Author Archives: Trevor Freeman

About Trevor Freeman

Trevor is a real gearhead who loves everything from classic American muscle cars to high-performance exotics. When he's not reading about cars or taking photos at a car show, he's probably out cruising around. He is currently working on restoring a 1980 Chevrolet Monza hatchback.

Save the Date: Arizona Concours returns January 18, 2026

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Scottsdale hosts prestigious collector car and motorcycle event

The world’s most interesting and exciting automobiles are often referred to as Sculpture in Motion, their kinetic beauty expressing the joy and excitement of motoring.

Sculpture in Motion is the theme of the next Arizona Concours d’Elegance, a premiere celebration of superb vehicles from the past and present, scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2026, on the parklike lawns of the Scottsdale Civic Center.

A professionally judged and curated assembly of 100 rarely seen dream cars and high-value collector vehicles, the Arizona Concours is presented in partnership with Scottsdale Arts, the organization responsible for an array of artistic services in the city.

Spectators admire cars on the show field. Photo: Trevor Freeman

The 8th edition of the Concours will display exceptional vehicles from around the world, guaranteed to impress and excite not only dedicated car lovers but anyone who appreciates the beauty of expressive design, enjoyed in the atmosphere of a stylish garden party.

Ed Winkler, who serves as co-chairman of the Arizona Concours, along with Chuck Stanford Jr., said, “2026 is shaping up to be a great year for the Arizona Concours.

“Once again, the Concours will be an upscale lifestyle event featuring rare and fascinating vehicles arrayed on the grass, with entrants and spectators, some in period costumes, strolling the lawns under the sparkling-blue Arizona sky.”

Donald Osborne speaks with guests at the 2025 Arizona Concours d’Elegance. Photo: Michael Ross.

The Arizona Concours committee has designated 15 judged classes for 2026, including special classes that range from the 140th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz, the event’s featured marque, to a class for dune buggies and beach cruisers.

Other classes include a celebration of 125 years of Indian motorcycles, mid-century station wagons, post-war European sports/racing cars, and exotic supercars from 2000 through 2025.

Awards are presented in each class, along with a variety of special awards and the two coveted Best of Show trophies – one for pre-World War II and one for post-war. There is also an award for favorite costume.

1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic and 2023 Bugatti Chiron SS 57 One of One. Photo: Michael Ross.

Stanford, a longtime Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, noted that 2026 is a significant year for the esteemed German car company.

“As the company that invented the automobile, Mercedes-Benz has always been at the forefront of automotive engineering and has presented the world with extraordinary examples of voluptuous design and fierce competitiveness,” Stanford said. “I’m certain that a wide variety of Mercedes-Benz style and heritage will be on display come January in Scottsdale.”

Proceeds from the Arizona Concours benefit local artists and art programs, as well as the Concours’s longtime beneficiary, Make-A-Wish® Arizona, the founding chapter of the national organization that grants wishes for children facing life-threatening medical conditions.

The Arizona Concours not only raises money for Make-A-Wish but gets some of the children involved in judging the cars and awarding a specially designed trophy to their favorite.

Tickets for the Arizona Concours d’Elegance at the Scottsdale Civic Center will be available starting August 1. For information about tickets, vehicle submissions and sponsorships, visit the Concours website at ArizonaConcours.org.

About the Arizona Concours d’Elegance

A curated and judged exhibition of the world’s finest collector cars, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance is a celebration of automotive design held every January. A point of pride for the region’s car community, the non-profit event supports Make-A-Wish® Arizona, as well the arts and local artists.

About Scottsdale Arts

Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a nationally recognized, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through four acclaimed branches — Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation — serving more than 600,000 participants annually.

SEMA 2025: The 2017 Lincoln Continental V10 Swap That Shouldn’t Exist (But Does)

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Every year at SEMA you get used to the usual pattern.

Rat Rods. Diesel swaps. Twin turbo setups making 1500 horsepower. Restomods that cost more than a house. And then, buried somewhere between the corporate booths and the endless rows of first-gen Camaros, you find something that makes you stop walking for a second and just stare at it like you’re trying to figure out if it’s real or if you are just dehydrated after spending too long in the Las Vegas sun.

This year, that thing was a 2017 Lincoln Continental with a V10 shoved into it.

Not swapped in. Not “cleanly integrated.” Shoved in. With intent.

Built by Diego and Jack over at Build It Yourself (@biy_buildityourself), this Continental has been their personal 3-year quest to answer a question nobody asked:
“What if we took a modern front-wheel-drive luxury sedan and turned it into something that sounds like it escaped a prototype F1 testing program?”

And then, instead of stopping there…they kept going.

The Engine Situation Is Completely Unreasonable

Under the hood sits a 6.8L V10 sourced from a Ford truck. That alone would be enough for most people to call it a day, post a YouTube video, and go buy another project car to ruin. But that’s not what happened.

They went full send and built custom cylinder heads by literally cutting up and welding together four Ford V8 heads into two 4-valve heads for a V10. The result is what they’re calling the world’s first Ford 6.8L 4-valve V10.

As if that weren’t enough, the guys also fabricated custom camshafts, and a custom intake manifold for the engine. The whole thing runs on a FuelTech FT550 standalone ECU.

This is so much more than an engine swap, it’s re-engineering the entire car for a purpose it was never meant to serve.

At some point you have to assume they stopped asking “should we?” and switched entirely to “how hard could it be?”

Re-Engineered for Performance

From the factory, this Continental was front-wheel drive with an automatic transmission. Now it’s rear-wheel drive with a manual.

The guys swapped in a Getrag MT82 6-speed, which required fabricating a transmission tunnel into the floor pan like it was no big deal.

There’s something deeply amusing about a modern luxury sedan being forcibly converted into a layout it never had any intention of accepting. It’s like convincing a well-dressed accountant to start drifting.

The Subtle Parts That Are Not Subtle At All

Underneath all of this chaos is a Mustang subframe, because apparently nothing says “this belongs together” like mixing luxury sedans with pony car suspension geometry.

The full custom exhaust system has been fabricated to the point where it sounds like an F1 car. It sounds absolutely unreal coming from a sedate-looking sedan.

There are also a number of 3D printed components throughout the build, such as the custom intake ducts. It’s satisfying how this build combines traditional fabrication and modern prototyping methods, like 3D scanning and design.

It Still Looks Like a Lincoln (Which Is the Weirdest Part)

The most unsettling part of the whole thing is that, from a distance, it still looks like a normal 2017 Continental. It has the stock body lines, and even retains the stock wheels. The only hint (aside from the sound) is the custom front bumper with forged carbon fiber air dam and accents.

And then you realize that underneath what looks like a quiet luxury sedan is a hand-built mechanical science experiment.

That mismatch is what makes it interesting.

Built in a Garage. Not a Facility. A Garage.

The part that sticks the most is not the spec sheet, it’s the origin story. This wasn’t built by a manufacturer, or a professional race shop, or a corporate-backed SEMA program with a marketing department and a render artist.

It was built by two guys in a home garage in Michigan. Which raises the uncomfortable question of what exactly separates “professional engineering” from “extremely determined individuals with too many tools and access to YouTube.”

Because at a certain point, the line gets blurry. And this car is way past that line.

Recognition at SEMA

Somehow, among everything else at the 2025 show, this Continental earned Pick of the Show from automotive photographer Larry Chen.

Which feels appropriate. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes SEMA still worth walking through—something that shouldn’t exist, does exist, and forces you to rethink what is possible for a production car platform.

Final Thoughts

A modern Lincoln Continental was never supposed to become a V10, rear-wheel-drive, manual-transmission, garage-built engineering thesis with welded cylinder heads and an F1 soundtrack.
But that’s kind of the point.

This isn’t really about performance numbers or refinement or even whether it makes sense.

It’s about two people looking at a normal car and deciding, very calmly and very deliberately, that it wasn’t interesting enough yet.

And then fixing that problem the hard way.

Follow Build It Yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/@biy_buildityourself
https://www.instagram.com/biy_buildityourself/

SEMA 2025: 1971 Aston Martin DBS “Octavia” by Ringbrothers

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One of my favorite custom car builders is the Wisconsin-based team of Mike and Jim Ring, better known as the Ringbrothers. Over the past two decades, the brothers have built some of the most meticulously engineered and beautifully crafted custom vehicles in the world. Their projects consistently combine innovative design, advanced manufacturing techniques, and incredible attention to detail.

The Ringbrothers unveiled their latest creation, a heavily modified 1971 Aston Martin DBS nicknamed “Octavia,” during Monterey Car Week in August. I caught up with the car a few months later at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The car was displayed in the Gentex booth and quickly became one of the standout builds of the show.

As with other Ringbrothers builds, there is more to the car than meets the eye. “Octavia” has numerous James Bond references. The custom BASF Glasurit paint color is called Double-O Silver, a nod to Bond’s 00-agent designation. The engine wears custom valve covers that say “Aston Martini,” while the dipstick handle is shaped like a Martini glass complete with an olive garnish. Even the car’s name references the villain Octavia from the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.

The scope of the project is difficult to overstate. According to Ringbrothers, approximately 3,900 hours were invested in computer-aided design before construction even began. Starting with a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, another 4,300 hours went into the physical build, bringing the total project time to roughly 8,200 hours.

Although the car began life as a 1971 Aston Martin DBS, very little of the original vehicle remains. The entire body was recreated in carbon fiber and extensively modified. The front track was widened by eight inches, while the rear gained an additional ten inches. The wheelbase was also stretched by three inches to achieve the desired proportions and stance.
Power comes from a Wegner Motorsports-built 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8 equipped with a custom Harrop supercharger and controlled by a Holley Terminator X-Max engine management system. The combination produces an impressive 805 horsepower. A Bowler Performance TR-6060 Magnum six-speed manual transaxle transfers power to the rear wheels.

Handling and comfort are vastly improved thanks to the independent rear suspension system. It rides on a set of custom HRE wheels measuring 19×11 inches in the front and 20×13 inches in the rear, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Behind those, Brembo disc brakes provide upgraded stopping power.

Ringbrothers also fabricated a custom exhaust system with Borla mufflers and unique exhaust tips machined from carbon fiber and stainless steel. Inside, the cabin was completely reimagined by Steve Pearson of Upholstery Unlimited, creating a bespoke interior worthy of the extensive exterior and mechanical modifications.

The Ringbrothers have built some remarkable vehicles over the years, but Octavia may be their most ambitious project to date. They transformed a 1970s luxury car into a modern muscle car with custom bodywork, modern performance, advanced materials, and James Bond-inspired details, creating a truly unique automobile. “Octavia” shows what Ringbrothers can do, and why they are one of the premier custom car builders in the industry.

Follow the Ringbrothers:

https://www.ringbrothers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RingBrothersOfficial/
https://www.instagram.com/ringbrothers/

2023 Brabus 900 Rocket R Takes Porsche 911 Tuning to New Heights

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Since it debuted more than 60 years ago, the Porsche 911 has become one of the most iconic and recognizable sports cars of all time. Its legendary status makes it a popular choice for tuners and modifiers to enhance the car’s capabilities even further.
Porsche offers factory-tuned and limited edition models of the 911, but for those seeking something a bit more special, there are companies such as: Gunther Werks, RUF, Singer, and Canepa, as well as bespoke tuners like Magnus Walker and Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB).

A few years ago, German tuning and design company Brabus began modifying Porsches, too. Brabus is most well-known as a tuner of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. In 2020, they began production of the Brabus Rocket, a highly modified version of the 911 Turbo S.

One of these cars will be crossing the auction block at the 2026 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The car is a 2023 Brabus 900 Rocket R, and it is an incredibly special car. This is a car for someone who wants a 911 that has been elevated to new heights. Let’s take a deep dive into what makes this car so special.

To start, the Brabus 900 Rocket R is incredibly limited, with just 25 units produced worldwide. Adding to the exclusivity, this car is one of just two that are street legal in the United States, and the only one finished in “Mexico Blue” exterior paint. Owing to its blue exterior over blue interior, the car is appropriately nicknamed “Blue Magic.”

While the standard 911 Turbo S has about 640 horsepower, the Rocket R makes 900 horsepower from its 3.8L twin-turbo flat-six engine, and 1,000 n-m of torque. This is coupled to Porsche’s superb 8-speed PDK gearbox, which blends everyday usability with race-level performance. It is a potent combination that delivers exhilarating performance across the powerband. This allows the car to rocket from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, 0-120 mph in 7.2 seconds, and a top speed of 211 mph.

 

The car features a full exterior treatment including WIDESTAR front and rear bumpers, carbon fiber lip spoiler, and carbon fiber side mirrors. The car is approximately 2.6 inches wider than a stock 911 Turbo S. The air ducts in the front fenders are fully functional, helping to expel heat from the wheel arches.

Other Brabus upgrades include: Brabus height-adjustable suspension and shock absorbers, Brabus brakes, Brabus carbon fiber body package, and a full luxury interior with leather, Alcantara, and carbon fiber.

The car features a Brabus Inconel high-performance exhaust system with four tailpipes. Inconel is a special alloy of steel that is developed for high temperatures. It is mostly used in the aerospace industry on rockets, making it a perfect fit for the Brabus 900 Rocket R. The exhaust has electronically controlled valves with two modes – a “Coming Home” mode that is perfect for a relaxed cruise, or a “Sport” mode that allows for experiencing the full range of the car’s powerful 900 hp engine.

The car rides on a set of Brabus Monoblock P Platinum Edition wheels with carbon aero discs, which measure 21 inches up front and 22 inches in the rear. Wrapped in Continental SportContact 7 tires, they are sure to provide maximum grip.

This is a 911 done to a very high level, and one that just a few lucky owners will get to experience.

The car’s original MSRP was $585,000 USD, so it will be interesting to see what it sells for in January 2026. This car will be crossing the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2026 collector car auction, with NO RESERVE price.

For more information, see this link: https://www.barrett-jackson.com/2026-scottsdale/docket/vehicle/2023-brabus-900-rocket-r-291058

Update: The car SOLD for $1 million on 24 Jan 2026!

SEMA 2025: 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner “Haraka” by Pure Vision Design

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Officially, the SEMA Show is a trade show for automotive industry professionals to meet and do business. Unofficially, the main attraction is the more than 2,000 custom vehicles on display throughout the massive convention halls.

While some custom car builders focus on originality, the cars that catch my eye are the “restomods,” cars which blend classic style with modern performance parts and technology. I love walking the show floor and discovering a great custom car build that has modern paint, suspension, brakes, and power, while retaining the character that made the car special in the first place.

One vehicle that caught my eye at the 2025 SEMA Show was this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner “Haraka” by Pure Vision Design. I have followed Steve Strope and his shop for years, and I am a big fan of their work. The name Haraka comes from the Swahili word for “speed,” which seems fitting for a car built with both performance and drivability in mind.

Finished in a striking dark purple paint color, this Roadrunner commands attention from every angle. The car rides on a set of gold HRE wheels with polished hoops, wrapped in Michelin performance tires. Behind those HRE wheels is a Wilwood disc brake system featuring the company’s new electric parking brake setup.

The suspension has also received a significant upgrade. Pure Vision equipped the car with independent front and rear suspension systems from Heidt’s, which is now available for B-body Mopar vehicles. This modern suspension setup provides a substantial improvement in handling and comfort compared to the original 1970 Road Runner.

Power comes from a Chrysler 440 V8 that has been stroked to 494 cubic inches. The engine is equipped with Edelbrock cylinder heads and a performance camshaft, producing an estimated 550 to 600 horsepower. The block is painted in Hemi Orange, which absolutely pops beneath the one-off carbon fiber cross-ram intake manifold. This custom piece really sets this car apart from other custom builds.

The engine is managed by a MoTeC ECU. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Tremec TKX five-speed manual transmission paired with an American Powertrain bellhousing.

A custom fuel tank from Rick’s Tanks houses a late-model Chevrolet Camaro Z28 fuel pump, helping supply the fuel demands of the modernized big-block engine.

“Haraka” is the first street-legal vehicle to feature a comprehensive, header-back carbon fiber exhaust system, including fully integrated carbon fiber mufflers.

While the exterior and drivetrain are impressive, the interior may be the most interesting part of the build. Rather than creating an entirely new interior, Pure Vision incorporated components from several different Chrysler vehicles. The dashboard was sourced from a 1966 Plymouth Fury II, while the center console comes from a 1972 Plymouth Duster. An overhead console from a 1973 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe completes the collection of vintage Mopar parts.

The full custom interior is trimmed in brown leather and features 18-way power seats from a Porsche Panamera with both heating and cooling functions. Modern conveniences include Vintage Air climate control, Dakota Digital gauges, and a Kicker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity.

The Haraka Road Runner is an excellent example of how a builder can combine components from different eras to create something unique. From its modern suspension and fuel-injected big-block engine to its carefully curated interior, this is a car that respects its Mopar heritage while embracing modern performance and comfort. It was one of the more memorable custom builds I encountered at the 2025 SEMA Show.

Follow Pure Vision Design:

https://www.purevisiondesign.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PureVisionDesign
https://www.instagram.com/purevisiondesign/

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Fall 2025 Auction Results

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Let’s take a moment to compare two cities: Las Vegas and Laughlin. Las Vegas is one of the most-visited cities in the country, with more than 40 million visitors annually. As the self-proclaimed Entertainment Capital of the World, it has plenty of live shows, entertainment, music, attractions, and experiences to satisfy every desire. And of course, it is a global hotspot for casino gaming.

Just 90 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip is Laughlin, Nevada. Situated along the Colorado River on the Arizona-Nevada border, Laughlin also has casino gaming. But with 1 million annual visitors, it is a completely different atmosphere. Compared to Las Vegas, Laughlin has less traffic, less competition for hotel rooms, and smaller crowds, while still offering gaming, restaurants, and live music and entertainment.

Both cities exist to serve different needs. In the same way, Barrett-Jackson’s big Scottsdale January auction is like Las Vegas, while the Scottsdale Fall auction is like Laughlin.

The Scottsdale Fall auction still has hundreds of collector cars auctioned at no reserve. It still has vendors and exhibits, great food, and live music. The advantage of the smaller-format auction is this: less crowded, less busy, less hectic than the January auction, but still plenty of fun and excitement.

 

The four-day Scottsdale Fall 2025 auction has concluded as of October 18th. Here are the top-selling collector cars:

1). 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition No. 3 Lot #1026 – $742,500

2). 2006 Ford GT Lot #1056 – $660,000

3). 2021 Ford GT MK II Lot #1051 – $605,000

4). 1976 Ford Bronco Custom SUV Lot #1086 – $440,000

5). 1968 Ford Mustang Licensed Eleanor 25th Anniv. Limited Edition Lot #1068 – $429,000

6). 1972 Ford Bronco Custom SUV Lot #1082 – $379,000

7). 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo S Lot #1045 – $341,000

8). 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Lot #1056.1 – $330,000

9). 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe by Jeff Hayes Customs Lot #1063 – $330,000

10). 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible Lot #977 – $291,500

The excitement continued with two special auctions to benefit charity. Lot #3001 was a 1966 Harley-Davidson FLH custom motorcycle by Paul Cox, which sold for $145,000, all of which went to benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Lot #3002 was a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition, which raised $200,000 for the American Heart Association.

The big Scottsdale auction returns January 17-25, 2026 at Westworld. With even more cars, the Rock the Block kickoff concert and so much more, it is a must-attend event. Get your tickets at Barrett-Jackson.com.