If you’ve ever driven any kind of World War II vintage truck, you know this for certain: they may be rugged, and you may be able to fix them with pliers and duct tape, but no one would accuse them of being fast. That is unless you bolt a 3,400 horsepower jet engine to the bed of your 1942 GMC Blitz, in which case it will probably run the quarter mile in 11 seconds at 120 miles per hour, on its way to a top speed of 150.

That’s scary fast in something that has the aerodynamics of a housing complex, and the builder is called Mad Ron for a reason. You’re best off skipping the vaguely homoerotic middle part of this video (which has me thinking that Dan and Leon are more than just friends, not that there’s anything wrong with that) but watching the truck run at the end is worth it. Would I drive it? Hell no, but it sure is entertaining watching someone else risk a fiery death.

Barbara Gunning is 101 years old which means she has seen just about everything there is to see. She’s lived through WWI, the Great Depression, WWII and a time when there was no internet and or cable TV. She’s a lady that’s been there and done that, and what’s even better is that she still drives one of the coolest cars around. The vehicle in question is a 1930 straight-8 740 Packard. This is a car that dwarfs most full size pick-up trucks and that’s almost as wide as a city block. Yet Mrs. Gunning has no problem firing her baby up and going for a nice cruise when the mood strikes her. Cars from the 1930′s and 40′s were hand built with style, class and a sense of elegance that I doubt will ever resurface in the automotive industry again. They’re not only works of art, but true time capsules that remind us of a time when things were built to last… just like Barbara Gunning.

Source: The New York Times

Passion. That’s what it takes to own an old street rod. They take time, patience and in the end, a love for all things automotive. Some may think that these are just cheap old cars that are held together with duct tape and zip ties, and let’s face it, sometimes they are. More than that though these cars are a lifestyle choice that are kept in service by a certain demographic of people who simply don’t give a shit about modern conveniences and would rather live life on their own terms. This bagged 1953 Lincoln is a perfect example of this, and in our opinion is f*ckin’ brilliant.

Source: RalfBecker.com

In mud, there's happiness...

Here’s how this is supposed to work: every year, vintage car, clothing and lifestyle fans from all over Germany converge on Teterow, a small town in northeastern Germany. If all goes well, they enjoy races, time trials, camaraderie and more than a little bit of beer. If things don’t quite go as planned, you wind up with the mud-bogged mess captured in the latest video from our friends at Chromjewelen and Faust & Heiser.

If you know the Germans, the attitudes reflected in the video come as no surprise. Here, we’re more likely to cancel an event like this because of bad weather; there, bad weather just means you need to bring more beer and put up with wet clothes for a few days. In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “so it goes.”

The video is a masterpiece, edited to look like black and white or desaturated color for a vintage look. As wet and mud-caked as the participants are, every single one looks happy, and that speaks volumes about the hot-rod culture in Germany. Here’s hoping that Rust ‘N Dust 2012 has better weather, and here’s hoping more that Mike and I can make it over one year.

Raindrops Are Falling On My Racetrack – Rust´n´Dust Jalopy Teterow 2011 [English Subs] from faust & heisler on Vimeo.

Source: Chromjuwelen

My Grandmother used to have this green carpet in her house that was perfect for rolling my Matchbox and Hotwheels cars around on. It was low cut and green and for some reason it left imprints of the wheel marks in it when I would run them through it. That was over 35 years ago and believe it or not but that carpet helped cement me as a die-hard car enthusiast. It’s funny what gets us into cars. Perhaps a particular event in time sparks our interest. Or maybe it was a person or situation. Other times though it could simply be the sound of a well tuned engine. The following video is the story of Roger Gisseman and his love of British cars. Gisseman is the type of enthusiast who not only keeps the hobby going strong, but thanks to his eclectic taste, makes it a bit more enjoyable for everyone by throwing in a little variety.

Source: RalfBecker.com

Over the years automobile manufacturers have spent millions upon millions of dollars with ad agencies trying to figure out how to pimp their latest and greatest to the masses. They’ve used explosions, catchy jingles, scantily clad women and of course, good ole’ rock and roll. Sometimes the hit with a true winner, other times however they simply screw the pooch and produce something like the ad you’re about to see here. Back in 1967 Chevrolet released one of the most iconic cars to ever grace the tarmac. It was the Camaro, and back then it took the automotive world by storm. It had a stout bulldog stance, multiple high performance engine choices and a beautiful shape which in turn helped it to become an instant automotive icon. What’s even more amazing however is that this is the ad that Chevrolet used to debut the car 44 years ago… man how times have changed.

For the most part the purchase of a new car is the second biggest investment that you’re likely to make next to a new home. I mean let’s face it, automobiles aren’t cheap, in fact the average price of a new car is around $29,000. Most people keep their cars around 4 years, but because of the state of our current economy I would think we’re looking at more like 5-7 years, especially since a typical car loan is 48-60 months. Personally, my record for one car is 8 years and that’s only because the car is a collectors item and one that I plan to own until I’m dead. The decision to get rid of a car can stem from boredom, reliability issues or the fact that you simply need to have the latest and greatest. I’m usually good for at least 3 years, after that though I start to get itchy and look to get into something new. It’s a vicious cycle I know and one that usually costs me extra money, but in the end it helps keep me sane so I really can’t bitch. How about you guys though – do you swap out your rides every 3 to 4 years, or do you keep those suckers for 15 years and run them into the dirt?

Recently, I attended the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Held every May, this show features a vast array of meticulously maintained classic British, European and Japanese cars, exemplary examples of their more modern kin, as well as a beautiful collection of kit cars.  As far as sheer variety in makes, models and years, hands down, this show can’t be beat.

This has become something of an annual treat for me as I can think of few better ways to spend a weekend than by gazing at a gleaming sea of jaw-droppingly stunning automobiles, many of which I guarantee you won’t find at other shows. Plus, participation is open to anyone with an import or a kit car – all you have to do is register, make your car pretty and show up. It’s a great opportunity to display your cherished ride and meet other aficionados of your favorite marques.

I used to come down to show my Saab and hang out with the Saab contingent that makes it out every year. But even though I have a Subaru now, it’s just so much fun that I continue to make the trip to Carlisle (my WRX was parked over by the lone DeLorean, if you happened to be there). Volvo, BMW and Audi clubs also traditionally have a large showing so the weekend is packed with the cars you love, cars you haven’t seen before, your friends from the forums, barbeques – it’s a good time for everyone.  So, if you’re not too far out from Pennsylvania, I definitely recommend heading out there next May to check out the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals. To tide you over, provided for your viewing pleasure are some of my favorite cars of the weekend. Enjoy!

Lancia Scorpion

Matte black Volvo V70R

Opel GT and Opel Kadett Coupe

Volvo P1800S

Saab 9-3 Viggens

Ferrari 360 Modena and 328GTS

Citroën 2CV and Smart Roadster Coupe

Gorgeous Audi Quattro

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

Twin-charged Audi A1

Volvo S60Rs

Saab 99 Turbo

Badass Volvos: PV544 and 142

DKW Junior de Luxe - DKW/Dampf-Kraft-Wagen became one of the four companies that comprised the "Audi NSU Auto Union AG" (now known as Audi AG).

Triumph TR8 and TR6s

Saab 96 V4 convertible - must have been a custom job.

Bimmer Beauties

Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition

Citroën H Van and DS

Audi A7

Honda Z600 / 600 Coupe

Saab Sonetts

Datsun SPL311 Roadster

Opel GT

There’s just something about cars from the 1930′s, 40′s and 50′s that’s magical. Seeing those cars today makes one think about a time when life was less complicated, when automotive innovation actually meant something, and when the spirit of the open road was alive and well here in the United States. The 1939 Lincoln Zephyr is one of those cars and when viewed in person the only thing it evokes is pure emotion. Today’s automobiles, while packed with reliability and technology simply don’t, in my opinion, possess the same amount of style and flare that their bygone brothers do. It’s a shame really, but in a society where cost is key and styling is secondary, automotive manufacturers really have no choice but to compromise on everything. That’s where custom shops like Regal Roadsters of Madison, WI come into play. These guys recently took the aforementioned 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and get this… fitted it with an Aston Martin V12 engine, full airbag suspension and Magnaflow exhaust. We think the result is simply stunning, but just to make sure click play on the video and decide for yourself.

Source: Chromjuwelen.com

There has been a lot of talk lately about which cars from the last ten years or so could potentially carry some collector value in the future. Automobiles like the Corvette ZR1 and Ford GT are shoo-in’s, but what about cars like the Honda S2000 and first generation Mercedes-Benz CLS. Collector cars are hard to predict because one never knows where the future of the collector car hobby is going to end up. Cars like the Cadillac Allanté or the Ferrari 348 were once thought to be collectible, but now their nothing more than nice classics. Last week on Fast Lane Daily’s Road Testament, I sat down with Alex Roy and J.F. Musial to discuss what cars we’d purchase now in the hopes that they’d one day be worth a big fortune at Barrett-Jackson. Click through for the video.

Source: FastLaneDaily.com