Tag: Classics

Mercedes To Honor Stirling Moss At Goodwood Revival With Two Of His Most Famous Race Cars

Mercedes-Benz Classic is planning on taking two of Sir Stirling Moss’s most important race cars to the 2021 Goodwood Revival in honor of the driver who passed away at the age of 90 in April 2020.

One of Mercedes’ all-time great drivers, the Briton is credited as one of the best Formula 1 drivers ever to miss out on a driver’s title and drove alongside the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio.

Indeed, to celebrate his stunning performances alongside perhaps the postwar era’s most accomplished driver, Mercedes is taking the 1955 W 196 R with which Moss finished second in that year’s Formula championship.

Read Also: Watch The Story Of How Disc Brakes Came To Be In Documentary Featuring The Late Sir Stirling Moss

Powered by a 2.5-liter straight-eight with desmodromic valves and direct fuel injection, it was a technological marvel. Capable of delivering up to 285 hp (290 PS/213 kW), it earned Moss victory at the German Grand Prix in 1955, while Fangio took it to victory in Argentina, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy.

The second car Mercedes is taking to Goodwood might be the Briton’s most famous. The 1955 300 SLR (W 196 S) was a version of the same Grand Prix adapted for events like the Mille Miglia.

Racing alongside his navigator, Denis Jenkinson, under the now-famous number 722, the pair managed an average speed of 157.65 km/h (97.8 mph) over the 1,600 km (1,000 miles) course. Like the Grand Prix car, it featured a straight-eight engine, though it was bored to nearly three liters, and was thus capable of making 305 hp (310 PS/228 kW).

“In honor of the great person and racing driver Sir Stirling Moss, Mercedes-Benz Classic has already presented the ‘722’ ‘at several events in England over the past few months,” says Christian Boucke, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “The highlight and at the same time the conclusion of this special tour is certainly the Goodwood Revival. There, in addition to the racing sports car, we are showing an original Formula 1 racing car from 1955.“

The Goodwood Revival will be running from September 17 to September 19.

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This 34K Mile, 1978 Datsun 280Z Can Be Yours For Less Than $50,000

Nissan unveiled the retro-inspired Z Proto earlier this month but, if you can’t wait for the upcoming production model, you can buy this 1978 Datsun 280Z instead.

Currently listed on eBay with a buy it now price of $49,000 (£38,495 / €41,825), the car looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.

There’s a good reason for this, as the vehicle has only been owned by one person and they kept it in a garage since 1990. As a result, the 280Z has only been driven 34,000 miles (54,718 km) in the past 42 years.

Also Read: 1970 Datsun 240Z With Rich Pedigree Sells For Nearly $125K

As you can see in the pictures, the car looks phenomenal for its age. While there are a few blemishes, the original stripes are still intact and the model appears to be largely devoid of rust. The car also rides on the 14-inch magnesium wheels which are described as “extremely rare.”

While the exterior isn’t perfect, the cabin is in immaculate condition. The original dash is crack free and the factory radio hasn’t been swapped out for an aftermarket replacement. Wear and tear is virtually nonexistent, and the sell says “Every single gauge works including the clock, which never works!”

Since the car sat for 30 years, it has been given a mechanical refreshing which included the installation of a new fuel pump, new fuel injectors and a “full fuel system overhaul” which involved dropping the tank and having it professionally cleaned. The model has also been outfitted with new tires as well as a new master cylinder and clutch pump.

Thanks to these changes, the 280Z “runs and drives like a dream.” The seller also says the “transmission shifts like butter,” while the clutch is “soft and engages nicely.”

The seller didn’t mention performance specifications, but 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine should have 170 hp (127 kW / 172 PS) and 163 lb-ft (221 Nm) of torque. It appears to be connected to a four-speed manual, instead of the optional five-speed gearbox.

The car comes with its original books and window sticker, and the latter shows the model retailed for $9,067 (£7,128 / €7,747) in 1978.

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Are These Six 2020 Rides Going To Become Future Classics?

Hagerty knows a thing or two about classic cars, so it’s interesting to see which current 2020 models they believe will become future classics.

Unsurprisingly, their so-called Hot List includes a handful of obvious choices. However, it also features models that fly under the radar and a legitimate surprise or two.

Chevrolet Corvette C8

Starting with the most obvious choice, there’s the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8. It’s the first mid-engine Corvette ever, it looks great, has a good interior and offers impressive performance.

The latter comes courtesy of a 6.2-liter V8 that produces up to 495 hp (369 kW / 502 PS) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 2.9 seconds and run the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds.

Besides all that, the 2020 model year C8 will have a relatively limited production run as the model was delayed by the UAW strike and then halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

The second model isn’t much of a surprise either as it’s the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. It’s the ultimate pony car, packing a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that develops 760 hp (567 kW / 771 PS) and 625 lb-ft (846 Nm) of torque.

That’s more power than the Ford GT and it enables the GT500 to go from 0-100-0 mph (0-161-0 km/h) in just 10.6 seconds. However, it’s slower to 60 mph (96 km) than the Corvette despite costing more and having significantly more power.

Cadillac CT6-V

The third choice is also pretty obvious, but somewhat easy to overlook. We’re talking about the Cadillac CT6-V which features a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 that produces 550 hp (410 kW / 558 PS) and 640 lb-ft (867 Nm) of torque.

While the performance specs aren’t mind blowing, the CT6-V had a short and troubled existence. Throw in the fact that only around 800 CT6-Vs were built, and it’s easy to understand why the model is bound to be an future classic.

Polestar 1

Next up is the Polestar 1. It’s a slightly unusual choice, but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

Not only is it beautiful and Polestar’s first production model, but the 1 is a limited edition sports car that has a high-tech powertrain. Power is provided by a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine as well as two electric motors.

This setup gives the car a combined output of 600 hp (448 kW / 609 PS) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. The 34 kWh battery also enables the coupe to travel up to 77 miles (124 km) on electricity alone in the WLTP cycle.

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

Now here’s a controversial choice we’re not totally convinced will prove to be a future classic. It’s the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon which is cool, but probably not super collectible.

Jeep fans had been clamoring for a pickup for years and things reached a fever pitch following the unveiling of the Gladiator concept in 2005. Their demands were finally answered 15 years later with a production model that features a removable roof and plenty of off-road capability. A future classic though? Only time will tell…

Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP

Hagerty’s final pick is a surprise as it’s not a car at all. Instead, it’s the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP motorcycle.

As you’ve probably guessed, it’s a high-performance bike which offers “exotic construction, racing-derived aerodynamic innovations and wheelie-popping power.” Speaking of the latter, it has a 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 214 hp (160 kW / 217 PS) and 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) of torque.

So what do you think? Lets us know in the comments below.

Looking For A Blue Unicorn? Here’s A 1996 Audi S6 Plus, The One With The V8

Back in 1997, Audi retired the C4 generation of the A6, after only four years of production, but not before releasing the hottest model of the series, the S6 Plus.

Made in the final two years of production, 952 units saw the light of day, including 855 Avants (estate) and 97 sedans. The limited production number made it a true automotive unicorn, especially in the four-door body style, but this wasn’t the only highlight.

In fact, you had to pop the hood in order to see the icing on the cake, the 4.2-liter DOHC V8, with 32 valves, which replaced the 2.2-liter five-pot powering the standard S6. The engine produced 322 HP (326 PS / 240 kW), 95 HP (96 PS / 71 kW) more than the smaller lump, for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) of 5.6 seconds (5.7 seconds for the Avant).

Watch Also: If You Like Audi’s New-Gen A6, Then You’ll Love The 2020 S6

Other highlights included the upgraded six-speed manual transmission, re-tuned suspension and bigger brakes, joined by the leather and Alcantara upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats with memory, electric sunroof and integrated phone.

This 24-year old S6 Plus was apparently gifted to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, in return for advertising space, and was used by the former CEO, before being sold to the Marquees of Antella. In the possession of its new owner, the car was repainted in Nogaro Blue, the original color, and the engine was rebuilt.

You already know where this is going, so we’ll cut to the chase by telling you that RMSothebys estimates that it will fetch between €40,000 and €60,000 ($43,853-$65,779). It will be offered without reserve at an online auction that kicks off on June 3 at 1:00 p.m. CET (7:00 a.m. EST) in Essen, Germany.

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