Jay Leno's Bugatti Type 51. Image: Jay Leno's Garage

Even if you’re not a fan of classic cars and pre-war racers, I dare you to watch the video below and not come away wanting to drive Jay Leno’s Bugatti Type 51. I’m in agreement that the car’s supercharged, 2.3-liter straight eight engine is one of the best sounding mills ever created, and the direct mechanical connection between car and driver is strangely appealing. Value of the car aside, you’re not going to be texting behind the wheel of a Bugatti Type 51, since keeping the car running will demand your full-time attention.

We’ve grown accustomed to the conveniences of modern cars, and most drivers today don’t even know what a choke is used for. The Bugatti Type 51 requires a ritual to start it, beginning with building fuel pressure via a hand pump. There’s the supercharger’s oil tank to open, and then you’ve got to advance the timing. Next, you’ll need to prime the carburetor, and there’s a very fine line between “too little” and “too much.”

If you’ve done it correctly, the Bugatti will fire up with a sound unlike any other in the automotive world. Keeping it running is no simple task, either: timing needs to be set back, gears are pre-synchromesh and require double-clutching, and then there’s the need to occasionally re-pump oil from a storage tank into the crank case.

I wouldn’t trade a modern car for the Bugatti, since it’s far too impractical to drive on a regular basis. Still, I can name several internal organs I’d be willing to part with for just a single afternoon behind the wheel of a Bugatti Type 35 or Type 51.

Source: Jay Leno’s Garage

Back in the late 1950′s the United States was seeing a upturn in the economy. The post war period had seen strong economic growth and because of this housing, electronics and yes, even the automobile manufacturers were all back producing at capacity. Back then there was a renewed source of optimism amongst manufacturers and nowhere was that greater seen then in the auto industry. Chrysler was always pushing the limits of engineering, but in 1963 they took things a little bit further then everyone else by developing a turbine driven car that was slated to be sold as a mass production automobile. Initially Chrysler built a fleet of these machines and put them in the hands of select individuals as a marketing strategy / test fleet. They had the owners write logs, monitor performance and gauge the cars overall reliability.

The 1963 Turbine car in the video belongs to none other than Jay Leno and is one of two in private hands. Listening to him speak about the technology that went into its development is actually quite amazing and makes one wonder how cars as we know them today, would have been different if the technology had gained a foothold.

Source: Jay Leno’s Garage

Some of you may laugh, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Pontiac Trans Am is an icon of American pop culture. From its humble beginnings as a Trans Am series race car, to its starring role in Smokey and the Bandit, the Pontiac Trans Am is the stuff that childhood dreams are made of. Over the years the Trans Am went through a bunch of different changes. In the late 1960′s it was released as Pontiac’s answer to the then new, Chevrolet Camaro. Then in the early 1970′s it evolved into a full blown stump pulling muscle car, with models like the 455-SD Trans Am and Formula 400. By the time the 1980′s came around though, the Trans Am was slow and running on borrowed time. Designers tried everything to keep the public interested, but alas, in 1981 the beloved second generation Trans Am took its final bow and called it quits.

However, there must be some credit given to those who worked tirelessly at keeping the Screaming Chicken afloat for all those years. I mean a properly equipped second generation Trans Am with the WS6 suspension package is considered to be, without a doubt, the best handling car of the muscle car era.

This particular Trans AM is a 1981 model that came equipped with a turbocharged 4.9-liter V8 that produced a paltry 200 hp and 340 ft-lb at 2,000 rpm. However, what the Trans Am lacked in grunt, it more than made up for in style. The Turbo T/A came equipped with a lighted boost gauge that was fitted to the rear of the cars scoop. It had a big screaming chicken on the hood and some eye-popping orange and black Recaro seats. Truth be told this is actually a pretty sexy car and one that I would absolutely park in my garage. Just remember though, that any modern day Toyota Camry will leave it for dead in any light to light drag race you can think of, so keep that in mind when your out cruising for the ladies.

Source: Hemmings.com

Ever notice how over the years racing has changed. It used to be that cars were pretty evenly matched and that a race was decided more by the drivers skill than by what lay under the hood. Today’s cars are so advanced and have so many drivers aids that one wonders when the cars will simply eject the drivers and run themselves. Back in the day however there was a race over in the UK called the BBC Rally Sprint. Think of it as the Race of Champions, but instead of having it in a stadium, it was held on a real racetrack with the worst cars imaginable. The BBC Rally Sprint race took four Grand Prix drivers and pitted them against four Rally drivers in 1600cc, 110 hp Rovers in a 10 lap sprint race around Donington Park Circuit. This particular race took place in 1983 and included such race legends as Nigel Mansell, Danny Sullivan, Stig Blomqvist and Jim McRae. This video is about 10 minutes long, but trust me when I tell you that it’s some of the best racing you’re ever likely to see.

Source: AxisofOversteer.com

They made more than eight million in 28 countries and during its 31-year production run it remained essentially unchanged. It’s the Renault R4, a funky little cockroach of a car that’s loved the world over, from the steamy jungles of Colombia to the arid plains of Africa. And this year it turns 50. Bon anniversaire, R4.

Source: Gizmag

The R4 is the third best-selling car ever manufactured—after the Volkswagen bug and the Model T. In Columbia they called it “Amigo fiel” (faithful friend). In Zimbabwe it was known as the Noddy Car. In Argentina it got the name “El Correcaminos” (the Roadrunner). The ugly little bugger won the hearts of people across the globe. And that’s precisely what it was designed to do. Renault launched the R4 project in 1956 in response to the wild success of the Citroën 2CV. The R4 was made to be a car of the people, a cheap and flexible form of transportation for everyone.

The R4 was Renault’s first front-wheel-drive model. It was initially equipped with a 20-horsepower 747cc inline four, mounted in the front behind the front wheels (the transmission and differential sat above the front wheels). It had four-wheel independent suspension with torsion bars out back. The rear setup placed the bars one behind the other, giving the R4 a slightly longer wheelbase on the left-hand side. The car used body-on-frame construction, but the body played a structural role.

Renault made a ton of R4 variants, including a convertible, a van, and a 4WD version called the Sinpar.

The last R4 rolled off the assembly line in 1994. It was part of a series of 1,000 cars marked with the designation “Bye-Bye.”

Cheers, R4. Thanks for the good times.

Automobiles are safer now than in any other time in history. Built in roll cages, crash boxes and crumple zones as well as airbags and all manner of safety restraint systems are in place to keep occupants safe from harm. In the early days speed ruled the roost and driver safety was more of an afterthought than anything else. Racers would run flat-out at speeds upwards of 100 mph in some of the most archaic machines ever made, all in the quest for victory. There were no seat belts, fire retardant suits or helmets for drivers to wear and because of this being a race car driver was one of the most lethal sporting events one could partake in. The above video shows us just how the pioneers of motor sports won, lost and sometimes even died. Be warned, some of the images are graphic, but once you see them I think you’ll be amazed at how far we’ve come in terms of the technological advancements that have been made to the automobile over the last 100 years.

Source: Youtube.com

Watch this video, and then ponder the following question: would you be willing to drive this Hemi-powered Ford five window coupe from Dallas, Texas, to Tacoma, Washington, and back again? Before you answer, understand that this rod is the real deal, and has no air conditioning, cruise control, sound deadening or stereo. It would be just you, a big-ass thirsty motor, the occasional mechanical breakdown and lots of earplugs. Are you in or are you out?

Photo: Brian Bass

As for me, I’m out. The days when something like this sounded fun are behind me, but I’ve got mad respect for Brian Bass, the man behind this epic journey. His photographs are stunning, and his evil sounding coupe is, too. It somehow looks better “as is” than it would decked out in seven coats of paint, with a mirror to show the spotless undercarriage, at some regional car show.

Photo: Brian Bass

You can follow Bass’ trip on his blog or over at H.A.M.B.

Source: Hemmings Blog

Never in a million years did I think that Russia had rednecks, apparently though, I was wrong. What you are seeing here are a bunch of old 3.5 ton, solid front axle ZIL work and military trucks that have been manufactured in Russia for over 75 years. Now retired, these trucks have gotten a second life and are now in contention for the “ZIL-2000″ Trophy. These guys are hammering so hard that they’re actually getting all four wheels off the ground and in some cases blasting the tires off the friggin’ things. What I find amazing is that these guys are really racing balls out, bumping and grinding fenders in what looks to be a no-holds-barred race for the checkered flag. These guys are not only awesome but look as though they’re having one helluva lot of fun.

Source: Youtube.com

When I was a kid the only thing I ever wanted to do was play with cars. I had loads of Matchbox cars and Hot Wheels and would do anything and everything in order to grow my collection. I raced them inside and outside, played with them in the dirt, ran them through water and even put a few in my Dad’s old vice to crush them up when it was demolition derby day. For me cars were a way of life and no matter how crappy my day was, these little buggers always seemed to bail me out of a bad mood. Now at 38 years old many things in my life have changed. For one thing I’m about 200 lbs heavier than the kid who used to run his toy cars around his grandmothers kitchen, I also have a bit less hair and more responsibility. The cars however haven’t changed and because of this I can still feel like I’m six years old again any time I wish.

Enter now the 24 Hours of LeMons, the race for the six year old that lurks inside of every full grown man. Racers come from all over the region in cars that are literally held together with zip ties and duct tape. This past weekend I had the opportunity to compete in my 2nd LeMons event up at Stafford Motor Speedway with some of the best individuals that one could have the privilege of knowing.

Our car was a 1979 Buick Regal with a 301 cu in. V8 that had 211,000 miles on the clock. It was old and worn out but it ran and rolled so we figured we were on the right track. Friends Johnny “The Wrench” Sigismondi and Jay Blakeslee wrenched on this sucker everyday for 2 weeks to get it ready for the event but each day they found more and more problems. A rusty frame, broken suspension components and an engine that was 30 years past its peak all stood in their way, but perseverance took charge and they managed to get it to the track in one piece.

The 24 Hours of LeMons New England played host to some of the most wretched four wheeled mongrels to ever roll on pavement. Everything from the battle tested sled of Team Chard Beef to an old two stroke SAAB showed up to compete in the festivities. It was an interesting few days to say the least and for the members of TEAM ANGRY this past weekend turned out to be more of a war of attrition than anything else. Right from the get go the old Buick started to give us problems that literally didn’t let up until 10 minutes before the end of the event.

To give you a quick idea of the demons we battled this weekend I’ve compiled a short list for your viewing pleasure.

1. Blown transmission line: Sure it makes the engine compartment all shiny and nice but it doesn’t help your forward mobility much.

2. Taco’d Muffler: When your ignition and fuel system do not work together in harmony they argue and sometimes make things go boom.

3. Burnt Wiring Harness: A small on-track electrical fire almost affixiated teammate Brian Selltiz when the main power lead went up in smoke.

4. Leaky Fuel Tank: This actually turned out to be quite a festive event. We had a nice trunk fire with some fire extinguisher action and cheers from onlookers.

5. Shrapnel in Rear Tire: Apparently large chunks of metal in your rear tire do not help out in the handling department.

6. Leaky Coolant Overflow Tank: While in the penalty box due to a black flag we received for being neighborly to other racers we noticed our coolant tank letting go all over the tarmac.

7. Bum Ignition: The 31 year old ignition module decided to take a dump as well, leaving us sidelined yet again.

8. Seized Engine (well kinda’): At about 4:30 pm on Sunday evening the car coasted into the pits with no power. We feared the engine had seized as it seemed everything was locked up and all was lost. Then just for shits and giggles at about 4:50 we turned the key and the old mill fired up, but not without some protest. At 4:55 Johnny took the car back out on the track, limped the old girl around and crossed the finish line at 5pm. We had made it…

In racing you have good days and bad days, up’s and downs. It just goes with the territory. This year we were plagued with issues right from the get go but thanks to the tireless efforts of 3 amazing mechanics we were able to cross the finish line and complete the event.

The old Buick is still in our possession and it will return to fight another day. In the meantime the members of TEAM ANGRY need to recover from this weekends battle royal and recharge for our next event. As for the 24 Hours of LeMons, my advise would be to go out immediately, find a car for $500 and do the event. Yes we had issues and yes we had problems, but we also now have a bunch of hilarious memories that will last us for quite some time.

We here at RideLust love Jay Leno’s Garage, and wish we had him for a neighbor. Really, how cool would that be to pop over and borrow whatever tool you’d ever need, or ask to take his latest toy for a quick spin through the neighborhood? Jay’s latest video has him explaining and driving his 1916 Autocar coal delivery truck, not something you see on the roads every day.

When it comes to modern vehicles, I’ll attempt to drive just about anything. Give me access to an F1 car, and I’ll even try to take a lap or two without killing myself or wrecking the car. Horsepower doesn’t scare me, but old trucks, on the other hand, do. Driving an 84 year old truck on the original cracked, drilled and dry rotted tires, even at 20 miles per hour, sounds like a recipe for disaster. The open, tall, cockpit virtually assures you that any accident will be a fatal one for the Autocar driver, and that crank starter inside the front bumper is just waiting to tear your arm off. After it shatters it shatters the bones in four or five places.

There are a lot of cars I’d ask Jay to borrow, but his 1916 Autocar isn’t one of them. He earns my respect for being braver behind the wheel of this lumbering beast than I would be.