SCORPIO'S GARAGE

Monday, March 2, 2015

Look Out Mercedes, Defender Flying Huntsman Goes 6×6

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Zach Doell

What’s the most unlikely segment to plan a new vehicle for? Answer: the gigantic six-wheeled SUV and pickup truck segment. Population: Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6.

That is, however, the exact model that British firm Kahn Design is pursuing on its new project. It’s called the Flying Huntsman 6×6, and, as it’s so perfectly clear, it’s a six-wheeled version of the Land Rover Defender 110.

Granted it’s just a concept, but given that the mighty AMG 6×6 is now out of production, we figure this to be as good a time as any to green light this monstrous Defender.

First and foremost is the engine. Like the six-wheeled AMG, the Flying Huntsman also packs a big V8. This one is a 6.2-liter GM LS3 engine (the one from the current Camaro SS), which puts out around 430 horsepower through a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The grunt is channeled to all six wheels through locking differentials and Defender high and low gear ratios. Kahn hasn’t elaborated further on the technical bits, but does confirm that the Flying Huntsman features a largely upgraded braking system and suspension.

Like many of Kahn’s other coachbuilt creations, the Huntsman is not simply a Defender plus more bits – it’s a completely reworked design.

The hood has been lengthened by 15.7 inches, the rear quarter has gained a massive 31.4 inches in length, and 5.9 inches have been added to its width. Even the windscreen rake and the door lengths have been modified.

kahn design flying huntsman 6x6 front and back photo

The original Mercedes 6×6 was designed for use in the Australian Army. According to Kahn Design, the Flying Huntsman might serve similarly noble roles. The firm is mulling over the idea of building heavily armored versions, both in four- and six-wheeled SUV and pickup variants. Check back this Tuesday, March 3, to see more as the Flying Huntsman debuts in Geneva.

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This Rolls-Royce Truck is True Working-Man Luxury

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Zach Doell

The talk of the town continues to be Rolls-Royce, and its soon-to-be Cullinan SUV. If you’re hoping to nab one of these ultra-lux off-roaders, you’ll likely have to wait until 2017… and have quite a lot of cash or great credit.

Need a Rolls ute sooner? Perhaps this Rolls-Royce flatbed truck is more your style. It hails from Florida, started out life originally as a Silver Shadow, and now boasts enough people and stuff-hauling capacity for a small work crew – in supreme luxury of course. Interested? It’s up for sale on eBay.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow came onto the scene in 1965, toting the firm’s 6.2-liter V8 and for the first time in Rolls-Royce history – a monocoque body. But in that original form, it isn’t exactly the spitting image of a work truck. So the creator of this pickup lifted up the Silver Shadow’s body and dropped it onto a one-ton GM truck frame.

A significant slice was taken out of the car’s rear end and in its place you’ll find a flatbed with wooden sides, which now lives atop a hard-working dually axle. Up front, a Chevy 350 cubic inch crate engine lies underneath the hood and puts its power through a Turbo 400 transmission to the rear wheels. The Rolls’ paint is said to be all-new, and from its bright sheen – it looks it too.

There is a certain coolness to the extra-long double cab trucks of the ’60s and 70s. Although it’s obvious a Rolls-Royce was never intended to sit atop a truck chassis, this Roller pulls off those same aesthetics perfectly. Any takers?

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Meet the Jaguar E2A Prototype: Father of the E-Type

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Posted by Andrew Newton

Jaguar had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times in the 1950s with the gorgeous C-Type and D-Type. Jaguar boss William Lyons particularly liked the Malcolm Sayer-designed lines and curves of the D-Type, and wanted to put its technology and good looks to use in a viable road car.

This would be the legendary E-Type of 1961. But before that, there was one experimental racing prototype that bridged the gap between ‘D’ and ‘E’. That was the E2A.

The E-Type would take the world by storm when it was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961. By 1960, though, the shape of the E-Type’s nose had already been formed on the experimental E2A. The tail, meanwhile, was more reminiscent of a D-Type.

This one-off car also had independent suspension at both ends like the E-Type eventually got, but the engine had shrunk to 3.0 liters (down from 3.8) to comply with FIA regulations for prototypes.

Jaguar no longer had a factory racing program by the time of the E2A, so the car was given to the prestigious American Briggs Cunningham team to campaign. It debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the talented pair of Walt Hangsen and Dan Gurney doing the driving.

The brand-new Jag faced stiff competition from the Ferrari Testarossas and the Maserati Birdcages and retired with mechanical trouble. It was not to be victory number six for Jaguar.

After Le Mans, Cunningham fitted a 3.8-liter engine and campaigned the E2A in the U.S. The car won at Bridgehampton and finished on the podium at Road America before going to the West Coast, where it was driven by none other than Bruce McLaren and Jack Brabham.

It wasn’t suited to the shorter tracks there, however, and didn’t impress. The E2A’s racing career had mixed results, but its
place in the Jaguar lineage is hugely important.

Like most race-bred Jags, it is stunning to look at. Thankfully, it was saved from destruction and made its way to collectors. It last sold at auction in 2008 for just under $5 million.

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Sunday, March 1, 2015

Buy NBA Star Tracy McGrady’s Custom Mercedes-Benz

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Posted by Tony Markovich

Here’s the thing about taste: everybody’s is different. Take this baby blue Mercedes-Benz Lorinser CL600 for example. It was given this… umm, unique look for former NBA superstar Tracy McGrady.

The car was completely done up by West Coast Customs. According to the eBay listing, McGrady spent more than $180,000 for this rear-wheel V12 coupe.

It has a full body kit, 20-inch GFG chrome and matching light blue rims, an added rear-view camera, a Pioneer system, T-Mac logos in the headrests, and redone Gucci upholstery. Again, quite the unique look.

Tracy McGrady in his custom mercedes photo

According to the CARFAX, despite only having just more than 32,000 miles, this thing has been all over the country, bouncing from Georgia to Florida to Wisconsin to Texas. As of right now, with 12 days remaining on the auction, there is a “Buy It Now” option for $38,950, but there’s also the ability to make a lower bid to pay less.

McGrady might not be in the NBA anymore, but he’s still highly regarded as one of the most exciting players to ever grace the game. If you’re into this kind of thing, this is a great opportunity to own a beast of a car with a celeb pedigree.

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Jeep Renegade Concept is an Off-Road Party Machine

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Zach Doell

When someone says the word ‘Jeep’, what do you think of? For many, thoughts of rock-crawling and trail riding immediately come to mind. But Mopar is showing a different side of the Jeep brand just in time for the Geneva Motor Show – its party side.

This is the 2015 Jeep Renegade Hard Steel concept. It dons a shimmering brushed steel paint job, an off-road tuned suspension, and carries with it a trailer load of goodies to keep you and your friends entertained, both in the stadium parking lot or out on the trail. And if you’re lucky, Mopar might actually put that pull-along into production. Maybe.

jeep renegade hard steel concept interior photo

Walk around the back and the Hard Steel trailer offers all the amenities of a game room… without the couch. The trailer features a wireless hot-spot and Chrysler’s Uconnect LIVE system, allowing users to plug into Internet radio, Reuters news service, Facebook, Twitter, and even receive real-time traffic updates. Though we don’t suggest navigating from the trailer.

Mopar is saying the concept “provides an outlook for future Mopar accessories dedicated to the new Renegade.” That could be code for “we want to build a Renegade trailer and need to judge consumer interest,” but then again, it might not be. Any takers?

At its core, the show car is a Renegade Trailhawk, which means it comes with the larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder, nine-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive, and a specialized final drive ratio.

Mopar has added to that larger BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, a light suspension lift, and “Trailhawk” emblazoned skid plates. As of now, Jeep doesn’t offer brushed metal as paint option (Glacier Metallic is close), but we figure there might be some demand for one now

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Dodge to Buyers: Beware of Dishonest Hellcat Dealers

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Keith Griffin

There’s no doubt the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Charger Hellcat are the brand’s most coveted vehicles right now. But a warning has been issued that some dealers are being dishonest and taking deposits for Hellcats they will never sell.

And the most surprising thing? The warning comes straight from Dodge. That’s right, Dodge is coming down on its own dealerships for taking deposits for cars they may never sell.

Challenger Hellcat Charger Hellcat photo

Fiat Chrysler Automotive, the parent company of Dodge, posted this notice on its blog. “[A] handful of dealers appears to have accepted large numbers of SRT Hellcat orders without regard to available supply and without advising their customers that orders may not be filled, if at all, for many months or longer.”

In other words, some dealers are taking your Hellcat deposits that they’re not going to be able to deliver. “In a situation such as this, where demand is so high, … it can be an … opportunity for unscrupulous businesses or individuals to take advantage of customers,” Gualberto Ranieri, Senior Vice President – Communications, for FCA wrote.

Dodge is getting out front on the issue so these unscrupulous dealers (or as the general public calls them “dirtbags”) can’t blame Dodge itself for the Hellcats not being delivered. Dodge went to great lengths to explain how its ordering system works.

In effect, in order to sell a Hellcat, dealers have to sell a whole bunch of other Dodges. The key word there is “sell.” They can’t just stock a lot of models and have that count. Also, if you see a dealer sell a Hellcat, you’re not going to be able to buy one. Eligible dealers only get one a month – either a Challenger or Charger, not both.

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Sunbeam Tiger: Carroll Shelby’s Forsaken Mistress

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Bill Wilson

Automotive history is like show business. Both are filled with heartbreaking stories of those who came close to stardom, only to fade into obscurity. For example, consider the Sunbeam Tiger, built by the British-based Rootes Group from 1964 through 1967.

The peppy little roadster had a strong engine, sporty looks, and the backing of no less than Carroll Shelby himself. Sadly, the Tiger missed its shot at lasting fame and fortune. This is a shame, because it really was a great automobile.

The Tiger was a performance version of the Sunbeam Alpine, which first appeared in 1953. The Alpine was a solid machine, but lacked the get-up-and-go needed to appeal to performance drivers. Its builders hoped that Ferrari would revamp their car’s underpowered engine, but negotiations with the Italian automaker broke down after a promising start.

In 1962 Formula One racer Jack Brabham suggested to Rootes manager Norman Garrod that his company outfit the Alpine with an off-the-shelf V8 engine. Garrod contacted his son Ian, who was Rootes’ West Coast sales manager in the United States, telling him to find a suitable motor.

Ian in turn dispatched Walter McKenzie to assess the possible options. McKenzie recommended Ford’s 260 engine, a lightweight, yet powerful, choice.

Garrod then reached out to Shelby, asking the legendary auto designer to build a prototype around the idea.

Shelby began work on the one-off vehicle at the beginning of April 1963. By month’s end the car was ready for a trial run. Garrod and colleague John Panks took Shelby’s creation for a test drive and were thrilled at its performance.

Shelby, who was enthusiastic about the Tiger, hoped that Rootes would allow him to build production vehicles in his US workshop. The company feared a conflict of interest, however, due to Shelby’s tight relationship with Ford.

So they opted to build their roadster in West Bromwich, UK. The Rootes Group unveiled the Tiger to the public at the April 1964 New York Motor Show.

Production issues plagued the building team from the start. The oversized engine barely fit into the small car’s frame. Despite such problems, the series 1 production car sold well to American buyers. The Tiger had a top speed of 120 mph and went from 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, which was considered respectable by the standards of the time.

Despite the Tiger’s success in the U.S., Rootes struggled financially. The company never attracted sufficient capital to function smoothly. This problem, along with a crippling 13-week strike at one of its subsidiaries, made the automaker vulnerable to corporate raiders.

Ford’s arch-rival Chrysler gained a controlling interest in the Rootes group in 1967. One of its first moves was to send the Tiger to its grave. Splendid examples of the car survive to this day. Still, one wonders what might have been, had cruel fate shown a little kindness.

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