Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com Autoblog Canada http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[There's no substitution for BMW's E30 M3]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/bmw-e30-M3-video-photos-racing-price-petrolicious/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/bmw-e30-M3-video-photos-racing-price-petrolicious/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/bmw-e30-M3-video-photos-racing-price-petrolicious/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



If you told someone that you had a friend with a four-cylinder BMW who "would let me wash the car," and in exchange for the privilege then let you drive that clean BMW once around the block, your first question would probably be "What kind of BMW is this?" There's a chance you wouldn't be surprised once you found out the coupe in question was the E30 M3, a car our own Zach Bowman dubbed the "Mmmmm3."

Petrolicious talks to Gabor Mester about the car he fell in love with, a black version of the original "Munich mauler" that was owned by the parents of a high-school friend - oh, and Mester was also in high school when this washing and driving took place. When the original owners were ready to sell, Mestor was ready to buy, and he hasn't had a single regret about it since.

You can enjoy his story in his words in the video below.

Gallery: Arab Stunt driver ghost rides BMW E30, drifting donuts and burnouts galore

Continue reading There's no substitution for BMW's E30 M3

There's no substitution for BMW's E30 M3 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bmwbmw m3e30 m3gabor mesterM3petroliciousvideo Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:58:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20624923/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/17/bmw-e30-M3-video-photos-racing-price-petrolicious/20624923/article-detail.xml 20624923 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/m3-petrolicious_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/m3-petrolicious.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this story of a father, a son and a classic Plymouth for Father's Day]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/watch-this-story-of-a-father-a-son-and-a-classic-plymouth-on-fa/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/watch-this-story-of-a-father-a-son-and-a-classic-plymouth-on-fa/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/watch-this-story-of-a-father-a-son-and-a-classic-plymouth-on-fa/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Father's Day Plymouth

They met in high school. Bev was a cheerleader, Joe played sports. The pair got married, and the first car they shared, driving off into their mutual futures together on their wedding day, was a 1948 Plymouth convertible. As is often the case with first cars - and especially cars as classically stylish and memorable as the Plymouth - they were left with nothing but fond memories after being forced to sell the car after Joe was drafted into the military.

Fast forward 60 years and their son has pulled off a brilliant surprise. The result of which is summed up rather nicely by Bev herself: "Uh oh. Grandpa's got tears." And you may, too. Scroll down below to see the video, produced and shared by Hagerty, for yourself.

From the Autoblog Canada crew, we hope you all enjoyed a Happy Father's Day this past weekend.

Gallery: Auction Cars: Barrett-Jackson 2013

Continue reading Watch this story of a father, a son and a classic Plymouth for Father's Day

Watch this story of a father, a son and a classic Plymouth for Father's Day originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1948 plymouth convertiblefatherfathers dayplymouth Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:15:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20624379/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/17/watch-this-story-of-a-father-a-son-and-a-classic-plymouth-on-fa/20624379/article-detail.xml 20624379 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/plymouth-fathers-day_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/plymouth-fathers-day.jpg <![CDATA[Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/15/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic-book-review/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/15/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic-book-review/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/15/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic-book-review/#comments Filed under: , ,

Memoirs of a Hack MechanicWhen you self-identify as a hack, that means you're proud of it, and Rob Siegel is proud of being a hack. He even has rules for what makes "a good kludge," which he delineates in his book, Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic. Rob Siegel, you see, isn't just a backyard wrench-twirler. His column, The Hack Mechanic, has been a fixture in the BMW Car Club of America's official magazine, Roundel, for decades. Now, Bentley Publishers has given Siegel a wider platform for musing about cars, while really not talking as much about cars as you'd think.

Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic bills itself as "a memoir with actual useful stuff" - an apt description. It's not a how-to manual for fixing your car, and it may be more helpful keeping your life in balance than it is with carburetor balancing. That's no bad thing, and Siegel himself explains how classic manuals like John Muir's How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive and books like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Shop Class as Soulcraft serve more like manuals for self-discovery than fix-it books.

The tone and Zen-seeking flavour of those books makes Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic an easy read that often makes you chuckle (because you've been there) or marvel at the clever solution to a potential landmine of a repair ("cascading failure" is Siegel's apt descriptor). Talking about the process of auto repair not from the "put-tab-B-into-slot-A" perspective, but from the "stand back and look at the big picture" point of view that the book takes is due, in part, to the author's day job as an engineer. It's good advice, and it's why the book has appeal beyond fans of Neue Klasse Roundies.

The actual useful stuff is exactly that, especially the section that covers tools and shop procedures. Knowing the right kind of equipment to buy, where to spend the money, and where you can find bargains is key to getting the job done in an at least somewhat enjoyable fashion, and that's all well-covered by the book. Another nugget of gold is a detailed section of repairing air conditioning systems, because without AC, your summer enjoyment season with a car lasts about five weeks until it's too sweltering to use, forcing you back to your Toyota Corolla. And nobody wants that.

Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic is a book that will feel right at home next to your spiral-bound How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, and it's written with a breezy, conversational tone that lets you get to know the author even if you haven't been reading Roundel for 25 years. It's less a car manual than it is a how-to guide for living with this particular addiction, from buying to keeping to selling cars that entertain you, and that's why it's a worthwhile addition to your library.

Continue reading Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic

Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> book reviewmemoirs of a hack mechanicrob siegel Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20621132/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/15/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic-book-review/20621132/article-detail.xml 20621132 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic.jpg <![CDATA[Detroit's infamous Packard plant headed for auction block]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/15/detroits-infamous-packard-plant-headed-for-auction-block/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/15/detroits-infamous-packard-plant-headed-for-auction-block/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/15/detroits-infamous-packard-plant-headed-for-auction-block/#comments Filed under: , ,

Detroit's abandoned Packard plant complex

Crain's Detroit Business reports Detroit's abandoned Packard plant is set to come up for auction this September. Wayne County officially foreclosed on the property this year due to tax delinquency. The owner owed around US$975,000 (CAD$994,842) on the 43 parcels that make up the old manufacturing site, and bidding is expected to start at that figure. All of the parcels will be sold together as a bundled property, but if the plant fails to sell, Wayne County will put it up for auction again in October at a bundled US$500 (CAD$510) per parcel. That means that in theory, someone could walk away with the whole site for a mere US$21,500 (CAD$21,934).

Originally constructed in 1903, the plant covers 3.5 million square feet of floor area. Though the Packard auto brand closed up shop in 1958, other small businesses have used portions of the facility for a range of endeavors, including simple storage. Recent years have seen the plant devolve into an empty hulk, with scrappers, vandals and graffiti artists having their way with the sites many buildings.

The city of Detroit has been working to foreclose on the property for years, but wound up tangled in a legal dispute over who actually owns the land.

Continue reading Detroit's infamous Packard plant headed for auction block

Detroit's infamous Packard plant headed for auction block originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> auctionblightdetroitpackardpackard plantpackard plant auctionruin porn Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20619425/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/15/detroits-infamous-packard-plant-headed-for-auction-block/20619425/article-detail.xml 20619425 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/detroit-packard-plant_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/detroit-packard-plant.jpg <![CDATA[Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee season 2 opens with Sarah Silverman and Jag E-Type]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/14/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-season-2-opens-with-sarah-silve/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/14/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-season-2-opens-with-sarah-silve/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/14/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-season-2-opens-with-sarah-silve/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,



Season Two of Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee kicked this week in style. How much more style is there to be had than in a 1969 Jaguar XKE, after all? This time around, Seinfeld and Sarah Silverman spend some time driving around in the "slinky, sexy" Jag, talking comedy and then grabbing breakfast.

In addition to the kickoff of the show's second season, this episode also represents the start of a 24-episode sponsorship with Acura. The original deal promised short ads at the beginning and end of each episode, but this time around, Seinfeld "stumbles upon" a 2014 Acura RLX, which is obviously - and admittedly - the work of product integration. Scroll down to watch Seinfeld and Silverman exchange banter with the Jag's beauty as a happy backdrop.

Continue reading Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee season 2 opens with Sarah Silverman and Jag E-Type

Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee season 2 opens with Sarah Silverman and Jag E-Type originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1969 jaguar xkecicgccomedians in cars getting coffeejaguarjaguar e-typejerry seinfeldsarah silvermanvideo Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:01:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20622368/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/14/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-season-2-opens-with-sarah-silve/20622368/article-detail.xml 20622368 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-jaguar-xke_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-jaguar-xke.jpg <![CDATA[BMW M3 gets the video retrospective treatment]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/bmw-m3-gets-the-video-retrospective-treatment/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/bmw-m3-gets-the-video-retrospective-treatment/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/bmw-m3-gets-the-video-retrospective-treatment/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

BMW E30 M3 parked in garage - front view - video screencap

With BMW on the cusp of pulling back the sheets on its next-generation M3 (or should we say, M4?), the crew from Electric Federal has taken it upon themselves to give us a generation-by-generation look at the evolution of the most renowned of BMW's sports coupes. The video below features plenty of beautiful shots of each generation of M3, starting with the ever lust-worthy E30 before finishing up with the current iteration. BWS Motorsport's Mark Norris provides the narration, complete with a brief synopsis of what makes each generation so special.

As usual, the clip is fit for big-screen viewing. You can watch the action below for yourself. Meanwhile, we'll be busy figuring out which vital organs we can sell to get our hands on our own E30 M3.

Continue reading BMW M3 gets the video retrospective treatment

BMW M3 gets the video retrospective treatment originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bmwbmw 3 seriesbmw m3E30E30 M3m3retrospectivevideo Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:30:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20616903/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/11/bmw-m3-gets-the-video-retrospective-treatment/20616903/article-detail.xml 20616903 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/bmw-m3-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/bmw-m3-628.jpg <![CDATA[MINI congratulates Porsche on 911 50th anniversary]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/mini-porsche-photos-911-50th-anniversary/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/mini-porsche-photos-911-50th-anniversary/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/mini-porsche-photos-911-50th-anniversary/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



The folks at Porsche sure know how to throw a good party for the legendary 911 (which, by the way turns 50 this year), as thoughtful birthday gifts continue to pour in from everyone including this awesome vintage photoshoot from close pal and fellow automotive icon Mini.

We can only assume the inspiration for this matching yellow gift came after seeing Porsche's very own amazing anniversary photos and hearing about its plans to take the classic 911 on a 5-star tour of Europe's best race tracks to celebrate.

According to Mini's accompanying press release below, "When major landmarks like a 50th come into view, it's traditional to look back over the birthday boy's childhood. Although the Mini and Porsche 911 may not be cars you would instinctively compare, there are one or two striking aspects of their history that have brought them together over time."

Click here to view the full photo gallery of both of these cult classics together.

Gallery: Porsche 911: Then And Now

Continue reading MINI congratulates Porsche on 911 50th anniversary

MINI congratulates Porsche on 911 50th anniversary originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 50th anniversary50th anniversary 911911CooperMiniMini CooperphotosPorschePorsche 50thporsche 911porsche anniversary Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:45:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20604409/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/11/mini-porsche-photos-911-50th-anniversary/20604409/article-detail.xml 20604409 http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/p90124937-highres-1024x682_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/p90124937-highres-1024x682.jpg <![CDATA[Man rolls $400,000 vintage Bugatti in race, goes for a pint]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/man-rolls-400-000-vintage-bugatti-in-race-goes-for-a-pint/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/man-rolls-400-000-vintage-bugatti-in-race-goes-for-a-pint/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/man-rolls-400-000-vintage-bugatti-in-race-goes-for-a-pint/#comments Filed under: , , ,



One of the risks associated with vintage car racing is damaging a rare, priceless piece of automotive history, but we're pretty sure that one recent participant is just happy to be alive. Edmund Burgess, of Lavenham, UK, was participating in the Prescott Speed Hill Climb in Gloucestershire, UK when, according to Car Buzz, the brakes reportedly failed on his 1924 Bugatti Type 13 causing it to go off course and roll over.

With an open cockpit on the car, all that was protecting Burgess were a helmet, goggles and a jacket, and while the video shows that his head came very close to making contact with the wall and ground, and that he was briefly trapped under the car, he fortunately didn't suffer any serious injuries.

Too bad the same can't be said for the Bugatti. The vintage racer, worth an estimated 250,000 British pounds (about CAD$396,000), was heavily damaged, but the report says that Burgess is determined to get it fixed and racing again in just eight weeks. So what does a racer do after crashing his rare sports car and live to race another day? Probably the same thing we'd all do. Grab a beer. The video of the crash is posted below.

Continue reading Man rolls $400,000 vintage Bugatti in race, goes for a pint

Man rolls $400,000 vintage Bugatti in race, goes for a pint originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1924 bugatti type 13bugattibugatti racecaredmund burgessprescott hill climbracecar crashvideovintage car race Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:57:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20606492/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/10/man-rolls-400-000-vintage-bugatti-in-race-goes-for-a-pint/20606492/article-detail.xml 20606492 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/bugatti-type-35-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/bugatti-type-35-crash.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this story of an unassuming E28 M5 with 644,000 kilometres]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/watch-this-story-of-an-unassuming-644-000-kilometre-e28-m5/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/watch-this-story-of-an-unassuming-644-000-kilometre-e28-m5/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/watch-this-story-of-an-unassuming-644-000-kilometre-e28-m5/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

Petrolicious BMW M5

The band of misfits from Petrolicious have set their lenses on something truly delectable: Randy Balingit-Hartmann's 1989 BMW M5. The car is spotlessly clean, but it hasn't been sealed away in a garage somewhere for posterity. Balingit-Hartmann bought his M5 brand new, and it was one of the first models in Southern California.

Since then, he's piled over 644,000 kilometres (400,000 miles) on the machine bombing through the canyons and hills around San Diego. It's still running the original transmission and rear differential, though the engine has been given a substantial freshening. There's also been a bit of suspension and exhaust work to keep the car quick over all these years.

Originally, Balingit-Hartmann purchased the car in his early 20s, and had to have his father come to the dealership with him to get the salesman to take him seriously. Since then, he's kept the car through life's highs and lows and a full passel of jobs, but the M5 remained a constant. Cheers to that. You can check out the beautifully told story below, and you can check out all the videos we've covered from Petrolicious here.

Continue reading Watch this story of an unassuming E28 M5 with 644,000 kilometres

Watch this story of an unassuming E28 M5 with 644,000 kilometres originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1989 bmw m5bmw m5petroliciouspetrolicious bmw m5 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:29:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20605369/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/10/watch-this-story-of-an-unassuming-644-000-kilometre-e28-m5/20605369/article-detail.xml 20605369 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/petrolicious-bmw-m5-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/petrolicious-bmw-m5-628.jpg <![CDATA[Stay in this converted 1918 gas station when you're in New Orleans]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/stay-in-this-converted-1918-gas-station-when-youre-in-new-orlea/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/stay-in-this-converted-1918-gas-station-when-youre-in-new-orlea/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/stay-in-this-converted-1918-gas-station-when-youre-in-new-orlea/#comments Filed under: ,

New Orleans converted gas station hotel

New Orleans has great charm, awesome parties and some of the best food in the nation. We highly recommend a visit. And if you want to add some automotive flavor to your trip, this converted 1918 Sinclair gas station would certainly do the trick.

The 2000-square-foot loft-style house is packed with automobilia like the classic-car nameplates as drawer pulls in the kitchen, the Flexbeam-style lights in the bathroom, the antique gas pump in the dining area, or the disembodied bumper from a '60s-era DeSoto hanging above the house's only bed. Hubcaps line one wall in the den and a garage-style sliding door lets in sunshine and fresh air.

The owner says the NO streetcar is within walking distance, but says there's a Harley-Davidson rental shop nearby if you want your own wheels.

At US$1,800 a week, this gas-station-turned-inn is no discount hotel. But where else will you be able to cook breakfast below the red neon glow of a Mobilgas Pegasus?

Continue reading Stay in this converted 1918 gas station when you're in New Orleans

Stay in this converted 1918 gas station when you're in New Orleans originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> automobiliagas stationhotelnew orleans Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:45:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20600038/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/05/stay-in-this-converted-1918-gas-station-when-youre-in-new-orlea/20600038/article-detail.xml 20600038 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/gas-station-br-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/gas-station-br-628.jpg <![CDATA[Can you really supercharge a 1978 Chevy Monza with leaf blowers?]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/can-you-really-supercharge-a-1978-chevy-monza-with-leaf-blowers/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/can-you-really-supercharge-a-1978-chevy-monza-with-leaf-blowers/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/can-you-really-supercharge-a-1978-chevy-monza-with-leaf-blowers/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Leaf Blower 1978 Chevrolet Monza

There's a reason I don't own a dyno. Well, technically there are around five thousand reasons I don't own a dyno, but the most prominent of those is the fact that I'd spend all my days tracking down horsepower in the most hairbrained of ways. You know, like bolting five leaf blowers to a 1978 Chevrolet Monza in an attempt to cobble together a make-believe supercharger. Fortunately for my lingering curiosity, the guys at Hot Rod have done just that. After picking up a '78 Monza for US$3,000, Road Kill hosts Freiburger and Finnegan proceed to try to add a little forced induction to aged hatch.

Believe it or not, a little time on the dyno proves the leaf blowers to actually be beneficial when it comes to making power. Not as beneficial as yanking the stock 305 V8 and replacing it with a 350, mind you, but beneficial nonetheless. To find out whether that extra grunt meant any additional speed, the team headed to the East Coast Timing Association's Ohio Mile event to run a few passes. The first run sees the car clip past 217 km/h (135 mph). How's that for insanity?

Check out the video clip below for yourself.

Gallery: Top 10 most iconic cars of each decade

Continue reading Can you really supercharge a 1978 Chevy Monza with leaf blowers?

Can you really supercharge a 1978 Chevy Monza with leaf blowers? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> hot rodhot rod magazineleaf blowerleaf blower chevy monzaleaf blower monza videoleaf blower superchargerroad killvideo Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:57:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20597392/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/03/can-you-really-supercharge-a-1978-chevy-monza-with-leaf-blowers/20597392/article-detail.xml 20597392 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/leaf-blower-monza-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/leaf-blower-monza-628.jpg <![CDATA[eGarage takes a look at J&L Fabricating, comes away with warm hearts]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/02/egarage-jandl-fabricating-documentary-video/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/02/egarage-jandl-fabricating-documentary-video/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/06/02/egarage-jandl-fabricating-documentary-video/#comments Filed under: , ,

J&L Fabricating

"It's one thing to put a car together, it's another thing to make it work." Truer words have never been spoken, and in the case of Louie Shefchik of J&L Fabricating, the man who opens the video below with those words, 'making it work' has practically been elevated to an art form.

From humble beginnings - a garage back behind the duplex in which Louie and his wife Jeanette lived - J&L has grown to become a highly respected track-side crew that keeps its clients' vintage race cars on the track and competitive. And, judging by the commentary of his customers, friends and family, he's a downright great person.

Check out the video below for the complete story of J&L Fabricating from eGarage.

Continue reading eGarage takes a look at J&L Fabricating, comes away with warm hearts

eGarage takes a look at J&L Fabricating, comes away with warm hearts originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The following is written by auto industry veteran Tom Kowaleski. The words are his own, but the memories now belong to everyone thanks to his willingness to share. If you're an industry veteran with a story to share, contact us at tipsATautoblogDOTcom.

It became the flame that started the fire of belief in the next life of Chrysler.

I just sold a car. Nothing new. Millions do it every day. But my car was a 1995 Dodge Viper, so maybe it was a bit more unique since just 12,000 were built. And like others selling a car that's been a part of the family for close to 20 years, this was a confluence of emotions for me. I was sad to see it go, but happy to have the cash and one less big, shiny, under-utilized object in my life.

Viper was a major part of my education in the automobile business. I worked at Chrysler in the '80s and '90s, and the Viper's development - indeed, its whole story - was critical to Chrysler's revitalization and comeback into credibility. The Viper program was done on a shoestring. It came to life as the result of four incredibly strong personalities agreeing on a single vision. It was a car no consumer research would ever support. It was a car one no one else would ever think of building. Yet, it became the flame that started the fire of belief in the next life of Chrysler.

The first time I laid eyes on the Viper, I was invited to join a final review session with Bob Lutz, the Vice Chairman of the company at the time; Francois Castaing, the new head of Engineering and recent AMC arrival; and Tom Gale, the head of Design and the most senior 'real' Chrysler person. The fourth member of the gang, the scalawag racing legend Carroll Shelby, was not in attendance.

Tom Kowaleski is a veteran of public relations. He has worked in senior positions at Chrysler, General Motors, BMW and currently Lincoln, making him one of the few industry insiders to have worked for each of Detroit's three automakers.

Continue reading I sold my Viper, but the memories I'll keep

I sold my Viper, but the memories I'll keep originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> chryslerdodgedodge viperfeaturedtom kowaleskitow kowaleskitowkowaleski Sun, 02 Jun 2013 17:58:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20595068/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/02/i-sold-my-viper-but-the-memories-ill-keep/20595068/article-detail.xml 20595068 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/tom-kowaleski-viper-628-1369957668_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/tom-kowaleski-viper-628-1369957668.jpg <![CDATA[Porsche taking classic 911 on tour of Europe's best tracks [w/video]]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/porsche-taking-classic-911-on-tour-of-europes-best-tracks-w-vi/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/porsche-taking-classic-911-on-tour-of-europes-best-tracks-w-vi/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/porsche-taking-classic-911-on-tour-of-europes-best-tracks-w-vi/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , , ,



How cool would it be if instead of calling it your "birthday" you called it your "anniversary" and spent an entire year celebrating it? Porsche has kept the lights on and the music going for its 50th anniversary this year, and the latest huzzah is called Project 50, which will see a 1965 Porsche 911 short wheelbase racecar run in The Masters Series of vintage racing.

Not just a parade lap around some vintage circuits, The Master Series is FIA-sanctioned and has five competitive classes. The 911 entered the picture at Round Two, held last weekend at Brands Hatch, and will make five more appearances this year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Silverstone Classic, Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix, Spa 6-Hour at Spa Francorchamps and the Jerez Masters festival.

There's a video below announcing the event, and the promise of more to come.

Gallery: Porsche 911: Amelia Island 2013

Continue reading Porsche taking classic 911 on tour of Europe's best tracks [w/video]

Porsche taking classic 911 on tour of Europe's best tracks [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 31 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1965 porsche 911porsche 911porsche gbthe masters seriesvideovintage racing Fri, 31 May 2013 19:00:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20594940/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/31/porsche-taking-classic-911-on-tour-of-europes-best-tracks-w-vi/20594940/article-detail.xml 20594940 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/porsche-project-50_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/porsche-project-50.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Dominated By Ralph Lauren's Bugatti]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/2013-concorso-deleganza-villa-deste-dominated-by-ralph-lauren/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/2013-concorso-deleganza-villa-deste-dominated-by-ralph-lauren/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/2013-concorso-deleganza-villa-deste-dominated-by-ralph-lauren/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , ,


On this past long weekend while Americans were celebrating Memorial Day, the very American Ralph Lauren was cleaning up tidily at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in northern Italy on the western shore of Lake Como. It rained the first day on and off and this lowered a little the spirits of the event, but Sunday was a knockout Day Two and, at any rate, nothing put the kibosh on Lauren's 1938 Bugatti winning nearly everything there was to win.

Nothing put the kibosh on Lauren's 1938 Bugatti winning nearly everything there was to win.

Here's the hardware the clothing magnate's US$40-million-value Bugatti 57SC Atlantic hauled in: Trofeo BMW Group (this is a BMW Group-sponsored event since 1999) for best in show according to the Jury; Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este for best in show according to the invited public and press; Trofeo BMW Group Italia for best in show according to the open public on Day Two; Trofeo BMW Group Ragazzi for best in show according to the younguns; best-in-class winner of Class B a.k.a. "Purosangue"; Trofeo Auto & Design special prize for most exciting design according to the Jury.

So, hats off to Mr. Lauren's sultry black French win-mobile. There are nine classes overall and besides the mondo Bugatti in Class B, the other eight were: a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S torpedo roadster (Class A "Gentlefolk of the Road"); 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast berlinetta (Class C "Time of Change"); 1962 Aston Martin DB4 SS saloon (Class D "Aston Martin" for the company centenary); 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB berlinetta (Class E "Cavallino contro Tridente" for Ferrari vs. Maserati); 1956 Jaguar XKSS spider (Class F "California Dreaming"); 1964 Ferrari 250 LM berlinetta (Class G "Style and Speed"); 1965 Lamborghini 350 GTS spider (Class H "Lamborghini" for the company 50th anniversary); 1965 Ferrari Dino 166P/206P spider (Class I "Racing Improves the Breed").

Continue reading 2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Dominated By Ralph Lauren's Bugatti

2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Dominated By Ralph Lauren's Bugatti originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 31 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> awardsbugatticlassicsconcorsoConcorso dEleganzaConcorso dEleganza Villa dEsteconcoursConcours deleganceitalyralph laurenvilla deste Fri, 31 May 2013 13:30:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20594446/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/31/2013-concorso-deleganza-villa-deste-dominated-by-ralph-lauren/20594446/article-detail.xml 20594446 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/1938-bugatti-57sc-atlantic-winner_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/1938-bugatti-57sc-atlantic-winner.jpg <![CDATA[Revisiting Dick Guldstrand's forgotten Corvette ZR-1]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/revisiting-dick-guldstrands-forgotten-corvette-zr-1/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/revisiting-dick-guldstrands-forgotten-corvette-zr-1/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/revisiting-dick-guldstrands-forgotten-corvette-zr-1/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

1994 Guldstrand Chevrolet Corvette GS90

The crew from Electric Federal recently sat down with Dick Guldstrand to discuss the builder's favorite creation. Guldstrand grew up during the glory days of the California hot rod scene and made a name for himself racing and building Chevrolet Corvette bruisers. In the early '90s, he became dismayed at rumours that General Motors was considering cancelling the sports car. In order to stoke a little excitement, Guldstrand picked up a 475-horsepower Corvette ZR-1 and let designer Steve Winter loose on the car. The result became the short-lived 1994 Guldstrand Corvette GS90 Coupe.

While the car retained its factory side glass, windshield and rearview mirrors, nearly every other exterior body panel received significant tweaking. Guldstrand also fitted the car with beefier anti-roll bars and coil-over suspension at all four corners. Combined with larger wheels and tires, the GS90 is said to have handled substantially better than the ZR-1 on which it was based. Of course, the cars were also pricey at US$206,208 apiece. Guldstrand only sold six, but that clearly hasn't dampened his enthusiasm for his creation. Check out the Electric Federal video essay on the builder and his GS90 below.

Continue reading Revisiting Dick Guldstrand's forgotten Corvette ZR-1

Revisiting Dick Guldstrand's forgotten Corvette ZR-1 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 31 May 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> chevy corvettechevy corvette gs90chevy corvette zr-1chevy corvette zr1dick guldstrandelectric federalguldstrand corvetteguldstrand gs90video Fri, 31 May 2013 11:15:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20589473/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/31/revisiting-dick-guldstrands-forgotten-corvette-zr-1/20589473/article-detail.xml 20589473 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/corvette-gs90-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/corvette-gs90-628.jpg <![CDATA[WWII Jeep 'found in crate' set to cross Greenwich auction block]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/wwii-jeep-found-in-crate-set-to-cross-greenwich-auction-block/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/wwii-jeep-found-in-crate-set-to-cross-greenwich-auction-block/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/wwii-jeep-found-in-crate-set-to-cross-greenwich-auction-block/#comments Filed under: , , ,

WWII Jeep 'found in crate' - front three-quarter view

Fans of old military vehicles might want to pay extra close attention to the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance coming up this weekend. Crossing the Bonhams auction block on Sunday are a pair of seemingly flawless World War II Jeeps, which are both expected to fetch serious dollars.

Lot Number 305 at the auction is a 1945 Ford GPW Jeep that has been fully restored, which is expected to command between US$35,000 and US$45,000. Shortly after the Ford GPW, a potentially more interesting 1944 Willys MB (shown above) will be auctioned off, but Hemmings raises some red flags about this Jeep. First, it is claiming to have been "discovered in its original crate about 30 years ago," but there is no proof or documentation of any sort. Also, it is claiming to be all original, but it was given a paint job "shortly after it was discovered." Even with these questionable descriptions, this Willys could reach between US$20,000 and US$30,000. Head over to Bonhams' site and Hemmings for more information on both WW2-era Jeeps.

Continue reading WWII Jeep 'found in crate' set to cross Greenwich auction block

WWII Jeep 'found in crate' set to cross Greenwich auction block originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 30 May 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bonhamsford gpwford jeepgreenwich concours delegancejeepmilitary jeepmilitary vehiclewillys jeepwillys mbwillys mb jeepworld war iiww2wwii Thu, 30 May 2013 11:15:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20589222/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/30/wwii-jeep-found-in-crate-set-to-cross-greenwich-auction-block/20589222/article-detail.xml 20589222 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ww2-jeep_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ww2-jeep.jpg <![CDATA[Jensen Interceptor surprises car geeks in Fast & Furious 6]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/jensen-interceptor-in-fast-and-furious-6/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/jensen-interceptor-in-fast-and-furious-6/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/jensen-interceptor-in-fast-and-furious-6/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Fans of oddball cars rarely get much gratification from mainstream Hollywood films. A TVR Tuscan Speed Six in 2001's fairly forgettable Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, John Travolta actioner Swordfish is about all that comes to mind recently. For the most part, the Fast & Furious series has followed the formula of serving up familiar cars from the US and Japan. Until now that is. The sixth installment, which set records at the box office this past Memorial Day weekend, features a few notable eccentricities, including a 1978 Ford Mark I Escort, an LS7-powered Lister and everybody's favorite tough chick, Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), driving a Jensen Interceptor of all things.

The few sites out there that cater to the fishbowl-backed, Mopar-powered British coupe probably can't handle the traffic they got this past weekend, so to save their servers, we'll give you a bit of information on the Interceptor. In full disclosure, I'm an owner of a '73 Interceptor that several of my colleagues infamously drove from Arizona to St. Louis in a trouble-plagued delivery run/magazine story.

Rob Sass is the Publisher of Hagerty Classic Cars magazine. He is a regular contributor to the automotive section of the New York Times and is the author of "Ran When Parked, Advice and Adventures from the Affordable Underbelly of Car Collecting."

Continue reading Jensen Interceptor surprises car geeks in Fast & Furious 6

Jensen Interceptor surprises car geeks in Fast & Furious 6 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 28 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> fast and furiousfast and furious 6jensen interceptorletty ortizmichelle rodriguez Tue, 28 May 2013 18:30:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20586165/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/28/jensen-interceptor-in-fast-and-furious-6/20586165/article-detail.xml 20586165 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/fast-furious-jensen-interceptor_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/fast-furious-jensen-interceptor.jpg <![CDATA[Lewis Hamilton jet ski prank causes serious camera carnage]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/lewis-hamilton-jet-ski-prank-causes-camera-damages/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/lewis-hamilton-jet-ski-prank-causes-camera-damages/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/28/lewis-hamilton-jet-ski-prank-causes-camera-damages/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Lewis Hamilton

That zany Lewis Hamilton is up to some hijinks once again, recently hamming it up on a pair of jet skis for a television film crew in Monaco with fellow Formula One driver Nico Rosberg. The F1 drivers were supposed to stay far enough away from the camera operators on a stationary boat, but Hamilton came in close, executed a sharp turn and sprayed the whole crowd with water. Early reports said the stunt did US$150,000 in damage to cameras and mobile phones, but Mercedes-Benz said that wasn't the case.

A source with the company said one freelancer didn't adequately protect his gear. The race team is helping to repair or replace the damaged equipment as a gesture of good faith.

Click through to watch a video showing Mercedes-Benz F1 racer.

Gallery: 2013 Spanish Formula One Grand Prix






Continue reading Lewis Hamilton jet ski prank causes serious camera carnage

Lewis Hamilton jet ski prank causes serious camera carnage originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 28 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> f1formula onejet skilewis hamiltonlewis hamilton jet skimercedesnico rosberg Tue, 28 May 2013 09:00:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20584754/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/28/lewis-hamilton-jet-ski-prank-causes-camera-damages/20584754/article-detail.xml 20584754 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dv1484691_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dv1484691.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept celebrates 100 years, makes us weak in the knees]]> http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/27/aston-martin-cc100-speedster-concept-celebrates-100-years-makes/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/27/aston-martin-cc100-speedster-concept-celebrates-100-years-makes/ http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/27/aston-martin-cc100-speedster-concept-celebrates-100-years-makes/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,




Aston Martin is popping the bubbly and launching a new concept car to celebrate their centenial. Aston's brightest unleashed their creative juices to create a modern sports car that harkens back to Aston Martin racers of yore. The resultant retro-styled speedster that found form is nothing short of breath-taking - particularly for any fans of the British marque.

The CC100 draws upon design cues from the Le Mans winning DBR1 race car. It's powered by a 6.0-litre V12, which is capable of propelling it to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a hair over 4 seconds. Thanks to it's light-weight carbon-fibre body and dual-clutch transmission, the CC100 is at home on the racetrack. Top speed is limited to 289 km/h (180 mph). The body is almost 4.5 metres long and more than two metres wide, including the mirrors.

The below video shows the creation of the CC100 from paper to racetrack. You'll want to watch it until the end, where you'll find hear a special treat from Aston Martin's V12 engine builders. The music soundtrack's not bad either.

Scroll down to continue reading, then watch the making of this iconic Aston Martin Speedster. A high-resolution photo gallery can be found above.

Gallery: Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition: Geneva 2013





Continue reading Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept celebrates 100 years, makes us weak in the knees

Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept celebrates 100 years, makes us weak in the knees originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 27 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> astonaston martinaston martin conceptaston martin speedsterAstonMartinautomotive designcc100cc100 photosCc100SpeedsterCc100SpeedsterConceptclassicclassic carclassic car designconceptconcept carConceptCardesignspeedster Mon, 27 May 2013 11:00:00 EST http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/20583727/article-comments.xml http://ca.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/27/aston-martin-cc100-speedster-concept-celebrates-100-years-makes/20583727/article-detail.xml 20583727 http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/aston-martin-cc100_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/aston-martin-cc100.jpg -1 2