Autoblog

eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Etc., Chevrolet, Specialty, Design/Style

C5 Corvette based Saleen S7 replica - click above image for hi-res gallery

Steve Saleen's Saleen S7 is a totally bespoke, hand built superduper hypercar that in twin-turbo, 750 horsepower, 700 pound-feet of torque form could go about 250 mph. And it was capable of generating enough downforce to (theoretically) drive upside down. In competition, the S7R has been one of the most dominant vehicles ever fielded, having been "raced in over 264 events, with 218 Top Tens, 166 Podiums, 105 Wins, 86 Poles, 78 Fastest Laps and 9 GT Championships." Price when new was about $600,000, give or take.

Which makes the above car all the more special. Sayeth the seller, "We thought long and hard as to what chassis we would use for our replica. First of all we knew the 80's [sic] Fiero was not an option. its [sic] too old, underpowered, and not a safe frame." Oh man - the replica world has really changed if a Pontiac Fiero chassis is not good enough. But the auctioneer does inadvertently raise a good point, as the S7 is in fact a mid-engined car, and you just got to have that if you're building a replica, don't you? Apparently not.

"So we went with a C5 Corvette chassis. It offers all the driving comforts, with great brakes, Power, and a super strong frame. and we could retail the car for a reasonable price." But not only is it Chevrolet Corvette based, they made it a roadster! See, all those boring old S7s were stuffy mid-engined hardtops - this is the world's first and only front-engined roadster S7. Replica. We've got to say we're a little amazed there are only two bids.

Oh wait, no - we said that wrong. What we meant is that we're a little amazed there are two bids. Currently, the "replica" is sitting at $20,100 and ~~humorously~~ oddly, the reserve has not been met. Did we mention that it's an automatic? Also, dude, your check engine light is on. Videos after the jump. Happy bidding!

Gallery: C5 Corvette based Saleen S7 replica

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster

eBay Find of the Day: Chevrolet C5 Corvette-based Saleen S7 replica roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercury Cougar transformed into convincing Audi R8

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Audi, Mercury

Click above for more shots of the Mercury Cougar-based Audi R8 replica

The seventh-generation of the Mercury Cougar broke with tradition, switching from Detroit's classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture to the more common front-engine, front-wheel drive design. Its styling was also considered pretty radical for the times, with swoopy curves replacing its predecessor's formal roof lines. We'd wager that the last Cougar's designers would never have believed that their humble compact would someday be the basis for an Audi R8 replica. We've examined the various shapes of the ReplicaAudiR8, as its designer refers to it - we prefer CougaR8 ourselves - and we've concluded it's not too shabby in the least. Take a look at our galleries below to judge for yourselves. Note our comparison shots of the CougaR8 and Audi's version in profile, front, rear and in three-quarter view (again, front and rear), which we've also pasted after the break all together. As we see it, the rear-view is the least successful in mimicking its four-ringed inspiration.

Of course, even if the styling of the replicar is decent, there's just no disguising that Cougar interior, despite the addition of a lone R8 badge on the steering wheel and the fact that these two cars share similar dash shapes. Even the interior, however, pales in comparison to the lack of power from Ford's 2.5L Duratec V6 engine, which at 170 horsepower is down by more than half to the Audi's burbling V8. Lastly, while the brakes and suspension components are fine for an entry-level coupe, they aren't quite up to snuff for a real-deal R8. In any case. Nevertheless, those who are more concerned with appearances than performance can get their own CougaR8 for about $50K - less than half what it would run to drive home in the real thing. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

Gallery: CougaR8 and Audi R8 side-by-side

Gallery: Cougar-based Audi R8 replica

[Source: New Cougar Forums, via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Mercury Cougar transformed into convincing Audi R8

Mercury Cougar transformed into convincing Audi R8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Arkansas adopts SEMA custom car title legislation

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 07:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Trends, Government/Legal

We recently reported how SEMA had helped get new kit and custom car registration legislation passed in Virginia. Well, the razorbacks didn't want their Southern rivals to get too far ahead and recently passed a similar bill of their own. Arkansas made changes to their vehicle titling and registration classifications for street rods and created a new class for custom vehicles too. The bill was recently signed into law by Governor Mike Beebe after being approved by the Arkansas State Legislature. Arkansas now defines a street rod as "an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949" and a custom as "an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948." And like the Virginia law, kit cars and replicars will get tagged as being the same model year as the car they aim to replicate. So a freshly built '32 Ford would be a 1932 Ford, and a new Cobra would be a 1960's car on the books.

Arkansas' new law also allows non-original materials to be used, allocates special license plates for this class of vehicles, and lets builders use blue dot taillights. Street rods and customs will also be exempt from many of the standard equipment requirements and emissions controls. Things like catalysts and seatbelts will only have to meet period requirements. As is the case in Virginia as well, the kits and customs that are titled and registered this way will have mileage restrictions, but they tend to be limited use vehicles anyways.

[Source: Auto Spectator]

Arkansas adopts SEMA custom car title legislation originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Virginia adds replica car category to title process

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Government/Legal

Beginning on July 1, kit/replica/component car buyers in Virginia will be able to title their vehicles in a different way. It seems the Virginia General Assembly has approved a new law allowing these vehicles to be registered as whatever model year the replica represents. The big advantage there lies in the fact that owners will be getting around those knuckle- and wallet-busting safety and emissions requirements for newly-built cars. This means Virginia will be joining Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island as states with similar titling laws on the books.

But lest you think this gives you carte blanche to build your own backyard burner and terrorize the local citizenry, know that there are some restrictions. First of all, the law defines a replica as "a vehicle not fully constructed by a licensed manufacturer but either constructed or assembled from components." Secondly, as a gesture of good will between thankful hobbyists and concerned officials, "replica vehicles titled under this law will be limited to no more than 5,000 miles per year as shown by the vehicle's odometer." So it has to be a true kit car, not a tuner, and you have to keep your driving down to about 100 miles per weekend or 400 miles a month.

In particular this will help manufacturers of cars like the Shelby Cobra kits we see all over the place. In fact, the Cobra clubs in Virginia were instrumental in getting this bill passed. Being heavily involved in the industry, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) was also part of the process. SEMA has actually been at the forefront in encouraging states to pass this kind of legislation. They are also working on similar initiatives in Florida, Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts and Nevada.

[Source: SEMA]

Virginia adds replica car category to title process originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Best Halloween costume ever: Have your engine go as a Lambo V12

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Etc., Chevrolet, Lamborghini

You've spent the past couple of years and untold thousands of dollars turning your late-model Corvette into what you REALLY wanted but couldn't quite afford, a Lamborghini. The car has all the outrageously over-the-top styling you could ever hope for with the bulletproof Chevy small block giving more than adequate performance while offering much better reliability and durability. The interior has been customized to match, as much as practical, that of the Italian supercar as well. The one thing you've always dreaded, however, was hearing an admirer ask you to pop the hood.

The dress-up kits that have been offered in the past were either fiberglass or steel, neither of which could match the look of aluminum. Being messy and hard to work with didn't help much either. Well, thanks to Lambostuff, you're one step closer to having a no-excuses authentic-looking Lambo of your very own. They have just released and chronicled the installation of a new dummy engine kit. The kit is made of high-impact plastic, using some of the genuine Lambo molds where possible. A full accessory pack of spark plugs, wires, injectors and hoses are also available to complete the look.

Although none of the kits are a straight bolt-on proposition, the step-by-step photo gallery and instructions found here, should help make it a fairly simple process. The main intake package starts at $595 with everything else optional. Real salvaged Lamborghini parts can be used or you can stick with a partial LS1 stock setup if you don't expect many of the onlookers to actually count the plugs or exhaust pipes. Either way, it sounds like a must-have kit for the person who has already begun the process and a nice way to get your car in on the Halloween holiday.

[Source: Kit Car Magazine via Winding Road]

Best Halloween costume ever: Have your engine go as a Lambo V12 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Low-budget Ferrari F40 up for auction

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc.

This, um, unique Ferrari F40-inspired vehicle is apparently based on a 1980 Suzuki 100gx (with a Ford Escort engine). The mini supercar is currently up for bids on the Dutch auction site Markplaats.nl, where the high bid at this writing is €1,001 ($1,276). Before and after pics follow the jump!

[via autoblog.nl]

Continue reading Low-budget Ferrari F40 up for auction

Low-budget Ferrari F40 up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments