SCORPIO'S GARAGE: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The 2020 Dodge Charger Could Look Something Like This

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Posted by Jeff Perez

2020 is expected to be a pretty big year for the American auto industry—or at least, parts of it. Ford is expected to unveil a new Mustang (as we previewed earlier in the month), and now rumors are suggesting a new Dodge Charger will be unveiled alongside it in Detroit. Oh boy!

“An insider” allegedly leaked out the new to Automotive News, and even more interestingly, gave us a hint as to the design direction. Remember the weirdly beautiful Charger concept from 1999? Expect something closer to that when we see a new one in 2020.

It will still be a big, hulking thing at 198-inches long and over 3,500 pounds, but it will be a bit lighter on its feet thanks to the extended Alfa Romeo Giulia platform that it will be riding on.

At this point, most of the reports are still speculation. Dodge still has four years to iron out the details of its new and hopefully much-improved Charger. We can only hope that it still has some insane power plant under the hood (fingers crossed).

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Barn Find Should Clean Up Nicely

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Posted by Nicole Wakelin

For most enthusiasts, the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split window coupe is the kind of classic you either love or hate. Some think the split window look is tough on the eyes, others think it’s a stunning work of art. If you fall into that latter category, then now’s your chance to own one of these rare and beautiful Corvettes, it’s up for sale on eBay.

Revealed by our friends at BarnFinds, it’s clearly been sitting in storage for quite a few years. A thick layer of dust covers up that split window—along with most everything else. Under the dust, though, is a handsome, non-original Daytona Blue paint job, but the interior is the original Dark Blue.

The dust on the outside coats the inside as well, so it could use a good cleaning from top to bottom. The seller says it needs new rugs, even though what you’ll see in the photos are floor mats. Otherwise, it seems to be in good physical condition.

It might look okay, but it doesn’t run, so you’ll need to do some work before you can take it for a drive. The engine isn’t the original either, and it’s paired to a 4-speed transmission. Still worth it for the price? Let your checkbook decide.

This is the Only Ferrari 458 MM in the World

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Posted by Zach Doell

When you buy a new Ferrari, you enter a pretty exclusive club, whether it be the entry-level Ferrari California T or the range-topping LaFerrari hypercar. But when you ask Ferrari to build you a unique, one-off vehicle…that exclusive club becomes a party of one.

And this is one such vehicle—the 2016 Ferrari 458 MM Speciale.
According to the heritage Italian automaker, the 458 MM supercar was built at the request of one of Ferrari’s most enthusiastic British clients, and designed exclusively by the Ferrari Styling Center.

Though new in name, the Ferrari 458 MM shares its chassis and 597-horsepower V8 powertrain with the late-great Ferrari 458 Speciale (now replaced with the new 488 GTB), however its svelte bodywork and styling treatments are said to be all-new.

The custom exterior treatments include redesigned carbon fiber and aluminum bodywork featuring new front and side air inlets for better cooling, a bespoke rear spoiler, unique wheels, modified headlights and taillights, as well as a new “visor” effect wrap-around windscreen made possible through black-painted A-pillars (in the style of the 1985 Ferrari GTO), per the client’s request. The roofline has now been lowered as well, which in conjunction with the other racy modifications, result in the MM’s enhanced aerodynamics over the standard Ferrari 458.

At the right angle, it looks to share some similar lines with cars like the Lotus Evora 400 and Ford GT. Though, we can’t help but think it’s pure coincidence. Most supercars do look similar, after all.
Outside, the supercar’s stunning Bianco Italia racing livery pays homage to the Italian flag, while inside, Ferrari says the interior has been restyled to the owner’s exacting specifications, now outfitted with Cioccolato (or “chocolate”) leather upholstery with white stitching, as well as a new audio system.

Seen here, the Ferrari 458 MM Speciale was recently photographed during testing at Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track in Italy. Ferrari hasn’t commented on the origins of the one-off supercar’s “MM” moniker, though it’s likely a nod to the classic Mille Miglia Italian road race.

Ferrari also hasn’t revealed the price tag for the one-of-one vehicle, however previous one-off Ferraris (such as the $4.2 million Ferrari F12 TRS) have been alleged to cost well into the millions and millions of dollars. If you have to ask…

5 Bold Features of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R

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Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.

Posted by Jeff Perez

There’s something so likable about the 292-horsepower Volkswagen Golf R. And no, it isn’t just the added oomph (even though it does help).

The Golf R comprises the best aspects of the standard Golf, and combines that with some of the most fun performance bits from the hot hatch segment.

When you break it down, these are the five bold features that make the Volkswagen Golf R as fun as it is.

Amazing All-Wheel Drive

“Take your Subaru WRX and shove it,” says the Volkswagen Golf R. For the same price of said Subie, you can get an all-wheel drive Golf with more power. But it’s the way it handles all 292 of those horses that should impress the race car driver in you.

It grabs, it sticks, it claws its way around each corner without any sort of fuss. Where the previous generation Golf R was good, the new MQB platform and the more advanced all-wheel drive system make it something spectacular.

Tactile Steering

Speaking of cornering, it’s not just the advanced all-wheel drive system that’s doing the heavy lifting. The steering rack on this car just…flows, for lack of a better word. It’s not too light, it’s not too heavy—if Goldilocks were a V-Dub fanboy she’d say it’s “just right.”

Muscular Design

I can only assume the word ‘subtle’ is tattooed on the faces of VW designers in Wolfsburg; there isn’t a car in the Volkswagen lineup that isn’t. But when you take that subtle approach, and apply to to a 292-horsepower hot hatch, it sort of takes on a whole new meaning.
The Golf R is pretty, in a very clean, very German sort of way. Nothing about this car is in your face—it won’t immediately draw the attention of anyone not familiar with what’s under the hood. But that’s the way it should be, like any good VW.
Tons of Technology

A performance-minded buyer might not necessarily think (or care, really) that the Golf R is a tech heavy hatchback with the millennial buyer in mind. But it is. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with a whole suite of safety equipment like front assist, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert—the whole shebang.

Loads of Space

What’s all this power and technology, though, if you can’t share it with a few friends? The Golf R is spacious—or at least, as spacious as the rest of the Golf lineup. In terms of four-door performance cars, there’s a bunch more room for junk in the trunk; 52.7 cubic feet of max cargo room to be exact.

Photo Credit: Jeff Perez for BoldRide

Monday, May 30, 2016

Ural Sportsman Package Motorcycle is Ready for Adventure

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Posted by Nicole Wakelin

Sometimes you want to take your motorcycle on an epic trek across paved roads, but sometimes you’re in search of a little more adventure. The Ural Sportsman Package is the bike you need for when your travels take you well off the beaten path.

The Ural Sportsman Package Camp Wandawega Edition is specially designed to take you, a friend (or a dog), and your stuff on an outdoor excursion. It comes with a spare tire, luggage rack, and high-intensity spotlight so you can light the way to your next campsite.

A ceramic undercoating on all three fenders and the sidecar protects from snow, salt, and dirt. A two-year unlimited mileage warranty is ready just in case you get yourself in real trouble while you’re out adventuring.

The Ural Sportsman switches from single-wheel drive to dual-wheel drive with a simple lever so you can go quickly from the highway to dirt roads. There is also a whole line of accessories to tailor your motorcycle to fit your every need. It can be yours for a starting price of $15,999.

Peugeot Dished Out a Delicious Hybrid Sports Car Concept

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Posted by Nicole Wakelin

Peugeot celebrates a big anniversary this year; it was back on May 30, 1916, that a Peugeot L45 driven by Dario Resta won the Indy 500. Today, Peugeot is introducing the L500 R concept as their vision of racing in the future, and in honor of yesterday’s historic race.

The car was developed by Peugeot Sport as a tribute to that winning L45, but with very modern styling suited to a race car of the future. Rather than being a two-seater, it’s a single-seat racer with a small steering wheel. It also has a holographic i-Cockpit with two displays in dual discs.

According to Peugeot, this slick futuristic race car will be a plug-in hybrid…if it ever sees the light of day. It will combine a 270-horsepower gasoline engine with two electric motors mounted at the front and rear wheels. This will produce 500 horsepower with 539 lb-ft of torque.

The L500 R will post a 0-62 mph time of only 2.5 seconds. Yes, she’s going to be fast and she’s also going to be very lightweight at only 2,204 pounds with a low height of only 39.3 inches. It’s just a concept, but it’s definitely a vision of the future that we’d all love to see come true.

What Are You Driving This Memorial Day?

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Posted by Jeff Perez

Happy Memorial Day—or should we say, happy beach, BBQ, spending time away from the office day. While we have nothing but thanks to all our soldiers serving overseas, and to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, there’s nothing better than spending the long weekend out on the road in some of our favorite rides.

But that begs a bit of a question: what’s the best car to take on the road for a three-day adventure? We have a few ideas as far as high-end performance vehicles go, but we want to get your opinion on the matter. Maybe a two-seat car for you and your special someone. Maybe a big SUV for the whole crew. Or maybe you like the wind in your hair, and Miata is the answer.

Whatever it might be, let us know in the comments below, or hit us up on Twitter. Until then, we’ll be hitting the beach in our 707-horsepower Dodge Charger Hellcat.

This Rare Shelby Was Almost the World’s Most Expensive Mustang

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Posted by Jeff Perez

The Ford Mustang is an American icon—there’s no doubt about that. In its 50+ year history, the pony car has spanned six generations, won countless awards, and spawned plenty of variants. Through all that time, though, what’s the most expensive Mustang ever sold?

Technically, the most expensive Mustang of all time title goes to a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake that sold in May, 2013, for a mind-blowing $1.3 million. Not exactly chump change. But a few months before this Super Snake was raking in the cash, an even rarer Mustang nearly sold for more.

In January, 2013, a 1968 Shelby EXP 500 Green Hornet pulled in an outstanding bid of $1.8 million at Barrett-Jackson. That number was unheard of. Never before had a Mustang reached the million dollar mark before that, though, a few had come close.

The Shelby in question is one of the few prototype Mustangs still in existence. EXP stands for experimental. The car featured the first use in a Mustang of fuel injection, special disc brakes, and an independent rear suspension, among other things.

It became a sort of pet project for Shelby chief engineer Fred Goodell, with plenty of input from Carroll Shelby himself. The platform paved the way for many modern enhancements the Mustang saw from 1967 up until today. Being saved from the crusher, it was thought to be lost in history until a keen collector picked it up and gave it a full restoration.

Unfortunately, the owner values this car so high, even the $1.8 million bid didn’t reach the unknown reserve price. For now, it remains tucked away in a garage somewhere waiting for its next go at the auction block.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

This 1965 Indy 500 Pace Car is an Unexpected eBay Find

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Posted by Zach Doell

If you count off the Indy 500 pace cars since the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” began in 1911, you’ll tally up 13 Corvettes and nine Camaros. That’s quite a lot of performance Chevys, and that doesn’t even include the lone SSR, Monte Carlo, Beretta, Bel Air, and Fleetmaster that paced the race as well.

Count up the total number of Plymouths however and, well… you’ll be left with one. The 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury. The big 426ci V8-powered Plymouth glided around the track ahead of the race cars, driven by Chrysler-Plymouth general manager P.M. Buckminster, and it would have looked something like this.

Of course, this isn’t that car. Instead, it’s part of the long tradition of pace car special editions and one of either 1,500 or 1,900 (sources disagree) built for Chrysler-Plymouth dealers in the US. Five decades later, these cars are a bit slim on the ground, nevertheless this one recently popped up for sale on eBay.
Huge Price?

Colloquially, these Plymouth Sport Fury convertibles are referred to as pace car “replicas.” They came equipped with Plymouth’s optional 383ci V8s, three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmissions, a blue interior with bucket seats, rear fender skirts, and the unmistakeable side script proudly proclaiming it to be a pace car of the “FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL INDIANAPOLIS 500 MILE RACE – MAY 31, 1965.” Discretion was not a factor in buying one of these cars.

Interestingly, there were also 35 “genuine” 1965 Indy 500 Plymouth Sport Fury pace cars, which were built specifically to be dealership display items. Weirdly enough, you can tell those cars apart from a “replica” (for the most part) depending on the location of the lettering. The 35 pace cars featured lettering on the top of the rear quarter panel, while the replicas featured the script down the middle.

That said, it’s not a foolproof formula. This car isn’t one of those original 35 cars; it’s claimed to be a restored replica that just so happens to have been refinished in the style of the former 35 cars rather than the latter replicas. A few other non-original details would appear to be a new Magnaflow exhaust and aftermarket wheels in place of the authentic (and hub-capped) rolling stock.

Still, the price for one of these Indy 500 replicas? Just shy of $25,000. Care for something a bit newer? There is also a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition, which resembles this year’s pace car (minus the Abalone White paint).

Via Car and Driver

The 2016 Hennessey Corvette Z06 is a 1,000-HP Screamer

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Posted by Zach Doell

Plenty of performance cars sound “good” when revved to the limit, throttle wide open. Some even sound “great,” but if you ask this humble writer’s opinion, few sound as brutally perfect as this—the latest hopped-up Hennessey Corvette Z06.

The transformation from standard 2016 Corvette Z06 to this beast is not a simple one, as you might expect, and under the hood there’s a veritable blast furnace of power. But the engine’s exotic technical details arguably play second fiddle to its incredible sound.
Take a listen, and try not to drool.

From idling burble to full-throttle, the Corvette Z06 makes a tremendous wall of noise, and consequently a tremendous amount of horsepower, 1008 hp measured at the engine and 849 ponies measured at the wheels.

No matter how you cut it, that’s impressive. The perceivable real-world result is a blast to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, a dash through the quarter mile in 9.7 seconds, and a top speed of 220 mph. Yowza.

Underneath the hood, the standard 6.4-liter LT4 V8 has been stroked out to a displacement of 6.8-liters and now it’s got a new higher-flow supercharger to force air into it. The rest of its new additions read like a price-no-option wish list:

billet steel connecting rods, a heavy duty camshaft and pushrods, CNC-ported cylinder heads with competition-spec valves, upgraded valve springs, a stainless steel exhaust, and an “extreme duty” intercooler to keep that charged air relatively chilled.
Granted, some may prefer the wailing clamor of a pair of turbochargers. But compared to this? Well, they may become converts.

High Performance Kia Sedan and ‘Stinger’ Coupe Rumored for 2018

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Posted by Zach Doell

If there’s a region of the world that looks poised to make the biggest waves in the automotive industry, you’d be hard pressed not to pin South Korea as it.

Car-producing powerhouse Hyundai has, as of late, evolved its Equus (now G90) and Genesis (now G80) models to form an all-new and highly luxurious sub-brand, known simply as “Genesis.” And the next addition looks to be a scorcher too—a rumored G70 sedan aimed to take on the BMW 3-series.

But Hyundai isn’t the only one making big moves; sister brand Kia may be looking to establish itself as Korea’s performance car marque, and if the reports are true, it’ll kick that off next year (as 2018 models) with production versions of the Kia GT sedan and possibly Kia GT4 Stinger coupe concepts.

As noted in an Automotive News report from earlier this year and spy photos snagged by Car and Driver, the GT sedan would appear to be the first on the docket for Kia, most likely sharing its rear-wheel drive platform with Genesis’ G70 and aiming similarly for BMW 3-series territory.

While that may pose some in-house rivalries, the differences between the two in price, direction, and equipment should be significant enough for both to be viable. C/D predicts the GT sedan to arrive wielding four- and six-cylinder variants, and at least the option of a manual transmission. Internally, the sports sedan project is said to be known as “CK.”

Adding a little more wood to the fire however is a recent article from Australia’s CarsGuide, which reports that a production version of the 2014 Kia GT4 Stinger coupe will bow as well, at least for the Australian market, in mid-2017.

The outlet cites Kia Motors Australia chief Sang-Hyun Cho, who calls this project “CK” as well and notes it will go into production in July 2017, though he didn’t delve further into its specifics.

Given that both the BMW 3-series sedan and 4-series coupe share the same platform, it’s not hard to imagine a similarly aimed Kia sports sedan and coupe wouldn’t make the same move.

The alleged coupe or sedan’s name? If recent trademark applications are to be believed, it looks like “Kia Stinger” will adorn at least one of the vehicles, as it was registered earlier this year in regards to passenger cars and sports cars.

Of course, none of this has been confirmed by Kia, so we likely won’t know for sure about either alleged car for a few more months. That said, the Paris and Los Angeles auto shows arrive at the tail end of this year, and either of those may provide the launching point Kia’s performance offerings need.

The World’s Only Right-Hand Drive 1963 Corvette Z06 is Still a Mystery

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Posted by Myles Kornblatt

A one-of-a-kind Corvette is always attractive, but the fact that it’s an unsolved mystery makes it irresistible. There’s plenty of info on the only right-hand drive 1963 Z06 Sting Ray to make it tantalizingly exotic, but there’s just enough is still missing to make us all want to search the farthest corners of the internet.

The story starts with General Motors sending its brand new second-generation 1963 Corvette to Australia. The Sting Ray seemed to be a natural fit in a country that also loves big V8 engines. So for a show car, GM made sure its Aussie arm at Holden was given a coupe with the most potent and expensive option on the list.

Checking the Z06 box in ’63 nearly added 50 percent to the base price of a Corvette. In theory, the cost was prohibitive so that only those who needed this race-ready package would put down the money, and regular drivers wouldn’t have it on the streets. The Z06 included a larger 36.5-gallon fuel tank for racing, upgraded Al-Fin brakes with added cooling, and an improved suspension, including stiffer springs, shocks, and front anti-roll bar. But what really made it the top Corvette was the fuel-injected 327 cubic-inch L84 V8 that was rated at 360 horsepower.

GM sent a Daytona Blue Z06 with dark blue interior and standard-size gas tank to Australia in time for the 1963 Sydney Motor Show. When this coupe went on display one major change had happened—it was right hand drive.

Most of us already know that Sydney and St. Louis drive on opposite sides of the road, but there is a bit more to why this car needed to be converted. After all, places like the UK often take pride in driving classic American left-hand drive vehicles on their side of the Atlantic. Despite being founded by outlaws, Australia has a surprising amount of regulations on left-hand drive vehicles. So while Chevy sent over the most potent machine in its lineup, the factory position of the steering wheel might have made it seem more like just a novelty.

By 1964 the coupe was sold into private hands. It was kept in very original condition in Australia and seldom driven for over 45 years.

Back in America, a perfect storm helped the Z06 earn legendary status. This expensive package was only offered for one year on the Sting Ray, and as a result there were only 199 made—less than one percent of total production. Also, 1963 was the only year for the split window coupes. This makes a C2 Z06 a six-figure crown jewel in many car collections.

So as these Z06s started climbing higher in value, having a one-of-a-kind car with an interesting pedigree became an irresistible prospect to Corvette fans. Just ask Terry Michaelis.

The Corvette has been good to him. In fact, if you buy a car from his ProTeam Corvette, Michaelis asks for the right of first refusal when/if you go to sell it because he probably still sees value in it. So he eagerly snatched up the Australian Z06 when it came up for sale in 2011.

Once it arrived at the ProTeam facility in Napoleon, Ohio, Michaelis found he had a true survivor. The coupe had traveled less than 22,800 miles in its lifetime; its original paint still had a high-gloss shine; and the all-important numbers-matching L84 V8 was in the engine bay.

But what makes this a true one-of-a-kind also gives it a bit of a quirky setup. While it might seem simple to produce a mirror image of the C2′s dual cowl dashboard, it’s not completely easy to make a right-hand drive ’63 Corvette.

Besides having to re-route essential components like the steering and throttle, the interior has always favored the left side. So the pedal setup is a bit cramped, and the headlight dimmer button could only find a home mounted in the center of the foot well.

The car has remained in the same condition today. While it is for sale, it seems Michaelis is more content just to take this coupe on tour. In its first few years stateside this Z06 has won at places like Bloomington Gold as well as been displayed at the Amelia Island Concours and Concours of America at St. Johns.

If this timeline seems somewhat incomplete, the people at ProTeam would agree. There are still a lot of rumors surrounding this coupe, and it doesn’t help that most of its history is half a world away. So there’s still a huge hunt for real evidence that includes:

—Was Holden showing off the car to gauge positional for limited sale?
—Are there photographs proving it was RHD at in Sydney and Melbourne?
—Was it given specialist parts while on display?
—The rear end has a dealer tag from R.C. Phillips Sportscar World. Did they broker the first sale or were they also part of conversion to right-hand drive?
—Did this car win Best of Show at the first Corvette Club show in Australia?

ProTeam actually has a list on their website of what they know and what needs to be confirmed. None of the questions are easy ones, but that’s part of the fun of a classic car mystery. Someone out there is holding onto a piece of this puzzle, and the fun part is sometimes the key could be hiding in your bookshelf.

Photos and Words: Myles Kornblatt for BoldRide

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Place Your Bid on the 1964 Imperial Crown Convertible from ‘Mad Men’

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Posted by Nicole Wakelin

Mad Men Draper Imperial Crown Convertible

You might not be able to take Mad Men‘s Don Draper home (unfortunately), but you will be able to take his car. The 1962 Imperial Crown Convertible driven by Draper in Season 4, Episode 3 is about to go up for auction—and you’d be mad not to want it.

There were only 922 examples of this particular car built, and only 200 are believed to still exist. This makes this car not only incredibly rare and collectible from the factory, but even more so with its Hollywood connections.

The car is in great condition with a 413 V8 wedge engine paired to a 727 TorqueFlight push button automatic. It has modern day conveniences of the time like power steering, brakes, windows, and antenna. There’s even a working AM/FM radio and an electric top. It’s mostly original with two exceptions.

The carpeting was replaced, and the car was repainted about 20 years ago. The new bright red covers up the original Roman Dark Red, but you can still see what that original color looked like thanks to a small circle purposely left under the hood. The auction is set to run June 1 to June 6 through ScreenBid.

This is Essentially a Brand New 1991 BMW 850i Sports Car

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Posted by Zach Doell

If there’s an automaker capable of consistently pleasing the sports car enthusiasts of the world, it’s BMW. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a minger within its current crop, ‘M’ performance cars or otherwise.

That said, its record isn’t completely peerless, and to many this car was one of its biggest foibles—the BMW 850i. Having debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1989, the BMW 850i’s looks stunned the motoring press, however its on-road performance left many expecting more.

Either way, they remain incredibly good looking after more than two decades of life, and this rare car is about as close as you’ll get to buying a brand new one. How so? This 1991 BMW 850i has driven just 1,759 kilometers from new (a total of 1,093 miles). Better yet, it’s up for sale.

While driving dynamics may have left some 850i owners cold, the vast amount of technology under its skin certainly didn’t. These 8-series BMWs came packed to the gills with amenities, including dual-zone climate control, electronic stability control, a 12-speaker stereo system, and all wrapped in an exquisitely appointed interior.

It heralded a number of ‘firsts’ too, including the first electronic fly-by-wire system used in a road car and the first “CAN bus” wiring system.

Straight line performance wasn’t too shabby either. The BMW 850i boasted a 295 horsepower 5.0-liter V12, which was supremely smooth, and either routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic or six-speed manual. Top speed? 155 mph. The 8-series line later included 4.0- and 4.4-liter V8 coupes, as well as a bigger 5.4-liter V12 and a screaming 372 hp 5.6-liter V12 (à la the hen’s teeth BMW 850CSi).

But it’s the car’s stellar looks that really make this ‘90s machine a mouthwatering piece of BMW history, and this one appears to be spotless.

Its enjoyed just one owner since 1991 and accumulated a scant 195 miles since 1995. And while the vast majority of BMW 850i coupes were fitted with automatic transmissions, this is one of the few that sports the more desirable six-speed manual.

Falling in love? So are we. The 1991 BMW 850i will cross the auction block this weekend at Silverstone Auction’s event in Denmark, and it’s expected to fetch upwards of €90,000 ($100,000) for its like-new condition.

The Plymouth Silver King ‘Orchard’ is One Classy Tractor

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Posted by Andrew T. Maness

If ‘ol Jay Gatsby had owned a tractor, I have to imagine it would have been a Plymouth Silver King Orchard. It’s not often that you’d hear anyone with all their teeth describe a tractor as stunning, but I’m not missing any of my chompers, and I’m declaring this tractor a work of art. Lucky for you, it’s heading to auction.

Of the 214 Silver Kings that were built, this is the only known Orchard model in existence. If that didn’t make it rare enough already, it also carries the distinction of being the first tractor designed to wear rubber tires instead of studded steel wheels. This effectively brought the tractor out of the fields and onto the roads, thus paving the way for the modern commercial and personal agricultural vehicles.

Could you imagine operating a riding mower with studded steel wheels? Sure, it would aerate while you mow, but it’d make quite a racket when you drive down the street to get gas.

The Silver King Orchard also pushed the segment forward with a lightweight design, that was both beautiful and functional. The art deco wheel covers are specific to the Orchard model and aside from making it look cool, they must have also been handy in containing debris coming off the tires.

Since the small four cylinder Hercules IXB engine and four speed transmission could get this thing up to 25 mph, those cowls would most definitely be welcome on the drive home after working in a muddy field.

Not much is known about the history of this example, but it appears to have been well cared for, and would look right at home on the floor of a museum. The silver body and dark royal blue wheel color combo is factory correct, and those color matched royal blue hand grips are a subtle touch that further adds to the outstanding visual package.

This is one bare bones piece of equipment that I expect someone will be very happy with, whether they want to add it to a collection, or use it to gallivant around their expansive beachside estate.

Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions

Shelby GT-H Ford Mustangs Now Available for Memorial Day Weekend

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Posted on by Zach Doell

Let’s admit it. Many of us would like to own a sleek, powerful, and rare pony car, but sometimes life gets in the way. The barriers are many—garage space, time, money, and of course the need to shlep around a larger family.

As it did in 1966 however, car rental company Hertz is making that dream a reality for Americans through the rental of its all-new 2016 Shelby GT-H Ford Mustangs, and it all kicks off this Memorial Day Weekend.

Beginning on Saturday, interested Hertz customers can sign out one of the 140 Shelby GT-H cars available through the company’s Adrenaline Collection, and located at select airports around the country. Business travel (and vacation travel) just got a lot more exciting.

Having debuted at this year’s New York International Auto Show, the 2016 Shelby GT-H Ford Mustangs celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hertz’s Rent-A-Racer program, which put Shelby GT350H pony cars in the hands of average Americans. All for just $17 a day and 17 cents a mile.

The modern day program is admittedly a bit pricier than its 1966 counterpart, but the Shelby recipe hasn’t changed too much. These third-generation Hertz Shelby Mustangs (the second-generation was launched in 2006) are prepped using standard 2016 Ford Mustang GTs as a starting point. Shelby then adds a Ford Performance exhaust, Ford Racing handling pack (sportier springs, dampers, and sway bars), as well as unique 19-inch wheels.

The modern cars also stay faithful to the previous Hertz Shelby Mustangs, complete with the signature black-and-gold double racing stripes, unique Shelby vented hood, and for the new cars, a carbon fiber splitter and spoiler.

From looking at the online rental website, rental pricing tends to change depending on how long, when, and where you book a Shelby GT-H; that said, availability for these 140 rare cars looks to be pretty slim, at least for its Memorial Day Weekend debut.

Looking to rent? The rarified Ford Mustangs are available at 17 airports nationwide, including locations in North Carolina, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Nevada, California, Tennessee, Arizona, and Washington.

Friday, May 27, 2016

You Won’t Believe the Asking Price of this Teeny, Tiny Peel P50

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Posted by Zach Doell

Typically, people pay more for… well, more. This is the notion behind multi-million dollar 16-cylinder Bugatti Chiron supercars and obnoxious six-wheeled Mercedes-Benz pickups. But sometimes the opposite happens. Sometimes, less costs more, and in the case of this diminutive little car… much, much more.

For the uninitiated, this is a Peel P50, the three-wheeler famously referred to by Guinness World Records as “the world’s smallest production car.” A scant 47 were built on the Isle of Man between 1962 and 1965, and of late, these microcars have skyrocketed in value.

Though this isn’t one of the original cars (of which only 26 are believed to still exist), it is still a Peel 50, and one claimed to be a 50th anniversary edition, built in 2014, though supporting documentation would be welcomed. Its eye-opening asking price? Brace yourselves—a massive $125,000. And breathe.

While that $125,000 asking price is certainly out-of-this-world for such a small (and new) car, it isn’t totally unheard of. Recently, an original 1964 Peel P50 (expected to net upwards of $100,000) went up for auction in Florida, where it eventually sold for $176,000. That however was an original car, and not one of its modern day siblings (like this one), which interestingly went back into production in 2010.

The reborn Peel Engineering Company now markets two new versions of the iconic Peel P50, an electric-powered variant (for £12,399, or about $18,000) and a traditional 49cc gasoline-powered version (for £12,999, around $19,000), as seen here.

By comparison, when new the original cars were famously referred to as “almost cheaper than walking” and returned incredible fuel efficiency of 100 miles per gallon. The price in the 1960s? Just £199 (about $280 in its day).

So will anyone end up paying this 2014 Peel P50’s steep asking price? That looks highly, highly doubtful given that you could buy another new one for significantly less. Nevertheless, these are interesting cars that you certainly don’t see everyday.