Autoblog

Amelia Island 2013: Porsche 911 swarms the field marking 50 years of rear-engine goodness

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows

Perhaps one of the most iconic sports cars in the world, it was no surprise that the Porsche 911 showed up in numbers to the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Although the original 911 launched 50 years ago, the original and current models are instantly recognizable as 911s, and since the 911 has a storied racing background, there were probably just as many racing versions of the coupe as there were street-legal versions.

As the show's 2013 honoree, one of the prime racing examples was a 1970 Porsche 911 S raced by Sam Posey. There were so many cars in attendance, we didn't know where to look, but a 1985 911 Speedster concept and a Porsche-owned, rally-ready 911 Type 953 were definitely among the more impressive standouts. As an added bonus, Jacksonville-based Brumos Porsche had many of its classic racecars on display including a beautiful 959.

Amelia Island 2013: Porsche 911 swarms the field marking 50 years of rear-engine goodness originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The best of Amelia Island's "What Were They Thinking" class

Hagerty — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:14:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Misc. Auto Shows

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elégance is a serious car show in the sense that it's run in a highly professional manner and features high-caliber cars and judges, but not in the sense that it takes itself more seriously than any car show should.

Proof of the latter was the "What Were They Thinking" class of automotive oddities at this year's event, which happened over the weekend. Our friend Rob Sass, Publisher of Hagerty Classic Cars Magazine, was at the show and submits these five as his favorites:

1974 Fascination (above)

Looking like a prop from a bad sci-fi movie or a "cars of the future" illustration from a 1930s issue of Popular Mechanics, eccentric would-be auto tycoon Paul M. Lewis originally envisioned the car to be propeller-powered. Eventually, he abandoned the idea of a pedestrian Cuisinart and settled on this Renaut-powered creation. Five of these oddities were build in Sidney, Nebraska before Lewis' obviously saner board members ousted him and put an end to the madness. All five cars survive today in the hands of just two collectors.

Rob Sass is the Publisher of Hagerty Classic Cars magazine. He is a regular contributor to the automotive section of the New York Times and is the author of "Ran When Parked, Advice and Adventures from the Affordable Underbelly of Car Collecting."

Continue reading The best of Amelia Island's "What Were They Thinking" class

The best of Amelia Island's "What Were They Thinking" class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Experimental mid-engine XP-819 Corvette heads to Amelia Island

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows

It seems to be commonplace that when a new Corvette is in development, rumors swirl about a possible mid-engine layout. As is the case of Chevy's most recent C7 Corvette, these rumors never pan out.

In any case, the idea for a 'Vette with an engine mounted behind the driver can probably all be traced back to a single car, the 1964 XP-819 prototype. Built as an "engineering exercise" back in 1964, the prototype was designed with a rear-mounted engine. History tells us that the idea of a rear-engine Corvette fizzled, and the XP-819 was eventually cut up into pieces and stored at a shop in Daytona Beach, FL.

After sitting for untold years, a restoration project started on the car, and while it isn't yet fully completed, the current owner of the car, Mid America Motorworks, will have the car on display at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance as a "driveable chassis" with hopes of having a fully completed car ready to bring to next year's show.

While we don't know many of the details behind this car, we can obviously see that it wears strong C3 styling details four years before the third-generation Corvette ever launched. We will be on hand at Amelia Island next month, so we'll bring you more coverage of this one-of-a-kind Corvette, but until then, check out the original images of the car above and the press release below.

Continue reading Experimental mid-engine XP-819 Corvette heads to Amelia Island

Experimental mid-engine XP-819 Corvette heads to Amelia Island originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming to America: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

Zach Bowman — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Work, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty, Luxury

1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile - Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time when the Pope set about cruising the world in class and style. While we'll have no part in arguing the functionality of the current Popemobile, the machine simply can't hold a candle to the classy lady you see above.

This particular 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman landaulet was built specifically for Pope Paul VI and served three additional pontiffs before getting mothballed in 1985. Why do you care, you ask? Because this particular piece of motoring history is headed Stateside for the very first time as part of this year's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance celebrations next month.

Mercedes-Benz has dug the unique 600 out of storage just for the event. Aside from the standard air-ride suspension, power brakes and heating and air conditioning, this particular model came equipped with bullet-proof glass and a unique rear seat that could be raised and lowered so that the Pope could be more easily seen by crowds.

The 2011 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance kicks off on March 11 and runs through the 13th, featuring classic vehicles from all over the globe. Hit the jump to check out the press release.

Gallery: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile

Live photos copyright (C) 2011 Michael Harley / AOL

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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Coming to America: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Popemobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amelia Island Concours set to symbolically break Cuban embargo

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Event Alert

Director Eduardo Mesejo Maestre leads a tour at the Deposito del Automovil in Havana

Recognizing that car guys (and gals) are car guys no matter where in the world they live, the folks running this weekend's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance have decided to use a bit of "Car-Guy Diplomacy" to reach out to that bigger island a little south of Florida...Cuba. They have invited Ing. Eduardo Mesejo Maestre, Director of Deposito del Automovil (the Cuban Automotive Museum), to serve as a judge for the event. It's kind of like those ping pong matches between the U.S. and China back in the '70s, but, you know, with classic cars.

It's actually a first in U.S.-Cuba relations, for a Cuban national to be invited to judge a major concours in the States, believe it or not. In fact, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury had to grant permission for Ing. Mesejo to come here for the event, which runs March 12-14. For those too young to remember or too inattentive in history class, the United States has had a commercial, economic and financial embargo on Cuba, Cuban goods and Cuban people since 1960. Leave it to the car community to bridge that divide.

Cubans and Americans share a bit of a history with classic American cars, too. Since the embargo laws blocked the importation of new vehicles into Cuba, Cuban auto enthusiasts have made it a bit of an obsession to keep the best of the 1950s classics alive and running, relying on a lot of ingenuity to find or make parts when needed. Ing. Mesejo will join racing legends Denise McCluggage and Carroll Shelby in the jurying duties, Shelby stepping in for the recently injured Sir Stirling Moss. Fittingly, they will be judging the "Cars of the Cuban Races" class, an homage to a series of races held just in 1957, 1958 and 1960. You can read more about the event and Ing. Mesejo in the full press release after the jump.

[Source: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance]

Continue reading Amelia Island Concours set to symbolically break Cuban embargo

Amelia Island Concours set to symbolically break Cuban embargo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend Classic resurrected, goes quarterly

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible

1948 Norman Timbs Special is a Motor Trend Classic - Click above for high-res image gallery

We were just talking with a friend about his Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI. "How on earth did you afford that?" is the highly sanitized version of the question we posed to him. Answer: He bought used, and then explained to us that he would never buy a new car again, no matter what. A decision that's fine by us, but which buff book is our pal going to read if he's unwilling to ever walk into a new car dealership again?

Meet - or re-meet as the case may be - Motor Trend Classic. The fine folks at Motor Trend tried their hand at this classic car thing a few years back in 2005 but were forced to shutter the magazine in 2006. But that was then (~~and they were trying to sell 12 issues a year.~~ Correction: Motor Trend Classic launched with two issues in 2005 and then went to six issues for 2006). Motor Trend Classic every three months is now. The cost to entry is a good bit higher than your standard car mag (roughly three times). However, the new magazine is (thankfully) largely free of advertising and it features a unique format and higher quality paper. Hence the high price: $14.95 per issue.

Also of note, Motor Trend will be using this weekend's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance to relaunch the Classic magazine. In fact, Amelia Island will feature a special "Motor Trend Class" devoted to cars found on the cover of Motor Trend, including the gorgeous streamlined Norman Timbs Special seen above that graced the cover of the October 1948 issue. Pretty nifty, no? Make the jump for the press release and a complete list of the Motor Trend Class cars.

Gallery: Norman Timbs Special

[Source: circsource.com via Media Week]

Continue reading Motor Trend Classic resurrected, goes quarterly

Motor Trend Classic resurrected, goes quarterly originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: March 2010 Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Event Alert

Auto show season keeps marching on in March with wall-to-wall coverage coming your way from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, which is just winding down. Motorsports enthusiasts can look forward to the start of the 2010 Formula One season with all the action kicking off in Bahrain, followed two weeks later by the Australian Grand Prix. American open-wheel fans have IndyCar action in Brazil and St. Petersburg in March, while NASCAR visits Atlanta, Martinsville and Bristol. For fans of the unorthodox, the LeMons bunch will make a stop at Sears Point.

Classic car season is ramping up too, with the Amelia Island Concours topping the list. There are also plenty of smaller shows like the Cavalcade of Cars, 30th Annual MDA Car Show, Corvette/Chevy Expo, and several auctions as well. RM Auctions visits Amelia and Ft. Lauderdale, Gooding and Co. also stop at the Amelia Concours, while Silver sets up tent in Portland, OR. If none of those events appeal to you, check out our Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. And please don't forget to use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: March 2010 Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: March 2010 Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can you name the mystery star of the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance?

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible

For the past fourteen years, Florida's Amelia Island has been putting on a little Concours d'Elegance. And we mean little as in quantity (about 250 cars), not quality. Take last year's winner, for example: a 1931 Voisin C20 Demi-Berline, which, along with the Daimler Double Six 50 and Bentley 8 holds the title for most intimidating-yet-beautiful pre-war car. And to celebrate the Concours' 15th year, Amelia Island's got something nifty up its sleeve.

You are looking at... Well, you see, we don't know what it is you're looking at. However, we do know it's a roadster from the 1940s that was "conceived and built by a widely-respected and distinguished automotive engineer." And really, that's all we have. Any guesses? Obviously, you're looking at the before pics. The powers that be claim that they'll send us the after shots, which follow a multi-zillion-dollar ground-up from the chassis plate restoration, in a couple of days. As to what it actually is, commence guessing. The press release follows after the jump.

[Source: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance]

Continue reading Can you name the mystery star of the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance?

Can you name the mystery star of the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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