Anyone in Paris on January 10..

•December 29, 2009 • 1 Comment

..should be in for a real treat.

The scene at last year’s Traversée de Paris, with a vintage Bugatti leading the way at the Place Vendôme.

The Vincennes en Anciennes Association, a group of car enthusiasts, is behind one of the biggest gatherings of vintage and classic vehicles, the Traversée de Paris, on Sunday, Jan. 10, when over 500 cars, motorcycles and buses will be paraded through the streets of Paris.

The 17-mile route begins at the Château de Vincennes and passes through Bastille, the Champs Élysées and Montmartre. Spectators wanting to ride in one of the vintage buses need to book by phone (33-6-71-98-00-19; limited seating available). After the morning ride, the vehicles will be on display at the Trocadero fountains and Place Jacques Rueff, near the Eiffel Tower.

The Traversée de Paris, now in its 10th year, celebrates vehicles of all sorts, dating from between 1912 and 1979, each with its own story. For example, a luxury Bugatti valued at between 350,000 and 3 million euros — about $500,000 to $4.2 million — will be parked next to a more common Renault 4CV (cost: between 3,000 and 9,000 euros), with their owners sharing nostalgic memories of buying, restoring and driving the cars.

Jacques de Vulpillières, for example, bought his 1976 Citroën 2CV six years ago (the car is older than he is). “It’s a family tradition,” he said. “My grandfather owned a few 2CVs, my parents as well, and my brother currently has three or four.”

(via NYT)

Random snap: Audi 80

•December 29, 2009 • Comments Off on Random snap: Audi 80

Teaser of what’s up ahead later this week.

Credit: Dennis Podnebess

Delta, what have they done to you?

•December 29, 2009 • Comments Off on Delta, what have they done to you?

Can’t remember the last time we saw a mug this memorably ugly. What a real shame, given the Lancia’s storied history and legendary nameplate.

The vid is otherwise fun to watch (even if you don’t speak Deutsch).

Our favorite cars of 2009..

•December 28, 2009 • 2 Comments

..that is to say, modified cars that we’ve had on here, on this very blog. Not necessarily the most expensive, the rarest, or even the best- just our personal favorites, examples of which we can reasonably aspire to one day own (some sooner than others). Here, then, in no particular order, are those cars.

Porsche 911 Targa:

Porsche 993 911 Carrera 4S:

BMW 2002:

BMW Z3 M Coupe:

BMW E30 M3:

Audi RS4 Avant (yes, we realize it’s unavailable here in the States):

Volkswagen MkII Golf GTI:

Volvo 850 T-5R wagon:

BMW E9 3.0 CSI:

Porsche 964 911:

Eye candy: Martini Lancias

•December 28, 2009 • Comments Off on Eye candy: Martini Lancias

Lancia LC1 and LC2, circa 1982-83. Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

These are rather gorgeous (the photography arguably moreso than the cars).

Credit: John Millar

Assorted grab bag of stuff we like

•December 28, 2009 • 2 Comments

And if we know our readers, we think you’ll like it, too. No further commentary necessary, so let’s get right to it.

More »

You get the sense that this is why people go on to become automotive journalists

•December 28, 2009 • Comments Off on You get the sense that this is why people go on to become automotive journalists

In the hopes of one day being sent on “assignment” by one’s editor to “test” a race-prepped Lamborghini Gallardo ’round a Formula One test track just north of Rome, Italy.

My god, the sound. Incredible.

Cinematic cars: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T from "Vanishing Point" (1971)

•December 27, 2009 • 6 Comments

Not as great a movie as people now tend to make it out to be, but still fairly enjoyable and worth a watch.

Some notes about the movie:

Vanishing Point was the inspiration for the 1997 album by Primal Scream, also titled Vanishing Point. It is meant to be an alternative soundtrack to the film. Leader singer Bobby Gillespie said, “The music in the film is hippy music, so we thought, ‘Why not record some music that really reflects the mood of the film?’ It’s always been a favourite of the band, we love the air of paranoia and speed-freak righteousness … It’s a pure underground film, rammed with claustrophobia”. In addition, a track from the album was named “Kowalski” after the character from the film. The track also featured samples of Super Soul’s “last American hero” speech from the film. Author Irvine Welsh scripted the video for “Kowalski” which was directed by musician Douglas Hart. The video features a Dodge Challenger and super model Kate Moss beating up the band…

Death Proof, the Quentin Tarantino contribution to the faux-exploitation “double feature” Grindhouse, features a chase involving a Dodge Challenger resembling the one seen in Vanishing Point (not being an R/T model and having an automatic transmission). Death Proof also references the movie by name repeatedly calling it – “one of the best American movies ever made”. The car in the film also has the license plate OA 5599. Death Proof´s chasing episode Challenger is nowadays in Finland, and it´s in everyday use in summer. All the scratches and bumps are still on its body, and the car is very striking and recognisable where ever it runs. Finnish old car enthusiast magazine Mobilisti made an article about the car in 2009. The film Challenger also has been in several car shows and happenings.

In an episode of Top Gear, one of the hosts Richard Hammond road tests a 2008 Dodge Challenger across Nevada and fondly references the film as the inspiration for him choosing that car (source).

Desert photoshoot nicely re-created by Edmunds:

Christmas in Hollis.

•December 25, 2009 • 1 Comment

Enjoy!

The automotive photography of Yan Alexandre

•December 24, 2009 • 3 Comments

Editing this superb material down to twenty shots wasn’t easy, but someone had to do it.

Happy holidays!

http://www.blenheimgang.com