classiccars

Could this be the shiniest car in Jay's Garage? Check out the brass!

BMW M535i. With an M on the grille.

The second M car photographed today at the very-much-not-a-ghost-BMW-dealership is a dolphin grey E28 M535i. Like the M635CSi in the previous post, it’s an import in perfect condition, but it has been extensively restored to reach its current state. The garage guy said its owner has spent some serious dollar and the car’s faced extensive welding, but the end result is staggering. The slightest little nick on the M badge on the front is the sole imperfection I could find.

Unlike the M635, this BMW bears plates. The right thing to do was to opt out of Euro plates; a car this old needs to be period correct in this respect.

The admittedly bloated E90 on the canvas behind it shows how far BMW has come while trying to maintain a connection to its past. I don’t want to know how much more the 3-series weighs.

This 1987 car is the last hurrah of the vintage, slimmer shape that the preceding E12 also bore. The following E34 was spiritually closer to the E32 7-series introduced in ’87, and it looks a world away with its fat flanks. While it’s true the E34 still looked modern when it was phased out in 1996 and the E28 couldn’t have cut it much longer than it did, it’s still a watershed moment when it comes to BMW design.

Behind the aggressive grille is a 3.4-litre 211hp six, which continued to live on in the E34. The M535i isn’t as much about absolute power, but M fahrwerk. It gained no extra hp in comparison to the regular 535i, but had a significant amount of aerodynamic improvements and outward detailing to make it a M car. It’s no M5, but it earns its M badge.

And yeah, when it comes to fahrwerk this BMW has definitely had some aftermarket improvements done. It sits low to the ground, and the original M wheels have been ditched in favour of wide-ass Hartge wheels (Hartge is one of the best names in German tuners. Just spell it out, Hart-ge. Up there with Zender and Treser in my opinion) that would fit the car rather well were they not so damn wide.

My only E28 driving experience comes from behind the wheel of a friend’s excellent 518i Bavaria. That car barely had more than 100 hp; while I really liked it, I can’t fathom how it would feel like to grab the leather wheel of this beastly BMW, wearing 245/40 Marangoni rubber on 17″ wheels – with almost double the horsepower.

I wonder what’s with the red calipers?

The car’s had clear indicators swapped on it. I’m on favour on it, but I do appreciate the originality that amber blinkers give.

The exhaust looks like very few gases have passed through it.

Which one of these two M BMW:s is the one you’d go for, given the choice?

BMW M635CSi. Accompanied by an M535i.

As I’m constantly running into things to fix with my Mitsubishi, I’ve now visited the local Mitsubishi garage numerous times. Of course, it might all be a ruse to make it possible for me to ogle at these two absolutely perfect M-series BMW:s. The garage is also a BMW specialist, and the M classics have been stored there for the bad-weather months, only seeing use when it’s actually nice outside.

In these two posts, I’ll show the beautiful Beamers in detail. Here’s the red M635CSi.

Ever stared into the lifeless eyes of a shark?

The BMW M635 CSi was the top-of-the line model of the 6-series. The E24 6 had moved from being E12 5-series -related to the E28 platform in 1982, and the following year the 6-series had the full M treatment with a 3.5-litre M88 engine brought in from the venerable M1 supercar. Power output was an admirable 282 hp. The car was called the M6 in the States, and bore rather larger bumpers in place of the European sleekness seen here.

This M635 appears to be produced before June ’87, since it does not have the ellipsoidal headlights shared with the E32 7-series. It is a Swedish import, currently still unregistered as far as I know, with 92 000 km on the clock.

The car, if it’s unrestored, appears to be in absolutely perfect condition. The wear on even the smallest details is minimal, keeping in mind it’s more than 25 years old.

Some of the cars came with Michelin TRX tires and suitable wheels. This car appears to not wear such a setup, but that is understandable. The rubber on the BBS:s is Michelin, however.

Inside, there’s white leather. Apart from slight wear on the inside of the outer side bolster of the driver’s seat, it’s in excellent condition. The windows bear original BMW alarm stickers.

Hi, I’m a BMW parts number. I’m here right on top of the rear spoiler where people can see me.

I assure you, the BMW does not actually sag in the middle. Blame the camera, will you?

With the pencil-thin pillars of the classical glasshouse and the ever-hungry sharknose, the E24 BMW:s are amongst the most beautiful-looking cars I know, and this M version is perfection upon perfection. I love that it exists.

You know the old saying…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The cabbies in India proudly embrace this motto as evidenced by their taxi of choice for the last half century. The Hindistan Ambassador, lovingly referred to as “The King of Indian Roads” by locals, is essentially a copy of a late 50s Morris Oxford III that has been produced by Hindustan Motors since 1958. Head to their website for tech specs and you’ll find innovations like drum brakes and a 38HP diesel motor. Jokes aside though, they actually do have a wide range of engines including a natural gas option. Think of it as old tech with a new theme.

Pictured above and below, the handsome Ambassador doing what is does best…schlepping people around.

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The Porsche Design group just opened a new Porsche Design store in New York’s SoHo, the largest in the world.

The entire product range of the brand is on offer, from luggage and eyewear to watches, jewelry, smoking accessories, mobile phones and writing instruments.

Being NYC, it also includes an invitation-only shopping section, the first of its kind.

A kind of VIP booth for 911 owners, you might say…

Click to enlarge

Gives a new meaning to the word cameraman.

Despite the fact that I do really hate speed cameras (though as long as they aren’t average speed cameras, they can be easily dodged), this video by prankster Rémi Gaillard made me chuckle.

Not even police cars are immune to this reverse Terminator camera: cold steel on the outside, living flesh on the inside.

See the full video after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wonder if he gives you a polaroid picture immediately after snapping the pic?

[Source: nimportequi]

I’m crying on the inside, and my occupants are getting wet. 

It’s time for the Hooniverse News! This is a weekly recap of everything that happened in the automotive world that you should care about without the fluff of a hyper marketing agent or the dullness of an executive in a suit. I also throw in some opinion, just because I can. This week: 

• M Performance Automobiles releases four new super diesel BMWs

• BMW updates the not-dead-yet X6

• Jeep shows off wicked new Grand Cherokee, wants you to name it

• Ram shows off premium truck that still gets the job done

• Nissan raises the price on its super fast GT-R

M Performance Automobiles rolls out four new super diesels

M Performance Automobiles, BMW’s latest project that aims to add M performance to select BMW model without compromising practicality or comfort, have just given us a taste of what’s to come with four new models.

The M550d xDrive sedan, M550d xDrive touring, X5 50d, and X6 50d each use a new tri-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 diesel motor for power and their not crappy xDrive all-wheel-drive system for putting power down to the road in any condition. AWD is nice to have on a car that’s putting down 381 horsepower and 546 lb.-ft. of torque, which is damn near Dodge Viper SRT10 territory in terms of torque. Of course, M Performance Automobiles threw in sporty suspension component to improve agility and control that power without compromising comfort. Even though these vehicles are more performance-oriented than standard BMWs, M Performance Automobiles is making sure it’s easy on gas as well with BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology like automatic stop/start and an 8-speed automatic transmission that keeps engine revs in a range that’s “optimal” for power/torque delivery and fuel efficiency.  BMW estimates fuel efficiency to be somewhere around 44 mpg for the 5ers and 36 mpg for the heavier X5 and X6.

What’s more impressive is that the M550d xDrive sedan and touring can reportedly do the 0-62 mph run in 4.7 and 4.9 seconds respectively, which is only a couple tenths of a second slower than the new M5’s time. The X5 50d and X6 50d are supposed to do the same sprint in 5.4 second and 5.3 seconds respectively, which is exactly why the world needs more diesels. The few visual enhancements include exclusive 19 or 20-inch M wheels for the 5 sedan and touring, 20-inch M wheels for the X5 and X6, exclusive aero pieces many, many M badges inside and out that give posers the perfect opportunity to convince everyone they drive a real M car.

Pricing info isn’t available yet, but BMW will only be bringing these four super diesels to Europe because of America’s strict emissions regulations. Emission regulations are cool, but really? A 44 mpg 5 Series doesn’t make the cut?

BMW X6 gets a facelift

BMW say the X6 “Sports Activity Coupe” has been selling rather well in America and other markets, which is why they’re still interested in keeping it up-to-date with a mid-cycle refresh. The 2013 BMW X6 LCI (Life-Cycle Impulse) consists mostly of new styling cues and a few new options, but that might be all BMW needs to do to keep on exceeding expectations.

Subtle changes to the sheet metal were made to bring out its athletic and road-holding looks, a new LED headlamp design mimics that of the new 3 Series and replaces the old Xenon bulbs, and new-ish LED tail lights add another touch of athleticism. Also, a new bold front grille design will be 58% more effective at telling other drivers to go faster when they’re being tail-gated in the right lane on the interstate. A variety of new premium paint finishes and light alloy wheel designs will keep you entertained on BMW’s online configurator for a few minutes and fancy new interior upholstery options that will no doubt be comfortable as hell add new style to the otherwise un-touched interior.

Of course, both the aforementioned X6 50d available to Europeans and the 555 horsepower X6M will feature the same updates. The standard X6 will continue to be sold in America with your choice of a 3.0-liter inline-6 with TwinPower Turbo technology or a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 that make 300 and 400 horsepower respectively. No pricing info is available yet, but we do know that the 2013 X6 models will hit showrooms this spring.

Jeep shows off a blacked-out GC

Jeep is continuing to expand their new award-winning lineup with various special editions that add a unique touch of style to otherwise soulless markets. Case in point is this production-intent concept based off the Grand Cherokee that doesn’t really have a name yet. This blacked-out Jeep will get its official name via a Facebook contest hosted by Jeep where fans can submit ideas and vote for the chance to win a new Jeep for themselves.

What exactly makes this Grand Cherokee stand out from the rest is the obvious all-black color scheme. The Jeep shown here is painted in Brilliant Black with gloss black 20-inch wheels and platinum chrome and gloss black trim pieces, but a dark red paint finish will be available as well for an equally badass look. The interior is wrapped in standard leather (most likely in black) and is finished with creature comforts like a heated steering wheel, iPod connectivity, and a park assist system with a backup camera. The Grand Cherokee’s strong powertrain, which features a totally new 290 HP V6 and a 470 HP HEMI V8 with 4-wheel-drive, is untouched.

This special Grand Cherokee is currently unnamed, but Jeep is giving Facebook fans a chance to change that by submitting ideas and voting for the winner. A 2012 Grand Cherokee is also up for grabs, so get to it! In the meantime, this special Jeep is on display at the Houston Auto Show in black and at the Washington D.C. Auto Show in Deep Cherry Red for those who want to look at it first-hand before it hits dealerships this spring at an undisclosed price.

Ram rolls out with a luxurious alternative

The Ram Truck brand has something special planned for the upcoming Chicago Auto Show and they’re letting the world take a peek before its official debut. A new high-end luxury truck, dubbed the Ram Laramie Limited, will hit the assembly line and give buyers the option to drive a comfortable and stylish truck that still promises to get the job done.

The truck’s exterior offers “street truck” looks through premium paint colors that body-matching bumpers with a few special silver chrome accents. 20-inch forged aluminum wheels are standard on the Limited model and the optional Heavy Duty model comes with 17-inch polished aluminum wheels instead. The interior features a full leather cockpit with contrasting piping on the seats and extra leather on the center console lid, shifter, and heated steering wheel for added comfort and style. The construction site-friendly leather interior is topped off with piano black trim pieces, navigation, and heated seats all around.

This package will be available on 1500, 2500 HD, and 3500 HD Ram trucks and should hit dealerships this spring for an undisclosed price.

Nissan ups the price on the GT-R to $96,820

The Nissan GT-R was considered to be the ultimate budget supercar when it was launched in 2008 as it offered uncanny performance for under $70,000. Since its launch, Nissan has been making it better every year, and that means the price has been increasing as well. The car recently underwent a big update which gave it slightly updated styling and lots more performance. As a result, the 2013 GT-R Premium now costs $96,820 and the Black Edition costs $106,320.

Mind you, that price gets you a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 545 HP and 463 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission and an insanely grippy AWD system. All that technically goodness is good for a 0-60 MPH time of just 2.7 seconds, which makes it one of only four production cars on earth that can hit 60 MPH in under 3 seconds – one of those being the $1.7 million Bugatti Veyron. While the price has jumped quite a bit, the Nissan GT-R is definitely still a supercar on a budget.

On our way to drive Bentleys through the Swiss Alps last week – of which much more later – we passed through Old Blighty and were once again awed by the sheer amount of automotive eye candy on display.

London is bristling with Bentleys, rife with Rolls-Royces, festooned with Ferraris and mired in Maseratis.

London is bristling with Bentleys, rife with Rolls-Royces, festooned with Ferraris and mired in Maseratis

Of course being the UK there are plenty of old-school Range Rovers and such with bespoke touches like equestrian mascots which we always enjoy ogling as well.

Herewith a few highlights from our excursions around town to set the scene for the utterly sick Swiss extravaganza coming your way.

Above, a Bentley Continental Flying Spur awaits its well-heeled owner outside the Dunhill shop on Jermyn Street, ground zero for natty gentlemen.

Read on for more, and don’t forget to tuck your tongue back in….

Ferrari California outside the posh The Lanesborough in Hyde Park, where Kanye stays when we wants to be “under the radar”; click to enlarge

Maserati GranCabrio outside the Ralph Lauren boutique on New Bond St., awaiting a trunkload of cashmere and crocodile skin; click to enlarge

Range Rover “Classic” across the street from Turnbull & Asser on Jermyn St., where everyone from James Bond to Winston Churchill has had his shirts made; note the horse racing mascot below; click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Hey there party people, are you clock watchers ready to take a break from the daily grind? Step momentarily out of the rat race? Take advantage of our modern era’s lackadaisical work ethic? Well, then step right up because it’s that staple of Friday productivity killers, the Mystery Car!. Of course, you guys are so good at these that it’s hardly a coffee break’s time before you’ve solved it, so even the most slave-driving of bosses can’t complain too vociferously.

And to make sure you don’t get docked at all, I’m making today’s candidate super easy by having it appear in glorious red. You know, the official color of Italian cars, especially Ferrari? Oops, perhaps I have given away too much. Regardless, you know the rules, make, model, year and engine, nothing less will be accepted, all returns must be accompanied by a receipt.

Okay, start negatively impacting global productivity . . . now!

While the typical parking lot shot we’ve seen provides a glimpse of everyday life and everyday commuter cars, there tend not to be too many of the more exciting cars we see at car shows nowadays. Unless, that is, you were to be taking shots of a parking lot at a motorsports event, as Dave Friedman did when he was at Road America in 1963. Naturally, the vast majority of his shots from that event (uploaded to Flickr recently by The Henry Ford) focus on the racing, but he did snap these three overalls of the parking lot, showing what sorts of vehicles the automotive enthusiast drove back then. What do you see here?

So as Bradley Brownell, who this olelongrooffan is picking up from the Daytona Beach airport in just a few minutes, related to we Hoons a few weeks ago, this year for the 50th Anniversery of the Rolex24, Joie Chitwood’s team was able to gather up most of the past winners of that esteemed race.

Last night at the Ocean Center Beachside, there was a charity fundraiser with those cars on display and this morning they paraded through the drizzly weather out to the track.

As Manuel Labor is on holiday this weekend for the 24, this olelongrooffan was able to sneak away to watch the parade. But first, I decided to see if I could get into the show before the show and man, I did. And, I actually watched the parade from a street corner, stuck in traffic behind some poor sammich delivery dude stuck at the same stoplight and cussing up a storm on his cell.

Enjoy the images I was able to gather while I put on my turban and practice my middle eastern accent while taxing around a fellow Hoon.

A must-visit Internet destination for photography fans is The Big Picture over at Boston.com. Recently, the photography editors elected to feature images of the 2012 Dakar Rally, and the accompanying photos are simply amazing. Sure, we did a pretty good job covering the event ourselves, but we’ll stand aside and let the visual glory of others shine through… this time.

Head over to The Big Picture to see the gorgeous imagery for yourself.

[Source: The Big Picture - Boston.com | Image: Jerome Prevost/Reuters | Thanks for the tip, IrishZombieMan!]

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, or at least that’s the modern iteration of the Roman poet, Sextus Propertius’ opinion from his poem, Elegies. Alternatively, they also say Absinthe makes the fart grow stronger. Either way, over the decades, American safety and emissions regulations have kept many a desirable auto out of our wanting grasp, and of course that time just makes our ardor all the more unquenchable.

But there is a possible out – a way to finally be together – if only you are willing to bide your time. Any car over 25 years old may be brought into the country without having to comply with Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) as long as they have been bonded at the dock, and have the appropriate HS-7 (PDF) forms. Those under 25 will have to be brought into full Federal Safety compliance, and would probably have to meet your particular state’s emissions standards. Muy Expensivo! Also, like a marriage, it’s supposed to be for life – you bring it in, you keep it – no selling the car to someone else once the new has worn off.

And for those of you living in California, don’t even bother unless the car you want is a pre-1976 model, as that’s the cut-off for smog tests on the left coast. Still, that gives one a lot of leeway and is much more flexible than what was possible back in the dark ages of the ’70s and ’80s. Since you have that new-found freedom, there must be some forbidden fruit that you have always wanted to grab, but couldn’t because of THE MAN, but now might be considering. What car – 25 or older – might you think worth a boat ride from across the sea?

Image: [Wikipedia]

Photo courtesy RM Auctions

Illustrating the depth of the top-end sales at the recent RM Auctions event at the glamorous Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Corvette #005, which we previewed here last month, sold for $445,500, an impressive number, but one that didn’t even gain it admittance into that sale’s top 10 list.

Featuring fewer cars than last year’s sale – entries were capped at 140 cars rather than the 180 of 2011 – RM’s final sales figures remained suitably impressive, with 126 of those 140 finding new homes, and the total selling price for all vehicles topping $25 million.

Photo courtesy RM Auctions

It was prancing Modenese horses that proved gold at RM: Their biggest number was achieved by the 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Scaglietti Coupe, which brought $1,815,000, coming in right at the lower end of RM’s pre-auction estimate of $1.75 million to $2.25 million. Other bell ringers included a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder that sold for $990,000, a 1957 BMW 507 that sold for $990,000, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta that sold for $979,000, a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Long Wheelbase Dual Cowl Phaeton that sold for $880,000, and a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 that sold for $880,000. These prices include the 10 percent buyer’s premium.

“Our Arizona sale proved to be a great kick-start to what is shaping up as another terrific auction year,” said Rob Meyers, Chairman and Founder of RM Auctions. “We are very pleased with the results of the sale and were delighted to welcome the world’s premier collectors back to the Arizona Biltmore.”

For more information and results, visit RMAuctions.com.

With alloy-body gullwings attracting millions of dollars, perhaps it’s time to reconsider another legendary alloy-bodied sports car of the 1950s, the Jaguar XK120. This particular 1950 Jaguar XK120 for sale on Hemmings.com features the rare aluminum body as well as a near-perfect restoration and one of the more interesting reasons for selling we’ve seen lately – the owner is replacing it with another alloy-bodied XK120. From the seller’s description:

Introduced in 1948 as a concept car to showcase Jaguar’s remarkable new twin-cam inline-6 cylinder engine, the XK120 was never intended to go into full scale production. However, its breathtaking, swoopy, and beautiful styling as well as its genuine 120-MPH performance (not to mention the surprisingly affordable price) captured the imagination of the public, and the largely hand-built aluminum-bodied car was rushed into limited production. Jaguar was selling as many as they could make, so the car was re-engineered as necessary to switch to mass production with steel bodies. Just 240 aluminum examples were built before the switch to steel, making the lighter and more handmade aluminum cars both rare and desirable.

This is one such alloy car, an excellent matching-numbers example that has been restored to high standards in its original color combination. It is among the last alloy-bodied cars built, and was restored in the early 1990′s while in the ownership of a fastidious and dedicated Jaguar collector in Florida. Extremely knowledgeable about the intricacies and arcane details of the XK Jags, he set out to create the very best example possible, and succeeded. He showed the car in Jaguar Clubs of North America events, consistently scoring over 99 points, including a 99.98 in June of 1995. Since being shown, the car has been carefully stored and consistently maintained, and it remains in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition. Its current owner is a highly respected collector with a very impressive collection. He purchased the car in 2005, and is selling it only because he has purchased an earlier alloy XK120, chassis number 670001. This car has been recently tuned and fitted with a new battery, and runs very well.

Cosmetically, the car is stunning, having been carefully stored since the restoration. The body is extremely straight and displays great gaps, and the paintwork was applied to the highest standards and remains in excellent shape, with only a few small blemishes like a very small surface crack where the left door meets the front fender. The chrome was done to equally high standards and remains excellent. All trim, lights, and glass are also excellent. The top is in beautiful shape and the car has a full tonneau cover and restored side curtains with canvas bag.

The interior is also excellent. The leather is in great shape and is nicely mellowed, and the carpets are also in fine shape. The dashboard was well-restored and remains in excellent shape, including all switches and instruments. The steering wheel and emblem are equally nice, save for a very small crack where one of the spokes of the wheel meets the hub.

The engine compartment remains quite fresh and tidy in appearance, with correct detailing and finishes throughout. As an aluminum car, the bonnet is noticeably lighter than that of a steel XK120. The trunk was nicely restored with carpets to match those of the interior. The air pump and jack are both present, as is the spare, which was also restored and wears a correct matching tire.

See more Jaguars for sale on Hemmings.com.

A couple of weeks ago, reader and race fan Tom Luce notified us about the shutdown of Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California, which had been running since 1947. Tom recently got back in contact and told us that it’s happening again. The promoters of Victorville Raceway Park have announced that they will stop presenting events effective in March.

The announcement came via an online fan forum for the savage USAC/CRA non-winged Sprint cars, which Tom photographed here as they prepared for a joint race with USAC in March 2011. As he told us, “This has the effect of closing the track. The contract ends March 13, 2012, and there will be a few shows up until that date. This is profoundly bad news for race fans. This would make the second race track to close in 2012 in Southern California. The reason for not continuing in 2012 was said to be ‘economic conditions.’”

We ran this by the local newspaper, the Daily Press, also in Victorville. The newspaper reported that the promoters, Steve and Jill Quercios, could not be reached for comment. The Daily Press also quoted the San Bernardino County Fair Board, which owns the track property, as saying insurance and manpower costs were steep, and that the Quericios preferred to promote monster truck events.

If you’re unfamiliar with the racing, USAC/CRA is an evolution of the original California Racing Association, which goes back all the way to the immediate post-war years when guys like Jack McGrath and Manny Ayulo raced hot rods in it as the California Roadster Association. They later evolved into Sprint cars, and the CRA produced heroes like Dean Thompson, Leland McSpadden and the transplanted Illinois barber, the immortal Bubby Jones. The drivers Tom captured here included Brent Camarillo, Corey Kruseman and Rickie Gaunt.

These things are flat-out nasty, spectacular to watch and clear throwbacks to the way it used to be. You can watch them at their home track, Perris Auto Speedway, south of Moreno Valley in adjacent Riverside County. The season starts February 11. For more information, visit PerrisAutoSpeedway.com.

European luxury and sports cars were the status symbols of choice during the junk bond fueled financial excess of the Eighties. While European automakers designated their models and platforms with alphanumeric combinations like W124, Mitsubishi took what is quite possibly the most aptly named car ever and added a measure of European sporting style by way of tuning house AMG. The 1987 Debonair V 3000 Royal AMG is a fusion of Japan and Europe in a single ultra-executive package.

The Debonair was the top line executive-class Mitsubishi since 1964. As was the trend in the Eighties, or possibly an adjunct of a 1987 commercial vehicle agreement between Mercedes and Mitsubishi, a Debonair was hewn into reigning europerformance monochromatic style by Hans Werner Aufrecht, Erhard Melcher and the AMG crew. The collision of Japanese high-tech luxury and AMG performance-bred style was clearly aimed at modern young executives. The Debonair V 3000 Royal AMG was short-lived, though AMG and Mitsubishi would team up again later.

The Mitsubishi Debonair V 3000 Royal AMG was not available in the United States market. The closest we came was perhaps the 1989 Sigma, which shared the Debonair’s single overhead-camshaft V-6 6G72 engine, front-wheel-drive configuration, and electronically adjustable suspension available with the Eurotech Package. The Sigma had luxury, but it was no AMG. The good news is that if you could locate one, this and all other 25-year-old imported automobiles have hit DOT exemption status. While there were supposedly no AMG performance modifications in the Debonair AMG package, this 1987 commercial touts a supercharged version of the Mitsubishi Debonair.

DRIVEN readers are well aware that Sammy Davis Jr. had great taste in cars.

Now one of the Rat Packer’s prized automotive possessions, a ”mahvelous” 1968 Maserati Ghibli Berlinetta, is being offered at Bonhams’ Paris sale on February 2.

With the original yellow paint and black leather interior that Davis himself ordered, the Ghibli snagged the prize for Best Italian Sports Car at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance a decade ago.

The Ghibli snagged the prize for Best Italian Sports Car

Estimated at up to about $100,000, it’s a steal considering the cool-as-hell provenance.

You can park it next to Sir Elton’s E-Type…

The Tyrrell P34 remains one of the most audacious experiments in the history of Formula One racing. Two normal racing wheels sat out back where you’d expect them, but four 10-inch wheels were position up front. That’s six in total, for those of you who dun flunked ‘rithmetic.

Designed by Tyrrell Chief Engineer Derek Gardner, the idea behind the six-wheeled-setup was to increase frontal downforce, the total contact patch, and the swept area for the brakes. In 1976, the P34′s first year of competition, drivers Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler ran the cars to a 3rd place overall team finish. Scheckter even managed to stand atop the podium after winning the Swedish Grand Prix. However, Scheckter also hated the car, and quit at the end of the 1976 season, referring to the P34 as a “piece of junk.”

Tyrrell ran the car for another season with Depailler and new driver Ronnie Peterson. The final team result was a 5th place overall finish. After that, a few teams tried to put together a six-wheeled racer of their own but no other car wound up in competition. In 1983, F1 officials ruled that four wheels would be the maximum number allowed on a racecar, and the possibility of another six-wheeled-racer was officially ended.

Before the Tyrrell P34 went away, however, engineers strapped a camera high above it for a visual analysis of a run around Monaco. The front cowling is off the car, so you’re treated to a more in depth view of what’s happening with that quartet of rubber up front. Click past the break for the clip.

[Source: YouTube | Thanks for the tip, Little Green Dino!]