So, Where Did You Get The Inspiration For That Paint Job Sir?

Let's see, tiny car, tiny motor, giant-killing performance in its day...





The world may never know...

Zonda R.

This month's evo. promises a lot in the way of hotness... Haven't we been waiting for this thing for years?
From evo.

Primer Special RX3 Dyno Pull May Be Scariest Sound Ever Heard.

I tend to like my cars rough and ready, and this little Mazda certainly fits the bill. I'm sure it's very fast, and it must be nice to be able to look through the headlamp slot on your car and see nothing but exposed turbo intake. But it's the noise that makes me want this thing.


Here's another clip of the same car.


My favorite part is that the first clip is tagged "p***ywagon" on Youtube.

Automobile Likes R8 5.2, Gearheads Less Than Astonished.

Somehow Automobile Magazine have gotten their hands on the new Audi R8 5.2 FSI (short hand for the new V10 model in case you've been living in a cave), and have published a review before anyone else. This coup is rendered somewhat underwhelming by the news that Automobile rather liked this much faster, more refined version of the already very fast, very refined über Audi.

Despite Automobile's gushing and glowing, I'm again left to question the point of this car in Audi's lineup which, as Automobile points out, will no doubt clash with not one, but two basically in-house rivals (Lamborghini's Gallardo and Porsche's 911 Turbo). I can only assume that VAG's marketing boys have done their research and come to the conclusion that the R8 is somehow appealing to a totally different class of performance obsessed car enthusiast. Basically one who wants a slower, cheaper, better looking Gallardo LP560-4, with a better interior. Time will tell.

Until that day, we can all hope that Volkswagen's not-too-attractive Blue Sport Roadster concept (which I liked much better when it was smaller, lighter, and called the Ecoracer) will finally give birth to the much-anticipated, petrol-V6 engined Audi R4 (which of course will only compete directly with Porsche's Boxster/Cayman twins). The petrol-engined part is important here as diesel sports cars are great for car shows, and to promote a "greener" image, but I maintain, that they're as bad as any other diesel for actually trying to have fun while driving. And for Christ's sake VAG, give us the option of a proper manual gearbox; one clutch is enough! Seriously, has anyone looked at how much owners will be paying when it comes time to replace all these clutches on Volkswagen's DSG system?

So come on Audi, give us a relevant sports car already. You'll feel better with that monkey off your back, and I'll feel better once the depreciation sets in...

It Was Datsun!

Last week, I put up an ad for Triumph's MkII Spitfire featuring 60s female surfing champion Joyce Hoffman. It was a sunny SoCal day, and I was lamenting being inside at work. I also happened to question the demise of advertising like this as it seemed to me to exemplify the fun of Southern California car culture. today, I think I may have found a few answers... One of them is from the land of the rising sun.

On the surface it looks a lot like the Spitfire ad. It has a pretty girl, some water, she looks like she likes the car... But look closer. That isn't a day at the beach, it's a dim, late afternoon in some parking lot in front of a harbor launch ramp! Also, the pretty girl isn't there for any specific reason. Joyce Hoffman was a surfing champion, and a pioneer in women's sports, along with being cute. Look at this woman, she screams central casting. What's going on here? Somehow this ad has taken the elements of the Triumph piece, but missed out on all the sense of fun. Also, what's with all the empty slips? Where are the boats, and why is there a run down outboard in the shot? It's all a little sloppy. This can't be blamed squarely on the Japanese, because this is obviously the work of a U.S. advertising company.

Part of the problem is that Datsun (or their copywriters) are taking the whole thing a little too seriously. To alert us to this, they've replaced the Spitfire's racing stripe with some jargon about Datsun's racing history. This isn't a bad thing per-say, but it belong's in a different ad, selling a different fantasy. The girl in the photo knows little of the Fairlady's record in competition, and cares less. It's hard to blame Datsun for wanting to sell their car on its merits; the Fairlady was a good product, and held together much better than the Spitfire or an MGB. But like the ad in which it starred the Datsun had missed out on some of the charm of the European competitors it was busy overtaking. Something had been gained, and something lost.

We Like Bluebirds, Yes We Do.

We like Bluebirds, how 'bout, you? Ok, it helps when they're awesomely turned out racing cars, even if we would use different wheels...

Zagato Caddy!

This is up on ebay right now, and from what some in the Ultimatecarpage forums are saying, there's reason to be a little cautious before clicking the bid-now button like mad. Still, it looks kind of like a 400hp (I think the seller may be wrong about the engine displacement, the 400bhp Cadillac motor was the 500ci, not the 472 but that's what the air-cleaner says...) Alpine A310 so it's an incredibly cool piece of kit, yes? Here's some of the ad with pics...


"Cadilllac NART Zagato
In 1968, an ambitious project was begun to bring to market a luxury/performance automobile that would compete favorably with Ferrari's legendary gran turismo cars. Involved were General Motors and Luigi Chinetti, famous Ferrari race car driver and the exclusive Ferrari U.S. distributor from 1947-1970. What ultimately evolved was the 1970 Cadillac NART Zagato, with each bearer of that name playing a vital role. GM contributed the drivetrain: the Cadillac Eldorado's 472-cid V-8, as well as the Turbo Hydra-Matic and front-drive transaxle. The engine was rated at 375 bhp, though as installed in the NART, 400 bhp is claimed. The basic chassis was a modified Eldo unit, with the Caddy's drive unit mounted at the rear, but reversed for rear-wheel drive. Perhaps it's the shorter exhaust system that pumps out the extra 25 horses. The NART connection came via Luigi Chinetti, who was responsible for engineering the car. He had been the spark plug in founding NART: North American Racing Team. Its logo combined a Ferrari prancing horse, stylized Stars and Stripes, and N.A.R.T. initials. NART president emeritus George Arents has said that "Every Ferrari or Osca entry at Le Mans or other European racing circuit was under our banner, as was the factory Formula One campaign from the middle of the 1964 season, which resulted in the world championship of John Surtees." NART badging can be found front and rear on the car, and on the dash.The Zagato part of the name came from the noted coachbuilder that constructed the car. Zagato built the coupe (almost a 2+2) of aluminum. "Z" badges ride on the front fenders and the slightly modified 1967-1968 Eldorado hubcaps. Components for the NART came from many sources. Cadillac contributed a dashboard that was adapted and narrowed, the steering column, four-wheel disc brakes, and more. (Some say Olds Toronado parts were originally used, and many surely would be interchangeable.) Pontiac donated the taillights from its 1968 GTO, and European parts were liberally used. Though involved in the NART project initially, GM dropped out due to numerous delays and the economic difficulties of late 1969. GM's departure ended hopes of putting the car into production, even though it was shown in the Turin and New York auto show. Orders were even taken, but no cars were delivered to the public. Even so, the project progressed to a second design stage for the coupe, with the goal of eliminating the "hump back" look. Car number three was going to be a "bread basket" design wagon. Neither got past the drawing board leaving this the only Cadillac NART ever built. Melvin A. Olshansky, of Glencoe, Illinois, acquired it after it had been in the Chinetti family through 1987. It was fully restored in a 2 ½ year effort by Mill Creek Motors and Upholstery Unlimited, of Clinton, Iowa, and Baileywicks of Fulton, Illinois.
An example of a unique collaboration among three most recognized and respected names in automobiles, Cadillac, Zagato and Chinetti.
This makes it the one and only Cadillac NART Zagato: serial number 001."

And here are a couple more pics of the little (in fact very, very large) beauty. By the way, I think the engine is placed amidships!






I'm not sure what the forum member has against the seller, but the car is only up to $7,100 at this point, so unless it's a complete fake, or he doesn't have the car, that's still got to be some kind of bargain, right? So, what are you waiting for? Cheap gas can't last much longer!