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2,000-hp “Lamborghini” Indomable Concept to find its way into production

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Lamborghini

mostro di-potenza sf22

Mostro Di-Potenza SF22 promises serious power and performance – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Lamborghini Indomable was born from the minds of Daniel Chinchilla Ochoa and Alberto Fernandez Albilares. A concept, it was created as part of a design program sponsored by Lamborghini. Now, however, this conceptual vision is going to become a reality – only it won’t be built in Sant’Agata Bolognese.

A company called 215 Racing has acquired the rights to the Indomable design, and it plans to turn out a production version of the design team’s rendering. Based in Abington, PA, 215 Racing will produce the car, which will be called the SF22, through its sub-company Mostro Di-Potenza. That name means “Monster Power” in Italian, and the moniker doesn’t lie.

According to the company, power for the SF22 will be provided a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 9.4-liter(!) V8 engine. The mill is a General Motors 572, which will be paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox. 215 Racing expects this beast to produce 2,000-horsepower and 2,000 pound-feet of torque. Just a quick recap for you, this isn’t a train we’re talking about but a road-going two-door that is propelled via its rear wheels.

Of course, any company can claim such dramatic power numbers. So, we can only wait to see just how capable the finished Mostro Di-Potenza SF22 turns out – if indeed salable examples are produced at all. The company plans to build 50 examples total, at a rate of two per month over the course of two years, and says it’s now taking orders for mid-2012 deliveries. The initial deposit will only cost you $1,000, but the fully built vehicle will run you close to $950,000. Click past the jump for the full press release and a video that shows off the Indomable concept from all angles.

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2,000-hp “Lamborghini” Indomable Concept to find its way into production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Tornado Attack Vehicle can be yours for $100k

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Auctions, Etc., Work, Off-Road

Tornado Attack Vehicle

Tornado attack vehicle – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the toughest aspects of tornado chasing, besides running headlong into almost certain death, is finding a vehicle that can withstand the violent onslaught of wind and debris generated even by (relatively) weak storms. Over the years, storm chasers have come up with all sorts of solutions to the transportation issue, with everything from beefed-up pickup trucks to balls-to-the-wall armor-plated beasts.

The Tornado Attack Vehicle is the latter, and is credited as being one of the first specialized tornado chasing machines ever created. The truck was commissioned by legendary tornado chaser Steven Green and is the first vehicle to be driven in to the heart of a funnel cloud. Even with heavy modifications, Green knew a road-going pickup truck platform wasn’t going to cut it. To ensure he and his team got through the twister and lived to tell about it, he had the truck built from the ground up.

The skeleton of the monster is a steel tube frame, draped with 16-gauge steel bodywork. The windows and wheel covers are made of bulletproof M10 Lexan plastic, while the windshield sports a triple layer of super-strong DuPont Mylar. According to the listing, one layer of Mylar is enough to stop a .38 caliber pistol round.

All that armor means this thing isn’t what you would call light, so a Chevrolet ZZ502 big block was chosen to send power to front and rear Dana axles through a custom Turbo 400 automatic transmission. That’s an impressive list of specs to be sure, but we’ll stick to doing our tornado watching courtesy of CNN. Check out the full eBay listing here.

eBay Find of the Day: Tornado Attack Vehicle can be yours for $100k originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: 1988 Italdesign Aztec

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Convertible, Auctions, Europe, Design/Style

1988 Italdesign Aztec

Before Pontiac unleashed the vile Aztek on the world, there was another, weirder car that bore the name. In 1988, Italdesign introduced the Aztec, a two-seat roadster that made extremely limited production and carried a $750,000 price tag when new.

Sporting a twin-pod cockpit-style interior and slab-sided, angular design, this thing looks ready for intergalactic travel. Despite looking like it should be parked outside the Mos Eisley cantina, it sports a relatively pedestrian Audi turbo five-cylinder powerplant. The car’s 220 horses meet the road via a Lancia Delta Integrale-derived four-wheel-drive system.

The Aztec was built as Italdesign’s 20th anniversary present to itself, and broke cover at the 1988 Turin Auto Show. Depending on who you ask, Italdesign built either 18 or 50 of the cars. Either way, you don’t see these things very often. The seller is mum on the car’s price tag, but thanks to its rarity, blue-chip nameplate, and stratospheric original MSRP, its a cinch this thing will break six figures.

Online Find of the Day: 1988 Italdesign Aztec originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 May 2011 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Help Popular Mechanics find the worst road in America

Filed under: Etc.

road in horrible condition

Popular Mechanics is searching for America’s worst roads, and it needs your help. Readers from all over the U.S. are encouraged to submit photos showing just how bad their local thoroughfares are. Once the submissions have been evaluated, PM will choose its top five.

The “winning” roads will get a visit from the Popular Mechanics crew, who will analyze just how screwed-up it is with a custom data-logging device. Strapped onto a car, the analytical tool’s multi-axis accelerometer will provide information to the researchers and help them determine which road is the worst of the bunch.

A few ground rules are in place, however, because certain roads have to be excluded from testing. The magazine isn’t interested in private roads, or “streets” that lack paving. Editors are looking for standard roads that, over time, have gone from smooth to suspension-busting. Head over to Popular Mechanics for information on sending in your local road for consideration, if you feel it makes the cut.

[Source: Popular Mechanics | Image: Monica’s Dad/Flickr via CC 2.0]

Help Popular Mechanics find the worst road in America originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: BaT bags a pair of Lancia Delta Integrale specials

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Auctions, Europe, Hatchback, Lancia

Lancia Delta Integrale special editions

Lancia Delta Integrale special editions – Click above for a high-res image gallery

It’s rare enough to find one Lancia Delta Integrale for sale in North America. It’s rarer still to find an example of one of the special edition cars Lancia made over the last two years of the Delta Integrale’s life cycle. This week, though, Bring a Trailer is featuring two such cars from one Canadian seller.

The first car is one of 400 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Martini 5 Special Editions, built to commemorate Lancia’s fifth World Rally Championship. The Martini 5 also marked the first run of special edition Integrales. According to the seller, this one has been upgraded with Martini 6 decals, 17-inch Speedline wheels and a catalytic converter-less Group B exhaust system.

Inside, there’s an aftermarket OMP steering wheel, Alcantara trim and a pair of delicious Recaro buckets. The seller says he still has the original wheels if the 17s are a bit much. Though the car is apparently street legal in Canada, it will need a catalytic converter if it’s going to pass a smog test in Vancouver. Those of us in the States will have to make do with a show and display exception, or wait until the car is 25 years old before it can be registered.

The second car is one of 250 1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Edizione Finale cars made specifically for the Japanese market. Like all Edizione Finales, this example wears Rosso Amarento paint, and carries a laundry list of the Delta’s most desirable options. That means a set of anthracite gray 16-inch Speedline wheels, push-button start, carbon fiber trim, aluminum pedals, a passenger footrest and the same Recaro furniture that graces the Martini Delta. On top of all that, the Edizione Finale received a bump to 250 horsepower, thanks to revised engine management.

Both cars are available exclusively through BaT, though we doubt they’ll be sticking around too long given their rarity and desirability. Unfortunately for us, they’re priced accordingly. The 1992 Martini 5 car is listed at a heady $80,000, while the 1994 Edizione Finale is “just” $65,000. Head over to Bring A Trailer for more.

Gallery: 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Martini 5

1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Martini 5 front

Gallery: 1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Edizione Finale

1994 Lancia Delta Integrale Edizione Finale 3/4

[Source: BringATrailer]

Online Find of the Day: BaT bags a pair of Lancia Delta Integrale specials originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 4,400-mile, unrestored 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The seller of this 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 bought it from its original Akron, Ohio owner who racked up a scant 4,405 miles before offloading it back in the day. It’s been garage-kept all its life, and still sports its original, terrifying bias-ply tires. According to the seller, this particular Boss 429 is fitted with the coveted ‘S’ engine, a feature only available on the first 279 Boss 429s produced.

The current owner says he bought the car in excellent shape in 2007 and had it professionally cleaned and re-awoke the engine after a long slumber. Since then, the car has been pampered and its astonishing mileage preserved.

Despite its low mileage, the Boss participated in, and won, a couple bracket races when new. The quarter windows still carry the winner’s stickers. The price for this all-original time capsule is enough to make even the most-hardcore Mustang fan gulp. Buy-It-Now is set at an astounding $550,000. Is it worth it? Have your say in Comments. Top tip, Brent!

Gallery: 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 front three-quarter 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 side 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 rear three-quarter

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 4,400-mile, unrestored 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car tribute [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Porsche, Off-Road, Racing

1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute car

1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute – Click above for high-res image gallery

This 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute is the second such 953 rally car homage to come from this seller in less than a year. Last year, he reportedly sold a 1980 Porsche 911 Rothmans to the folks at GoPro for north of $70k. That car was nice, but was only two-wheel drive.

This year, he decided to go all out, and took a perfectly-maintained 1989 Porsche 911 C4 and turned it into a near-perfect representation of the 1984 Paris-Dakar-winning 953. Check out the listing on eBay Motors, where the car has yet to meet its reserve. Using a C4 as the base car means this tribute carries an all-Porsche all-wheel drive system, making this year’s car even more desirable than last year’s.

Best of all, the car looks the part, but retains its street legality and some crucial creature comforts to make it a useful means of transportation as well as a suitable weekend warrior. According to the eBay listing, the car retains ABS, cruise control, climate control, a sunroof, power locks, power mirrors, power windows, and a differential lock. See the car in action after the jump. Top tip, Chris M!

Gallery: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute

1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans tribute

[Source: eBay Motors via BringATrailer | Images: Jeremy Cliff/ThePhotoMotive]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car tribute [w/video]

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car tribute [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Toyota 2000GT makes our hearts sing

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Toyota, Specialty

1967 Toyota 2000 GT

1967 Toyota 2000 GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 1967 Toyota 2000 GT is a unique beast in that it seems above reproach by even the harshest automotive critics. 44 years after the first 2000 GT rolled out of the Toyota factory, it checks all the right boxes. It’s fast, gorgeous, insanely rare and marked a new era for its manufacturer.

Prior to the 2000 GT, Toyota was known for spitting out small, reliable, cheap sedans and four-by-fours that got the job done admirably, but lacked a little je ne sais quoi. The 2000 GT changed all that, and showed that Toyota could hang with Italian blue-bloods like Ferrari almost at the flip of a switch.

Toyota wound up building just 351 2000 GTs for worldwide consumption. Just 84 of those were left-hand-drive, with only 62 making it to the States. This is one of perhaps 40 American-delivery 2000 GTs that still exist. It’s a one-owner car, bought in St. Louis, Missouri. After a long time in storage, the car got a thorough detail job, engine rebuild and interior freshening at Maine Line Exotics in Biddeford, Maine. It’s available on eBay with a stupefying $650,000 Buy-It-Now. If you have the means, we suggest you do just that.

Gallery: 1967 Toyota 2000GT

1967 Toyota 2000GT

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Toyota 2000GT makes our hearts sing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: World’s best Datsun 240Z resto-mod?

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Nissan

eBay find of the day: 1972 datsun 240z resto-mod

eBay Find of the Day: 1972 Datsun 240Z resto-mod – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Datsun 240Z is a pantheon vehicle. By that we mean it belongs on many a car enthusiasts’ all-time great vehicle lists. If you’re in the market, there are plenty of options on eBay that will help you put one in your driveway. One Datsun in particular has caught our eye due to the quality of its execution. How much would it cost to own the beautiful S30 shown above? If you wanted to Buy It Now, you’d better have $85,000 burning a hole in your pocket.

That’s right, we said $85,000, and that figure is reduced from an ambitious previous asking price of $125,000. What could cause someone to think their Z is worth that much? A complete frame-off restoration and a parts list that makes us think the owner is capable of Inception, since it reads like something from our modified car dreams.

Under the hood sits a SR20DET, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine taken from a 2002 Nissan Silvia. The suspension and brakes have been upgraded with Arizona Z car and Wilwood components. Basically, anything that could’ve been upgraded has been taken care of.

Still, you’d be hard-pressed to find a 240Z buyer looking to plunk down that many Benjamins for a car. There’s no doubt that leading Japanese classics are climbing in price, and this car might be snatched up quickly at half the asking price. Head over to eBay Motors for the full listing. Thanks for the tip, Sid!

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: 1972 Datsun 240Z resto-mod

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: World’s best Datsun 240Z resto-mod? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 Sbarro Gullwing is an eyepopper

1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL Sbarro Gullwing Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Franco Sbarro apparently had a lot of orders for these wide-bodied modern gullwings back in the late ’70s. According to the eBay listing, Sbarro made 28 Gullwing Coupes in total, most based on a two-door chassis with either a naturally-aspirated or twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8.

The car you see before you, however, is among the rarest of these rare supercoupes. It’s based on a four-door 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 chassis. Apparently one of six built for the new wife of an Arab prince, this car spent part of its life in the hands of an NBA star. (Shocker, we know.)

The custom gullwing doors look more than a little heavy and cumbersome, and must have taken weeks of careful figuring to get right. The details, however, are what really set this car apart. For starters, it’s been updated with chrome 20-inch Giovannas, to make add a contemporary to its bling. Then there’s the original-equipment Sbarro horizontal ‘phantom’ bar grille hiding the big Benz’s stock headlamps and marker lights.

Top all that off with a set of ridiculously-wide fender flares and a lowered roofline, and you have a delicious recipe for 1970s-style excess. The price for all this exclusivity and opulence? The “Buy It Now” option lists $49,995. Thanks for the tip, Csaba!

Gallery: 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL Sbarro Gullwing

1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL Sbarro Gullwing front 3.4

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 Sbarro Gullwing is an eyepopper originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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