SEMA 2023: Lincoln Continental Twin Turbo

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The fourth generation Lincoln Continental was in production from 1961 through 1969. Just over 334,000 units were produced during the eight year production run. The Continental is an elegant car with beautiful body lines that look fresh and modern even today.

Wicked Welds Custom Shop in Fort Collins, Colorado has taken the American luxury sedan to the extreme with their build that was on display at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The family sedan has been completely transformed into a powerful drag racer, owned by @Masters824.
Under the hood is a twin-turbo Chevrolet LS engine producing upwards of 1,000 horsepower and fed by a pair of Turbosmart turbos with a Holley EFI system. The intake and piping are all polished to a mirror finish. The turbos are mounted in the front fenders just behind the headlights, which gives the car a really menacing look.

It’s backed by a 4L80E automatic transmission with an FTI Performance billet torque converter. The driveline includes a narrowed Ford 9″ rear end with Moser axles.
For a drag car, the interior is quite a comfortable place to be. The interior was done by 5280 Upholstery in Denver with diamond tufted seat inserts and matching door panels in bright red – which is certainly an eye-catching look! A Restomod Air A/C system ensures passenger comfort in any weather.

The car is slammed to the ground thanks to the air ride kit from Devious Customs in Riverside, CA. The custom exhaust exits through the front fenders through a unique teardrop shaped outlet. Wilwood disc brakes, a roll cage, and a drag chute on the rear bumper round out this fully customized Continental.

Admiring the car in person, I noted how every single body panel had been modified in some way. This is a full custom build that must have cost at least six figures in parts and labor. I have always appreciated the Lincoln Continental’s styling, and it was cool to see one of these land yachts reimagined as a drag racer. Excellent work by Wicked Welds and all of the different shops and specialists who contributed to this amazing build!

1975 Bricklin SV-1 Supercharged Pro-Street

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American entrepreneur and businessman Malcolm Bricklin saw an opportunity in the US auto industry in the early 1970s. He had a goal of building a small, affordable sports car with a focus on safety, which was a novel approach for the time.

The Bricklin SV-1 was quite advanced for its day, with a lightweight fiberglass body instead of conventional steel or aluminum. 1974 models were equipped with a 5.9L AMC V8 making 220 hp and a 3-speed auto or 4-speed manual option. 1975 models had a 5.8L Ford V8 engine with a 3-speed automatic.

Despite the car’s innovative safety features and construction, the cars suffered quality control problems and were generally regarded as underpowered. The Bricklin company faced bankruptcy very quickly, ending production with only 2,906 total units built from 1974-1976. According to Wikipedia, approximately 1,700 vehicles were still around as of 2012.

This SV-1 is in better shape than most. I caught up with it at the Hot Wheels Legends car show in Gilbert, Arizona on 10 September 2022.

Finished in Safety Orange with black accents and chrome wheels, this Bricklin SV-1 is a head-turner. Stuffed in the engine bay is a 496 cubic inch big block Chevy V8 engine with a supercharger, making a reported 835 horsepower. It’s hard to ignore the massive Blower Shop Billet 871 blower and air cleaner sticking up out of a hole in the hood.

A 2014 Autoweek feature on the car saw it for sale on eBay for $45,000.

A 2019 article on The Drive shows the car for sale in Colorado with wheelie bars installed. The car was advertised for sale on craigslist for $45,000.

I caught up with the car wearing Arizona plates in September 2022. I believe I heard the owner say that the car was a former drag racer in Michigan.

The car looks like a real life Hot Wheels car, and it was very appropriate to be at this show!

 

Cyan Racing Volvo P1800

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For those rearders not familiar with Cyan Racing, here is a quick background to get you up to speed. The group was founded in 1996 and was originally known as Flash Engineering. From 2005-2015 they were known as Polestar, until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section.

Cyan Racing is based in Sweden and is privately owned and operated. The race team is well known for turning out World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) winning vehicles.

In 2020, the company launched a road-legal restomod car called the Volvo P1800 Cyan. This is their interpretation of the iconic Volvo sports car from the 1960s. Similar to how Singer upgrades vintage Porsche models but is not a manufacturer, Cyan Racing is offering a similar treatment that requires an original P1800 donor car. During the 12-15 month process, the car is completely reborn as a modern performer with vintage style, completely tailored to the owner’s specifications.

Only a few components from the original car get re-used. The car’s original chassis is upgraded with high strength steel and is then given a multi-layer rust protection treatment. The car is prepared for an in-house designed independent rear suspension and front axle. Everything from instruments and light switches to control arms and steering rack are replaced with custom parts manufactured by Cyan or its suppliers. Most impressive is the replacement carbon fiber body shell, which is bonded to the steel chassis using high strength adhesive.

Under the hood is a turbocharged, twin cam 2.0L four-cylinder Volvo engine that produces 420 hp @ 7000 rpm. Coupled to this is a five-speed Holinger manual gearbox and a carbon fiber driveshaft. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered to make this the perfected version of the iconic sixties sports car.

The company had two vehicles on display at The Quail Motorsports Gathering in August 2022. I saw this lovely blue car with a yellow stripe, and a red car with bronze wheels. Both looked absolutely stunning and really showed off the craftsmanship that Cyan Racing is capable of.

Each car is a custom commission, with a base price starting at $700,000 USD. For a one-of-a-kind restomod that is on par with Singer or RML Group, you can be the coolest guy at your local Cars and Coffee in a Volvo P1800 Cyan.

Radwood Announces Southwest Show for Arizona on October 14th

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RADwood began in California in 2017 as a car show that celebrates the raddest generation of cars of the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, RADwood has attracted national attention with shows in SoCal, Philly, Chicago, Detroit, LA, South Florida, and more. Now for the first time, Radwood is coming to Arizona with their inaugural Southwest show on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

RADwood embraces the era of digital dashboards, TURBO engines, and over-the-top cars. Both import and domestic cars and motorcycles are welcome, as long as they are manufactured between 1980-1999.

RADwood events became part of the Hagerty family in 2022, adding to an impressive portfolio of events that includes the California Mille and The Amelia Island Concours.

The event is more than just a car show. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their finest 80s and 90s attire, and that includes roller blades and BMX bikes.

Pre-registration for the Arizona event is $35 for vehicles and $25 for motorcycles. General spectator admission is $20 per person in advance, kids 12 and under get RAD for free! (Entry for General admission will be $25 at the gate and day of). Event to run rain or shine.

The event will be held at Radford Racing School in Chandler from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

Radford Racing School
20000 S Maricopa Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226

For tickets and additional information, please visit: https://www.radwood.com

2021 Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne

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In recent years, defunct automotive brands such as DeTomaso and Healey have seen a revival as a limited production run of bespoke, high end cars for the ultra-rich.

Following that trend is Hispano-Suiza, the Spanish automotive brand that built luxury cars from 1904-1938. A group of investors sought to revive the brand in 2019 with a new vehicle called the Carmen, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. The name comes from the granddaughter of one of the founders of the original company.

The Carmen is an all-electric hypercar that is positioned alongside competitors such as the Lotus Evija and the Rimac Nevera.

Powered by two electric motor producing a combined 1,005 horsepower (750 KW), the Carmen propels from 0-62 mph in under 3.0 seconds. The car has an 80 kilowatt-hour, liquid-cooled battery pack arranged in a T-shape, which also acts as a tuned mass damper to provide stability and reduce vibration. This gives the car a range of 400 km or 248 miles.

The Carmen is limited to 19 units and carries a base price of $1.7 million USD.

In 2021, Hispano-Suiza announced an even more extreme version called the Carmen Boulogne. The Boulogne is limited to just 5 units and carries a base price of $1.9 million USD.

The Boulogne includes two additional electric motors, bumping the power output to 1,114 horsepower (820 KW) and a top speed of 180 mph.

I saw Chassis No. 1 of the Boulogne on display at the Hispano Suiza booth during The Quail Automotive Gathering in Monterey on 19 August 2022.

The car is eye-catching with its purple-tinted carbon fiber bodywork glistening under the California sun. The coupe body tapers back to a boattail shape in the rear, with pronounced front and rear fenders extending outward from the monocoque body.

The Carmen Boulogne seamlessly blends old-world craftsmanship and luxury with the latest in modern technology.

The white leather interior boasts diamond-quilted patterns on the seats and center console with purple accented stitching to match the car’s exterior. Driver information is delivered via two large LCD screens, one behind the wheel and the other in the center console.

For a lucky few owners, the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne would be the centerpiece of any automotive collection.

Totem GT Reinvents Alfa Romeo Giulia GT with Supercar Tech

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In 2009, Porsche enthusiast Rob Dickinson began restoring and “reimagining” the classic Porsche 911 under the brand Singer. From their Los Angeles workshop, Singer Vehicle Design “reimagines” customer cars with new technology such as more powerful engines, improved suspension, and carbon fiber body panels.

The company operates under the motto “Everything is important” and restores customer cars to a higher level than OEM.

What Dickinson has shown is that there is a niche market for resto-mod European sports cars done to a very high level.

Following the success of Singer, the playbook they wrote has been used to revive some other European enthusiast brands.

In 2014, a Hong Kong investment group led by Norman Choi acquired the rights to the DeTomaso brand, which ceased production in the 1990s. They relaunched the brand with the P72, an exclusive supercar that is limited to just 72 units worldwide. The cars have a base price of $1.25 million USD.

In 2019, the Peralada Group launched a revival of the Hispano-Suiza automotive brand, a Spanish car manufacturer who made luxury cars from the turn of the century through the 1930s. The new vehicle, named Carmen, is a luxury electric coupe that is limited to 24 units worldwide. The Carmen has a base price of $1.7 million USD.

In 2018, Italian automotive designer Riccardo Quaggio founded Totem Automobili with the goal of reimagining the classic Alfa Romeo Giulia GT with modern technology.

The company has created the Totem GT, which is available in two models, each limited to 20 units. The Electric is a high performance EV, and the GT Super is gasoline powered.

The Totem GT is a clean sheet design that starts with a custom steel chassis, which was developed after studying the original car’s chassis. Dressed over that is a full carbon fiber widebody that offers incredible strength while remaining light weight.

The Electric version has a powerful motor that produces the equivalent of 590 horsepower, whereas the gasoline model has a 2.9L twin turbo V6 engine producing up to 750 horsepower.

Prices for the Totem GT start at $535,000 USD. It brings an impressive amount of tech and beautiful design together in a package that’s limited to just 40 vehicles total. For that kind of exclusivity, the Totem GT is an intriguing option for those with a passion for Italian cars.