Autoblog

eBay Find of the Day: '64 Ford Falcon "Tiki Taxi"

Alex Nunez — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Wagon, Auctions, Ford, Design/Style

All summer, I make it a point to hit the local cruise nights, and while there are plenty of regulars on hand week to week, a few cars make just one appearance and vanish. Way back in May, the car you see above, a surf-themed 1964 Ford Falcon Squire dubbed "Tiki Taxi", showed up. Immediately smitten, I snapped a bunch of photos, all of which are now gallerized here. Good thing, because the car never materialized again.

Fast-forward to today. Turns out, the "Tiki Taxi" is for sale. The coolest '64 Falcon station wagon in the known universe has a 289, three on the floor, and a JVC cassette deck to play your Martin Denny tapes during the ride to Trader Vic's. Current high bid (as of post time) is $6,600, and you still have two days to get in on the action. Check out the photo gallery to see just how beautifully turned out this wagon really is. You can also download full-resolution shots here.

eBay Find of the Day: '64 Ford Falcon "Tiki Taxi" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV is a 1,200-mile time warp

Dan Roth — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Countach remains the Kleenex of supercars. Its bombastic wedgy shape was so overexposed in the 1980s, it's a wonder it didn't wind up in therapy. As the decade wore on, the Countach picked up more and more plastic surgery, but even so, mid-1980s examples have an unmatched blend of swagger and silliness. And if you're going for a car transported straight out of Tony Montana's seething dreams, don't you want to find the best one?

This black beauty offered for auction is a 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole with just 1,200 miles on the odometer. Countach 5000 QVs benefitted from the car's characteristic V12 being bored and stroked to 5.2-liters, along with the addition of four valves per cylinder (hence the name).

U.S. market cars were unfortunately marred by federal bumpers, which this car also sports. Swing that scissor door up, and you suddenly forget about the silly appendages. Besides, the period-perfect gold phone-dial wheels and tan Connolly leather interior draw your eyes, and a little time with a socket wrench would net you a sleeker, bumperette-free silhouette, anyway.

Current bidding on eBay Motors sits at $130,000, which means this Countach is about the same price now as it was when it first left Sant'Agata - fitting for a car that presents as new as this one. Of course, the reserve price isn't met, so who knows what the seller is hoping to get out of the sale. While we might prefer the design purity (and comparative rarity) of earlier LP400 models, even Countach detractors have to step back and admire this car. It'd be hard to fight the urge to drive this thing everywhere - even milk runs would become an experience.

eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV is a 1,200-mile time warp originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dan Wheldon Memorial auction underway, donation website now online

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions, Etc., Celebrities

Back on October 17, IRL driver Graham Rahal tweeted about auctioning the helmet, gloves and shoes he wore in Las Vegas Indy 300 race that claimed the life of fellow driver Dan Wheldon in a 15-car wreck, with the proceeds going to a trust for Wheldon's family. Those three items from the driver have turned into a cascade of memorabilia from athletes, celebrities and companies alike.

There are currently 68 items up for auction, the most popular being NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson's tribute helmet; which he's currently wearing in the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase. The helmet's visor features a tribute to Wheldon. The current bid is $20,000, and the winner will actually have to wait until Jimmy's done with the helmet at the end of the Chase to collect it.

The auctions, running on eBay as we speak, will send 100% of their proceeds to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund. You can get more information and make a donation on the Dan Wheldon Memorial site, or head straight for the auctions and place your bid.

Dan Wheldon Memorial auction underway, donation website now online originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another dealership refusing to honor eBay Motors sale [UPDATE 2]

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Nissan

Another day, another story of a dealership refusing to honor an eBay Motors transaction. (It seems these tales pop up at least once each quarter.) Today's adventure in online car shopping comes courtesy of Xou Vang of Anchorage, Alaska, who was the winner of a 2009 Nissan GT-R, with a top bid of $55,100. That's a pretty good deal on a supercar with only 36,069 miles showing on the odometer. Honda of San Marcos in Texas thinks so, too, which is why it's refusing to sell the car to Vang for the amount of his winning bid.

This was a No-Reserve Auction. Those of you reading at home will understand what that means, but the dealership clearly does not. In fact, Honda of San Marcos wants Vang to pay $59,000 for the 2009 GT-R, instead of the $55,100 that the now-closed auction calls for.

Xou Vang is turning to the Internet for help, because the dealership is stonewalling him. When Vang was lucky enough to speak to someone there, he was told that the auction was a mistake and his winning bid will not be honored. Apparently, this particular dealership has never seen Internet justice at its finest. Remember the BMW dealer who tried to pull the same stunt? It ended up relenting, and we would be surprised if Honda of San Marcos doesn't do the same. It made a $3,900 mistake, but the dealership should remain held accountable for the error. Situations like these make us wish eBay Motors would move to suspend dealer accounts when they behave like this.

You can follow his saga on the My350Z.com forums.

UPDATE: The dealership in question has reached out to our friends at Motor Authority, and it seems it's none to happy about the way it's being "portrayed." In fact, Honda of San Marcos is threatening Motor Authority with a lawsuit. Head over there for the full account from Nelson Ireson, who is an editor for MA and just happens to be a lawyer himself.

UPDATE 2: The dealership has relented and agreed to sell the GT-R to Vang for $55,100. The Internet prevails yet again.

Another dealership refusing to honor eBay Motors sale [UPDATE 2] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Last Rover 827SLi sold in America?

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Hatchback, MISC

Is the Acura Legend a bit too "Asian" for your late-80's tastes? Perhaps you're attracted to its 2.7-liter V6, but not the packaging surrounding it. Your love for Fawlty Towers, Manchester United and Winston Churchill push you towards an automobile that lets everyone know you prefer the Union Jack to the Stars and Stripes. Well, we've found your next car, and you can Buy It Now for a mere pence under four grand.

A former unidentified automotive journalist has decided to part with his Sterling 827SLi (sadly, he's not an Autoblog scribe, or we'd have smacked him until he came to his senses). The rare five-door in question was a former member of Sterling's press fleet here in the States, and it's claimed to be the last one ever sold in the States. 150,000 miles or so later, it can be a proud part of your fleet.

In case you don't remember, Sterling was a U.S. automobile company produced by Austin Rover Cars North America, the U.S. arm of British carmaker Rover. Engines (and in truth, most of the car beneath the skin) was supplied through a partnership with Honda, with the 827SLi you see here benefited from the same mill stuck under the hood as the Acura Legend. Unlike the Legend, which was arguably a paragon of precision and reliability in its day, Sterling's reputation for build quality stood in opposition to its Japanese roots. Leave it to the British to make a Japanese car unreliable.

The Sterling legacy in America only lasted from 1987 to 1992, and most of the cars that were produced were the more conventional 825 sedan, not this comparatively rare 827SLi liftback. Toward the end of its run, Sterling products actually began to improve a bit, but it was too late in the minds of American car buyers. It's not too late for you though, so head over to eBay Motors to check out what is probably the finest example of this dying breed while it lasts.

eBay Find of the Day: Last Rover 827SLi sold in America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Honda racing school in a box

Zach Bowman — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Auctions, Racing

Don Swanson Racing School for sale - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've always thought that if we'd managed to marry above our station, the first thing we would have done with our spouse's money would be to buy three or four identical cars and a meandering stretch of pavement. Friday night with the guys would suddenly become Friday night at the track with the guys with the winner taking ultimate bragging rights.

Now that dream is a little closer to reality. The entirety of the Don Swanson racing school has cropped up on eBay Motors, complete with a full semi, four EJ Honda Civic racers and a Dodge Grand Caravan.

If you're playing the "which one doesn't belong game," we'll give you a hint; it's not the Civic race cars or the semi.

All four of the Civics look to be DX models with five-speed manual gearboxes and non-VTEC D15 single-overhead cam lumps under the hood. That means there's likely way more grip on hand than power, which is the perfect recipe for some confidence-building on-track hijinks. Each of the racers come equipped with plenty of safety equipment and more than a few performance bolt-ons, and the auction even includes all the suits, helmets and gloves you'd need to stay reasonably protected. The buy-it now price sits at a somewhat reasonable $79,000 or best offer, so get to clicking.

eBay Find of the Day: Honda racing school in a box originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1965 Ford Mustang shooting brake is a family pony [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Wagon, Auctions, Ford

eBay Find of the Day: 1965 Ford Mustang Wagon - Click above for image gallery

Intermeccanica may be best known today for producing its Roadster, a Porsche 356 replica. Years ago, however, the company built a handful of uniquely styled automobiles for a variety of customers. One of those customers was the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency, which commissioned a Ford Mustang station wagon to be shown off to Blue Oval brass. The Ford execs never went forward creating a Mustang wagon of their own, but a few other folks did. The one you see here was built by Joe Ramp, and you can put it in your garage because it's for sale.

Starting with a 1965 Mustang hardtop coupe, Ramp stretched out the roof and created custom rear side glass along with the fabricated D-pillars. The builder tried to retain as much as the stock body as possible, so the rest of the car is all Ford-built Mustang.

Builder Joe Ramp decided to upgrade the powertrain in order to better haul around the extra bit of weight. A 5.0-liter V8 sits underhood and is paired with a T5 five-speed manual gearbox. The power is routed to an eight-inch Ford rear-end and 3.00 gears. Custom control arms and upgraded shocks help the Mustang handle any cargo placed out back.

The car appears to be a clean example of what could have been. RK Motors of Charlotte, North Carolina has listed the car for sale on eBay, with a Buy It Now price of $59,990. Currently, the bidding sits at $15,100, with an unmet reserve. Take a look at the car in the gallery below, and click past the jump if you want to hear it running.

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 1965 Ford Mustang shooting brake is a family pony [w/video]

eBay Find of the Day: 1965 Ford Mustang shooting brake is a family pony [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KISS-themed Mini Countryman one-offs rock on to eBay Motors for charity

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Mini, Celebrities

KISS and Mini create custom Countryman models for charity - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ready for your garage to rock and roll all night and party every day? Break out your checkbook. Mini has teamed up with legendary rock group KISS to create a quartet of customized Countryman crossovers for charity. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer have applied their trademark style to the exterior of four examples of the 2011 Mini Countryman.

The vehicles, which debuted at the New York Auto Show, each have their own auction listing on eBay Motors, and the proceeds from these auctions will be donated to UNICEF. The organization is working hard to raise money for children affected by the recent disasters in Japan.

These customized ~~Countrymen~~ ~~Countrymans~~ cars aren't wearing decals. Each vehicle was hand painted by a group of BMW employees who provided the artwork while off the clock. The four vehicles have been named after the members of KISS they mimic; Starchild, The Demon, Spaceman and Catman.

The full press release is located after the jump, and you can check out all four Mini Countryman custom cars in the gallery below.

Continue reading KISS-themed Mini Countryman one-offs rock on to eBay Motors for charity

KISS-themed Mini Countryman one-offs rock on to eBay Motors for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2011 Local Motors Rally Fighter

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Auctions

eBay Find of the Day: Local Motors Rally Fighter - Click above for image gallery

Interested in putting a Local Motors Rally Fighter in your garage but don't want to put in any of your own wrench time? Perhaps you don't mind turning wrenches but would prefer not to wait until the next build session, which starts in January of 2012? We've found the answer to your problems. A fully built Rally Fighter is for sale on eBay Motors, and you can "Buy It Now" for $84,900.

This particular Rally Fighter features a 430-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine that would otherwise be found under the hood of a Chevrolet Corvette. The mighty mill is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, and each unit comes with a GM Performance Parts warranty. The Fox suspension allows for 18-inches of travel in the front and 20-inches out back. Inside the Rally Fighter, a set of Sparco seats help keep occupants in check, and the power windows, air conditioning and heat keep them comfortable.

If the asking price seems a bit steep for your tastes, the seller is also accepting offers. Head over to eBay Motors, and take a look at the only ready-to-rumble Rally Fighter we know of that's for sale right now... at least for the rest of the day.

eBay Find of the Day: 2011 Local Motors Rally Fighter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Mazda Miata forms basis for unlikely rat rod

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Mazda

eBay Find of the Day: Mazda-powered Rat Rod - Click above for image gallery

Let's play a quick game of word association; if we say "rat rod", what would you say in return? We'd wager that "Mazda" wouldn't be the first thing to come out of your mouth. Hell, it wouldn't even be the last thing. Unless, of course, you're a person looking for cheap transportation as you being graduate school in Georgia. It's hard to believe the car in the lead photo started life as a Miata, and has since been transformed into a real ratty rod that's fitted with parts from a variety of vehicles.

The owner states the he was rear-ended in the Mazda Miata, and this started him down a path to turn the wrecked vehicle into a rat rod. The engine, transmission, rear differential, gauges, suspension and steering components are all from a 1996 Miata. The frame was custom-fabricated from the remains of the crash-damaged car. The front and rear sub-frames were attached to the custom frame that was created, and this allowed for the stock steering and suspension points to be retained.

Up front, the grille of the rat rod was created by turning two 1960's Ford fender covers sideways, then welding them together. The headlamps are from a 1940s Packard, while the hood ornament was plucked from a 1941 Cadillac. Inside, the seats were wrestled out of a '70s-era Monte Carlo. Oddly enough, the entire package works well together to create that rat rod aesthetic, and the Mazda motor has no problem moving custom rig down the road.

The asking price is $8,000, and you can find out more about the Mazda-powered rat rod by clicking over to the eBay listing.

eBay Find of the Day: Mazda Miata forms basis for unlikely rat rod originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car tribute [w/video]

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Porsche, Off-Road, Racing

1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute - Click above for high-res image gallery

This 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute is the second such 953 rally car homage to come from this seller in less than a year. Last year, he reportedly sold a 1980 Porsche 911 Rothmans to the folks at GoPro for north of $70k. That car was nice, but was only two-wheel drive.

This year, he decided to go all out, and took a perfectly-maintained 1989 Porsche 911 C4 and turned it into a near-perfect representation of the 1984 Paris-Dakar-winning 953. Check out the listing on eBay Motors, where the car has yet to meet its reserve. Using a C4 as the base car means this tribute carries an all-Porsche all-wheel drive system, making this year's car even more desirable than last year's.

Best of all, the car looks the part, but retains its street legality and some crucial creature comforts to make it a useful means of transportation as well as a suitable weekend warrior. According to the eBay listing, the car retains ABS, cruise control, climate control, a sunroof, power locks, power mirrors, power windows, and a differential lock. See the car in action after the jump. Top tip, Chris M!

Gallery: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute

[Source: eBay Motors via BringATrailer | Images: Jeremy Cliff/ThePhotoMotive]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car tribute [w/video]

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car tribute [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Toyota 2000GT makes our hearts sing

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Toyota, Specialty

1967 Toyota 2000 GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 1967 Toyota 2000 GT is a unique beast in that it seems above reproach by even the harshest automotive critics. 44 years after the first 2000 GT rolled out of the Toyota factory, it checks all the right boxes. It's fast, gorgeous, insanely rare and marked a new era for its manufacturer.

Prior to the 2000 GT, Toyota was known for spitting out small, reliable, cheap sedans and four-by-fours that got the job done admirably, but lacked a little je ne sais quoi. The 2000 GT changed all that, and showed that Toyota could hang with Italian blue-bloods like Ferrari almost at the flip of a switch.

Toyota wound up building just 351 2000 GTs for worldwide consumption. Just 84 of those were left-hand-drive, with only 62 making it to the States. This is one of perhaps 40 American-delivery 2000 GTs that still exist. It's a one-owner car, bought in St. Louis, Missouri. After a long time in storage, the car got a thorough detail job, engine rebuild and interior freshening at Maine Line Exotics in Biddeford, Maine. It's available on eBay with a stupefying $650,000 Buy-It-Now. If you have the means, we suggest you do just that.

Gallery: 1967 Toyota 2000GT

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Toyota 2000GT makes our hearts sing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1991 GMC Syclone Marlboro is period smokin'

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Truck, Auctions, GM, GMC

eBay Find of the Day: 1991 GMC Marlboro Syclone - Click above for image gallery

In 1991, General Motors decided it wanted to build a truck not for utility but for speed. The GMC Syclone, with its 4.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine and all-wheel-drive setup, became the fastest truck on the planet and was able to shock many sportscars and exotics of its time. Ferrari 348ts? The Syclone was quicker down the quarter-mile dragstrip. Porsche 911 Turbo? The GMC bullet train was quicker to 60 miles per hour.

Production of the Syclone lasted one full year and 2,995 examples were produced. Three did come off the line for the 1992 model year, but good luck finding one of those. During its production run, there were two special-edition trucks produced by third parties; an Indy Syclone and the Marlboro Syclone.

Finding an example of either is quite rare, seeing as how just three Indy and 10 Marlboro examples were produced. That doesn't mean you'll never see one, however, as there's a 1991 GMC Marlboro Syclone is sitting on eBay Motors waiting for a new home.

In 1992, Marlboro Racing held a contest and 10 winners were chosen and given the keys to a special-edition Syclone. The trucks were sent to Shinoda Design after getting a haircut from American Sunroof Corporation (the t-top roof panels are removable and easily stored in the bed). The custom wheels were designed by Boyd Coddington. The Hot Lick Red paint was devised by PPG and the side graphics were created by Graphik Concepts. Inside, the Marlboro Syclone features a Simpson five-point harness belt setup draped over Recaro seats, a custom Momo steering wheel and a Sony head unit. This particular Syclone is also chipped, dropped and has a Borla exhaust system. Better yet, it shows just 976 miles on the odometer.

Needless to say, this is a very rare, very fast truck. It currently stands with four bids at $26,300 and an unmet reserve. Head on over to eBay Motors and check out this red rocketship.

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: 1991 GMC Marlboro Syclone

[Sources: eBay Motors, SyTy.org]

eBay Find of the Day: 1991 GMC Syclone Marlboro is period smokin' originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1915 van Blerck Special Speedster is 18' long with 17-liter engine

Zach Bowman — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Auctions

1915 van Blerck Special Speedster - Click above for high-res image gallery

Make room on your holiday list, boys and girls; here's something we definitely want to see under ye olde yuletide pine tree this year. On second thought, you'd better make it a redwood.Tucked away in the Other Makes section of eBay Motors is a custom racer with a fire engine chassis and a 17-liter engine borrowed from one of the most famous racing boat manufacturers of the early 20th century. Called the 1915 van Blerck Special Speedster, this awesome ground-pounder is over six feet tall and nearly 18 feet long. All 17-liters of displacement from the vehicle's engine is soaked up by just six cylinders, each of which has three spark plugs all to itself.

The engine was created by none other than Joseph van Blerck - an engineer who crafted record-setting engines for speed boats in the early part of the last century. According to the seller, the engine produces well over 200 horsepower and is more than capable of scooting the big machine to speeds of over 100 mph. That is, if you're brave enough to lean on the vehicle's chain-drive system. You can buy it now for the low price of $199,000, though the seller says that trading is always an option, too. Us? We think it'd make a bitchin' new sleigh for Santa.

Gallery: 1915 van Blerck Special Speedster

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1915 van Blerck Special Speedster is 18' long with 17-liter engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1991 Nissan 300ZX Spyder concept

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Nissan

eBay Find of the Day: 1991 Nissan 300ZX convertible concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Finding a Nissan 300ZX convertible is not necessarily an amazing eBay occurrence. Finding the 1991 300ZX folding hardtop convertible concept car, however, is quite a big deal.

Nissan sold the Z32, or second generation 300ZX, in the United States from 1990 to 1996. In 1993, the automaker launched a convertible version to go along with existing t-top and hardtop variants. This came in response to aftermarket companies offering convertible conversions. Before the 1993 convertible came out, Nissan produced a concept version that was shown at the 1992 Paris, Geneva and Detroit auto shows. And while the production car utilized soft-tops, however this concept featured a power-folding, retractable hardtop.

Working with American Sunroof Corporation (ASC), Nissan built its own convertible 300ZX and showed it off around the world. This car is now for sale on eBay, with a Buy-It-Now price of $62,000. Power is provided by the standard 3.0-liter V6 and it's paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The car only shows 8,202 miles on the odometer and, along with the very unique top, features one-off 17-inch polished aluminum wheels.

Is $62,000 too high a price to pay for such a unique piece of Nissan's history? Maybe not if you factor in the original build cost, which was allegedly in excess of $800,000 (at least according to the seller's listing). Besides the car, the winning bidder will also get the original show stand and a ton of documentation in both written and video form.

Take a gander at this drop-top Nissan 300ZX in the gallery below, and be sure to take a look at the auction over at eBay Motors.

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: 1991 Nissan 300ZX hardtop convertible prototype

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1991 Nissan 300ZX Spyder concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1993 Lincoln Town Car Limo ready for apocalyptic prom

Zach Bowman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Auctions, Lincoln, Humor, Luxury, Off-Road

1993 Lincoln Town Car Apocalimo - Click above for high-res image gallery

It really is only a matter of time before our society dissolves into nothing more than the hollowed out shell of its former self populated by roving bands of blood-thirsty cubicle drones. We've seen the Mad Max saga, studied Water World and meditated on The Postman. We know exactly how this shindig ends, we just don't know when it'll happen.

Which is exactly why you need this beauty of modern engineering. You see, while there are plenty of vehicles suited for roaming the wastes, few can roll through burnt out city centers with the kind of sophistication and comfort as this modified 1993 Lincoln Town Car Limousine. With a mere 117,000 miles on what we're assured is a meticulously maintained drivetrain, the apocalimo offers everything you need to spar with bandits in style.

Judging from the eBay listing, the seller is more than motivated to find this machine a new home thanks to neighbors that just can't understand the value of being prepared. The current bid is just a wide hair over $3,000 with the reserve not met and a day left on the auction.

Gallery: 1993 Lincoln Town Car Apocalimo

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1993 Lincoln Town Car Limo ready for apocalyptic prom originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche reportedly blocking employees from Facebook over industrial espionage fears

Zach Bowman — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, Porsche

Well, we can forget about seeing any clandestine shots of future Porsche products crop up via Facebook - at least from employees of the German automaker. According to Bloomberg, the company has come down hard on the use of social network sites while workers are on the clock. The reason? The company is worried that "foreign intelligence services" could be peeking in on confidential messages sent between employees using the service. We couldn't make this stuff up if we tried. Of course, we're guessing that the higher-ups are also concerned about loose lips sinking the corporate ship using the miracle of the internet.

The company says that work stations throughout the company have been barred from a number of other sites as well, including Xing and eBay. Who knows? Maybe a few German bosses were simply seeing productivity slip and decided to nix everyone's favorite outlets for procrastination.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Porsche reportedly blocking employees from Facebook over industrial espionage fears originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Everything you need to start your own supercar company

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:26:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, MISC

Volarri Valeta prototype - Click above for image gallery

Everybody and their cousin wants to start their own supercar company. Aside from the major ones that made it, like Enzo Ferrari, Ferdinand Porsche, Ferruccio Lamborghini and even their modern successor Horacio Pagani, the industry is littered with attempts - some more successful than others - to do the same. One such venture was called Volarri. The American outfit was another stab at the stratosphere that didn't make it. But just as science stands on the shoulders of giants, if you want to try your hand at the same, you can pick up where Volarri left off.

This eBay Motors auction isn't just for the car. It includes the prototype, the blueprints, the patents and other properties you'd need to keep the project going. Hundreds of thousands have already been sunken into the ill-fated project before the owner called it quits, but bidding now stands at a reserve-unmet $20k. Have a closer look at the auction page, the details on the aborted automaker's website or the (unfortunately low-res) image gallery below.

Gallery: Volarri Valeta prototype

[Sources: eBay Motors, Volarri]

eBay Find of the Day: Everything you need to start your own supercar company originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1959 Ferrari 250 California - If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Ferrari, Luxury

eBay Find of the Day: 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

One of our favorite cars on the planet, and perhaps in the known galaxy, is the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. This love affair is easily traced back to one Mr. Ferris Bueller and his Most Excellent Day Off. Sure, the car used in that movie was a Ford V8-powered kit car (oh, the delicious irony of that!) but the looks were there and they seared a lasting impression on our retinas and in our hearts. If one were to pop up on eBay, we would surely be ready to buy it - wait, scratch that because one IS on eBay with a current bid of $600,000 and an unmet reserve. This one's a little rich for our blood but a steal for anyone out there...with the means.

This particular example is not your standard one-of-50-or-so-produced classic Ferrari 250 GT dream machines. This happens to be one of the nine aluminum-bodied competition cars. It also features the Tipo 508 D frame, which was an improvement over the less-stiff Tipo 508 C. The car has an interesting history as well. The son of the second owner was driving it home from a fishing trip in Florida when he was run off the road and landed between two bridge abutments. The body of the car was lightly damaged and some side body panels were fixed using steel instead of the original alloy material.

Since the car is not a perfect specimen, it just might be ripe for the picking. It certainly looks amazing, is original with the exception of the repaired panels and it represents an amazing period in the Ferrari timeline. The mileage is listed at 52,000 and we would love to help someone put a few more on the clock. We'll even bring our copy of "Beat City" by The Flowerpot Men. Check out the auction for yourself over at eBay Motors and then a look through the gallery below. Finally, don't forget to take a peek after the jump for a clip of some Ferris Bueller Ferrari action highlights.

PS: anyone who posts video of the car being destroyed will be banned (no, not really) - it's been years since we watched that scene but our hearts simply cannot take another viewing.

Gallery: 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder

[Source: eBay Motors, Motorator]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 1959 Ferrari 250 California - If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up

eBay Find of the Day: 1959 Ferrari 250 California - If you have the means, we highly recommend picking one up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Ex-Bondurant Cobra-engined Roush Ford Crown Victoria [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Ford, Specialty

Ex-Bondurant Cobra-engined Roush Ford Crown Victoria - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're aching for some seat time in the the new Ford Police Interceptor, but given our choice of flogging one of the new-school bruisers or one of the old-school cruisers, we know which one we'd take. And it just happened to appear on eBay Motors. Used as an ex-Bondurant Driving School car, this 1999 Crown Victoria is just one of eighteen cars built by Roush for Bob Bondurant's school. Number 15, to be precise.

Under the hood sits a 320-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine plucked from the 1999 Ford Mustang Cobra. The typical police-issue slushbox has been nixed in favor of the T45 five-speed manual normally reserved for SVT Cobra duty. The front and rear suspension setup features Eibach springs and solid sway bars, and the go-fast action can be brought to a quicker halt thanks to a set of Brembo rotors, Hawk pads and Baer steel-braided brake lines. The car is also fitted with a Corbeau driver's seat and five-point safety harness, four-point harnesses for the other seats and a fully-integrated roll cage. If that isn't enough, this potential super-sleeper has a Halon fire suppression system should things get a little warm in the cabin.

The good news is that you can put this car in your driveway by parting with 20,000 of your hard-earned dollars, or perhaps somewhat less if you're a savvy bidder. The bad news? it's not street legal. It's a purpose-built machine for Bondurant and has never been registered or titled. Track beater anyone?

Hop on over to eBay to see the listing to see the specs and hop the jump to see this big black beast in action.

Gallery: Ex-Bondurant Cobra-Engined Roush Crown Victoria

[Source: eBay Motors | Image: Challenger Motorsports]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Ex-Bondurant Cobra-engined Roush Ford Crown Victoria [w/video]

eBay Find of the Day: Ex-Bondurant Cobra-engined Roush Ford Crown Victoria [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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