Autoblog

Click the image above for more high-res pics of the CTS-V

If you had your heart set on dropping big-time coin to own the first next-gen Cadillac CTS-V, you're already too late. CTS-V numero uno was auctioned off Thursday at a charity benefiting prostate cancer, and amazingly the 550 hp monogrammed sledgehammer was actually a bit of a bargain. Cigar entrepreneur Cano Ozgener dropped a reasonable $75,000 to become the winning bidder, which is likely a bit more than the CTS-V will cost at the dealership, but a heck of a lot less than other serial number ones that have sold over the past couple years. Hit the jump for more details on the auction in GM's press release.


[Source: GM]

The Barrett-Jackson auctions have seen no shortage celebrity cars cross the block, but is the sale of a pair of KITTs at the upcoming Palm Beach event a sign that the series has already succumbed to its crushing craptasticality? Given the movie's ratings, that's unlikely. It seems, rather, that we're going to be stuck with NBC's awful retread of a not-very-good original, and these auctions appear to have been in the works for a while. The proceeds from the sale of auction lots 665 and 665.1 -- a "normal" and an Attack Mode KITT -- will benefit Ford's Salute to Education charity. While we can all hope that the new Knight Rider either gets better – at least to be as bad as the original would be laudable – or is put down mercifully, Ford's scholarship program will be the big winner when someone ponies up for these ponycars.

[Source: CarsPlusMovies]

Fines in NASCAR are a common occurrence, and the amounts billed to these bad boy oval racers can be very large. All that money used to pad the deep pockets of the NASCAR gods, but the racing series has announced that all those greenbacks will henceforth go right to the NASCAR Foundation. The NASCAR Foundation is a charitable juggernaut that doles out cash to many different worthwhile causes, some of which are already in the NASCAR family. Now if Jimmy Johnson or Kurt Busch cheats or flips off the crowd, all that money leaving their pockets could go right back into their own charitable organizations. This decision was a good PR move by NASCAR, and though it's not our money to distribute as we please, other racing organizations should follow suit. We wonder if the knowledge that charities will benefit from their indiscretions will encourage NASCAR drivers to break the rules even more.

[Source: NASCAR]

So many people view the Dalai Lama as a symbol of peace, humanity and compassion, and if those qualities aren't worthy of recognition, we don't know which ones are. Who knew he was an off-roader or closet car enthusiast, though? We recently discovered that the Dalai Lama Foundation has listed the 1966 Land Rover once used as transportation for the holy figure on eBay. The sale of the completely restored vehicle will go 100% towards the organization and its cause. The auction winner not only gets the immaculate vehicle, but also a three-day Buddhism study session with the Dalai Lama himself and a meeting with Sharon Stone. We hope the winner asks Ms. Stone what she was thinking making Basic Instinct 2... oh yeah, and enjoys his or her enlightening time spent with the Dalai Lama. We hear he's the Dalai-est of Lamas of ever.

[Source: eBay]

It's getting to be that time of year again. The auto show circuit is kicking into gear and SEMA is looming on the horizon. That means the holidays are just around the corner, and Turbobuick.com certainly knows how to get into the spirit. The crew over there has put together a Toys for Tots charity drive in which a $5 donation gets you in the running to win a 1987 Buick Regal T-Type Turbo. Thanks to donated parts and labor, the car will be a package worthy of GM High-Tech Performance Magazine once it's completed. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, so you can be sure future gearheads will also be inspired by the Hot Wheels and Legos your donations buy for them.

Thanks for the tip Jay!

[Source: Turbobuick.com]

click above image for more high-res pics of the Dodge Challenger

The production Dodge Challenger won't arrive until next year, but Dodge is already planning on how it's going to get the most out of those first three examples, which are all scheduled to be top of the line SRT-8 models with HEMI Orange paint, hood stripes and the 6.1L V8 engine. Car No. 1 that leaves the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant will go to the winning bidder of an auction to be held at the famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ, which runs from January 12-20 of next year. We'll be there to watch the gavel fall, and when it does, all proceeds from the sale are going straight to notMYkid, an organization that promotes understanding of youth behavioral issues. The right to own Car No. 2 will be decided by an auction that starts earlier on Sept. 26th, 2007, though this one will be a private auction just for Dodge dealers. All proceeds from the sale of the second car will go to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan. Car No. 3, meanwhile, will be auctioned off on eBay, though Dodge reports it will have more details on that auction later.

[Source: Chrysler LLC]

Looks like all those Live Earth concerts a few months back had an effect on at least one person. Fergie, one of the featured acts, has decided that her copper green Hummer is not green enough, and is parting with it on eBay. All proceeds from the sale will go to Global Green USA, which is fighting climate change, naturally.

Since this is Fergie, you know the truck's been pimped. Featured in the October '05 issue of DUB magazine, it's got a dropped suspension, chrome for days, drop-down running boards with "Fergie" cut out of them -- twice on each side, and 24" Asante wheels on Pirelli Scorpions. Since it's the ride of a recording artist, it has also had the requisite sound system surgery, with green suede and carbon fiber swaddling enough equipment for an entire electronics store. And the seats look like they were designed for a family of green bumblebees.

The bidding is up to $61,000. The vehicle comes with a certificate of authenticity and ten years of carbon credits to offset its impact. Lovely lady humps will not be included.

Thanks for the tip, Julio!

[Source: eBay]

Ace spy photographer Brenda Priddy is auctioning off a piece of automotive kitsch. Up for grabs in this eBay auction is a piece of camo that came off of a Jaguar XF prototype, which is kind of fun if you're into Jags or just offbeat automobilia. But there's an even better reason to bid - all the money raised will go to charity.

What the top bidder receives, besides the knowledge that he or she has helped a good cause, is "a sticky wad of camouflage from the not-yet-out 2009 Jaguar XF!! The "camouflage", in this case, is a small bundle or wad of silver and black SUPER-STICKY duct-tape-like adhesive." And Brenda herself promises it is authentic. "We personally witnessed as an engineer peeled a bit of tape off a prototype and then threw it way in a garbage can at a remote gas station in an undisclosed location."

[Source: eBay]

click above image to view more high-res pics of the Drophead Coupe from RR

Giving to charity is a good thing, no doubt, but what better incentive is there for budding philanthropists than dangling the keys to a brand new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe in front of their compassionate eyes? One guy took the bait and dropped £800,000, or a little over $1.6 million, at the 9th Annual White Tie and Tiara Ball's charity auction for a new Drophead Coupe. His cash will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, while the Drophead Coupe will arrive in exchange later this summer. A new RR Phantom Drophead Coupe costs "only" £260,000, but in comparison to what the undisclosed auction winner paid, that's beginning to sound like a bargain.

[Source: Newspress]

Click image for gallery

Motorsports fans who'd like to get a peek at the inner workings of Prodrive would be advised to get their fannies on a jumbo to England this July. That's when the company's motorsports HQ will be opened to the public for two days (7/14 - 7/15), giving fans a chance to learn how it creates and supports the five racing cars it handles on-site.

In addition to the learning element, fans will be entertained by the likes of Johnny Herbert and David Brabham, who will demonstrate the Aston Martin DBR9 while its crew performs pit stops on the car. Similarly, the Subaru World Rally Team will be servicing Petter Solberg's WRC ride for the public. The Prodrive heritage center will show off older race cars, and displays from Aston Martin and Subaru will contain fun stuff like Bond's Aston Martin DBS from Casino Royale, as well as Benedict Radcliffe's wire-frame Impreza sculpture.

There's more, too, as you'll see in the press release after the jump. It's all for charity, with the proceeds going to the Oxford Children's Hospital. If you're going to be in the UK in mid-July, it sounds like a good time is waiting to be had. Ticket info can be found here, and more information about Oxford Children's Hospital can be found here.

[Source: Prodrive]