The Scottsdale Pavilions Car Show (also called the McDonald's Rock and Roll Car Show) is the longest continuously-held car show in the United States. For over 30 years, cars, motorcycles, and everything else have been cruising in every Saturday night. You never know what you might see here!

1968 Lincoln Continental Twin Turbo “Evil Twin”

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The Lincoln Continental has been around for a long time, but I would say that the fourth-generation (1961-1969) Continentals are the ones that come to mind when most people hear the name. The car’s slab-sided design and suicide rear doors are signature design elements that people instantly recognize as “Continental.”

At the Scottsdale Pavilions car show, I ran across a 1968 Lincoln Continental sedan that’s been customized in a pretty cool way. First, the roof has been completely cut off. There is no top at all! That’s a pretty bold move to make, and I like it.

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1947 Studebaker Commander Starlight Coupe

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My friends and family often ask me why I go to the Scottsdale Pavilions car show so often. “Don’t you get tired of looking at the same cars all the time?” they inquire. While you do see a few of the same cars, it’s different enough to be interesting. You just never know what might roll its way into the Pavilions, and today’s post is a perfect example of what I am talking about.

This car is a 1947 Studebaker Commander Starlight Coupe. I’ve never seen one before and with only 13,299 ever produced (and far less than that surviving today), I doubt I’ll see very many more of these things around.

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“It Belongs In A Museum”

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In previous articles, I’ve owned up to the fact that I don’t know as much about pre-1960s stuff as I probably should, and usually it doesn’t bother me very much. Most of that stuff looks the same to me anyways. The cars are generally kept in one of two conditions: original and slow (boring), or 1996-era Super Chevy’d out with a small-block and tweed and billet everything (lame).

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Spotted: 2012 Tesla Model S

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What is the fastest American sedan you can buy today?

You might be surprised to learn that it’s not the twin-turbo Lincoln MK-S, the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee, or even the mighty Cadillac CTS-V. The fastest American-made sedan is none other than the Tesla Model S – and it shuts these other cars down without using a drop of gasoline.

Just how quick is this car? Take a look at these figures:

2012 Tesla Model S P85
0-60: 3.9 seconds
1/4 Mile: 12.5 @ 110.9 mph1

2013 Lincoln MK-S EcoBoost Twin Turbo AWD
0-60: 5.2 seconds
1/4 Mile: 13.9 @ 100.8 mph2

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee
0-60: 4.4 seconds
1/4 Mile: 12.8 @ 112.6 mph3

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan
0-60: 4.3 seconds
1/4 Mile: 12.6 @ 114.6 mph4

With numbers like these, you can understand why I was ecstatic to see a Model S Signature in real life the other day at the Scottsdale Pavilions car show.

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Engine Patina

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I understand the “Retro” craze has pretty much taken a stranglehold on all aspects of automobile culture. From Bryan Nesbitt-designed econocars like the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chevrolet HHR to performance vehicles like the Mercedes SLS AMG and the (much more pedestrian in comparison) Chevrolet SSR. All the way up to the 60’s/70’s mash-ups of the current crop of pony cars; grabbing bits and pieces in an attempt revive the mojo that can only be found in the golden age of automotive performance. Continue reading →

The World Needs More Vintage 4×4’s

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This 59-60 F-100 is exactly what I love seeing when it comes to 4WD pick-up trucks. It’s old but well taken care of, and it gets used. It doesn’t have over-the-top tires, a giant lift or some crowd-pleasing diesel conversion. Just a good old-fashioned gasoline-powered 4×4. Continue reading →