This year, Toyota brought the whole Supra collection to the SEMA show, all in white which made it super easy to compare them all and choose a favorite, not that I needed that in order to pick one. I overhead a group people discussing which generation was their favorite and they all seemed pretty undecided.
For me, it’s hands down the Second Gen. The A60 was only produced from 1981 to 1985 but I still think of it as the main Supra. Let’s face it, the First Gen was pretty clumsy looking, the Third Gen resembles a poor man’s F-body or an FD RX-7 and the Fourth Gen is for just kids and the Hogan family.
I really can’t get enough of the exaggerated, low-poly shape of the Second Gen Supra. Since a picture is still worth at least a couple of hundred words these days, I took Toyota’s SEMA 2018 showing as an opportunity to try and get some angles of the car that really do it for me.
Toyota also had some other interesting stuff going on. I don’t think I’ve heard anything about hydrogen fuel cells since high school, but Toyota had a Tundra there that apparently runs on hydrogen and can make pizzas or something. I didn’t really stick around long enough to see it do anything though. I was too busy playing the free Ivan Stewart Super Off Road arcade machine and getting frustrated beyond belief. I’ve got to say- it was an excellent move on Toyota’s part to bring the game with them to the show but I think it should have been more prominently displayed. It was basically tucked into a corner, not even close to where the actual Ivan Stewart truck was. Either way, it was a cool idea, and I definitely spent longer at the Toyota booth than any of the other major manufacturers’ areas.It’s funny, I realized afterwards that I never really even took a close look at the new Supra. I spent all of my time on an outdated, underpowered car and an outdated, graphically underwhelming video game. I’m not sure what that says about me, but oh well. I’m going to go look at Celicas on Craigslist now.
This one speaks for itself. We rented a 2018 Escalade and put it through its paces. As you can see in the video, it cleaned up pretty well at the track, although it’s sort of an unfair advantage when you don’t mind letting your brand new vehicle scream down the track in 4 wheel low…
It’s also surprisingly good off road for having no ground clearance to speak of. Basically what we learned is that total carelessness can make up for quite a few vehicular shortcomings.
In today’s edition of Not Sold Here, we are featuring the Honda Beat. The Beat is a special class of super small vehicles for which there is no equivalent in the United States. Smaller than a subcompact, these cars are often called “kei cars” in Japan. I featured another Japanese vehicle, the Subaru Microvan, a few years ago. The difference is that the Subaru was actually imported to the U.S. while the Honda Beat was not.
I ran across this Honda Beat at the monthly Cars and Coffee gathering in Scottsdale. It is unbelievably small in person. Although it’s hard to visualize, the Honda Beat is nearly 10 inches narrower and 400 lbs lighter than the original Mazda Miata. It really is like a street legal go-kart. The philosophy behind these kei cars is to have small, efficient transportation for the narrow streets and crowded cities of Japan. As such, they were not designed to be particularly sporty. The inline 3-cylinder engine displaces 656 cc (40.0 cubic inches) and puts out a whopping 63 horsepower. The Honda Beat was only available with a 5-speed manual transmission.
There is a law in the United States that allows vehicles 25 years or older to be imported and driven on the roads, even though the vehicles do not meet US Federal crash test standards. This “show and display” law is the reason why you might be seeing more R32 Skylines and other right-hand drive Japanese vehicles at your favorite car shows. It is very likely that this Honda was imported under that same law.
About 34,000 of these cars were built during the production run from 1991 to 1996. It is unknown how many of them have made it to the U.S., but I’m certain the number is quite small. The car drew a huge number of curious onlookers at the show – much more than some of the brand new exotics and supercars that cost many times what this vehicle is worth.
This is a very unique car and I’m glad to have run across it at the Saturday Motorsports Gathering put on by Scuderia Southwest.
I recently spent 9 days in Iceland, aside from the immediately shocking 70 degree temperature difference and foreign language on the walls it didn’t feel as foreign as I expected.. at least from inside the airport. As the rental car shuttle bus (a Mercedes with hubcaps) brought us around to our drop off location I spotted a parking lot filled entirely with cars that I had never seen before. This is when it hit me and really sunk in that I was far from home and things would be different. Continue reading →
An automobile can be much more than a means of transportation – it can also be a canvas for creative expression. In today’s post, we take a look at six vehicles where the owners have chosen to customize their rides in a patriotic fashion, expressing their love for the United States of America.
6). – 1929 Chevrolet “Low Flyer”
This 1929 Chevrolet has been customized in the style of a World War II fighter aircraft. It features a 235 inline-6 Chevrolet motor with dual Stromberg carburetors connected to a two-speed Powerglide transmission from a 1966 Chevelle. The exhaust features hand-made headers exiting through 4 old Harley Davidson exhaust pipes with custom drilled sheathing to simulate machine gun barrels. The interior features upholstery made from a 1940s US Army tent, an ammo can glove box, a vintage brass fire extinguisher, and a hand grenade shift knob.
5). Jet Engine Powered Mitsubishi Eclipse
Here we have a third-generation 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. This car has a 5-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, an AM/FM radio with CD player, and oh yeah…a jet turbine engine in the rear hatch! This car was originally purchased on eBay for around $20,000 and brought to Arizona. It made the rounds at local car shows from approximately 2010-2013, and hasn’t been seen since. The turbine engine did work and produced an ear-piercing roar. It was also capable of shooting an impressive fireball, as pictured above. I seem to recall reading that the engine was sourced from a Blackhawk helicopter, but I cannot remember where I read that. The owner also had a MTT Y2K turbine powered motorcycle at one point. Anyway, the car is wrapped to look like a US Army fighter jet, which is why it comes in at #5 on our list of most patriotic custom cars.
4). “Fallen Heroes” Spartan II
The Spartan II is a low-production custom car that combines neoclassic styling with a Nissan powertrain. You can read my full post on the Spartan II here. After seeing that initial car, I saw another one – this time a red one! The entire rear of the car was airbrushed with a mural depicting various patriotic and religious scenes. Over the backdrop of the American flag we can see a plane that resembles a C-5 Galaxy or a C-17 Globemaster but with incorrect placement of the rear horizontal stabilizers, a tank, a submarine, a HUMVEE, and a Chinook helicopter. There are multiple eagles, including one shedding a tear.
The bottom of the mural shows a grieving woman mourning over a flag-covered coffin while being comforted by a US Marine, then a dozen flag-covered coffins in the cargo bay of a US military aircraft, a jet aircraft striking the side of Tower 2 of the World Trade Center, and finally a crucified Jesus hanging on the cross at sunset. Beneath everything are the words “In Memory of our Fallen Heroes” in gold script.
I don’t even know where to begin with this one – it blends military service with a national tragedy with patriotism with a religious element as well. It’s very over-the-top and clearly the owner has some very strong sentiment for America.
3). “Support Our Troops” Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is perhaps the most quintessential, red-blooded American vehicle since the Model T. I spotted this very patriotic C6 Corvette convertible at a local air show. The car is white with a red interior and features a blue front air dam with white stars. On both sides, an exaggerated flag has been airbrushed starting from the fenders and extending the length of the doors.
The hood features a detailed American eagle clutching a banner in its talons that reads “Support Our Troops.” It’s not subtle, but it’s actually quite well done.
2). The 9/11 Tribute Shelby Mustang
I spotted this very patriotic Shelby Mustang at a local car meet. The red car features American flag stripes running the length of the car. On the hood is an airbrushed Statue of Liberty flanked by quotes from American Patriots such as Nathan Hale. Moving to the rear of the car, the trunk lid features an elaborate airbrushed mural of the New York City skyline with two large towers that don’t look anything like World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2, but since one has a giant antenna, I’m assuming that’s what they are supposed to be. Finally, the rear bumper says “NEVER FORGET” in large block letters.
1). 2005 Chevrolet Silverado “HEROES Truck”
When is a Chevrolet Silverado worth $200,000? When it’s the HEROES Truck. This custom show truck tops our list of Most Patriotic Custom Vehicles, and it’s the clear leader of the pack. The truck took 5 years to build and more than 50,000 man hours of labor, including 1,200 hours of airbrush artwork by Mickey Harris from Cosby, TN. The murals pay tribute to our military, firefighters, police, nurses, politicians, astronauts, and any other U.S. citizen that has shown courage and self-sacrifice. The truck is a tribute to all of our past, present, and future American heroes.
Beyond the eye-popping artwork, the truck has also been upgraded with a 540cid GM V8 engine with a BDS supercharger, modified Turbo 400 transmission, and DynaTech axles. It rides on Weld Wheels and Super Swamper tires and features a tilt body which reveals the polished stainless chassis and adjustable four-link suspension. The truck sold for $209,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction in January 2013.
Well, that wraps up our list of the Top 6 Most Patriotic Custom Cars. Thanks for reading, and have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Pagani Huayra at the Gold Rush Rally in Scottsdale
The origins of the automotive rally date back more than 100 years to 1895 in France, when early motorsports enthusiasts came up with a point-to-point race using public roads, as there were very few race tracks at the time. Today, the tradition of a city to city road rally is as popular as ever.
One of the most elite in the United States is the Gold Rush Rally, now in its 10th year. For 2018 the route covers ten cities in ten days, stretching more than 3,500 miles from Boston to Las Vegas.
The event is open to those who can afford the steep price tag of $22,000 for the full route, or $11,000 for half of the journey. The cost includes VIP parties, lodging in first-class accommodations, and the experience of being part of a rolling party of automotive mayhem. As you might imagine, the entry fee attracts a certain type of individual with a preference for exotic, high-end supercars and luxury cars. These cars are often modified with body kits, aftermarket wheels, and exotic wraps. Think of it like your local car meet, only far more expensive.
Over 20 teams registered for the 2018 event, which has also attracted a number of high-level corporate sponsors including Barrett-Jackson, Michelin Tires, Lexus, and Vorsteiner just to name a few. The rally features support vehicles, police escorts, and private track experiences along the way.
While I am not part of the Gold Rush Rally nor am I a sponsor or a vendor, I do have an appreciation for exotic cars and for the lifestyle, so I decided to head out to Scottsdale to check out the cars and the teams on Day 9 of the ten-day event.
Vorsteiner Ferrari
Sunday, June 1, 2018
The cars rolled into the parking lot at Luxury Auto Collection after spending the night at the 5-star Fairmont Princess Resort. LAC was the host of this event, with breakfast for the teams and a chance to see the GRR teams for the public. I arrived half an hour early and was greeted by a crowd of 30-40 car spotters already in place, lined up along both sides of the road. Telephoto lenses, stabilizers, and DSLR cameras were the order of the day. Continue reading →
Toyota also had some other interesting stuff going on. I don’t think I’ve heard anything about hydrogen fuel cells since high school, but Toyota had a Tundra there that apparently runs on hydrogen and can make pizzas or something. I didn’t really stick around long enough to see it do anything though. I was too busy playing the free Ivan Stewart Super Off Road arcade machine and getting frustrated beyond belief. I’ve got to say- it was an excellent move on Toyota’s part to bring the game with them to the show but I think it should have been more prominently displayed. It was basically tucked into a corner, not even close to where the actual Ivan Stewart truck was. Either way, it was a cool idea, and I definitely spent longer at the Toyota booth than any of the other major manufacturers’ areas.
It’s funny, I realized afterwards that I never really even took a close look at the new Supra. I spent all of my time on an outdated, underpowered car and an outdated, graphically underwhelming video game. I’m not sure what that says about me, but oh well. I’m going to go look at Celicas on Craigslist now.
