Autoblog

Barrett-Jackson 2011: 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator *Update: w/video

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Auctions, Videos, Ford, Celebrities

2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator - Click above for high-res image gallery

Beau Boeckmann is a huge Evel Knieval fan... he also happens to be the president of Galpin Auto Sports, which is tied to the largest Ford dealership in the world. To honor his hero, Boeckmann commissioned a limited run of customized Ford F-150s. Coming across the stage at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction will be the 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator; the prototype truck built to showcase the entire run and it's identified as #000 of 2,000.

This 2002 F-150 wears custom Evel Knieval-themed paint complete with the blue and white stars and stripes running the length of the vehicle. Under the hood is the familiar 5.7-liter Triton V8 engine while a set of Boyd Coddington wheels outside and red, white and blue leather seats inside help set this limited-edition pickup apart.

Mr. Knieval used this has his personal vehicle towards the end of his life. All 19,023 miles have been used to shuttle Evel to events around the country, including an appearance together on The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

Check out both the the trucks official auction page on Barrett-Jackson, and watch Speed's live online coverage here. Are you playing Speed's Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what a series of featured vehicles will end up bringing at the auction block - you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad. Enjoy!

*Update: Video of the truck crossing the block is available after the jump.

Gallery: 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator at Barrett-Jackson 2011

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator *Update: w/video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator *Update: w/video originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrity classics on the docket at RM Auctions in Arizona

Noah Joseph — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Lincoln

Rita Hayworth's '41 Lincoln Continental Coupe - Click above for high-res image

This year's RM Auctions event in Phoenix will feature several classics with serious celebrity provenance. First and foremost is a rare 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder that was alternately owned by Reggie Jackson and Evel Knievel. By itself, the Daytona Spyder is expected to fetch around a million bucks, but that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Also on the roster is a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton used by Elvis Presley in the movie Spinout (also estimated at a million +/-), a 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe (pictured above) given by Orson Welles to Rita Hayworth (~$175k) and a 1949 Cadillac Series 75 Woodie Limousine with custom bodywork by Schwartz commissioned by MGM studios (~$300k). With nearly three months to go before the auction, you can bet there'll be plenty more interesting vehicles on their way to Arizona for the event. Hit the jump to read about what's been consigned so far. UPDATE: Additional high-resolution images added to the gallery below.

Gallery: RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona 2010

[Source: RM Auctions | Images: Darin Schnabel, Shooterz.biz/RM Auctions]

Continue reading Celebrity classics on the docket at RM Auctions in Arizona

Celebrity classics on the docket at RM Auctions in Arizona originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Like Daddy: Robbie Knievel said to be planning Snake River Canyon jump

Devon Brozek — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Rumormill

Some might say it is a matter of family honor, others that he is just a man trying to emerge from the giant shadow of his father. If you were to ask Robbie Knievel why he plans to attempt the great Snake River Canyon jump that almost killed his father, legendary daredevil Evel Knievel, he may say that it is just his way to pay his respects to his late, great poppa. And hey, maybe the hopes of a repeat performance in the generating of millions of dollars in publicity monies has some draw to a 40-something, out-of-the-spotlight stuntman... who are we to say?

Whatever motivation tipped the scales of pursuing the concept to reality, word on the streets is that Knievel Jr is going for the big one! A spokesman for the "kaptain" said that the lesser Knievel will be headed to Idaho for a meeting with the who's who of Twin Falls, in hopes of garnering official support for the jump. This should be the easy part of the process, as local government and business alike have been looking for ways to translate the Knievel-connection into visitors - and of course the subsequent cha-ching that often comes with them - for years now.

Robbie plans to complete the first successful jump of the Snake River Canyon over the Fourth of July weekend in 2011, 37 short years after the parachute in his father's Skycycle deployed early, sending him plummeting into the canyon while millions of television viewers looked on. Let's hope that in this case the ~~apple~~ Skycycle falls far from the old tree. Twin Falls spokeswoman Julie Pence pleaded the fifth when asked about the planned jump, saying, "Officials are waiting to hear Knievel's proposal before commenting." Stay tuned for updates as we get them. Hmm... wonder if Robbie will wear the trademark Stars and Stripes onesie?

[Source: Billings Gazette]

Just Like Daddy: Robbie Knievel said to be planning Snake River Canyon jump originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 May 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jack Lilley creates Evel Knievel edition Triumph Scrambler

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle, Celebrities

Originally intended as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel's unforgettable Caesar's Palace jump, U.K. bike dealer Jack Lilley has created a special edition of Triumph's on-and-off-road Scrambler. The choice of motorcycle makes sense because that original jump some 40 years ago was done aboard a Triumph T120 Bonneville. Although the project was started before his death, it has taken on new meaning now that the legendary stunt-man has passed and is a tribute to more than just that one jump. According to the dealership, the bike "is based on a Scrambler and has a superb paint job along with short front mudguard, Thruxton seat and hump, chrome engine cases, red cam cover and other small details." The one-off tribute bike will be sold with a signed picture of the man himself in mid-jump and will command a few thousand extra over the base price of the Scrambler. Um... yeah, and we want one.

[Source: Jack Lilley via Motorcycle USA]

Jack Lilley creates Evel Knievel edition Triumph Scrambler originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Robbie Madison's record 322-foot jump on New Year's Eve

Chris Shunk — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle

As a proud owner of a hand-me-down Evel Knievel motorcycle toy, I've always wanted to attempt an outrageous motorcycle stunt. After watching Robbie Madison's ridiculous record-breaking 322-foot jump, I think I'll instead revert to my plan to bid on Evel's Wild Turkey cane when it hits eBay. The video available after the jump shows several terrific replays of Madison as he launched himself off a ramp New Year's Eve and rose 60 feet in the air before landing 107 yards away. Check out how Madison uses his rear brake to properly position his bike for landing. Good stuff, very good stuff. Madison's Vegas jump easily beat the previous Guinness World Record of 277 feet by Trigger Gumm. We'd have thought a guy named Trigger could out-jump anyone named Robbie, but we've been wrong before.

[Source: Metacafe]

Continue reading VIDEO: Robbie Madison's record 322-foot jump on New Year's Eve

VIDEO: Robbie Madison's record 322-foot jump on New Year's Eve originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evel Knievel dies at 69

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

We just got word that Evel Knievel died at the age of 69 from apparent liver failure. His personal website isn't loading up, nor is there any confirmation of Knievel's death on any of the major media sites. We'll keep you posted as we find out more.

UPDATE: Yahoo! News has an obit on Knievel, whose death was confirmed by his granddaughter earlier today. The daredevil extraordinaire underwent a liver transplant in 1999 after a long battle with hepatitis C, rumored to be contracted during a blood transfusion after one of his spectacular crashes in his early years.

Our deepest sympathies to his friends, family and admirers.

Evel Knievel dies at 69 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Evel Knievel's big-block 1984 Aston Martin Lagonda

Chris Paukert — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Auctions, I.C.E., Technology, Aston Martin

As an automaker best known for its voluptuous, curvy coupes, the Aston Martin Lagonda is a knife-edged enigma. The origami aggression of its exterior, its tech-laden interior, along with the sheer scale of the thing (over 17' long) must've made it look like an aluminum-skinned spaceship when it hit the show scene in 1976. Launched with a 5.3-liter Weber-carb'd V8 (and clunky Chrysler three-speed automatic), the performance didn't completely deliver on the Lagonda's avant-garde visuals, though it was allegedly capable of 140 mph. Naturally, the Lagonda's habitually troublesome electronics and quality-control issues didn't stop at least one Autoblog staffer from falling in love with its impossibly futuristic ~~shape~~ collection of angles.

(click through to the jump for an interior shot, more details, and the link!)

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Evel Knievel's big-block 1984 Aston Martin Lagonda

eBay Find of the Day: Evel Knievel's big-block 1984 Aston Martin Lagonda originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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