Six-figure classic British GTs on the block at Barons

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Aston Martin, Bentley, UK

1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI – Click above for high-res image

Motoring anglophiles will want to check out the upcoming Barons’ auction at the Sandown Park horse racing track in Surrey, England. The auction house has a pair of rare classic coupes crossing the block in what looks like splendid condition and with exceptionally low mileage.

First up is a 1963 Bentley Continental Coupe by Mulliner. One of only 11 built (and one of eight right-hand drive models), the Mulliner coupe is reportedly in as-new condition with just 91,000 miles on the odometer, only 3,000 of which have been put on in the last 15 years. It’s expected to fetch between £90,000 and £125,000 ($145k to 200k) when it goes up for grabs on October 26.

Barons’ is also following up former Aston Martin chief David Brown’s DB2/4 MkIII, which it sold last month for more than twice its top estimate at £207,000 ($330k), with another rare Aston: a 1953 DB2/4 MkI purchased new by an elderly doctor who barely ever drove it. It was mostly unused until its current owner bought and restored it. Only 11,000 miles have been put on the car overthe past 57 years, with presale estimates putting it in the same ballpark as the aforementioned Bentley.

There’s more to read about in the press release after the jump, including a Jaguar E-Type, a Rolls-Royce, a ’34 Talbot and a Ford GT40, so check it out.

[Source: Barons]

Continue reading Six-figure classic British GTs on the block at Barons

Six-figure classic British GTs on the block at Barons originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Who can do the better burnout, AJ Allmendinger or Ken Block?

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities

Ken Block and AJ Allmendinger

Ken Block and AJ Allmendinger do the burnout thing – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ford has released the fifth video in its 43 Fiestas series, and this time Ken Block and AJ Allmendinger have gone head-to-head to see who can do the best burnout. As always, Richard Petty himself is on hand to oversee the festivities. While you’d think Allmendinger’s ridiculous V8-powered, rear-wheel drive NASCAR beast would be the de facto champion of lighting ’em up, Block’s wee rally-sped Fiesta held its own this time *ahem* around. The Gymkhana champ fell back on his signature pirouette-around-a-fixed-object move to win an approving nod from the King himself. Not too shabby.

This latest stunt is one in a series leading up to a massive prize giveaway that includes tickets to the Ford 300 Nationwide and Ford 400 NASCAR races and flat-screen televisions. Ford will also give one lucky winner the keys to a 2011 Ford Fiesta, and if the company happens to take the win at the Ford 400, it will give 43 lucky winners their own unique Fiesta. You can head over to the 43 Fiestas site for more details, and hop the jump for a look at the video.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Who can do the better burnout, AJ Allmendinger or Ken Block?

Video: Who can do the better burnout, AJ Allmendinger or Ken Block? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block in Gymkhana Three Part 2

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Celebrities


Ken Block Gymkhana Three Part 2 – Click above to view the video after the jump

Gymkhana Three Part 1 left most of us cold, but the second installment of Ken Block’s Gymkhana series is finally upon us, and consider the series officially redeemed. If you haven’t clicked past the break yet… SPOILER ALERT: 360 alley-oop at the top of France’s l’Autodrome de Linas’ 51-degree bank. In a Ford Fiesta. Now… JUMP!

Gallery: Ken Block’s Gymkhana Three Part 2

Continue reading Video: Ken Block in Gymkhana Three Part 2

Video: Ken Block in Gymkhana Three Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC loses court battle to block the Stig book

Filed under: UK, Celebrities

The Stig has taken another step toward shrugging off the shackles of the BBC. As you may recall, Top Gear’s tame racing driver recently locked horns with the Beeb after he made it clear he wanted to publish his memoirs. The show’s producers found issue with text, saying that revealing his identity would not only be a disservice to the fans of the show, but that it would also violate the terms of his contract. Thing is, a judge has struck down the BBC’s injunction to keep The Stig from publishing his book. That means publisher HarperCollins can move forward on bringing the book to life without fear of any further legal action from the BBC.

Interestingly enough, Ben Collins, the man who has long-been rumored to be the Stig, was spotted leaving the courthouse shortly after the ruling was issued. Collins was evasive when asked by reporters if he was the man in white, though we have a hard time thinking of any other reason why he would be at the hearing.

[Source: The Guardian]

BBC loses court battle to block the Stig book originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block’s Gymkhana 3: Part 1 is not like the others, Part 2 coming in September

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Celebrities

Gymkhana 3: Part 1 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The long awaited countdown to rally superstar Ken Block’s Gymkhana 3 video has ended, and what was revealed today is a music video featuring a hip-hop group named The Cool Kids, with a little bit of Ken Block and his rally Fiesta sprinkled in.

Unlike the last two Gymkhana videos, which became instant YouTube sensations thanks to non-stop footage of Block doing amazing stunts behind the wheel of his rally Subaru Impreza WRX STI hatchback, Gymkhana 3: Part 1 is a straight up music video informercial that shows off Block’s DC apparel and products more than his driving skill. When we do see the rally Fiesta in its Gymkhana debut, Block is either doing donuts or driving it directly into – and not around – things like paint cans and fluorescent bulbs.

We contacted Ken Block’s crew to see what the deal is, and were told that the plan is to separate the marketing from what the kids really want, which is footage of Block doing things with a car that prove he’s superhuman behind the wheel. So Part 1 of Gymkhana 3 is the one with the marketing message, while Part 2 we’re told will be much more like Gymkhana 1 with just the driving footage. When we asked when we can expect Gymkhana 3: Part 2 to drop, early-to-mid September was the answer.

Check out Gymkhana 3: Part 1 for yourself after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Ken Block’s Gymkhana 3: Part 1 is not like the others, Part 2 coming in September

Ken Block’s Gymkhana 3: Part 1 is not like the others, Part 2 coming in September originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block’s ADAC Rally prep is no match for mechanical failure

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

Ken Block preps for the ADAC Rally – Click above to watch video after the jump

They don’t call it the World Rally Championship for nothing. The globe’s best and brightest descend on the pinnacle of the rally sport to duke it out all over the planet, and while Ken Block hasn’t fared as well as predicted this season, he’s at least made it to the point where he can step into the ring. Right before Block took to the ADAC Rally in a new Focus bruiser, he sat down to answer a few questions from the likes of the crew at 0-60 Magazine. At the time, Block had never ran a tarmac WRC rally and was busy practicing the wheels off of the new car.

That practice served him well. For the first time, it looked like Block was going to land points with a ninth place finish over all until the car’s alternator died on day three, effectively banishing him to the back of the pack once more. There’s just no beating bad luck. Hit the jump to watch the interview for yourself.

[Source: 0-60 Magazine via Cold Track Days]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block’s ADAC Rally prep is no match for mechanical failure

Video: Ken Block’s ADAC Rally prep is no match for mechanical failure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: King reportedly pulls famed UAW Black Lake resort off the auction block

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions

UAW black lake resort banner image

Are you looking for 1,000 heavily forested acres in the heart of Northern Michigan? Something in the $33 million range with a world class golf course and sleeping quarters for a couple thousand? If you are, it appears that the United Auto Workers’ Black Lake resort is going to have to come off that (very) short list, because the Rank and File isn’t selling. The Detroit News reports that UAW chief Bob King and the new union board has taken the resort off the market. CB Richard Ellis Senior Real Estate VP John Carver called the decision “a matter of the new board reviewing previous policy decisions.”

That previous board said in January that the recession was a big reason that the facility needed to close. The fact that the resort has lost a reported $23 million since 2005 didn’t help much either, and declining union membership appeared to be the nail in the coffin. Guess not. UAW leadership apparently isn’t talking about Black Lake and why they took it off the market, but DetNews quotes UAW local leaders who say that events are still being scheduled there.

We’re sure there will be plenty of people out there who won’t like the decision to retain such an extravagant resort considering the fact that thousands of UAW members have lost their jobs in the past couple of years. But then again, with Bob King and his blue-collared brothers and sisters looking to make a comeback, selling off the UAW’s crown jewels probably wouldn’t serve to bring up morale.

[Source: Detroit News]

Update: King reportedly pulls famed UAW Black Lake resort off the auction block originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Offspeed Pitch: Richard Petty joins Ken Block, AJ Allmendinger in marketing Ford Fiesta?

Filed under: Motorsports, Budget, Sedan, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities

Brace yourself, race fans. Things are about to get a little weird. Ford has decided to meld the seemingly unmeldable worlds of NASCAR and rally to help promote the 2011 Fiesta. Ken Block, Richard Petty and AJ Allmendinger have joined forces as an unholy trifecta of motorsports action, unified by their common love of the number 43. We don’t need to tell you that Petty famously campaigned old four-three in the heyday of NASCAR, netting 200 Sprint Cup wins and a total of seven championships in the process. Meanwhile, Block has established himself as one of America’s flashiest rally drivers, while Allmendinger has inherited Petty’s 43 throne in the current NASCAR series.

The three unlikely amigos will be campaigning for the Blue Oval’s new ’43 Fiestas’ sweepstakes, where entrants will have the opportunity to lay their hands on a bevy of prizes. A total of 43 first-place prize winners will walk away with a 40-inch LED-LCD HD flat-screen television, while another 43 grand-prize winners will receive airfare, lodging and tickets for two to the Ford 300 Nationwide series and the Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. If that wasn’t swank enough, one of the 43 grand-prize winners will drive home in a 2011 Fiesta.

But wait, there’s more. Should Allmendinger happen to take the checkered at the end of the race, all 43 grand-prize winners will win their very own Fiesta. Head over to the 43 Fiestas site to enter for you chance to win. You can also hop the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Ford via 43Fiestas.com]

Continue reading Offspeed Pitch: Richard Petty joins Ken Block, AJ Allmendinger in marketing Ford Fiesta?

Offspeed Pitch: Richard Petty joins Ken Block, AJ Allmendinger in marketing Ford Fiesta? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ford Fiesta takes care of the ‘Honey Do’ list, Ken Block style

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Humor

Ken Block takes out the trash – Click above to watch video after the jump

At some point during the development of the American vernacular, the term “grocery getter” became a term of condescension. Thing is, lugging around a few bags of consumables and clipping apexes don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Ford is hoping the average U.S. car buyer has outgrown the prejudices of his forebearers and is willing to jump into something with a hatchback. To help dispel any lingering thoughts of boredom, the Blue Oval has called on none other than Ken Block to use his guano-crazy Fiesta WRC rally racer to take care of a few household chores. Sideways.

The quick clip after the jump is filled with the kind of car control we’ve come to expect from Block, even with his recent run of bad luck in the WRC. If you like what you see in the video, you can register for a chance to win a 2011 Fiesta worked up to look just like Block’s racer. Something tells us the grand-prize car won’t be all-wheel drive, though. Hit the jump to watch the video, as well as check out the full press release with details on the drawing.

Gallery: Ken Block Gymkhana 3 Ford Fiesta

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Video: Ford Fiesta takes care of the ‘Honey Do’ list, Ken Block style

Video: Ford Fiesta takes care of the ‘Honey Do’ list, Ken Block style originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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