Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1957 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. It is powered by a 365ci V8 backed by Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Features include an assortment of power options and assists, WonderBar AM radio and Autronic-Eye. Finished in Mountain Laurel over a white and black leather interior, this Cadillac comes from the selling dealer with the original air cleaner and clear title, only awaiting your bid for many days of enjoyment.
The exterior is finished in its original Mountain Laurel hue. Features a manual remote driver-side mirror, power black convertible top and dual exhausts exiting from rear bumper exhaust ports. The selling dealer states that the paint and chrome show well, with few blemishes.
A set of steel wheels with full Cadillac wheel covers is wrapped in whitewall bias-ply tires.
The interior is upholstered in white and black leather. Features include front power bench seat, power windows, Autronic-Eye automatic headlight beam control, signal-seeking WonderBar AM radio and black vinyl convertible top boot. A full walk-around video can be seen in the video on the auction page.
A 120-mph speedometer and gauges for the fuel level and coolant temperature are located ahead of the driver. The odometer reads 45,650 miles, but the true mileage on this vehicle is unknown.
Power is provided by a 310-horsepower 365ci engine backed by a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Underhood features include an Edelbrock carburetor and aftermarket chrome air cleaner. The selling dealer states that the original air cleaner will be included with the sale.
This Cadillac was factory-equipped with an independent front suspension and a solid rear drive axle. Braking is provided by power drum brakes.
Minnesota residents are responsible for tax, license and title procurement fees; out-of-state buyers will have to pay a $125 title procurement fee.
VW Classic Vehicles have restored a unique 60 year old Half-Track T1 Fox with its unique configuration and chain drive. The little Transporter became something of a mountaineer in its Alpine home. The T1 had four axles, two steering at the front and two chain driven rear axles. It’s probably the most unusual T1 ever […]
Lamborghini Urraco, A Celebration Of 50 Years Since The Launch Of Their First V8 It is now 50 years since Lamborghini introduced the Urraco in 1970. 1970 seems to have been a good year for a diverse range of cars being launched. Lamborghini’s anniversary helps to prove that point. Lamborghini unveiled the Urraco at the […]
This post is much later that I would have liked to have published it, but life is busy, when you are a workaholic like me. How else will I be able to earn enough money to buy all these cars I would like to own/ drive?
Anyway, we attended the 2022 Concours of Elegance on the Friday as we do most years. This year was the 10 year anniversary and this classic car show was as great as ever and will remain a must attend show for me. The 10th anniversary event welcomed a record number of guests to the immaculate Palace gardens, for the most spectacular display of rare and significant motorcars yet, cementing the event’s reputation as one of the UK’s top Concours d’Elegance event. A shame that this year there was no show poster to purchase, which was a shame in our opinion, we like to purchase and display on our garage wall.
Close to 1000 classic cars were on display across the three-day event. One of the highlights included:
75 years of Ferrari at Concours of Elegance.
Check out this video (below) which highlights the six Ferrari’s featured, what a beautiful collection of cars. Can you name them all?
You can see a great many more videos from the Concours of Elegance through the years here on our You Tube playlist.
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The Concours Winners
The Concours winners that I loved were as follows:
The Best in Show winner – uniquely chosen by the Concours car owners themselves – was the truly exceptional 1938 Delage D8-120 ‘de Villars’, which enchanted the voters with its elegance, beauty and 1930s design flair. You can see our walk around this car here.
For the 1940s and 1950s class, it was a very special Maserati that took the top prize – the stunning Zagato-bodied A6G. This was the ultimate evolution of Maserati’s A6 series, the marque’s first post-war sports car. Based on a lightweight tube-frame chassis, the A6G borrowed several features from the A6GCS sports racing car, including many of its motorsport-proven braking, steering, and suspension components. The all-aluminium twin-cam 150 bhp 2.0-litre six-cylinder engine originally designed by Gioacchino Colombo for racing was adapted by Vittorio Bellentani to create a dual-purpose car that blended GT civility with thrilling performance.
In the hotly contested 1960s category, the winner was a truly exceptional Aston Martin – to many the most beautiful of all: the hallowed DB4 GT Zagato. Combining the proven, high-performance DB4 GT mechanicals with a stunningly stylish – and light – aluminium body by Italian coachbuilding house Zagato – the DB4 GT Zagato represented the best of all worlds; the ultimate 1960s road and racing Aston Martin. The winning car, chassis number 1093/R, was the third of the MP209 ‘ultra-lightweight’ motorsport orientated examples, finished in the arresting hue of French Racing Blue. Built in 1962, the lightened special was delivered new to committed Aston Martin enthusiast and racer Jean Kerguen and raced at Le Mans, where the 3.7-litre straight-six powered machine could hit 170mph on the Mulsanne straight.
In the 1970s class, it was perhaps the most iconic supercar of all, a 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV, that won the hearts of voters. Unveiled at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, the futuristic supercar – penned by Marcello Gandini – was, predictably, a sensation. Gandini’s seductive shape went into production in 1966, using the 3.9-litre V12 from the 400GT. This first model, the P400, ran from 1966 to 1968, and delivered a peak output of 345bhp. The ultimate version of the Miura – the SV – appeared in 1971, with altered Weber carburettors and different cam timing, which pushed output to 385bhp and torque to 295lb ft. In total, just 150 SVs were built out of a total Miura production run of 764.
There was another fierce contest in the post-1980 category, with a special RHD Bugatti EB110 SS from 1994 taking the top prize. The Lamborghini Countach’s crafter, Marcello Gandini had a meaningful influence on how the EB110 looked, with the design refined into its finished form by Giampaolo Benedini. The brutalist yet sleek aluminium-carbon body cloaked truly cutting-edge mechanicals. Power from an outlandish quad-turbo, 60 valve 3.5-litre V12 was sent to all four wheels via a manual transmission. The EB110 also featured innovative double wishbone suspension front and rear – it was a real technical tour de force; a certain Michael Schumacher even bought one. This example is perhaps the most special of the 139 EB110s built – the only right-hand drive example, built for the 1994 British Motor Show. It was fitted with a prototype ‘SuperSport’ engine as well as prototype SS body parts, and was used to develop the higher-performance variant. It left the factory with 603bhp.
For 2022 the Concours was celebrating the 75th anniversary of Ferrari with a very special category, assembling perhaps the finest selection of machines from Maranello ever seen in the UK. From the astonishing line-up, it was the one-of-two, nigh-mythical Ferrari 365P Berlinetta Speciale – more commonly known as the ‘Tre Posti’ that took victory. The wide, low, and arrestingly sleek 365 P, originally conceived to form the basis of a Le Mans racer, was revealed to the world at the 1966 Paris Motor Show. It subsequently toured the globe, wowing audiences with its futuristic Pininfarina body, outrageous three-seater cabin, and mid-mounted V12 – the first Ferrari road-car to be so configured. With only two in existence, this highly significant Ferrari is also among the rarest and most valuable.
As always a truly exceptional event. Much respect has to go to all involved in the event organisation and those that bring their exquisite cars to show. I am looking forward to 2023 already, starting with the London Concours first, then the Concours of Elegance later in the year.
Here’s our walk around the show (below) in case you did not attend, or maybe you did attend the show and you’ll see yourself, your car or someone you know. Hope you like the video, and do subscribe to our YouTube channel and social media for more classic car, supercar and hypercar news, views, reviews, galleries, competitions and more.
You can see more Concours of Elegance news, reviews, videos and galleries here, including many featured cars and their history.
We are delighted to announce another competition for you, this time we have 3 pairs of tickets to give away. The London Classic Car Show could be your first Classic Car event in 2023, and what an event this looks to be. The London Classic Car Show will be returning to London Olympia which last hosted the event in 2020. The 2023 London Classic Car Show will take place from the 24th – 26th February 2023.
Now in its ninth year, the London Classic Car Show is the must attend event for any discerning classic car owner, collector, expert or enthusiast. You can read all about previous years at the London Classic Car Show, and watch videos here. Bringing together an international celebration of the very best dealers, manufacturers, car clubs and products it’s the perfect day out for all.
As well as creating the perfect ‘purchasing’ environment for classic car collectors, The London Classic Car Show has become synonymous with great content that allows enthusiasts and collectors alike to celebrate the fascinating history of classic cars in all its glory. You will be treated to a brand-new selection of carefully curated features and celebrations of some of the most exotic and exquisite marques from throughout the decades.
This year one of the main features of the show, will be what the shows organisers are calling, Generations, a tribute to legendary car models celebrating their anniversary in 2023. Featuring:
2023 marks 60 years since the launch of the legendary Porsche 911, one of the most significant vehicles in the Porsche marque’s history. The London Classic Car Show presents one of each of the eight generations as well as multiple iterations. A chance to explore the evolution of an icon, from the very first 911 Type 901 to the latest 911 Type 992.
The second Generations feature will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Corvette, which, for eight generations, has blurred the lines between American muscle and European sports-car characteristics, while remaining an unforgettable cultural icon. The London Classic Car Show is delighted to present each generation of this great marque.
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There will be plenty to keep classic car enthusiasts interested, in the seven hours the show is open each day. We cannot wait. Here’s a video from the show in 2017 where we walked around the Ferrari Tribute Collection. Wonderful stuff. I was in my car heaven.
So how do you win a pair of tickets to this great event?
To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the London Classic Car Show 2023, these are your three ways of entering, and you can enter in all three ways should you wish to improve your chances of winning:
Option 1: Leave a comment below and tell us what is your favourite classic car and why. For additional points if you own a Classic we’d love to hear all about it.
Option 2: Follow us on Instagram, find our competition post and follow the entry criteria.
Option 3: Follow us on Facebook, find our competition post and follow the entry criteria.
Please spread the word to any car mad friends you have, the more people you know that can enter, the more you increase your chances of winning. Closing date for entries will be 10th February 2023. Good luck.
Mike Brewer’s big interview part 2 – the Wheeler Dealer’s Life In Cars. Known for being the frontman of TV show Wheeler Dealers since it began almost 20 years ago, Mike had already been the presenter of Driven, Deals on Wheels and numerous other shows. Following on from the Car Cave private garage tour of Mike’s workshop and Part 1.
This is the Idol Chat interview, where Jonny Smith brings his terrible brown chairs to ask personal questions to a prominent face in the automotive community.
If you do not have the patience to watch the entire video (which I urge you to do), here are the sections you can skip to to hear about the specific topics covered:
Nothing says “performance vehicle” quite like a red disc brake caliper peeking through the spokes of an alloy wheel. But what was once the realm of exotics and track-day cars, is now a little slice of go-fast heaven you can have for your own, no matter what kind of car you drive. As long as it’s running disc brakes that you can see behind its wheels, of course.
The POR-15 Brake Caliper Painting Kit was designed to do two things: protect your calipers from the elements and make you look like you drive a high-performance car every day. Based on the Rust Preventive system POR-15 is known for, the final paint is available in five colors and the kit comes with everything you need to single-handedly turn your daily-driver from zero to hero.
More than just a layer of shiny paint behind your wheels, the Brake Caliper Painting kit gives you a solid base of protection under that new color. After all, your brake calipers are located in one of the most punishing environments your car can serve up: a constant cycle of heating and cooling, road dirt and debris, varying degrees of moisture and the accumulating dust from brake pads that are constantly wearing away. So, when you can protect that hardware from all that punishment and make them look good at the same time, that’s a win all the way around.
The kit comes complete with:
Cleaner/Degreaser: a good paint job starts with a clean surface and the POR-15 Cleaner/Degreaser is formulated to remove oils, dirt, greases and other contaminants, ensuring a great foundation for the paint.
Metal Prep: this stuff prepares the surface of your caliper for the best adhesion and consistent coverage of the patented Rust Preventive.
Rust Preventive: what POR-15 is best known for, the Rust Preventive is not only designed to cover and seal the porous surfaces of your brake calipers, but add a layer of protection from the elements and sets up your final coats of paint for a long life.
Caliper Paint: here’s where the magic happens! Choose your favorite color, as long as it’s black, red, yellow, grey or blue and become a driveway hero with this self-leveling paint that not only looks great, but is tough as nails.
Along with gloves, applicators and detailed instructions, the POR-15 Brake Caliper Painting kit is the easiest way to spruce-up the look of your daily-driver with a complete solution. Find more here and you’re five easy steps away from a new look for ride!
Do you remember the Rolls-Royce (and Bentley) of old versus the Rolls-by-way-of-BMW of today? It used to be you could see a Silver Shadow/Corniche or Silver Spirit all around Los Angeles or even parked by some of the more prestigious hotels around Manhattan, so it seemed that, despite its hand-built status, Rolls-Royce was a popular, consistent seller among the wealthy.
Compare it to the modern Rolls-Royce, which began with the 2003 Phantom and now features a lineup of several different models including an SUV. Even in the environs of Beverly Hills, the Rolls-Royce of today command a different level of respect and appear somewhat rare … or so you would think, as the company has reported a record 6,021 in sales — the marque’s best showing ever.
“2022 has been a momentous year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Not only did we reveal Rolls‑Royce Spectre, our marque’s first ever fully-electric series model to the world, it was also the first year we ever delivered more than 6,000 cars in a single 12-month period, with strong demand across our entire product portfolio,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “But as a true House of Luxury, sales are not our sole measure of success: we are not and never will be a volume manufacturer. Bespoke IS Rolls-Royce, and commissions were also at record levels last year, with our clients’ requests becoming ever more imaginative and technically demanding – a challenge we enthusiastically embrace.”
Production is up 8% from 2021, and a far cry from the 1,212 produced in calendar year 2008. Even five years ago, the total was a prodigious 4,107.
According to Rolls-Royce, the Middle East leads as the region with the most Bespoke commissions. In fact, Rolls-Royce opened a Dubai-based invitation-only Private Office in 2022 — the first outside Goodwood, West Sussex. Nonetheless, the Americas continues to remain the single largest region for Rolls-Royce, with China ranking second.
Rolls-Royce is currently poised to celebrate 20 years of production at Goodwood. Back then, one Phantom was built a day, the impetus for a transformation centered on a long-term strategy “based on sustainable growth, careful management and planning, and the successful reinvention of the brand.”
Hennessey went to the mattresses with its Venom F5 roadster (aka the “world’s fastest convertible”) and now has dug even deeper for its new track-only Venom F5 Revolution coupe. The recently unveiled Venom F5 Revolution is based on Hennessey’s road-going Venom F5 coupe, but the track-only sibling has reworked aerodynamics, suspension, engine cooling and digital telemetry. To enhance on-track performance, Hennessey’s engineers focused on weight reduction to keep the Venom F5 Revolution below 3,000 pounds. Like previous incarnations of the Venom F5, the Revolution is powered by an 1,817 horsepower twin-turbocharged, 6.6-liter “Fury” V8 engine. The engine is paired with an automated single-clutch gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels.
The prominent full-width rear-mounted carbon fiber wing is adjustable and features end plates designed to stop high-pressure air on top of the wing from spilling underneath, which increases downforce without extending the width of the wing. At 186 mph, the rear wing provides more than 800 pounds of downforce, and over 1,400 pounds of downforce is available at 249 mph.
Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution coupe
“From the outset, we designed the Venom F5 hypercar to be ultra-light and monstrously powerful, with dynamics to match,” says John ‘Heinrocket’ Heinricy, chief engineer. “So, taking these ingredients and adding track-focused aerodynamics, suspension, and gearing, enabled us to create a machine that is the ultimate visceral and emotional driving experience.”
The Venom F5 Revolution has a double-wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers. It rides on forged alloy wheels with a larger contact patch for improved cornering grip, and braking is provided by carbon-ceramic brakes with muti-piston calipers. To keep track of lap times, a digital on-board track telemetry system capable of measuring lap times, splits and cornering G-forces is available.
Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution coupe
Do you want your very own Venom F5 Revolution? The first step is to apply and, if you are selected to buy one of the 24 examples, it’ll set you back $2.7 million.
Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution coupe
“The new Venom F5 Revolution Coupe combines our outstanding 1,817 bhp V8 ‘Fury’ combustion engine with our lightest and most capable chassis,” says John Hennessey, company founder and CEO. “The hypercar, which is astoundingly fast, is at home on a racing circuit where utmost handling is paramount – it offers the nimbleness of a fighter jet, yet with a powerplant like a Saturn V rocket!”
Google’s Android Auto interface has become the go-to choice for many drivers. Like the rival Apple CarPlay interface, Android Auto projects familiar smartphone apps onto a car’s infotainment system for a more straightforward experience. Now it’s getting an update.
Unveiled at CES, the update brings a fresh design and a handful of new features to Android Auto, which launched in 2014 and received its last major facelift in 2019.
Rolling out to users now, the new design moves Google Maps closer to the driver so it’s easier to see at a glance. Other changes include a new media card aimed at better displaying album art, and a quick-launcher feature for frequently used apps.
Android Auto 2023 update
In addition to a revised look, Android Auto gains some new features. Google Assistant now provides suggestions like missed call reminders, as well as arrival time sharing and the ability to pull up music and podcasts. A progress bar has been added as well, so users can skip ahead to another song or episode.
On-screen shortcuts for replying to messages and calling favorite contacts have also been added. Google Pixel and Samsung smartphone users can now make calls using WhatsApp through Android Auto.
Beyond the Android Auto updates, Google is also expanding availability of digital key functionality, which lets drivers use a smartphone in place of a key fob. Car owners can now share a digital key with Pixel and iPhone users to let other people borrow their cars, with Samsung and Xiaomi compatibility coming soon. While multiple automakers offer variations of this feature, Google’s version only works with BMW, although the company said it plans to add more car brands.
Android Auto 2023 update
More automakers are also adopting Google Built-In features for their infotainment systems, letting drivers use Google apps without having to connect a smartphone. The 2023 Honda Accord is the latest model to add Google Built-In, joining certain models from Volvo and Polestar.
New features planned for Google Built-In include HD maps, which will launch on the 2024 Volvo EX90 and 2024 Polestar 3 electric SUVs. Drivers will also soon be able to watch YouTube videos on their car screens when parked. Google also plans to expand the roster of car brands with Google Built-In, with plans to add Ford and Lincoln later in 2023.
