." GM Pontiac Bonneville convertible

This car was built for recording artist Hank Williams Jr. by his mother and features 350 authentic U.S. silver dollars embedded into the all-leather interior. The car also packs 12 .22-caliber six-shooter pistols, six .38 handguns, and three trunk-mounted .22 rifles. Known as "The Silver Dollar Pontiac," it was created by "Rodeo Tailor to the Stars" Nudie Cohn

It's up for auction again if you're interested.

I do like that at least one gun appears to be mounted so as to point at the middle passenger's head... add that to the wide rear bumper, if you needed to transport someone dangerous you could just stand a girl on the back to man the armament.

Kiskaloo wrote:For when the SWA has a mission in America, they send this vehicle over with the fratello:

And I thought nothing could be as awful as that pink Cayanne limo I saw outside Gainesville the other day. Tasteless truly knows no limits. Sad thing is, that would be a pretty sweet Bonnie without all the crap tacked onto it.

Went over to the mechanics today (steering, something I'm not confident working on: screw up the engine and it stops with a big bill, screw up the steering and there's a high probability of winding up in a tree) to pick up the Alfetta and found this parked outside another workshop a few doors up:







Yeah, it sorta stood out. However if someone was feeling retro enough, and going somewhere rich enough... just maybe.

One day I'll see if the mob who do our work will let me take a few photos inside their workshop, probably one of my favorite places to go... if only because they also have the best coffee I know of.

To that, I say, "NICE!"

When I was thinking of a car for Fernando, Masseratis were high on the list.

But then I realized, "What would a 1/2 million dollar/euro car be doing in a slum on some missions!" I chose the Porsche 928 for being able to fit into that second category- It wont draw as much attention as a Masserati.

You can get a very nice Maserati Bora for under $100,000.

ElfenMagix wrote:
But then I realized, "What would a 1/2 million dollar/euro car be doing in a slum on some missions!"

Because sometimes the X5 has to go into the body shop to get the bullet holes taken out but you still have to pick up a cocaine shipment?

Alfisti wrote:

ElfenMagix wrote:
But then I realized, "What would a 1/2 million dollar/euro car be doing in a slum on some missions!"

Because sometimes the X5 has to go into the body shop to get the bullet holes taken out but you still have to pick up a cocaine shipment?

lol!

BTW- I knew (through my bro when he worked as a supermarket manager), some idiot who drove around in a white Countach years ago. He owned over 50 Bagel Shops city wide and supplied supermarkets with his brand of bagels and went about to each store to pick up their daily proceeds with it and then drove to some bank somewhere. I have not seen him in years.

Another City Countach (in red) used to be owned by the late Malcolm Forbes. He used to ride it around in 'The Village' until he died in the early/mid 1990s.

ElfenMagix wrote:

BTW- I knew (through my bro when he worked as a supermarket manager), some idiot who drove around in a white Countach years ago. He owned over 50 Bagel Shops city wide and supplied supermarkets with his brand of bagels and went about to each store to pick up their daily proceeds with it and then drove to some bank somewhere. I have not seen him in years.

Haha, actually the owner of the local Indian place (also now a chain) does the same but with a bright orange Gallardo... I've always wondered what his servicing costs are like.

Eh, I loathe city driving at the best of times, trying it in a super-car of any type doesn't really appeal.

Speaking of standing out:



Buckminster Fuller's 4D "Dymaxion" car... horribly unsafe but I still want one, very badly...

Though I think I like Range Murata's version better

Power Word: "Sweet"

I agree!

The "Oltre Fiat" concept, based on the Iveco Light Military Vehicle (Italy's and UK's answer to the HMMV).

Looks like something a rapper would drive....

Considering the last FIAT 4x4 was bought by the russians...

boomer_gonz wrote:Any shot of tweaking (the Avantime's) suspension to negative camber?

I watched the episode again today for inspiration, so here ya go:



Even Allison would be...



...looking at that.

Kiskaloo wrote:

boomer_gonz wrote:Any shot of tweaking (the Avantime's) suspension to negative camber?

I watched the episode again today for inspiration, so here ya go:

In a word: DAMN!!!!

Fernando needs to ditch the hearse and get back in touch with his inner 1979:



From the movie "Angels Revenge".

The 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham:



Longer and wider than a modern Escalade and more expensive than the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I, options included the first power seats (with memory!) and even a 45RPM record player (which gives you an idea of just how soft the suspension had to be).

Just the thought of trying to maneuver that through Rome makes me .

Kiskaloo wrote:Fernando needs to ditch the hearse and get back in touch with his inner 1979:

Fernando: (scratching his chin pensively) Hmmm...you've got a point there. If I could keep Francesca & Rachel seperated by at least two rows of seats at all times it could reduce bickering by 4 ½...maybe even 5%.

Of course, the "big four door coupe" isn't exatly a new idea...

...or that matter, the Panamera's styling.

Panamera:


Bristol 405:





Anyone else see a resemblance? Particularly around the tail end?

If you've seen the movie "An Education", then you're already familiar with the car. Personally, of the two... I'd have the Bristol.


All donations toward the "buy Alfisti a Bristol 405" fund gratefully accepted and tax deductable.

In their driving review, I believe James May and Richard Hammond compared it to an Austin Maxi:



All Michele, Kara and Claes have to say is it's scary fast and the interior is an awesome place to spend a trans-continental journey in.

at least it wasn't a Marina,damn pianos love 'em !

Kiskaloo wrote:In their driving review, I believe James May and Richard Hammond compared it to an Austin Maxi:



All Michele, Kara and Claes have to say is it's scary fast and the interior is an awesome place to spend a trans-continental journey in.

Damn thing almost looks like a rare VW Type 4 Fastback!

For a paltry US$195k Michele can cover all his transport needs, land AND air... for these times of financial crisis and downsizing:

That's a funky-looking contraption.

Still, it's better-looking than the Aerocar:




Kara: "Well keep the Piaggio and Aston Martin, thank you."

the best flying car from Joe 90 !

Talk about standing out...

I give you the Mansory Porsche Panamera:

Does the interior come in any other color schemes other than

Kiskaloo wrote:Talk about standing out...

I give you the Mansory Porsche Panamera:

Is it just me or does that scheme make it look a lot like a giant Subaru Impreza?

Kiskaloo wrote:I give you the Mansory Porsche Panamera:

If that's not your style try this Masonry BMW.

Kiskaloo wrote:Talk about standing out...

I give you the Mansory Porsche Panamera:

Top Gear just showed this in their "News" section for tonight's episode (15x03).

Lotus T125 "Exos"

Buy a Lotus trackday car, race it in an owner's series... And unlike Ferrari, Lotus will let you take it home.





Powered by a slightly de-tuned Cosworth V8.



The really cool thing about this is that it paves they way for Lotus to start supplying to F3 and so-on.


More info on the Chapman Report

Alfisti wrote:Lotus T125 "Exos"

The really cool thing about this is that it paves they way for Lotus to start supplying to F3 and so-on.

Hmmm...if Lotus (Britan) wants to get back into open-wheel racing I wonder if they have a goal of eventually returning to F1.

Now where does that leave the current Lotus F1 (Malaysia) team? Might we see a war over the name develop...or perhaps a partnership?

The Lotus F1 Team is owned in part by Proton, who own Lotus Cars. Since Lotus F1 Team own the legal rights to the name as it applies to F1, I would hazard a guess that Lotus Cars is not intending to enter F1.

I believe Lotus Cars is behind the sponsorship of an Indy Racing League chassis driven by Takuma Sato for KV Racing Technology.

Kiskaloo wrote:The Lotus F1 Team is owned in part by Proton, who own Lotus Cars. Since Lotus F1 Team own the legal rights to the name as it applies to F1, I would hazard a guess that Lotus Cars is not intending to enter F1.

I believe Lotus Cars is behind the sponsorship of an Indy Racing League chassis driven by Takuma Sato for KV Racing Technology.

My understanding of it was that Proton are the ones who have been pushing for Lotus to get back into F1 and so on anyway. Lotus has a great motorsport heritage, but it's all old news. From what I can gather the Type 125 is aimed solidly at the FXX type market segment. That's backed by what Lotus's model lineup for the future looks like as well, again Proton seems to be pushing the brand into the Ferrari market.

I'm not sure how that's going to go. Lotus has tried to hit the supercar market before, and it damn-near bankrupted them (again).

Alfisti wrote:Lotus T125 "Exos"

Buy a Lotus trackday car, race it in an owner's series... And unlike Ferrari, Lotus will let you take it home.

This thing is evidently pretty close to an F1 car in dimensions and weight. And while it's a million bucks, that is a lot cheaper than an F1 car.

Speaking of Lotus, the F1 team will change from Lotus Racing to the classic Team Lotus nomenclature next year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86894

Also on the Lotus front... thoughts on the new Lotus Elite? 2+2 GT with a retractable hard top. Powered by the V8 out of the Lexus IS-F apparently with an optional power-boost hybrid. It'll be the third car to carry the "Elite" name.

Something tells me any production version will at least have more substantial wing mirrors.

Alfisti wrote:Also on the Lotus front... thoughts on the new Lotus Elite? 2+2 GT with a retractable hard top.

I'm eager to see what a company that lives by the credo of light weight above all can develop in the way of hybrid drive. As I've said before; the performance/racing world should be leading the way in developing alternate power sources for cars, not dragging their heels.

Alfisti wrote:Also on the Lotus front... thoughts on the new Lotus Elite?

Honestly, that looks pretty good. A bit of Aston Martin and Mazda DNA...

It would pass the "Kara Test" (she'd allow herself to be seen getting out of one), so that's a plus.

Muscle car + Rally Car = ...



The Rally Fighter... pity about the auto-box.

via Uncrate

Allison: I'll be in my bunk.

Alfisti wrote:Muscle car + Rally Car = ...



The Rally Fighter... pity about the auto-box.

via Uncrate

Allison: It's so beautiful... But why does it have to be automatic?

MP5 wrote:Allison: ...why does it have to be automatic?

Marisa: We can rebuild her, we have the technology.



Elio: Marisa put that damned acetylene torch out before you burn down the whole compound!

Kiskaloo wrote:Jose bought one:



If you want a classy four door sports car, the new Aston Martin Rapide is the logical choice:

too cute

Eliza: Allison! You Drive While I ride Shotgun...



Allison: Now We just need ppl brave enough to ride up front.

Seems like any Porsche that includes the name "panamer" in it's name is going to turn out ugly....

The 2009 Porsche Panamera



The 1989 Porsche Panamericana Concept:

Every much the same thing as the 911, here is the 912...


The difference between the two? The 911 uses a flat 6, while the 912 uses a flat 4, same one used in the 914 , the old 938 and VW Microbuses.