Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NIght Watch: The sights and sounds of the Mazda 787B]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/19/night-watch-the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-mazda-787b/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/19/night-watch-the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-mazda-787b/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/19/night-watch-the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-mazda-787b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click Image for photo gallery. Follow the jump for video.

The Mazda 787B's victory at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans represents the only win for a Japanese manufacturer at the fabled endurance race, and thanks to the car's 2.6-liter R26B 4-rotor powerplant, it's also the only time a car has done so with a non-piston engine. In addition to being an important car because of what it accomplished for Mazda, it also happens to be one of the most fantastic-sounding racing cars ever.

In the video we've embedded after the jump, you'll see Kenichi Tanabe, editor of Japan's Car Graphic magazine, put the Le mans-winning #55 car through its paces at Mazda's Miyoshi Proving Ground in Hiroshima. The footage is great, but it's the audio that'll give you goosebumps. Thankfully, the only soundtrack is the wail of the R26B. No commenters yapping. No stupid music. Just the car. It's bliss.

If you'll excuse us, we have to go play Gran Turismo 4 now.

[Source: YouTube]

Gallery: Mazda 787B

Continue reading NIght Watch: The sights and sounds of the Mazda 787B

NIght Watch: The sights and sounds of the Mazda 787B originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 May 2007 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>19914-rotor787Ble mansLeMansr26bSat, 19 May 2007 21:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Future Classic: 1991-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/26/future-classic-1991-94-nissan-sentra-se-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/26/future-classic-1991-94-nissan-sentra-se-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/26/future-classic-1991-94-nissan-sentra-se-r/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Wants some desktop wallpaper images of the 91-94 Sentra SE-R? Click above

Nissan has a history of giving BMWs a run for their money. Back when they were going by Datsun, the 510 was a capable facsimile of a BMW 1600/2002, but cheaper. Performance cred attained, Nissan continued to pump out various capable performers over the years. In 1991, the Sentra was due for a makeover, and Nissan managed to splice some 510 DNA into the SE-R. Car and Driver admonished 12-year olds to save the review so they'd know what to buy in 1998 for a screaming bargain and a hell of a good time. I saved the review, but failed to heed the stellar advice about picking one of these little screamers up in the late '90s. They're a lot more rare now, and finding one that's either inexpensive or unmolested is tough. It's the darndest thing - people know what these cars are.

Read on for more.

Gallery: 1991 - 1994 Nissan Sentra SE-R

Continue reading Future Classic: 1991-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R

Future Classic: 1991-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1991199219931994b13classicfuturefuture classicFutureClassicnissanse-rsentraThu, 26 Apr 2007 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: DUAL jet-engined Toyota MR2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/17/ebay-find-of-the-day-dual-jet-engined-toyota-mr2/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/17/ebay-find-of-the-day-dual-jet-engined-toyota-mr2/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/17/ebay-find-of-the-day-dual-jet-engined-toyota-mr2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What will people do to get attention these days? The answer to that question can be found in two distinct places: YouTube or eBay. This insane piece of automotive engineering can be found for sale on eBay for a starting bid of $30,000.

The ad is very simple. All it states is that it is a 1991 Toyota MR2 that gets its motivation from (2) T58-3 General Electric jet engines with afterburners. Doing a little research takes you to www.toyjunkies.com, where the car is also listed for sale. There you can find a little more info and a few pictures.

The scariest part of the car to us are the aerodynamics. The car sports a stock spoiler on the rear and one of the wildest looking splitters ever built under the front bumper. The super size splitter appears to be designed to generate enough frontal downforce/drag to either keep the front end planted at any speed above 5 mph or to aerodynamically assure that the car will never go any faster than that at all. Oh, and the eBay ad also states that it is ready to race and shows a picture of a magazine article of unknown origin featuring the car.

If any of you have ever sold cars, you've no doubt heard the addage that "there is an ass for every seat." If the dual-jet powered MR2 sells for anything close to the asking price, we'll all know it is true.

[Source: eBay]

Thanks for the tip, Doug!

eBay Find of the Day: DUAL jet-engined Toyota MR2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1991Jet powered MR2JetPoweredMr2MR2ToyotaWed, 17 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST