The Year 4 Competition brought the opportunity for many teams to drive their Camaros on open roads for the first time. Ten of the vehicles participated in an Over-the-Road Event, a public road course that spanned 170 miles through the hills and valleys of Los Angeles County. The event mimicked industry road trips, where engineers take vehicles just before releasing them for purchase. The purpose of this event was to measure on-road fuel consumption, and vehicles were prepared by charging and filling the evening before. After the event, they were measured for fuel consumption. A team of General Motors engineers led the event, and kept a close eye on the vehicles as they navigated the terrain. Students were extremely excited to participate, as this was the true test of how the vehicles they’ve been working on for four years would hold up in a real-life situation.
Take a look for yourself and see the EcoCAR vehicles on the wide open road!
Given the hysteria surrounding it, it’s hard to believe that it has only been one year, but that’s in fact it. One year and 3,300 units later the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon’s run has come to an end.
The final car has rolled off the line at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada and not heads to an upfit center before heading toward history. Not just history in that it’s the last, but history in that it will now head to auction paired alongside the last production 2017 Dodge Viper.
To match its Viper counterpart the Demon will be, “hand-painted exclusive Viper Red exterior color…and a one-of-a-kind VIN instrument panel badging.” The duo will be auctioned off later this summer at Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast auction.
While some were getting their first real six-string, others were getting rad cars like this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28.
It was the summer of ’69 when this Camaro would roll off the line and do so with some unique elements. Adding fuel to the fire, so to speak, of the Z28 Camaro, this one was fitted with the optional Rally Sport package which gave the Z28 a unique appearance with, “hideaway headlights, an Endura front bumper, a special grille, different rear tail-light lenses, back-up lights in the lower valance and special badging on the front fenders.”
Additionally, the car was painted a rare Hugger Orange accented by a white top, interior and stripes. A look this ’69 maintains today thanks to its concours rotisserie restoration which not only revitalized the looks, but the entire car to like original. A truly beautiful and rare example of muscle cars in their finest era which heads to auction in Denver early June.
For over two decades Michael Dingman would serve as a director at Ford Motor Company. During that span, and beyond, his passion for the company’s “iconic flathead V-8 models” and automotive memorabilia would lead to him amassing a significant collection of both which will be offered at auction.
In all 25 Fords will be put up for sale with the majority of the other cars stemming from the Ford family with the exception of a couple Jeeps and Porsches rounding out the 37. And while most the Fords do reflect his passion for V8 models like a 1938 Ford V-8 Station Wagon, their racing heritage is represented by way of a 1995 Ford Roush Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans Am, as well as a 2006 Ford GT representing for the supercars.
The entire lot of cars and memorabilia will be offered at “The Dingman Collection” auction by RM Sotheby’s in Hampton, New Hampshire at the end of June and can be viewed in their entirety here.
Living up to the Raptor name the 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor was built to fly… Well, not technically, but it was certainly built with off-road in mind.
New to this model year is electronically controlled shocks which were the direct result of Ford Performance’s partnership with FOX in order to create, “all-new electronically controlled Live Valve technology for the new platform that continuously adjusts damping in real-time.” In short, you will see, a smoother ride across all-terrains, but also mid-air. Just as the shocks can develop a sense of the terrain you’re on they can also detect when you’re not on the ground at all and stiffening for a smoother landing.
Additionally, the 2019 will see Trail Control. Low speed cruise control (1-20mph) that will automatically adjust power and braking to each wheel individually so that the driver can focus on navigating rugged terrain. And do so from the new Recaro sport seats with Alcantara inserts drawing inspiration from the Ford GT.
The 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor will go on sale in late 2018.
The Ohio State University took home first place at the Year 4 Awards Ceremony last night! West Virginia finished in second place, and the University of Alabama took third.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry welcomed the students to the ceremony with a video message.
“EcoCAR 3 exemplifies DOEs commitment to STEM education and supporting the next generation of American innovators,” said Perry. “The creativity and talent displayed by the students in the EcoCAR 3 competition is what will keep America’s transportation sector moving forward.”
In addition to the coveted first place trophy and bragging rights, the Ohio State Buckeyes will take home an extra $10,000 to further support the university’s advanced vehicle technology program. The team earned 895 out of 1000 overall points.
On hand to present awards to EcoCAR 3 students were executives from General Motors, who praised the teams for their hard work over the four years.
“EcoCAR3 is a great program that fosters future generations of automotive engineers and business people, encouraging them to become true innovators,” said Ken Morris, General Motors Vice President of Global Product Programs. “This year’s winners – and all the teams – are proof of that. It’s a competition that GM is proud to support.”
The special day for the students began early when they displayed their completed hybrid-electric Camaros at Hollywood’s famed Magic Castle. Media from around the area came to speak to the students and to drive their vehicles.
Take a look at the video below to see the highlights of the competition and share the students’ excitement as they conclude four years of hard work, competition, and ingenuity!
Shelby American has announced that the very limited run of 10 1967 Shelby Super Snakes will be brought to market using ’67 donor Mustangs and contain a Shelby serial number.
The 10 fastbacks will follow in the footsteps of fellow continuation Mustang, the 1968 Shelby GT500KR introduced earlier this year and will not be cheap. The prototype, and only, Super Snake recently sold for $1.3 million and while these 10 will start at about a quarter-million it would be a safe assumption that once they hit the open market the value is bound to skyrocket.
As a shop that routinely takes classic cars and breathes new life into them we have a deep appreciation for continuation cars, especially when it comes to American muscle. This 1967 Shelby GT500E Super Snake is a continuation car licensed by Carroll Shelby and number 30 of 35 known.
Five years ago a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake broke Mustang records when it sold for $1.3 million at Mecum Indy making it the most expensive Mustang ever sold at auction, a sum of $300,000 more than expected. While it’s not likely this example will top that mark, this 427ci 8-cylinder Mustang is certain to bring a pretty penny. Not to mention a crowd significant crowd when it crosses at Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast auction in late June.
In 1970 Pontiac made just 168 Judge convertibles and this, needless to say, is one of the few to survive the test of time.
Having undergone a frame-off rotisserie restoration the rare car has only seen 500 miles since and been kept in a climate controlled bubble. Under the Polar White hood is a Ram Air III 400/366 HP V-8 engine with a four speed transmission and Hurst shifter. On the inside the car features a vibrant red interior with factory air, bucket seats and am radio with 8-track player.
The car is to be featured and sold at Mecum’s Denver auction in early June.
The 2019 Silverado will be offered with six different engine and transmission combinations creating a Silverado for “every need.”
Of those six one of the most noteworthy is the all-new 2.7L Turbo engine which will replace the 4.3L V6 as the stock engine on the Silverado LT and Silverado RST. In all the new engine is said to bring 22-percent more torque and a greater power to weight ratio.
Additionally, according to Chevy, over half the lineup will be fitted with their most advanced V8 engine ever. V8s offered in either a 5.3L or 6.2L with “industry-first Dynamic Fuel Management featuring 17 different modes of cylinder deactivation.” Rounding out the six are the 4.3L and 5.3L V8 engines and the new Duramax 3.0L inline-six turbo diesel.
Via Chevrolet:
High Value — For customers seeking full-size truck capability and the highest level of affordability, the Work Truck (WT), Custom and Custom Trail Boss trims offer two proven engine and transmission combinations:
Standard: 4.3L V-6 with Active Fuel Management and a six-speed automatic transmission (SAE-certified at 285 hp/305 lb-ft).
Available: 5.3L V-8 with Active Fuel Management and a six-speed automatic transmission (SAE-certified at 355 hp/383 lb-ft).
High Volume — For customers shopping in the heart of the truck market, the LT, RST and LT Trail Boss trims balance technology, efficiency and performance:
Standard for LT and RST: All-new 2.7L Turbo with Active Fuel Management and stop/start technology paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission (SAE-certified at 310 hp/348 lb-ft).
Standard on LT Trail Boss and available on LT and RST: An updated 5.3L V-8 with Dynamic Fuel Management and stop/start technology with an eight-speed automatic transmission (SAE certified at 355 hp/383 lb-ft).
Available on LT and RST: The all-new Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel with stop/start technology paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission will be available in early 2019.
High Feature — For customers shopping for a premium truck, the LTZ and High Country trims offer the highest levels of performance and technology, including:
Standard: Updated 5.3L V-8 with Dynamic Fuel Management and stop/start technology paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission (SAE certified at 355 hp/383 lb-ft).
Available: Updated 6.2L V-8 with Dynamic Fuel Management and stop/start technology paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission (SAE certified at 420 hp/460 lb-ft).
Available: The all-new Duramax 3.0L inline-six Turbo-Diesel with stop/start technology paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission will be available in early 2019.
Shelby American has announced that the very limited run of 10 1967 Shelby Super Snakes will be brought to market using ’67 donor Mustangs and contain a Shelby serial number.
The 10 fastbacks will follow in the footsteps of fellow continuation Mustang, the 1968 Shelby GT500KR introduced earlier this year and will not be cheap. The prototype, and only, Super Snake recently sold for $1.3 million and while these 10 will start at about a quarter-million it would be a safe assumption that once they hit the open market the value is bound to skyrocket.
The age of The Golden Sahara has long past as technology changes faster than these keys can be punched, but of a generation which had survived the Great Depression and won WWII the Golden Sahara embodied for them all the hope and potential of that new era.
The brainchild of misfortune, an engine failure and ultimately an accident, originally got George Barris thinking about a concept car, but it would take his team, Billy De Carr, and James Skonzakes or Jim Street as he was more commonly known. Barris and De Carr would become the visionaries and builder while Street would take on the role of money man and while no role was particularly easy, Street would find himself putting in $25,000, or over $200,000 today, into the first iteration of the car.
Completed and taken on tour in 1954 the car featured 24K gold in place of chrome, mink carpeting and technology like, “television in the dash, radio, tape recorder and even a refrigerated cocktail lounge in the rear.” The car became an overnight phenomenon and tour until 1956. It was at that time that Street decided to make some changes, changes that would result in The Golden Sahara II and it’s $75,000 all in, or $687,000 and some change today, cost.
Modification after modification which is so in depth and, frankly out there, it’s best described by its Mecum listing:
Delphos Machine and Tool shop out of Dayton, Ohio, to take the car to the next level. Bob Metz took the lead on the rework, altering the windshield, hood and roof, and adding stacked quad headlights with frosted covers. Further gold plating was added to the sides of the fenders, and the car was fitted with new twin-V tail fins and new bumperettes. Jim Rote was brought into the mix to design an electronic control system for the car that would allow for a plethora of steering options, including manual or standard (the steering wheel for which was completely removable—column and all), pushbutton steering on both the driver and passenger side, and a centered uni-control lever (like in an aircraft) that could also regulate acceleration and braking. An automatic braking unit using antennas as sensors to “look” for things in the car’s path was installed in the front bumperettes, and the wheels were made with glass portions that lit up and acted as turn signals, while the tires boasted a revolutionary rubber compound developed by Goodyear that allowed them to actually glow in the dark.
The electronic control system also included voice control and a remote that could open the doors as well as start and kill the engine; the same remote could even compel the car to accelerate and brake—effectively categorizing the car as autonomous, with no need for a driver.
Again, the car became a pop culture phenomenon until the late 1960s when it abruptly disappeared. No, it did not do so as the result of some new feature, but rather Street just parked. Parked it would remain in his garage until it returned to the public arena where it brought in the 9th higest dollar amount at Mecum Indy, selling for $385,000.
Track Day at the Year 4 competition was held on May 17, and included not only teams and sponsors, but stakeholders from the community and even some very proud parents. The teams participated in Consumer Appeal, Acceleration, and the exciting Autocross event, where stakeholders and invited guests watched from the stands as the teams took their vehicles on an obstacle course, vying for the fastest time. Michael Cooper, Cadillac Racing Driver, was at the event and drove some of the vehicles. Cooper said he was impressed by the competition and said it was a great opportunity for students. As the students and guests cheered, Virginia Tech won first place for the fast Autocross completion time. The team then headed to the Winner’s Circle at the Auto Club Speedway, where they accepted the first place trophy from Al Oppenheiser, Camaro Chief Engineer at General Motors.
Take a look at the video for the highlights of the day:
Not even at the halfway point yet today at Mecum Indy and we’ve seen five cars already go for north of a quarter-million dollars with undoubtedly more to come as we head into the evening and weekend lots. It’s also worth noting that all sold well above estimates indicating a strong market. Let’s take a look at the five so far…
