It was pure lust on wheels. Jaguar’s voluptuous E-type had car enthusiasts’ tongues hanging down to their knees when it was introduced. And to this day the car commands head-spinning attention whenever it makes the scene.
First conceived in 1956, the E-Type was originally intended as a replacement for the Coventry, England firm’s mighty D-Type endurance racers. Jaguar quit racing shortly after the E-Type’s development began, but work on the car continued nonetheless, culminating in a production roadgoing version introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1961. Offered as a two-seat coupe or convertible, it was an immediate hit.
The Lamborghini Miura was the world’s first true mass-production, mid-engine super car when it was introduced for 1966. It was a striking blend, offering the styling and mechanical configuration of the era’s wildest, all-out endurance-racing machines, all rolled into a package that was reasonably streetable.
But for all the Miura’s obvious race-car underpinnings, Lamborghini never fielded a competition version of the car. Of course, it wasn’t that the idea of putting its pioneering exotic on the track hadn’t occurred to anyone. Plenty of people within the company hoped they’d eventually be called on to prepare a Miura for such use.
Perhaps the most popular 1980s sports car to come out of Japan was the Toyota AE86. Often known as the Hachi-Roku, which means eight-six in Japanese, the sports car became incredibly well liked especially after its appearances in the Japanese manga and anime series called Initial D. The Toyota AE86, which was first introduced in 1983, is also famous for being the last small, rear wheel drive coupe.
The car came in two different body styles, the Levin and the Trueno. They were essentially the same thing, with the only difference coming in the shape of its headlights. More variations between the two models later came in 1986, when Toyota changed the tail lights and hatchback styles as well. The cars produced before this change were commonly called “Zenki”, which is Japanese for “early period”. Toyota AE86 cars made with the new changes were called “Kouki”, which unsurprisingly means “latter period” in Japanese.
Posted in Vehicles | Tagged sports car |
Chevrolet’s brawny plastic-bodied two-seater has long been a dream machine for countless enthusiasts. Today, that dream is more in reach than ever. The fourth generation or “C4″ version of these cars are absolute steals on used-car lots.
These potent performers made their debut for 1984, replacing the soft, boulevardier 1968-82 “Shark” design. With vastly improved aerodynamics and extensive use of aluminum in its construction, the C4 was enormously more capable than its predecessor.
Being a car-magazine test driver is one of the ultimate jobs for anyone who likes cars. Test drivers get to spend plenty of time in pricey all-out performance machines — Corvettes, Vipers, and Porsches — not to mention awesome less-expensive cars like WRX, Mustang, and Eclipse. In addition, test drivers get to go on great trips to exotic locations, courtesy of automakers eager for publicity. Sounds great? You bet. I’ve been doing it since 1999 and I can’t honestly imagine a better job for anyone who loves cars.
Do you have what it takes to join this terrific profession? Ask yourself these questions to reveal whether or not you have the personality to become a car-magazine test driver.
Posted in Vehicles | Also tagged corvette, muscle car, Viper |
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR design. Co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars, this sports car/super car hybrid can go from 0 to 62 in 3.6 seconds with a bas price tag of $455,500.00 (this includes the $ 3000.00 gas-guzzler tax and $ 2500.00 freight). It is often assumed that “SLR” stands for Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport (translated as Sport; Light; Racing), but it really means Super-leicht, Rennsport (Super-light, Racing). A new version was presented in 2006 called “Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 edition”. The “722″ commemorates the 1955 Mille Miglia victory of Stirling Moss and his co-driver Dennis Jenkinson with their Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (722 refers to 7:22 am which happens to be their start time)
AMG technicians optimized the capacities of the original SL-55 engine by enlarging the fuel pump and cylinders and placed a larger cooling system for the engine. This modification produced a 5.5 liter dry sumped V8 and an unusual 3 valves per cylinder with SOHC. This is contrary to the prevalent design of super cars that uses DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder. The engine is also uniquely mounted in the front-mid section of the vehicle, which is 1 meter behind the front bumper and 50 cm from the front axle. Because of the great engine power of this car, fade resistant, carbon-ceramic based brake plates are used with calipers that would automatically skim the surface of the brake plates to keep them dry when driving in a wet situation. Spoilers are also mounted on the rear and pops up when breaking at high speeds. The SLR has a five-speed automatic transmission that comes with three separate modes: Sport, Comfort and Manual. Sport is mainly for everyday use while Comfort is for bumpy roads and lastly, Manual that allows the driver to shift gears with the touchpad or the levers on the steering wheel. The transmission used in the SLR is the same with other performance models such as the SL65. However, the SLK-55 engine cannot handle the torque and power output of the SLR therefore a five-speed transmission is used.
Posted in General | Tagged sports car |
Don’t we all dream of owning a sports car? Although buying a used vehicle does not come with a “new car smell,” owning a vintage sports car is a fantasy for a lot of us. Better yet, there are great advantages to buying a used sports car.
There is something special about buying an older model sports car. Many older sports cars are even collectibles and their classic style holds great value. Sports car enthusiasts recognize quality and seek to preserve it.
Ever since Ford introduced its stunning GT40 race car in the mid 1960s, it’s been one of the world’s most coveted performance cars. For decades, people have been attempting replicas of wildly varying credibility. And today, real GT40s sell for anywhere from about $300,000 for a typical example, to the $2.5-million recently paid for a GT40 prototype.
Given that, it’s not surprising that Ford jumped back into the mid-engine super car game, offering its GT40 successor, the GT, for 2005. This new version is by far the wildest, fastest mass-production car ever offered by Ford.
Despite today’s never-ending talk about globalization and the merging of world cultures, German cars still have a personality all their own. But like most strong personalities, the distinct flavor of Teutonic automobiles isn’t a favorite with everybody. While the typical German car’s smooth, refined manners are impressive, such machines can seem a little too slick feeling for some — they tend to be a bit isolating, sterile, chilly.
Count me among believers of the latter. I generally like cars to have more soul than the usual Bahn-stormer delivers. But that’s why I found the new Audi A3 to be such a pleasant surprise. It’s as friendly feeling as a Japanese sports sedan, without giving up the sense of precision and refinement that’s the hallmark of machines from Audi and other German makes.
Posted in General | Also tagged Audi A3 |
When Enzo Ferrari created his company Scuderia Ferrari in Italy in 1929 his intentions was to sponsor amateur race car drivers and invent racing cars, and it would take more than 15 years before Ferrari began to create their own road cars in 1946. Ferrari is still devoted to the creation of racing cars and high performance sports cars and do not create other types of cars. Scuderia Ferrari is still the widespread name for Gestione Sportiva, the part of the Ferrari company that works with racing. Scuderia is an Italian word and means “stable”, but Scuderia Ferrari is sometime also translated as Team Ferrari.
During the early years, Scuderia Ferrari sponsored race car drivers that were driving Alfa Romeo cars. Scuderia Ferrari would prepare Alfa Romeo cars before the race, and in 1938 Enzo Ferrari became officially employed by Alfa Romeo’s racing department. Two years later Enzo Ferrari found out that Alfa Romeo was planning to absorb Scuderia Ferrari, a plan which Enzo Ferrari strongly opposed. He instantly left his job at Alfa Romeo, but his contract restricted him from being involved with racing for several years. He changed Scuderia Ferrari into “Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari” and officially manufactured aircraft accessories for a few years. Enzo Ferrari did however create a race car during this restricted period. The Tipo 815 debuted at the Mille Miglia race in 1940, but the race was hampered due to World War II and Tipo 815 encountered no real competition. In 1943 Enzo Ferrari moved his factory to Maranello in Italy and one year later the factory was bombed. After the end of World War II, Enzo Ferrari rebuilt his factory and now the Ferrari factory was capable of construction road cars as well.
Detroit, or the world, has never produced an automobile that rivals the muscle cars of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. They were big, powerful and wonderfully unrefined. No one would call them sports car in the traditional sense. They were not nimble and curves were dangerous at most any speed. However, what they lacked in sophistication they made up for in brut force. In many ways the GTO’s, Mustangs, Road Runners and their brethren represented the American character better than any vehicle past or present. Simplicity, dependability, strength and singularity of purpose were their calling cards. No one could confuse the purpose of these beasts. It was plain for all, and it was straight-line performance for one quarter of a mile. Nothing else mattered.
Contrast that with today and the lore of days past becomes even more apparent. A new Corvette will defeat even the most powerful Corvette of old in every category. The current generation of performance cars thumps the muscle car in safety, comfort, reliability and, yes, performance. But, that does not tell the whole story and it doesn’t explain the current interest in and corresponding sky rocketing values of classic muscle cars. The clarity of purpose these super cars exuberated just feels good. It awakens the cave man in each of us! These automobiles have a particular hold on the generation that came of age in the late 1960’s. Many feel that this is their last chance to re-live their youth and they are willing to pay for the opportunity.
The MG is a British brand of sports car, which has been around for over eighty years. Although the last model of the MG went bankrupt in 2005, the ownership has been moved to Nanjing Automobile Group, who plan to produce the cars once again in 2007. The “MG” name stood for “Morris Garages”, who was a car dealership in Oxford. The company started creating customized cars with designs from Cecil Kimber, who eventually became the General Manger of the company. Now, under its new ownership, the “MG” is going to stand as “Modern Gentleman”. Zhang Xin, the boss of the group, says that he wants “to see that this brand represent grace and style”.
Although MG is mostly known for their two-seat sports cars, the company has also produced coupés and saloons. The company was originally based in Oxford, but in 1925, one year after it was created, MG moved to the larger Bainton Road premises, due to high demand for the vehicles. After the car was finally shown at the London Motor Show, demand of their cars went higher still and they were forced to move again. In 1929, MG moved to their permanent location, which is Abingdon, Oxfordshire. In 1935, William Morris, the owner, sold the company to Morris Motors. The consequences of this deal were that the British Motor Corporation would later absorb the MG brand in 1952. During the 1960s, British Leyland had control of the brand, but was in trouble due to a lagging economy. Up until 2005, the MG brand was part of the MG Rover Group, which was based in Longbridge, Birmingham.
Posted in General | Tagged sports car |
It was a classic story of a promising car that didn’t have a chance to really prove itself. And from it was born one of the more significant legends of Corvette history.
The Corvette SS began in 1956 as a pet project of General Motors’ styling director Harley Earl, who wanted Chevrolet to take on the big names in international endurance racing. Earl’s initial idea was to design a racy body, drop it onto a Jaguar D-Type chassis, and swap the Jag’s six for a Chevy V8.
Nothing (well, almost nothing) can compare to the thrill of driving a road-hugging high performance sports car. Instant steering response. Power at the exact nanosecond you ask for it.
Then, if you have one of the sexier models, you’ll attract attention on the road, filling up, and in the shopping mall parking lot.
One of the most famous classic sports cars of the 1980s is certainly the De Lorean DMC-12. The sports car is popular and mainly well known not for its specs, but for its appearance in the Back to the Future trilogy, which is a famous movie series from the 1980s that was directed by Robert Zemeckis. The movie was based around the idea of time traveling, and it just so happened that the De Lorean DMC-12 was the time machine in the movie. The writers of the show decided to use the De Lorean DMC-12 mainly because of its odd appearance.
The De Lorean can be easily spotted because of its unique stainless steel body designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and gull-wing style doors. With the gull-wing doors open, the sports car almost looked like a car with wings. Although the car was produced in Europe, it was designed by John De Lorean, the founder of the De Lorean Motor Company, with the American marketplace in mind.
Posted in General | Tagged sports car |