When buying a used car, no matter what kind, a major crash is usually a big deterrent. In this case, however, it was its claim to fame. Try though you surely have to forget, you'll likely recall actor/comedian Eddie Griffin's lamentable crash of a Ferrari Enzo into a concrete barrier while promoting his then-new movie Redline. Most figured the exotic was a write off - or an accounted-for marketing expense, as some contend - but it has been given a new lease on life thanks to Matt Groner.

The Texas broker deals in wrecked luxury and sportscars, and usually sells them as is. With the Redline Enzo, however, Groner decided to put in the effort to restore the vehicle. Since the Enzo's chassis is composed of separate carbon fiber sections bolted to the center tub, Groner had simply to call up the factory and order the replacement parts. Well, not so simply, as it turns out, because the parts cost $300k and took months to arrive. But the restoration has been completed, and the car is up for sale for a $1.3 million sum that's sure to cause as much whiplash as Griffin's crash did in the first place.

Head on over to Jalopnik for more information, including photos (before and after), a first-hand account from the restorer and a video news segment detailing the saga. For our part, we'll be lobbying Hollywood to include "no exotics were harmed in the making of this film" disclaimers in the credits.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Eddie Griffin's crashed Enzo repaired, restored and up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spiegel, Cohn, Welles, and Spielberg are unlikely company for the name of Daniel Sadek, producer of the new auto-themed movie out in theaters called Redline. According to Cinematical's review of the movie, however, this real estate mogul turned producer has bankrolled a movie guided by passion rather than the bottom line.

It certainly won't win an Oscar, but a RAZZIE for Redline is definitely a possibility. While the movie presents no real surprises, no mythic overtones, and nothing goes against type, it also doesn't make any attempt to pretend otherwise. It's a sea of B-listers with hot girls; really fast, really expensive cars; crazy, bored rich people casually risking other people's lives; and tough-yet-good-looking underdog guys who are going to make good.

Yet in real life, a real guy put his real money and his real cars in the service of that celluloid vision. And did we mention that his really fast, really expensive cars spend much of the movie actually going really fast? In fact, Sadek even sacrificed his sacred Enzo for the pic when it was practically destroyed at the hands of actor Eddie Griffin, who plays rap mogul Infamous in the film. If nothing else, Cinematical rates the movie as "agreeably psychotic" -- and who doesn't want to say hello to that?

Apparently Sadek even wrote lyrics to some of the score. Even if the movie isn't worthy, the review is. Check it out.

[Source: Cinematical]

Cinematical reviews Redline... and nails it originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You all remember Eddie Griffin, the celebrity gent who recently hopped in a borrowed Enzo and decided to test his theories on speed vs. coefficient of friction, vector change, and impact absorption? Well, like a proud papa whose kid blows up the chemistry class but gets on the front page of the local paper, the team behind his new movie, Redline, has decided to share the results of Eddie's physics experiment with the public: the And-There-Went-Another-Enzo is on display at Graumans' Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in advance of the movie's Thursday premiere.

It is entirely possible that Griffin was trying to show people at the Irwindale Speedway a scene from the film, which, based on the trailer, looks like 90210-meets-the-Gumball-Rally-meets-demolition-derby. Apparently people who go to movies bursting with multimillion dollar machines want to see them run into every solid object possible. A movie spokesperson, who said the car would be lying "in state," added that "Surrounding the car, in tribute, will be several high-profile sports cars as well as floral, candle and tribute displays to the car. It'll be a very special memorial service."

Oh Enzo, we hardly knew ye.

[Source: SFGate via Jalopnik]

Redline red carpet: Eddie's crashed Enzo on display for movie premiere originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.