Autoblog

eBay Find of the Day: Brass Era American LaFrance firetruck speedster is a prehistoric Blastolene

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST

American LaFrance firetruck speedster - click above for high-res gallery

One of our favorite cars from 2009 is the Blastolene Peterbilt hot rod. You know the one with two (count 'em, two) superchargers bolted to its Detroit Diesel V12. Hubba hubba,. And if we had access to a time machine, our very favorite car from say 1933 might just be this firetruck speedster, that's quite possibly a direct ancestor of Blastolene. For certain the two are related in the chutzpah department. As the owner states, "You don't know what 'awesome' is until you drive this car."

Where to even start? First of all, brass era cars rule. Even if this particular American LaFrance bucket isn't exactly 100 percent of the period. The chassis is from 1921 type 14-6 short wheelbase firetruck. The motor is out of a 1918 type 31-6-75 front drive aerial ladder, while the aluminum cowl comes from another American LaFrance firetruck built between 1927 and 1930. The speedster just looks like it hails from 1915 (the year which it's coincidently registered). Pretty amazing, no?

Let's talk motor for just one moment. The six-cylinder powering this particular rat rod is a 14.5-liter inline-six (that's 820 cubic inches) good for 105 horsepower. Not oodles of power, but with twelve spark plugs (six off the distributor, six off the magneto) and all that displacement, you can bet this guy is torquey enough to pull stumps. Need more convincing? The differential takes 600 weight oil. Currently, the speedster's sitting at $50,000 (reserve not met) with a buy it now price of $149,000. Serious bidders only, and good luck!

Gallery: LaFrance Firetruck Speedster

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Brass Era American LaFrance firetruck speedster is a prehistoric Blastolene originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gooding adds another day to its Scottsdale auction during Barrett-Jackson

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions

Selections from Gooding's special Barrett-Jackson auction -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Gooding's regular yearly auction during Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale will take place January 23. Next year, though, Gooding will hold an additional auction the day before and it will be moving some delightful machinery.

If you can't wait for Saturday's spoils, which include a 1959 Ferrari Series 1 Pininfarina Cabriolet, a Zagato-bodied 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport, and a 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta, then you might find something you like among the Friday collection: a 1934 Duesenberg Model J with a Disappearing Top, a 1927 6 1/2-Litre Bentley Sports Coupe, and a Stirling Moss-driven 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer.

Complete information on the three special Friday offerings is in the press release after the jump, and you can have a look at them in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Selections from Gooding's special 2010 Barrett-Jackson auction

Continue reading Gooding adds another day to its Scottsdale auction during Barrett-Jackson

Gooding adds another day to its Scottsdale auction during Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Collectible Concept: 1995 Ford GT90 concept going up for auction

Drew Phillips — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Auctions, Ford

1995 Ford GT90 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If Ford first introduced the GT90 Concept at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show next month, we would probably consider it one of the coolest cars on the show floor. Incredibly, Ford unveiled the GT90 nearly 15 years ago. Even by today's standards it is a supercar of supercars. The quad-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 puts out an estimated 720 horsepower, the body is constructed completely of carbon fiber and top speed is somewhere in the 250 mph range. The only hints that it's not a modern supercar are the all-blue interior and wheels that are decidedly not from this decade.

So why are we talking about the GT90 Concept now? RM Auctions has just announced that it will be offering the car at its Arizona sale. That's right, this is your chance to own one of the coolest concept vehicles of all time. This is the first time that the GT90 Concept has ever been publicly for sale at auction, and RM claims that it is in "excellent running condition, having been properly stored and maintained over the year." No estimated price is given, but we're guessing it will take a significant chunk of change to take the car home. Hit the jump for a detailed description and history of the GT90 Concept, or adorn your desktop with 1990s supercar glory using one of the photos in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 1995 Ford GT90 Concept

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Collectible Concept: 1995 Ford GT90 concept going up for auction

Collectible Concept: 1995 Ford GT90 concept going up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1964 Shelby Cobra 427 prototype to be auctioned by RM in January

Drew Phillips — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions

1964 Shelby Cobra 427 Prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

January is just a short few weeks away, and along with the Detroit Auto Show, that means classic car auctions to us automotive types. The televised circus of Barrett-Jackson and the more reserved auction houses of Russo and Steele and RM will be hoping to empty the pockets of those automotive aficionados who still have money left to burn after more than a year of tough economic times.

With most of the lists of cars being finalized for each auction, the highlight of the weekend will likely be a 1964 Shelby Cobra 427 that will be offered to the highest bidder at RM's sale at the Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. While just about any Cobra merits attention, this particular one is the actual prototype for the legendary 427 Cobras. Nicknamed the "Flip-Top" for its clam shell design, the car actually competed at tracks like Riverside, Sebring, and Nassau, and has an extensive vintage racing history.

RM doesn't provide an estimate, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the final bid easily reach seven figures. You can read a short description of the car after the jump or browse the high-res gallery below provided by RM.

Gallery: 1964 Shelby Cobra 427 Prototype

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading 1964 Shelby Cobra 427 prototype to be auctioned by RM in January

1964 Shelby Cobra 427 prototype to be auctioned by RM in January originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1980 Range Rover 6x4 custom pickup is full of hot air

Dan Roth — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Land Rover

Custom Range Rover crew-cab truck - click above for gallery

So you've got a hot air balloon and a Range Rover, no problem so far. Then, one day you catch the "you got chocolate in my peanut butter" fever, and it's time to create a Rover/Balloon mash-up. Your handy pile of old money means that the Rangie goes off to a bespoke vehicle specialist, said to specialize in "stretch Rolls Royce and 6-wheel Range Rovers for oil sheiks." Well, who else would you send it to, anyway?

Of course, since the balloon runs on LP gas, converting the Rover to run on the same fuel will save some money. With the dosh you save, you might as well install some big, chunky tires so that it "rides like a big Range Rover on chunky tires," and trashes fuel economy a little, too. The vehicle is in the UK, but the seller will ship. Construction quality is reportedly epic, and who doesn't have a desire for the castoffs of the wealthy? Looking at the photos, it appears to have taken its share of (ab)use lately; the blue hood is a nice touch, along with the various trappings of old Rovers, like the permanently exposed fusebox. It's on eBay for just under $8,000 - a pittance for a custom crew cab Range Rover pickup, especially if you've got a hot air balloon kicking around.

Gallery: Crew Cab Range Rover Pickup

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1980 Range Rover 6x4 custom pickup is full of hot air originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1972 Lamborghini Espada is tanfastic

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:01:00 EST

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

1972 Lamborghini Espada Series II - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you were shocked when Lamborghini unveiled a four-door in the form of the Estoque concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, then you know how enthusiasts must have felt when the Raging Bull took the wraps off the Espada in 1968. A four-seat Lambo? Shocking! But that's what they did, and the Espada entered into the history books.

Powered by Lambo's trusty 3.9-liter V12 that already appeared in the 350GT, 400GT and Miura, the Espada was the first Lambo to be offered with an automatic. In fact, it was the first automatic transmission - all two speeds of it - capable of handling that much power, and came on offer with the 1974 model. This model, however, was made in '72 - making it one of the last Series II models made before the Series III came along - and is equipped with a five-speed manual, along with four-wheel disc brakes and a fully independent suspension: cutting edge stuff for its time.

It's tan, it's had one owner, and from the looks of things, it's been kept in meticulous condition. The car's up for grabs on eBay by Lamborghini Houston. Bidding at the time of writing is up to a modest $20,200 and the reserve price hasn't been met yet, so if this is your idea of automotive heaven, stop on by and check it out.

Gallery: 1972 Lamborghini Espada Series II on eBay

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1972 Lamborghini Espada is tanfastic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bogus car hauler stealing luxury autos from dealers in several states?

Dan Roth — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Auctions, Government/Legal

Luxury cars are nice. Most people would consider some kind of sacrifice to own one, while others plant their behinds in Corinthian Leather through ill-gotten gains. When something is desirable, there's no end to the scheming. The latest tactic for driving luxe without earning it is pretty blatant: just show up and take it! Automotive News reports that the FBI is currently looking into an operation that's using the identity of Atlas Towing and Recovery of Illinois, a real, legitimate business, to take luxury vehicles right out from under the noses of dealerships.

The false haulers are apparently showing up at dealers and picking up cars using Atlas Towing's credentials, causing the National Auto Auction Association to send out a warning. Over the summer, Manheim Auto Auctions also got hit with a fake car hauler, and that operation is believed to be connected to the more recent activity. Dealers have been warned to notify the authorities if anyone posing as Atlas Towing and Recovery comes calling and and tries to pick up vehicles. It is pretty slick, though, showing up with a truck and an air of official-ness. Points for cleverness, but it's likely not clever enough to avoid capture eventually.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req, | Image: BringATrailer]

Bogus car hauler stealing luxury autos from dealers in several states? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Auctioneer Kruse ordered to pay bank $1.3M, has jet repo'd

Michael Harley — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Earnings/Financials

The walls are closing in on Dean Kruse, head of the Indiana-based Kruse International auction house. In September, a slew of lawsuits were filed against the company. Further opening the wound, a county court in Indiana has now ordered Kruse to pay more than $1.3 million to a bank in Warsaw -- just one of several debtors seeking money from the company -- for an overdue loan originally in the amount of $4.5 million. Two foreclosure lawsuits in DeKalb County, Indiana, are pending. One is for $6.5 million in unpaid loans. The other is for a loan in default for $7.8 million. Adding to his growing headache, and slowing down his travel, GE's financial arm has asked a federal court to repossess Kruse's million-dollar Cessna corporate jet.

While Kruse isn't talking to the media about his current events, he told The Journal Gazette last month that the recession has been hard on his sales. Compounding his troubles and drying up his cash flow, his longtime business practice of releasing cars to good customers before payment has come back to bite him. Understandably, he told the Gazette that he has since suspended that practice.

[Source: The Journal Gazette]

Followup: Auctioneer Kruse ordered to pay bank $1.3M, has jet repo'd originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction

Drew Phillips — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Aston Martin

1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With just 75 built between 1959 and 1963, the Aston Martin DB4 GT is a rare breed. Of those, a mere six are the coveted lightweight models that cut weight by using aluminum components (instead of steel) and delete items like the radio, speakers, and heater. It's not very often that one comes up for sale, but this January, RM Auctions will be offering a pristine example at their sale in Scottsdale.

The car going up for auction is chassis #0175/L, the last DB4 GT Lightweight built. It underwent a total restoration in the mid-Nineties where it received upgrades like Dunlop racing tires, Dayton wire wheels, and a four-point roll bar. The car wasn't competitively raced in the Sixties, but several owners have competed with the car in various vintage races at tracks like Lime Rock Park and Laguna Seca.

Sound like your kind of car? RM estimates you'll need anywhere from $950,000-$1,000,000 to take this ruby beauty home. If you don't have that kind of cash, then you'll have to settle for the press release after the jump and the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction

Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche family auctioning off watch collection

Noah Joseph — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Porsche

Porsche family watch collection - Click above for image gallery

Times are tough for the Porsche family. Amidst the merger with Volkswagen, their company just suffered a $6.6 billion loss. But we didn't think things were this bad for the descendants of Ferdinand Porsche until Bonhams announced they would be liquidating that family's watch collection to the highest bidder.

Okay, we're exaggerating just a bit. The Porsche family stands to make a lot of money out of the Volkswagen merger, and the collection is being auctioned off for charity. And while we have no idea what charity that is, we have to assume it's not the Porsche family themselves.

As it turns out, the family's interests extend beyond the automobile. Not only does their Porsche Design Group have its own range of watches, but some fourteen years ago they bought Eterna, one of the largest independent watchmakers in Switzerland. Eterna fabricates Porsche Design watches as well as their own brand, and several of the rarest examples will be included along with others among the 49 watches crossing the auction block on December 2 in London.

Among those pieces Bonhams is highlight are included a rare 18kt gold Porsche Design prototype and an Eterna presented to family scion Ferdinand Oliver Porsche on his 40th birthday, along with rare timepieces from Rolex and Omega as well as Panerai (which makes watches for arch-rival Ferrari), Jaeger LeCoultre (which partners with Aston Martin) and Breitling (in league with Bentley). Follow the jump for further details, and check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Porsche Family Watch Collection

[Source: Bonhams]

Continue reading Porsche family auctioning off watch collection

Porsche family auctioning off watch collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Olds Toronado 70-X is wraparound luxury

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Luxury

George Barris's 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado 70-X - clic above for high-res image gallery

If you've never seen Vincent Gallo's Buffalo 66, stop reading and watch it. Why? Because otherwise the next part of this post isn't going to make any sense to you. Anyhow, remember the scene when his Billy Brown character kidnaps/carjacks Christina Ricci's Layla and forces her to drive because he can't work a manual?

"Would you like to know why I can't drive this kinda car? I'm used to luxury cars. Have you ever heard of a luxury car? Ever heard of Cadillac, Cadillac Eldorado? That's what I drive. I drive cars that shift themselves. My cars shift themselves. The luxury cars, they shift themselves."

We quote this scene because we think this here particular Oldsmobile Toronado would appeal to Mr. Brown's predilection for luxury cars. We mean, just look at that back seat. Incredible, right? Wrap around leather benches are totally (and sadly) missing from our everyday automotive experience. And we're pretty sure you could use the fold-out cocaine shelf to write on, so it's practical, too. Curiously, we've seen a Barris Toro before - though that one was dubbed 67X - and although it was in much worse shape, it failed to meet its reserve at $7,701.

Now, this particular custom Toronado (the story goes that Barris built four of these for the 1967 Canadian Expo -- only two are known to survive) is much better shape, having undergone a "complete frame-up restoration at an astronomical cost." However, $7,701 won't even get you into that amazing ~~drug den~~ back seat. In fact, the starting bid is $227,770 and the reserve isn't met. Sure, that's a lot of scratch, but you can really put a price on luxury like this? We're saying no. Happy bidding!

Gallery: 1967 Oldsmobile Barris 70-X Toronado

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Olds Toronado 70-X is wraparound luxury originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caveat Emptor: Columbus, Ohio dealer taking deposits on Volt

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:53:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Auctions, Hatchback

2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fans of the Chevrolet Volt have been waiting patiently nearly three years now for the first extended-range electric vehicle to debut. One Columbus, Ohio area Chevrolet dealer is looking to take advantage of this eagerness by posting an auction on eBay Motors for its allocation of Volts. Jack Maxton Chevrolet is now taking deposits on the Volt a full year before the first production models are scheduled to roll off an assembly line in Detroit.

There are clearly problems with this. The current bid is at $1,525 but it's not clear from the listing just what the winning bidder will get. It could be the first position in line, if and when Maxton gets some Volts, but we can't say for sure.

Notice we said if Maxton gets the Volt. We checked with Volt spokesman David Darovitz at General Motors who told us that it's not certain that every Chevy dealer will get the Volt: "They must first go through a rigorous certification process" to ensure that they are ready to sell and service the electrically-driven compact and its battery. Darovitz also tells us, "Dealers have not been selected" at this time, and that includes Maxton Chevrolet. You might want to keep that in mind before placing your bid. Remember, patience is a virtue. Thanks to Nat for the tip!

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: eBay Motors]

Caveat Emptor: Columbus, Ohio dealer taking deposits on Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley craftsmen create works of art for charity in their down time

Noah Joseph — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Bentley, UK, Design/Style

Bentley Art Project - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's what we love about Bentley. While workers at other automakers sit around and scratch their butts in their growing downtime, at Crewe, they put their spare time to good use. Back in March, we brought you news that Bentley's craftsmen were crafting bespoke furniture while they waited for production to pick back up. Now the British automaker has put its designers to work creating works of art.

The pool of artists in Bentley's styling department were given a broad mandate to create artwork inspired by their workplace, and 22 transformed everything from canvas to plexiglass, bronze to leather into an impressive array of pieces, all of which you can view in our high-resolution gallery below.

The collection will be auctioned off by Bonhams on December 1 to benefit The Christie cancer research center in Manchester. Full detail in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Bentley: Design is our passion. This is our art.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley craftsmen create works of art for charity in their down time

Bentley craftsmen create works of art for charity in their down time originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Petty's Garage Challenger heading to Barrett-Jackson

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Dodge, Celebrities, Specialty

2009 Petty's Garage Dodge Challenger - Click above for high-res image gallery

And with this official decree, let it be known that one custom 2009 Dodge Challenger, painted in a very familiar and regal blue shall be offered for sale to the highest bidder in Arizona in the year of our lord, 2010. The vehicle in question shall serve as a rolling tribute to Richard the 43rd. Long live the King!

Richard Petty was one of the winningest drivers in stock car history. With a record seven Daytona 500 trophies, 127 poles, 200 overall wins (including a record 27 -- and ten-in-a-row -- races in 1967), and seven championships in his 34-year, 1,185-race career, it's no wonder he's called The King. His legendary Chryslers, Fords and Plymouths bearing the number 43 were mostly built at his race shop in Level Cross, NC. Now all the king's men are working to build on his legacy under the newly formed banner of Petty's Garage.

The company plans to work on "museum-quality" restorations of vintage race cars, custom cars and high performance street machines. To kick off the new business, Petty's Garage has built a 2009 Challenger that will be sold in a Petty Family Foundation charity auction at B-J in January.

Painted in the trademark Petty Blue, it features a 585-hp Hemi 426, Pedders suspension upgrades, Brembo Gran Turismo brakes, a new center exit Corsa exhaust system, plus a Petty's Garage body kit consisting of custom front fascia, rear bumper cover, custom rocker panels and a rear spoiler. The inside gets the royal touch as well, with Petty's Garage branded seats and door panels. We saw the car at SEMA and it's a looker. You can read more details in the press release we've pasted in after the jump and check out the gallery from SEMA as well.

Gallery: Petty's Garage Dodge Challenger

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Petty's Garage Dodge Challenger

Continue reading First Petty's Garage Challenger heading to Barrett-Jackson

First Petty's Garage Challenger heading to Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Motors begins offering free vehicle history reports from Experian

Michael Harley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions

Consumers wary of purchasing vehicles off eBay may take a bit of comfort in the online auction site's announcement that all vehicles built since 1981 will now include free vehicle history reports effective today. The "AutoCheck" information, supplied by Experian Automotive, will detail whether vehicles have been involved in major accidents, have salvage titles, have been stolen or repossessed, have had their odometers tampered with, or have seen special duty as a taxi or police vehicle. Of course, the service is only able to detail information which has been reported, a common complaint about vehicle history reports. Nicolas Franchet, senior director of U.S. vehicles at eBay Motors, says the free reports will help build the level of trust between the buyers and sellers. "We're interested in being the best place to buy and sell your car online," Franchet said.

Those familiar with eBay Motors will recall that the site has offered vehicle history reports from CarFax, Inc., when supplied by dealers. Those reports are still be available via a link, but the new AutoCheck data supplied without charge is now automatically displayed in a shaded area below the vehicle image in the body of the listing. For more details, check out the official press release after the jump or eBay Motors.

[Source: Experian Automotive | Image: Sean Gallup/Getty]

Continue reading eBay Motors begins offering free vehicle history reports from Experian

eBay Motors begins offering free vehicle history reports from Experian originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Michael Schumacher's controversial crowning 1994 Benetton B194

Noah Joseph — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions

Michael Schumacher's championship-winning Benetton B194 - Click above for image gallery

If you thought the Formula One World Championship was wrought with controversy these days, the scandals we've seen in recent years pale in comparison to the 1994 season. Historians will remember it as the year Ayrton Senna died (along with Roland Ratzenberger) at the San Marino Grand Prix. But tragic fatalities aside, the '94 championship was settled in one of the most controversial fashions the sport's ever seen.

After a hard-fought season, Michael Schumacher (Benetton) and Damon Hill (Williams) arrived in Adelaide for the final round separated by just one point. Both titles would be decided then and there, but on lap 35 the two front-runners collided, ending the race for both. Schumacher was crowned champion - the first of seven career F1 titles - and while many called foul play, Williams, still dealing with the aftermath of Senna's death, lodged no official protest. And this is the car it all happened in.

Up for grabs on everyone's favorite online auction site is the 1994 Benetton B194 in which Schumi won that controversial title. Although it's being sold from Germany, the car's actually located in Toronto. Fortunately it's been fully repaired since that pivotal crash, its Ford-Cosworth 3.5-liter V8 rebuilt by UK's Langford Performance Engineering. It comes with a truck full of spare parts, including a laptop loaded with the engine management software, two sets of wheels and spare wings aplenty. Bidding, at the time of writing, still has five days to go, but it's already topping 2.6 million euros (that's $3.9M USD). And for a piece of racing history like this one, you can bet it's going to reach higher than that before the digital hammer drops. Hat tip to just about everyone!

Gallery: Michael Schumacher's championship-winning Benetton B194

[Source: eBay Motors Germany ]

eBay Find of the Day: Michael Schumacher's controversial crowning 1994 Benetton B194 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Coupe, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty

2010 WD-40 Chevrolet Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

With a 600-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 residing underhood, we'd happily spray ourselves into the seats of this WD-40 showcar. The legendary lubricant company actually contracted a slew of top-shelf builders to do the custom outfitting, they just sponsored it. Either way, this blue-and-yellow 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is for a good cause - it was built to support the SEMA Cares charity and will be auctioned off at the next installment of the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale. Proceeds will benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang charities, among others.

The WD-40 Camaro also serves as a nice tribute to recently deceased company founder, John Barry. While the car was certainly well guarded, we wouldn't say we were that tempted to steal it. Don't get us wrong, it's not a bad looking Camaro. Although WD-40 had it parked in the darkest corner we found in all of SEMA, it still looked pretty striking in that bright yellow and deep blue combo. Our only complaint is that it didn't go far enough. The tiny WD-40 stickers on the fenders are way too small - this thing needs huge ones on the doors, hood and/or trunk too. And it seems almost blasphemous for them to have missed out on one of the most iconic features of the WD-40 cans, the bright red cap! Those wheels are just begging for them. Follow the jump for WD-40's full press release and check out our gallery below.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro

Continue reading SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers

SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro looks cool, needs more stickers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unique porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China raises $1.77M at auction

Noah Joseph — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, China, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 China special in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao - Click above for high-res image gallery

A Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is an exceptional piece of automotive art. Even more exceptional is the latest model equipped with the Handling GT Evoluzione package. More exceptional still is the limited-edition 599 HGTE made exclusively for the Chinese market. But even in this rarified territory, there exists one 599 HGTE China special that stands apart. We reported on it about a month ago, and it's now been sold at auction.

The one-off Fiorano was hand painted by Chinese artist Lu Hao with a pattern reminiscent of the sought-after Ge Liln porcelain of the Song Dynasty. This unique example was sold on Tuesday to an anonymous collector from Shanghai, who paid the equivalent of $1.77 million for the privilege. The proceeds are earmarked towards helping aspiring Chinese automotive engineers to make it to Italy for further studies and an internship opportunity at Maranello. On hand for the auction event, held at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, were the artist, Ferrari executives, faculty members from the participating schools and none other than Michael Schumacher himself. Follow the jump for full details in the press release, and see more in our high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Unique porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China raises $1.77M at auction

Unique porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China raises $1.77M at auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: November Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Auctions, Event Alert

For many of us November means football, parades, turkey hangovers, and family dysfunctionality in the form of Thanksgiving, but we car people tend to be more thankful for SEMA, the Chase and the crowning of a new champion in Formula 1 (Well, the conclusion of another season at least, since Jenson Button already locked up his first drivers championship and Brawn likewise nabbed the constructors title in its maiden season.)

As the year begins drawing to a close, we still have a handful of Fall cruises, auctions, meets and concours going on, but the automotive calendar is otherwise looking pretty sparse as we enter the penultimate month of 2009.

Connecticut has its local auto show, the Petersen is hosting an auction and tribute to Trans-Am racing, the Best of France and Italy show hits Van Nuys, and the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals visit Rosemont, Illinois. Other than that, we can expect a lot of silly season musical chairs and a slew of new car sneak peeks ahead of the first major show of the 2010 season in Los Angeles at the beginning of December.

If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. And please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

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Event Alert: November Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Auctions, Buick

Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

As we approach the big SEMA show in Las Vegas next week, it's time to look back at a previous star of the show. Sometime back in the mid-80s the decision was made that Buick would abandon V8 engines and instead be the home of the V6. Even for top models like Riviera and Park Avenue, turbocharged and supercharged versions of the long-lived 3.8-liter V6 would serve propulsive duties. Needless to say, not everyone in the bowels of the Warren Tech Center agreed with this approach.

In 1998 a group of GM engineers felt the Riviera should be powered by no fewer than eight cylinders and knew full well it was possible. The Riv of that era shared its platform with other models like the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Aurora, which of course were powered by the still contemporary Northstar V8. A single Northstar Riviera example was built as concept and trotted out at the 1998 SEMA Show.

Upper management did not agree with the premise and only a year later the whole Riviera program was euthanized. Somehow, that one V8 powered Riv survived and managed to get sold outside of GM on a salvage title. If the styling of that last Riviera doesn't give you convulsions, the car only has 10,200 miles on it and the Buy It Now price is $20K. The current bid of $3,550 hasn't yet hit the reserve so it's anyone's guess what this will go for - if it goes at all.

Gallery: Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Northstar-powered 1998 Buick Riviera prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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