October 2022

 2011 Chevrolet Impala isn’t likely to attract attention from collectors, unless it’s a NASCAR Cup Series race car driven by four-time champion Jeff Gordon, that is.

Miami-based Speedart Motorsports is selling Hendrick Motorsports’ Chassis 678, which Gordon drove in the 2011 Cup Series (then known as the Sprint Cup) season. It was recently refurbished to race-ready condition, Speedart claims, and can be yours for an asking price of $165,000.

The 2011 cars were built to NASCAR’s fifth-generation Cup Series design, which debuted for the 2008 season and was known as the “Car of Tomorrow.” This design was replaced after the 2012 season by the sixth-generation Cup Series chassis, which in turn was replaced by the “Next Gen” car for the 2022 season.

While badged as an Impala, and borrowing some styling elements from the now-defunct sedan’s then-current look, the Cup Series car has a bespoke tube-frame chassis and rear-wheel drive instead of the Impala’s front-wheel-drive layout. A carbureted 5.8-liter pushrod V-8 generates an estimated 850 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque, and is coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission.

The listing quotes a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, which is slower than some current supercars, but also a 200-mph top speed. And this car was designed to run at that speed continuously on a NASCAR oval.

Gordon drove Chassis 678 in three races, starting with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he qualified eighth and finished second. The Impala was also raced in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway, where Gordon qualified ninth and finished sixth. The car’s final race, the Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, was also its worst finish. Gordon qualified 23rd and finished 24th.

The car was subsequently sold by Hendrick Motorsports into private ownership. It was recently rebuilt by current NASCAR Cup Series team Rick Ware Racing, according to the seller, adding that it’s currently set up for track-day events at road courses.

Gordon retired from full-time racing after the 2015 season. He is currently a vice-president at Hendrick Motorsports, but still does occasional races. He won the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona driving a Cadillac DPi-V.R prototype, and returned to Indianapolis last month for a Porsche Carrera Cup race.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

The latest episode of News Flash features a massive recall by Rivian, the demise of the internal combustion engine for Jaguar, the new BMW M2, and playing Mario Kart from the passenger seat of a BMW.

Article Sources:

• Rivian Recalling Its Entire Production
• Jaguar to honor final F-Type before switching to an all EV lineup
• BMW bringing gaming to its curved screens in 2023
• BMW introduces an all-new M2

Check out the latest News Flash episode and much more at ClassicCars.com YouTube channel.

With a model year span of 13 years between 1984 and 1996, the fourth-generation Corvette continues to be an enthusiast favorite today. One particularly clean red-on-red example with just 49,995 miles on the odometer caught my eye.

The Pick of the Day is a 1992 Chevrolet Corvette listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Copiague, New York. (Click the link to view the listing)

“One owner, one driver, one of a kind,” the listing states. “Came off the Corvette assembly line in Bowling Green, Kentucky on April 15, 1991. I purchased her a few months later.” After over 30 years, that proud original owner is now letting this Corvette find its way into someone else’s garage.

The C4 was designed under the direction of automotive engineer Dave McLellan and leveraged the General Motors Y-platform. Body architecture came from composite panels combined with molded plastic bumpers, and technology was innovative for its time. Among the car’s long list of standard equipment was an electronic dashboard with a liquid crystal display.

Cosmetically, this ‘Vette looks remarkable for being 30 years old. The photos that accompany the listing convey an enthusiast-owned appearance, complete with a Corvette banner hanging from the ceiling and shelving full of detailing supplies in the background. The car is coated in “Corvette Bright Red” paint according to the window sticker, and it is equipped with an optional $650 blue removable roof panel.

“Garaged with car cover, never seen snow or salt, rarely driven in the rain,” the listing states. “Mint classic car.”

Appointments for this Corvette were generous thanks to the Preferred Equipment Group #1 which include electronic air conditioning, a Delco-Bose sound system, and a six-way power driver’s seat. The original stereo has now been swapped out with a Bluetooth-enabled Alpine audio system, and the carpet and upholstery were replaced in 2018.

Accompanying the car are a windshield sunshade, an owner’s manual, a brochure, and the window sticker showing the original $37,369 total vehicle price including destination.

Momentum comes from a 300-horsepower fuel-injected 5.7-liter LT1 V8 paired with a ZF-produced six-speed manual transmission. The listing states that the car received a recent tune-up and has been professionally maintained.

The seller is asking $15,995 for this clean red-on-red C4.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Rezvani recently took the wraps off the Vengeance, a bullet-resistant eight-seat SUV.

It may look it rolled straight off the set of a “Robocop” movie, but the company’s third SUV, the Vengeance, is clearly based on the Cadillac Escalade. Interior photos show a dashboard unchanged from the General Motors full-size SUV, complete with the Escalade’s 38-inch curved OLED screen. Rezvani upgrades the Escalade’s leather for the Vengeance.

For $249,000, the Vengeance comes with a futuristic body made from fiberglass and built from a design by noted video game designer Milen Ivanov. It has functional air vents, a “REZVANI” logo laser-etched into rear, and steel bumpers that can act as battering rams. It rides on 35-inch off-road tires mounted on flat-steel plate 22-inch wheels.

The real draw, however is the optional $95,000 Military Package that adds bullet-resistant glass and body armor, underbody explosive protection, and military-grade run-flat tires, plus a reinforced suspension to deal with the extra weight of the armor. Rezvani previously offered a military-look version of its Tank SUV without armor, but this time it claims to be offering actual protection against gunfire.

The Military Package also includes thermal night vision, electromagnetic pulse protection, a smoke-screen generator, continuous video recording, electrified door handles, an intercom system, a complement of bulletproof vests and gas masks, strobe lights, magnetic dead bolts, a pepper spray dispenser, and first aid and hypothermia kits. A built-in battery pack and solar panels are also available for $2,500, providing more than 1,000 watts of off-grid power, and a tire inflation/deflation kit runs another $3,500.

The powertrain is standard Cadillac fare. Buyers can get a 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque or a 3.0-liter turbodiesel-6 with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both are hooked to a 10-speed automatic transmishttps://www.motorauthority.com/news/1137444_rezvani-vengeance-pricesion. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is optional.

At $249,000, the Vengeance is far more luxurious than the $175,000 Rezvani Tank, which is based on the Jeep Wrangler and can only seat five.

Despite its focus on SUVs—and a six-wheeled pickup truck—Rezvani hasn’t forgotten its sports car roots. The company announced in May that it will launch a new version of its original Beast sports car boasting up to 1,000 hp.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

Do you know what is the world’s most powerful production car? It’s a Lotus … what? Indeed, that little company that has struggled since the Esprit was rendered obsolete produces the Evija, an all-electric hypercar with almost 2,000 horsepower. If that’s not enough of a selling point, then perhaps you should consider the Evija Fittipaldi for true limited-edition distinction.

Truth be told, the Evija has been planned to be limited to 130 units, but people of distinction demand more, and Lotus has delivered the goods with a special model to commemorate 50 years since Emerson Fittipaldi helped Team Lotus win the F1 Driver’s and Constructors’ Championships. Only eight will be built.

Lotus held a special event in the Norfolk village of Hethel for this special launch with — who else? — Emerson Fittipaldi. “It’s fantastic to be back at Hethel for such a special occasion. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of this project and it’s been a wonderful experience revealing the car to some of the new owners. Having the opportunity to drive both the Evija Fittipaldi and my championship-winning Type 72 Formula 1 car on the test track at Hethel has been an incredible experience,” said Fittipaldi. Indeed, all eight surviving examples of the Type 72 (the same number of Evija cars being built) were all together in to run on the Hethel test track.

The Evija Fittipaldi gives plenty of nods to the Lotus Type 72, starting with a unique paint finish that includes the Type 72 designation written in gold to the side of the rear window. Decals celebrating the Type 72’s 1972 race victories are listed on the active rear wing, while a number 8 — the number raced by Fittipaldi during the ’72 season, including his win at the British Grand Prix — appears on the B-pillar. A hand-tinted plan view of the Type 72 is etched into the exposed carbon fiber roof. Black and gold Type 72 wheels with matching brake calipers complement the whole package.

“The word ‘legend’ is often overused, but this project has brought together the Lotus Evija hypercar, Emerson Fittipaldi, the Type 72 race car and our brand’s celebrated Formula 1 heritage. No argument, that is four legitimate legends, all collaborating to deliver a truly unique hypercar and a world premiere that was a real ‘pinch yourself’ moment,” said the Director of Lotus Advanced Performance, Simon Lane.

Perhaps most interesting to racing enthusiasts, aside of the potential performance, is the rotary dial on the instrument panel that is hand-crafted from recycled Type 72 aluminum. This means that you have a piece of the iconic F1 racer every time you go to the local Circle K.

Inside the cabin you’ll find black leather with gold stitching, including Fittipaldi’s signature hand-stitched into the dashboard. The stitching continues above in the headliner, plus the air vent surrounds, center rotary dial, start/stop button and pedals are finished in gold.

Adds Simon Lane, “Production of the Evija has commenced at Hethel, and these eight cars are a very special celebration of this important moment in our history.”

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo. 

“This low-mileage 911 retains its original bright and glossy Guards Red exterior, which is offset by black finishes for the front air dam, window moldings, rocker moldings, and parts of the “whale tail” spoiler,” the listing states. “The selling dealer notes that there are a few small chips in the paint at the leading edge of the front trunk lid near the Porsche crest as well as on the lower part of the front bumper. The rear wiper has been removed but is included as part of the sale.”

The black interior has front leather bucket seats with matching carpeting, dash, and door panels. Amenities include air conditioning, tinted glass, and a Blaupunkt Monterey AM/FM/cassette radio. The six-digit mechanical odometer reads 45,504 miles, which is consistent with the mileage shown on the CARFAX report.

It’s powered by a rear-mounted 3.3-liter flat-six turbocharged and intercooled engine. The engine was maintained by Foreign Car Services of Kalamazoo, Michigan by previous ownership and the work is documented by service records. The engine is paired with a four-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential. It rides on color-matched 16-inch Fuchs wheels with polished lips, and staggered-width tires.

The sale includes a clear title, service records, a Porsche Production Specifications document, window sticker, and owner’s manual. Also included with the sale is the uninstalled original exhaust system, the uninstalled rear window wiper, and car covers.

This 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo’s auction ends on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 12:40 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery.

If you are a Gen Xer, the Bentley name invokes Rolls-Royce knock-offs that eventually were turbo’d. If you’re a Boomer, maybe an early 1950s Bentley Type R Continental resonates, if not Bentley’s many wins at Le Mans. And if you’re a Millennial, you think of Bentley as the company owned by Volkswagen that builds chunky fastbacks with unusual W12 engines. Bentley embraces all of its legacy, which is why the brand has opened the doors to its new Heritage Garage to display 103 years of history.

Says Head of Bentley’s Heritage Collection, Mike Sayer, “As we continue to evolve, we want our guests and colleagues from all areas of the company to be able to share the rich history of Bentley Motors. The Heritage Garage brings that history to vivid life, and means we can actively reference our past while setting the course for our future.”

Currently there are 42 cars in the Collection, each having a special significance in Bentley’s history. Would you believe the #2 Bentley built — the oldest Bentley in the world – is alive and well in the Collection? Another vehicle, which the company deems the most valuable Bentley in the world, is the supercharged Team Car #2. W.O. Bentley’s personal car, the 1930 8 Litre, is also part of the Collection. It would be an understatement to suggest the 1991 Turbo R is in good company, as are the trio of W12s which includes Bentayga chassis 00001.

“Having now rebuilt the Collection to fully chart our history, we have an ongoing commitment to add to it with each significant new model we launch. For example, the Collection now includes the 2019 Bentayga Hybrid, which was both the first-ever plug-in hybrid Bentley and an important step in our ‘Beyond100’ strategy towards electrification,” adds Sayer.

You can read all about Bentley’s history here.