Only Bleu Medio Miura Seeks Over Two-Million At L.A. Auction

A favorite of Richard’s the Lamborghini Miura should be a favorite of yours too and if not, let this 1971 P400 SV by Bertone change your mind.

At first glance this Miura appears to be restored, but not to factory given the Bleu Medio finish; however, it is not only correct it’s the only one ever finished from the factory in this color. In fact, this car is so impeccably restored that it was on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance which proves just how perfect it is. While the color alone makes it rare it is also one of just five “single-sump Miura SVs to be fitted from new by the factory with optional air conditioning” to make its way to the United States.

Once stateside the car resided in Texas until 1979 when it was shipped overseas to Japan, not uncommon of Miuras resurfacing these days. It would remain in Japan till 2011 before coming back to the states. Today this 385hp SV looks to change hands next week at RM Sotheby’s Peterson Automotive Museum Auction where one lucky owner will part with as much as $2.5-million, but take home a beauty with a 180mph top-speed and 5.8-second 0-60 time.

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Watch Jimmie Johnson, Fernando Alonso Swap Cars

I guess it pays more than just money to be a top driver in the world, you can just swap cars with other top drivers for a day of fun. As was the case with seven-time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson and two-time Formula One champ Fernando Alonso at the Bahrain International Circuit at the conclusion of the F1 season.

Alonso we’ve seen in various types of cars the past few years as he headed toward F1 retirement, but struggling to recall a time Johnson has been behind the wheel of something on this scale. However, it appears both drivers struggled early to adapt as Alonso spun out with far less grip in the stock car and Johnson struggling to keep his helmet down with all the air coming over it. The below clip is part of a bigger special which will air on SKY Sports F1 in mid-December.

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This Race Ready 1973 De Tomaso Pantera GTS Is Spectacular

Gas Monkey’s love affair with the Pantera has been well documented now through the years, perhaps it’s because a Monkey and Panther go hand in hand…I don’t know, I’ve never read The Jungle Book, but nevertheless this 1973 De Tomaso Pantera GTS caught our eye.

Italian design with American power not only is representative of a global economy well before today, but of a combination of two of the best automotive elements to this day. This Pantera GTS features a Cristofaro Group V full-body kit made custom for this car and features a carbon fiber hood and doors. Additionally, it has been outfitted with a roll cage and custom seats.

The racing upgrades don’t stop there as it is outfitted with a Ford 351W NASCAR-type block, 4-wheel Wilwood disc brakes and independent coilover suspension. Since new this near 45 year old car has 16,600 miles and approximately 2,000 since it underwent a full restoration. This merging of American muscle and Italian fluidity is slated to cross the block at Barrett-Jackson early next year in Scottsdale and is certainly one we’re looking forward to seeing.

[Photography courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.]

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Monkeying Around at Cars and Coffee Dallas

It’s the start of something beautiful when Cars and Coffee Dallas and Gas Monkey Garage collaborate! Join us this Saturday for the final Cars and Coffee Dallas of 2018 by clicking here: Cars and Coffee Dallas Finale

Then stay tuned for more news coming up in 2019! Until then follow Cars and Coffee Dallas on Facebook, Instagram or their website now!

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Porsche Unveils Eighth-Gen 911 To The World

The big news yesterday out of the L.A. Auto Show for us was the unveiling of the all-new Jeep Gladiator, but for the world it was the debut of the eight- generation Porsche 911.

Porsche design has always been, Porsche design. While that statement is most certainly a platitude Porsche design through the years tends to evolve almost seamlessly. It’s more akin to watching a child grow, day to day unnoticed, but when you look at it through the years, wow! The newest design is just that and while different it doesn’t make you question whether it’s a 911 or not, it certainly is and more than ever in terms of power.

The newest variation of the turbocharged flat-six engines are the most powerful ever by the German manufacturer for the 911. The base model sees an increase of 15hp and the S an increase of 24hp and the power increases continue down the range of the 911. All this power combining for a 0-60mph time that hovers around 3.5-seconds for the various trims that Porsche options and as you know by now there are many.

On the inside the interior features the usual amenities and upgrades: new seats, 10.9-inch screen and swarm based navigation. The same is true of the safety tech such as, adaptive cruise control and an all-new wet mode. A manufacturer of driving cars first and foremost Porsche now rivals other luxury manufacturers on the inside, down to the analog clock on the dash.

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Jeep Unveils All-New 2020 Gladiator Mid-Size Truck

Jeep finally took the sheet off their all-new Gladiator and they didn’t stop there taking the doors and top off the mid-size truck while they were at it.

A long time coming, and a nod to their past, the Jeep Gladiator is pretty rad… Even if the name sounds a little Simpsons-esque. The Jeep’s style already lends itself nicely to the added bed given the front is on the boxy side, but it works so well you almost don’t even notice it as a new model. The first glance is more, “oh, a longer Jeep,” which despite its simplicity I think the designers and brand would take as a compliment. You can get a rundown of all the specs from Jeep below.

Via Jeep:
-Unmatched capability with Command-Trac and Rock-Trac 4×4 systems, third-generation Dana 44 axles, Tru-Lock electric front- and rear-axle lockers, Trac-Lok limited-slip differential, segment-exclusive electronic sway-bar disconnect and 33-inch off-road tires
-Unmatched crawl ratios
-Up to 30 inches of water fording
-Best-in-class towing and 4×4 payload:
-Up to 7,650 pounds of towing capacity
-Up to 1,600 pounds of payload capacity
-Crew cab configuration features a durable five-foot steel bed with covered external power source and strong integrated tie-downs, providing versatility for flexible cargo options
-Modern, authentic design instantly recognizable as a Jeep®:
-Iconic keystone-shaped grille, round headlamps and square tail lamps
-Rugged-yet-distinguished design bolsters aerodynamics
-Convenient fold-down windshield for off-road purists
-The only true open-air 4×4 pickup truck with easy-to-use premium soft top and two hardtops
-Dozens of different door, top and windshield combinations
-Lightweight, high-strength aluminum doors, hinges, hood, fenders, windshield frame and tailgate help curtail weight and boost fuel economy
-Suspension tuned to optimize on-road handling and ride comfort without sacrificing off-road capability, payload or towing capability
-Advanced fuel-efficient powertrains:
-3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with Engine Stop-Start (ESS)
-Eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission
-3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 with ESS and an eight-speed automatic transmission available in 2020
-Fourth-generation Uconnect system includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the choice of 7.0- or 8.4-inch touchscreens with pinch-and-zoom capability
-Forward-facing off-road camera available on Rubicon allows obstructions on the trail to be easily seen
-Packed with more than 80 available advanced safety and security features

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Split Window, Personality This ’63 Corvette Combines Old With New

Barrett-Jackson’s famed Scottsdale auction still over a month away, but its dance card is filling up quick and this custom 1963 Chevrolet split-window is certain to draw the gaze of all the boys.

Custom in the car world can often put people on edge because as the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and vice versa. However, we’re strong believers that custom done right may not always be your taste, but should be appreciated. This ’69 split-window is both in good taste and should be appreciated. While I’m sure some out there would have liked to have seen the more rare split-window returned to its 1963 form, the work done by Jeff Hayes and American Speed Shop is amazing.

The car now rides on a Art Morrison Sport chassis powered by a LS3 cranking out 540hp with a 5-speed transmission. Borla side pipes not only add a bit of performance to the car, but give it a unique look down the side of the red Corvette. On the inside there are touches of modern abound with Vintage Air heat and air, bluetooth audio, backup camera, led lighting and carbon fiber accents juxtaposed with the Saddle-colored Brazilian leather.

A limited number of split-windows exist to this day and far fewer custom, let alone custom to this degree and because of that this Corvette will undoubtedly find a suitor at Barrett in mid-January.

[Photography courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.]

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The Grand Tour Drops Epic Season 3 Trailer

I’ve seen a lot of trailers in my life, both for tv and film and ones hauling cars, but this one blew me away. It was just plain fun, the type of fun you’d expect from Clarkson, Hammond and May, but not as likely this late into their careers. However, here they are as reckless and stupid (see Hammond on the bridge) and downright enjoyable as ever.

It certainly doesn’t hurt either that they set it all to that little ditty written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “With a Little Help From My Friends.” The newest season of The Grand Tour, the third for those counting, airs on Amazon Prime January 18th.

Via The Grand Tour:
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May return with season 3 of The Grand Tour on 18th January, only on Prime Video. In addition to Hammond once again risking one of his nine lives as he struggles to keep his Jeep on a tiny bridge over a steep canyon in Colombia, the three comrades taking on epic challenges in Detroit and Nevada, visits to Mongolia and China, Jeremy and Abbie attempting an unusual snowy challenge in Sweden, and James May playing the bag pipes in Scotland, along with a tour of the Stansted Airport.

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Fernando Alonso Races Final F1 Race, Pursuit Of Triple Crown Continues

Never a diehard Formula One fan, and still prefer NASCAR over it, my first exposure to the world’s most popular racing series came back in 2004 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

That year I was there as a guest of Vodafone which meant most my time was spent in the Ferrari paddock and hospitality suite decked in more red than I’ve ever worn in my life watching Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello do work. And work Schumacher did that season winning his fourth championship in as many years and 13 of 18 events. However, for me it was a night leading up to the race that really stood out when a colleague of my father pointed out a young man sitting alone in the hotel lobby, it was Fernando Alonso.

In just his third full Formula One season he wasn’t the superstar he is today, but certainly at the time would have warranted way more attention in other markets. That moment made me a fan. To this day I’m not sure if it was that he seemed so down to Earth amongst the circus F1 puts on week after week around the world or that he was just sitting alone, something I can very much relate to. All I do know is I left that weekend a fan and with a photo of my face photoshopped onto his hero card from some vendor.

The following year he insured he would no longer be sitting alone for the rest of his life winning the first of his back to back championships in 2005 and 2006. I would continue to follow his career from afar as F1 would take a break from racing in the U.S. and as I said, never a die hard fan of that series. However, as his F1 career was coming to an end I was able to see him race in the 101st Indianapolis 500 a couple years back, even meeting him at the Andretti Motorsports night before party, and seeing him compete again the following year in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

It’s a sad day when anyone you admire retires, but I think more so in racing, where despite a team supporting the driver, it isn’t viewed as a team sport. You put all your emotion into that driver’s seat with him. Though this is the end of an era in Formula One for Alonso, I’m excited for his future, race fans, and myself as he goes for racing’s Triple Crown again next year in the Indy 500…And whatever else his future may hold.

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GM Slashing Plants, Personnel, Six North American Models

It’s another grim day in Detroit as General Motors made some major announcements. In fact, so many and so major it’s hard to choose where to start, but suppose the “beginning” is as good as anywhere.

No secret the marketplace has shifted toward crossovers, SUVs and electric futures (re: Ford stopping most car production) and General Motors has followed the trend. The automotive giant plans to close five plants domestically next year as well as one in Korea and two additional overseas. Those closures and a general restructuring means they’re looking to let go 15% of their salaried staff, including 25% at the executive level.

Fewer plants and fewer personnel equals fewer cars. The newly announced plan also means the death of the Chevy Volt, Cruze and Impala, the Cadillac CT6 and XTS and the Buick LaCrosse. None of which we anticipate you losing much sleep over, but unless you’re an electric car or crossover/SUV driver already you may want to hold your car’s steering wheel tight because they’re coming for it next.

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The All-Electric Rivian R1T Hauls In More Ways Than One

It’s a bit of a catch-22 when an electric truck maker’s website crashes during a debut. On one hand it doesn’t exude confidence, but on the other it must mean you’re doing something right to peak such a high level of interest and we feel it’s the latter with the introduction of the Rivian R1T.

At first glance the R1T is nothing too wild and clearly takes its styling cues from current trucks on the market, but then you get to the front. It’s non-traditional, but also very traditional if you’re just looking at electric cars and a designers need to always take that “future” look one step too far. However, having not seen it in person and only looked at the pics for a short time I wouldn’t say the front is good or bad just yet.

We all know it’s what’s inside that counts and R1T has that going on, just not where you’d traditionally find the mechanical elements in a trunk as the R1T features a large front trunk. Each wheel is powered by an individual motor making for an insane amount of torque which powers the truck from 0-60mph in just three seconds and to 100mph in about seven. The largest battery pack is said to have a 400 mile range with a charge time of under an hour for 80% capacity. Let’s not forget it is a truck after all and has a listed towing capacity of 11,000 pounds.

If you like what you see so far, more about the Rivian R1T should be coming out of the L.A. Auto Show when it begins the end of this week.

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Original Engine 1969 AMC AMX Going To Auction

The AMC AMX is either a really bad Scrabble hand or a really great car that time has forgotten, thankfully for us it’s the latter.

This 1969 AMC AMX heading to auction next month in Kansas City is a reminder of that which for a time in the late ’60s dominated the automotive landscape. It was everywhere, from setting speed records to endurance records to running Pike’s Peak and even as a gift to a Playboy playmate of the year in “Playmate Pink.” Today one could dare say that the car is no longer one new generations know of, let alone it’s history, but that could change as this ’69 crosses the block.

Heading to auction in Kansas City, this AMX features its original engine, a 390cu.-in. 6.4-liter, as well as transmission. Additionally, it underwent a rotisserie restoration to ensure that all elements were up to snuff, from power steering to the orange and tan color palette. With no reserve set this AMC AMX will be changing hands in Kansas City so might as well put yours out and welcome it to the family with open arms.

[Photography courtesy of Mecum Auctions.]

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Silent But Deadly – Toyota Prius Gets M61 Vulcan

It was the Prius with an M61 Vulcan mounted that first caught my eye. It was then the realization I could write “silent but deadly” in a headline that made me want to post about the car; however, it was ultimately the Black Rifle Coffee Company’s story that gave me all the feels.

The team at Black Rifle Coffee Company took a Vulcan commonly found on fighter jets and mounted it to a Toyota Prius, commonly found in California driveways. Their tongue in cheek reason, “because Raptors are expensive” and that’s as good a reason as any. Though at $27 a round and the ability to shoot 6,600 rounds a second, or $2,970 per second, BRCC could still be responsible for a hefty bill depending on how trigger happy they get. In all the project took 160+ man hours and the result is, as they say is one “mean green fighting machine.”

BRCC was founded by a veteran to help employ veterans, but the story goes beyond just America’s vets. The below story about a former commander in the Afghani Army seeking safety and opportunity in America for his wife and five kids is truly heartwarming and a testament to BRCC and too what our country can be.

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No Reserve Nova To Erupt At Barrett-Jackson

Car auctions are all about rarity, the lower the numbers in existence the higher the dollar amount they fetch and like a good dog this one-of-kind Nova stands to fetch big money.

Designed and built by Kindig-It Designs this 1966 Chevrolet Nova II SS was refurbished and customized from the ground up over a 12 months period and the result is what you see here today, magnificent. Packing a Nelson Racing 638ci aluminum-block engine the team took it further adding 96mm twin turbos, but given the extensive customization of the engine bay one could easily fail to notice. The same Mercedes Hibiscus Red which adorns most of the car that isn’t expertly chromed also finds its way into the engine bay for a seamless show car look. However, this Nova was built to run.

The custom chassis has an independent front suspension and 4-link rear suspension under a body which had its rear wheel wells stretched six-inches. Wilwood brakes sit behind the Billet Specialties Reaper wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires to bring this cherry Nova to rest. On the inside the Can Can Red leather is almost blinding completing the red on red design of the car while the modern performance touches of custom Corbeau sport seats and Dakota Digital gauges mirror the performance upgraded under the hood.

Destined to be a showstopper the one-off Nova will cross the block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale early 2018.

[Photography courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.]

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Ram 1500 North Edition Looks To Star This Winter

Having just heard the news of Ram’s latest edition it already has won me over as my favorite name of one of their special edition trucks, the North Edition.

The name, like the truck, gets you where you need to go, but also has the ambiguity that everything north is somehow cold and winter elements when in reality that’s relative. Reminds me of the scene in Role Models, “you white, you Ben Affleck.” You’re north, you’re cold. That is unless FCA named the truck for Kim and Kanye’s kid, but that’s a whole other tangent.

Built for conditions well north of Dallas the newest edition features a factory lift, electric-locking rear differential, off-road tires as well as features to keep the 4×4 warm and free of ice and snow. The truck is based on the crew cab 4×4 and available in both bed options along with the engine options, the eTorque 3.6-liter Pentastar or 5.7-liter HEMI V8.

Via Ram, standard features on the Ram 1500 North include:
-Three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) severe snow service-rated on/off-road Falken LT tires
-4×4 transfer case with 4×4 Auto, 4×4 High and 4×4 Low settings
-One-inch factory lift
-Electric-locking rear axle
-Tow hooks
-Engine block heater
-Heated seats and steering wheel
-Remote start
-Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM Travel Link Weather
-Mopar all-weather floor mats to contain slush and snow
-12-way power driver seat with 4-way power lumbar
-Heated, folding mirrors
-Front and rear Park Sense audible/visual warning system
-Body-color bumpers, grille, mirrors, door handles and rear fender “4×4” decal

The Ram 1500 North Edition is available now and retails for $45,890.

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