Tuesday, December 28, 2010

It's Just the Movies... It's Only Make Believe.


As an impressionable young man, I fueled my first car lusts with television shows- and movies. Knight Rider, Herbie the Love Bug, The Dukes of Hazzard, Christine, these kinds of pictures... CNBC ran a bit on 13 cars made famous by the movies- and although I'll contest- some of these cars are as obscure as the movies they stared in, having a car in the pictures can literally create a frenzy, for what would have been a "lost" or average car to begin with.

The Astrial Silver Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Convertible, as featured in The Hangover is such an example. Was the car iconic to begin with? Absolutely, it's a vintage Mercedes convertible- but truth-be-told, while there's collector interest in these hand-built four-seater cabriolets, the 280 SE is not the most preferred, investment-grade version; nor is it the most desirable- in fact, the 280SE was the middle-of-the-road variety- the more desirable 300 SE and later, low-grill 280SE 3.5 being the most sought-after, technically speaking.

They used the better part of half-a-dozen 280 SEs in the movie- and while its painful to see its abuse and destruction in the film- rest assured- the five or so cars that gave their lives to the production were in-fact saving tens or dozens down the road. (I'd say hundreds or thousands- but they never made as many...)

My point? People will be dusting-off these 280 SEs now more than ever. In fact, while CNBC claims they go for over six-figures when restored, this is only half true- nice, low-mile models can be had for less than half that quote; with only the very best of specimens, mainly the 3.5s, go for the "big" six-figure numbers.

But perhaps the biggest pop in collector interest for a single car (and ironically not one featured in the CNBC article) was for the 1958 Plymouth- as featured in the film-version of Stephen King's Christine.

They used something like 25 different 1957 and 1958 Plymouths in the films' production- destroying nearly every one of them.

Of some interest (in the original book) Christine was a specially-ordered, Autumn Red Plymouth Fury sedan- only one problem- Plymouth never made a such a car. And Autumn Red? It didn't exist.

The car featured in the movie is actually most similar to a '58 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe with a Golden Commando V8- though many call it a Fury, painted Toredor Red with Sportone trim- another car that never existed in real life- Furys in 1958 came one way- Buckskin Beige with special Goldtone trim. They were limited, sport editions, of the shittiest, lowest cars Chrysler made at the time, really...

Collectors of these Forward Look beauties cringe and cry over it today- for to find any 1958 Plymouth (regardless of color and trim) is a rare sight- many surrendered to rust long ago- but the hard fact remains- it's Christine that has forever immortalized this Plymouth, and many like it as a desired collectible.

So while the movie destroyed a couple dozen cars- it saved and promoted hundreds, maybe thousands.

I guess these cars are like famous people- while many spend their lives fascinated by celebrities, truth-be-known, their just regular people with better, more visible jobs and lives than the rest of us.

But while the famous still put their pants on, "one-leg-at-a-time" (or so many still claim)- these cars are just average, made-up at best, that got lucky into the land of make believe- the movies.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The Iconic 911 Now in GTS Form for 2011


If you're an avid Porsche enthusiast, you'll know that a Porsche 911 just isn't a 911. Even stemming back to its roots in the 1960's- unless you have a 1963-68 early SWB (short wheel base) car, you don't have just a 911.

911T, 911E, 911S, 911L, 911RS- are just some of the models that tore-up the roads 40 years ago; soon to be followed by the 911 SC ("Super Carrera"), then the 911 Carrera 0f the 1980's. Come 1990- the 911 wasn't even a 911; it was a 964, in 1994- a 993 followed by 996 and 997, water-cooled for the 21st Century.

Now the number 911 is back, but it's just a marketing brand. To confuse matters even more- the 911 is available in some 20 different models!

If you thought things were confusing in the 60's & 70's- they're even more puzzling now...

Porsche’s venerable sports car classic, the Carrera- also known as the internal Type 911 now comes in no fewer than 20 different iterations- ranging from the most basic Carrera Coupe, starting at just under $78,000; all-the-way to the track-topping $245,000 911 GT2 RS.

Newest to the iconic breed which has been in continuous production since 1963 is the 911 Carrera GTS. The GTS is themed at being what Porsche Cars calls “clarity” of the 911 performance and evolution concept.

Priced above the $95,000 base-Carrera 4S, yet below the race-inspired $116,000-plus GT3, the new for 2011 GTS (which comes in both a Coupe and Cabriolet styles) is as Autoblog describes as “the new middle child of the ass-engined family,” reminding everyone of the unique rear-engine design that has been a hallmark for both Porsche and its iconic 911.

The recipe for the GTS is clear but it may not be for every Porsche enthusiast. Take the wide-body configuration of a Carrera 4S… and take-away the all-wheel-drive, upgrade the 3.8-liter S-spec engine to churn-out 408-horses (up 23-horses from the Carrera S, yet 27-horses less-than the GT3) sprinkle in some RS Sypder-style 19-inch wheels and Alcantara interior trimming as standard; and set the styling with Porsche SportDesign details- and you have the new GTS.

Autoblog reports: “Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels (and as it should be), with a manual six-speed transmission coming standard and a seven-speed PDK as an option. Select the Sport Chrono package along with the dual-clutch 'box, and Porsche claims you'll be cracking off four-second 0-60 runs all day long… After the GTS debuts in Paris, sales of both the coupe and cabriolet versions will begin early next year, with a starting price of $103,100 and $112,900, respectively."

In reality- the GTS offers a degree of higher exclusivity and performance before going all-out both in price and performance for the breathtaking GT3 or Turbo variants.

And in another 40 years- only the true Porschephiles will ever really know the difference. Or Care-errera (if you know what I mean...)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Ward's 10-Best List- May Just Require Batteries This Year...


Every year since 1994, Ward’s AutoWorld magazine has compiled its “best automobile engines” list available in the United States, and for the fist-time since its inception- plug-in electric hybrid powerplants are included, proving that Ward’s 10 Best Engines list too is “embracing the age of electrification.”

According to Ward’s- “Both the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle and Chevrolet Volt extended-range EV earn their way onto the 2011 list, as selected by Ward’s editors after evaluating 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines for the ’11 model year.” But as in the past- economy is not the only criteria to make the grade- power, torque outputs as well as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) still count.

Ward’s AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter insists “It’s the most diverse mix we’ve ever had, as well as the most technologically advanced.”

2011’s winners and the applications tested include:
• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i)
• 1.6L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mini Cooper S)
• 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Dodge Avenger)
• 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang GT)
• 1.4L DOHC I-4/111kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt)
• 5.0L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
• 80kW AC Synchronous Electric Motor (Nissan Leaf)
• 2.0L DOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta TDI)
• 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (Volvo S60)

The Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition “is designed to recognize powertrains that set new benchmarks in their respective vehicle segments.” Ward’s editor Winter continues “The one thing they have in common is they all are stand-out performers in their own way and sell the value proposition of the vehicles they power.”

Winter adds “This year’s list represents the biggest turnover in the history of the competition, with six completely new engines or propulsion systems, two heavily modified engines (from BMW AG and Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.) and only two direct carryover engines (from Volkswagen AG and Audi AG) from the 2010 list.”

Eligible engines must be available in standard-production cars on sale in the U.S. market no later than the first quarter of the given model year. The engine also must be available in a vehicle with a base price of no more than $54,000.

During a two-month testing period, Ward's editors evaluate each engine according to a number of objective and subjective criteria in everyday driving situations without instrumented testing.

Some standout Ward’s winners in the past have included the General Motors 3800 Series V6, and the Nissan/Infiniti VQ-based V6 powerplants. Nearly every year since it’s inception seventeen years ago, a version of the Ford V8 and the BMW straight-six have made the popular Ward’s 10 Best Engines list.

Source: WardsAuto.com