Transformers "Barricade" Saleen Mustang sold at auction for $36,000

One lucky collector, or Transformers fan, or both got their hands on a nice full size collectible from the movie. This "Barricade" Saleen Mustang went for a relatively cheap $36,000 compared to the declared value of $100,00 to $300,000.

This car is one of three built especially for the first Transformer movies by Saleen and further outfitted by DreamWorks. It started life as a S281 Extreme before turning into a Decepticon, complete with a push bar, emergency light kit, white doors and decals.

The Mustang was only showing 4,550 miles on the odometer. Bidding started at $1,000.

Geiger's 568hp, 195mph Chevrolet Camaro SS Kompressor

While European aftermarket tuners typically churn out hopped up Porches and Ferrari's, there are a few that tinker with American metal. One such example is GeigerCars.de, a German outfit that specializes in tweaking American muscle cars. Their latest offering is this Camaro SS.

Geiger has taken this particular SS and given it a once over, using a supercharger and custom exhaust to up the ponies to 568, complete with 590 lb-ft of torque. 22 inch wheels replace the stock 20 inchers, and they cover 380mm brake discs with six pistons up front and 355mm discs with four pistons in the back.

Geiger claims that all this motivates the SS to a 195 mph top speed. Check out the press release below for full details on this German bred monster of the Autobahn.

PRESS RELEASE

GeigerCars.de GmbH – Chevrolet Camaro SS Compressor
Camaro 2010 – the legend lives on

The trio is complete. After the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet perfects the revival of the legendary pony cars with the new Camaro.

From 1966 to 2002 Chevrolet manufactured four generations of the Camaro. First series models that are in very good condition are prized collectors items. When the US manufacturer unveiled the concept model of a totally new Camaro at the Detroit Motor Show in 2005, the public response was so outstanding that the series production of a fifth generation of the four-seater coupé was decided and with that, the remake of an American legend. The new vehicle no longer has anything in common with the often unpopular fourth generation car. In fact, the designers have combined retro elements and modern shapes, designed an aggressive front end, a bulky rear as well as stylish sides and roof – an unmistakable homage to the muscle cars of the sixties and seventies.

In the last few days, one of the first new Camaros arrived by plane from across the Pond and rolled from the airport right into the GeigerCars.de showroom in Munich. As of now, you can not only marvel at the four-seater coupé, you can also order one there...

The Camaro LS and LT models are already fitted with a superior 308 horsepower 3.6 litre V6 engine. The modern light metal engine generates 5200 revolutions per minute, an impressive 370 newton metres. The design of the SS (SuperSport) model engaged V8 with a superior 6.2 cylinder capacity is even more notably defined. This is available in two variations which perform up to 432 HP and send a maximum torque of 569 newton metres towards the powertrain.

On the subject of the powertrain: the six and eight cylinder engines can be combined with both a six-speed manual transmission and six-speed automatic transmission. Needless to say, the Camaro is equipped with rear wheel drive. The chassis is modern: Chevrolet has installed a Multi-Link strut front suspension and an independent rear suspension. There are adjustable coil springs, gas-assisted shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar fitted on both front and rear.

All round ventilated anti-lock disc brakes are standard in all Camaro models. Chevrolet equips the V8 models with factory-provided four- piston Brembo brakes which measure 355x32mm and 365x28mm.

The Super Sport models separate themselves from the rest by their colour coded finished bumpers, special front grille, low rear spoiler with diffuser, air scoop and air ducts for cooling the brakes. The mandatory rear spoiler is also available for the LT models at an additional cost. The SS coupés run on 8x20 and 9x20 inch light metal wheels and 245/45R20 front tyres and 275/40R2 rear tyres as standard.

However, Karl Geiger would not be the man he is if he could not already provide an extensive tuning programme for the new Camaro. The house specialty is the famously sophisticated compressor reconstruction. With a mechanical compressor, Geiger pushes the engine power of the Camaro SS to a roaring 568 HP. At 4100 rpm, the maximum torque is 799N m. The hot flue gas stream leaves the combustion chamber via a fan-type elbow with sport catalysts and roars through the stainless steel Geiger manufactured sport exhaust system.

A two plate sport clutch is responsible for the traction with the transmission. After the reduction of the end gear ratio, the Geiger Camaro reaches an impressive 314km/hr and even shows up the Porsche 911 GT3.

In order to have this power totally under control, GeigerCars.de have not only installed coilovers and adjustable sports anti-roll bars on front and rear axels but also a strong braking system. At the front there are six piston saddles with grooved 380mm plates and four piston saddles on 355mm (grooved) brake discs operate the drive shaft.

The 10x22 inch light metal frames are real gems which the Munich firm embrace with 265/30 and 295/25 tyres.

Hurst unveils signature color combo on Series 4 Challenger

While gold and white are what Hurst is known for, some folks may want to have their aftermarket Charger in something a little different in order to not look like everyone else. Or maybe they just don't like gold and white.

For whatever reason, you can have your Hurst Challenger in a different color combination, this classy looking silver and black scheme with red trim. And these colors just happen to be the company's traditional colors.

The silver and black cars all come with a unique production number and certificate of authenticity. Niceties include a red anodized pistol grip shifter, 20-inch forged wheels with graphite gray painted spoke inserts, red perforated leather inserts and stitching, and Hurst logos on the dash, grille, wheel caps, floor mats, and on the front fenders. The Performance Series cars also come standard with Eibach suspension upgrades, a Magnaflow exhaust system, BFGoodrich KDW tires, and an optional Vortech supercharger.

PRESS RELEASE:

Hurst Performance Vehicles, one of the most recognized and revered names in automobile history, unveiled the first-ever Series 4 Supercharged 2010 Hurst/Hemi Challenger, dressed in the signature silver and black Hurst colors at the "Back to the Bricks" celebration in Flint, Mich.

Hurst legend, Doc Watson, joined Nate Shelton and Ron Flint of Hurst Performance Vehicles to unveil this newest addition to the Hurst Performance Series, which is complete with red accent stripes and detail throughout.

"We are honored to be here in Flint today to introduce the newest Hurst Executive Hot Rod," said Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst. "The Back to the Bricks celebration is the perfect place for us to join Doc and introduce this stunning car as a tribute to Hurst's legacy."

The numbered silver and black Challengers come equipped with a wild red anodized HARD-DRIVE® pistol grip Hurst shifter and 20" one-piece polished aluminum Hurst forged wheels, featuring graphite gray painted spoke insets and red and black Hurst logo wheel centers. Hurst collaborated with Katzkin on the car's black leather interior, which features perforated red inserts, red top-stitching and logos. Each Challenger contains traditional Hurst red and black logos in the dash badge, grille badge, wheel centers, fender graphics and the embroidered floor mats.

Doc Watson and Hurst introduced the silver and black Hurst/Olds with GM in 1968, a program that went on to be the most famous Hurst production program ever.

"I am proud to be part of the continuation of a great Hurst tradition." said Watson. "These wonderful vehicles should prove to be some of the most collectible Hurst cars in the future."

Hurst limited edition cars are well known by enthusiasts worldwide and are some of the most iconic and valuable muscle cars sought out by collectors. The cars are readily recognizable due to Hurst's signature paint schemes and graphics.

The Performance Series cars are a limited numbered series. Each comes with a sequentially numbered dash badge and its own Certificate of Authenticity. These cars all feature Hurst's own AIR-SPEED® rear deck spoiler painted in body colors, Hurst/Eibach suspension, shocks and sway bars, Hurst/Magnaflow polished stainless steel cat-back exhaust, BF Goodrich KDW Performance Tires, Hurst/Katzkin leather interior, embroidered logo floor mats, a custom car cover and K&N Air Filters. Hurst cars feature painted stripes and graphics under clear, not stickers. SERIES 3 through 5 feature HURST/Vortech superchargers.

The HURST/Hemi®-Challenger is available in five performance stages. Series 2 vehicles are available through participating Dodge dealers nationwide, while Series 3, 4 and 5 vehicles are only available from Hurst Performance Vehicles and can be ordered via the company's website at www.hurst-performance.com.

723hp 1964 Lincoln Continental on eBay = the ultimate sleeper

Lincoln Continentals, especially those of the 60's variety, are the epitome of great styling for the luxury brand. The cars are instantly recognizable and just have that gangster cool look to them. But they are certainly more recognized for their styling and comfort rather than their power and speed.

Which makes this 1964 example the perfect sleeper. Chances are, the guy next to you at a stoplight is more than likely checking out the sultry shape of your ride instead of trying to race you. And when you unleash the 723hp that is nicely hidden under it's enormous hood, the game is on.

And you can experience this, thanks to eBay. This particular example is up for grabs right now, with a claimed $120,000 invested. Currently the bidding is at $30,000 and the reserve has not been met.

Video: Just another Viper V-10 powered motorcycle

What is it with people and their fascination when it comes to mating V10 engines and motorcycles? I'm not really sure if they have a death wish or they just crave attention. Either way, Allen Millyard from the UK has devised another machine that marries insane power to two wheels. This one actually looks more like a traditional motorcycle than the Dodge Tomahawk, albeit with a very long wheelbase.

Video: 2010 Taurus SHO runs 13 second quarter mile

The SHO packs 365hp thanks to it's twin turbo V6, a staggering number until you have the sobering realization that the car it lives in weighs 4,300 pounds. But that kind of power output still got this guy a respectable slip with a 13.92 1/4 mile time at 100mph.

Spied: Camaro Convertible Preproduction models

Camaro5, the legion of all things Camaro, always seems to get the dirt first when it comes to news regarding GM's reborn pony car. And this time is no exception, as user isszy recently snapped some pictures of eight Camaro convertibles hanging out.

The cars were spotted outside the Holden factory in Fisherman's bend, Melbourne, Australia. It appears that they are all left hand drive. According to GM, the 'vert is still on track to arrive for sale as a 2011 model.

Vacation time! Here's some posts to keep you busy in the meantime.

The bad news, at least for the readers, is that it's time for my annual big vacation. The good news is that we've got lots of juicy posts to keep you occupied while I'm gone.

There is a lot going on in the world of domestic performance right now. It's really a good time to be a fan of muscle. So without further ado, we have eight new posts for you to check out:

SV Motors 9 Competizione, in pictures!

Why you won't be seeing Chevrolet's Camaro in NASCAR

Momentum Race Group to run Camaros in KONI Challenge

Phoenix Trans-Am conversion kit coming for Camaro

Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

2011 Mustang to get upgraded Track Pack to handle Coyote 5.0 power?

Corvette C7 coming in 2012?

Video: Iacocca Mustang commercial debuts

Enjoy, and we'll see you next week!

SV Motors 9 Competizione, in pictures!

Italian style meets American muscle in a perfect harmony thanks to the SV Motors 9 Competizione. And now we have pictures to show the real deal, not just artist renderings. Based on a Chevrolet Corvette C6 and utilizing the LS3 powertrain, the 9Competizione features Italian-designed carbon fiber bodywork that lowers the curb weight to just 3085 lbs. Performance figures are scarce, but SV claims the car can pull 1.03g and brake from 60-0 mph in 107 ft.

The car is an individualist's dream, as there are 25 different exterior color choices to go along with multiple wheel options, and several interior colors and materials to choose from. Customers can even pick five different brake caliper finishes. SV has boldly capped production at 1,000 units, and while pricing has not been announced, the company claims the 9 C will cost no more than $100,000.

Why you won't be seeing Chevrolet's Camaro in NASCAR

With the Ford Mustang set to make it's debut in NASCAR, many have been expecting the Camaro to follow suit and maintain the classic rivalry between the two pony cars. The reason you won't be seeing this is pretty simple: Chevy wants the Camaro to look like a Camaro, not a painted standard body.

GM's Mark Kent said that because of "the need to have templated bodies in that series, we felt that by forcing the Camaro into the Nationwide templates that we were compromising the body lines of an iconic car."

Momentum Race Group to run Camaros in KONI Challenge

The Chevrolet Camaro is finally set to take on the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang in the KONI Sports Car Challenge Series under the banner of Momentum Race Group. The Dallas based outfit will run a two car team featuring cars built by Riley Technologies and sport a lineup of well seasoned drivers led by SPEED World Challenge veterans Robb Holland and Jeff Altenburg. Teams will start testing in September and will compete in the last race of the season at Virginia International Raceway in October.

PRESS RELEASE:

DALLAS, Texas - Momentum Race Group is pleased to announce it will be fielding a new two car team for the 2009 Grand-Am KONI Challenge competition. Featuring the new Riley Technologies-built Camaro, the team is putting together key personnel to prepare for the 2009 season and beyond.

"With times as tough as they are, I can sleep well at night knowing that we have not only chosen what I feel to be one of the premier race cars in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge GS class, but also one which is as all-American as the Camaro," said Ray Butler, President of Momentum Race Group.

Momentum Race Group will begin testing cars in September in preparation for its October debut at VIR.

"Being one of the first teams to field the new Riley Camaro, as well as with the talent we are assembling, we hope to have a strong showing starting from our first race and to be contending for the 2010 championship," said Jordon Musser, Executive Vice President of Momentum Race Group and Lead Driver.

Momentum is finalizing its driver lineup, but is expected to include Musser, Robb Holland and Jeff Altenburg.

"Jordon Musser was my first choice for Executive Vice President and Lead Driver because of his uncanny attention to detail and of course his ability to hustle a car around a race track," Butler said.

Robb Holland, a veteran of the SPEED World Challenge, will co-drive the first car with Musser.

"Robb is a great driving talent, an all around great guy and good face for the team," Musser said. "His presence will be invaluable in helping us acquire sponsors and his skills behind the wheel will keep us up front."

Momentum is excited about the opportunity of having Jeff Altenburg be the lead driver in the second car.

"Jeff has been a champion at all levels of motorsports and has great experience at setting up and developing race cars. We will be relying on that experience to help us make our Camaros competitive straight out of the box," Musser said.

Momentum is hoping to announce its finalized driver lineup within a few weeks. Momentum is also in talks with several veteran KONI Sports Car Challenge crew chiefs and strategists to make sure the team has strong leadership on race weekends.

The team will be busy in the off season with testing, solidifying driver line ups, sponsors and key personnel with in the team for the end of 2009 and into 2010. Several positions are available. Interested parties should contact Momentum Race Group.

Phoenix Trans-Am conversion kit coming for Camaro

Pontiac is dead, but that doesn't mean that Trans-Am fans can't get the car that they dreamed of the last few years since it was announced that the Camaro would rise from the dead.

Trans Am depot will be offering body kits that transform a standard Camaro into a Trans Am. Since they were always basically Camaros with body kits anyway, this should easily appease the masses and allow some folks to differentiate themselves from the masses.

Press Release

Phoenix T/A

Like its mythical namesake that rose from the ashes to a new life, the Trans Am of yesteryear has been born again... the Phoenix T/A. If it is true that good things come to those who wait, then we have surely been rewarded for our patience.

Trans Am Depot is pleased to announce our partnership with designer Kevin Morgan in turning a three-year dream into reality. We, like many of you, have lusted over Kevin's retro interpretation of the '77 - '78 Trans Am based on the 2010 Camaro platform. We began early last year discussing the idea of how we might work together to bring this vision to life.

Phoenix T/A Currently, we are completing a one-off Kevin Morgan "Trans Am" Concept, which we intend to unveil at the 2009 Trans Am Nationals. The concept will be followed by the first production conversion later this year. It will vary from the concept car but will be an exact version of the conversion kits we will hope to be offering this fall. We are working closely with a Detroit auto design firm to bring this kit to market. We will be offering everything from the body conversion only to the limited Phoenix Edition. The kits will be available as an installed conversion only. Order details, pricing and delivery information will be coming soon. If you are interested in having a conversion performed on your Camaro or purchasing a turn-key conversion from Trans Am Depot, please fill out the customer form below.
The Phoenix conversion will include:

Exterior

1' - 1.5' Lowering Kit w/sway bar handling upgrade
Wheels & Tires
Front: 20x9.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 275/45ZR20
Rear: 20x11.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 305/35ZR20
Hood
Shaker Scoop
Fender Extractors
Exhaust Conversion w/ splitter tips
Rear Fascia Clip w/tail lamp lenses and bulbs
Rear Spoiler
TA Graphic Package


Interior

Embroded Head Rest and Console Lid - KM Graphic Punch
Turned Aluminum Door Panel
Turned Aluminum Dash Inserts
Turned Aluminum Instrument Cluster
Door Panel Badges
T/A SN Badge and Designation

Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

It's been two years since John Hennessey announced that he was going to be building his own supercar, but the plans are still a go as it has been announced that the car will make it's debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Some specs have changed. Curb weight is down from 2700 to 2400 pounds. The proposed engine is now a "Hennessey V8" instead of a Viper V10. Power is up to 1200hp rather than the inital 1000hp, and top speed is said to be 274mph. Soon we will know if that car can pull off these lofty goals.

2011 Mustang to get upgraded Track Pack to handle Coyote 5.0 power?

Car & Driver was recently down at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, where it ran into some Ford engineers testing some preproduction 2011 Mustangs. The unusual thing about the cars was that they featured not only adjustable shocks, but some serious supercar rubber. The same tires that are used on the Lamborghini LP560-4, for example.

The car was lapping 1.88 mile track just as fast as the current BMW M3 they brought along. How is it possible that a 315hp car could keep up with a 414hp one? Both the Mustang and the M3 weigh in almost identical, so the most logical explanation is that the Mustang was packing a little something extra underhood.

The logical explanation here is that the Mustang was packing the Coyote 5.0, a 400hp big time upgrade over the stock 4.6L. It's also possible that the white car with one tailpipe is sporting the EcoBoost V6, which is rated higher than the standard GT. Either way, check out the article and let the speculation begin!

Corvette C7 coming in 2012?

Corvette lovers had a slight scare in the state of the current economy with the bankrupcy of GM and word that performance models would be placed on the backburner, like the Z28. In a world of ever increasing gas prices, would the legendary Corvette meet it's demise after a long run as America's sports car?

Well it looks like the 'vette will continue on, at least if the latest two year product plans coming from GM hold out to be true. The plan is to introduce the C7 Corvette in 2012 as a 2013 model. Previous plans were to hold off on a new Corvette until 2014. Having a mid engine layout is a dead idea, as the C7 will continue on with the classic front engine, rear drive layout.

Rumors are that C7 will be smaller and lighter than the C6, which could be accomplished with the use of more exotic materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum in the construction. Rumor also has it that styling could be influenced by the 2009 Chicago Auto Show's Stingray Concept, the car you see in the pictures above. Well, we hope that rumor isn't true.

Video: Iacocca Mustang commercial debuts

Celebrating the Mustang's 45th anniversary in style, Ford has rolled out 45 copies of the Iacocca Mustang for those who prefer their pony car with a little style. Iacocca is celebrating his latest ride by bankrolling this commercial, which sports some Sinatra tunes and SoCal scenery.

Video: Autocar plays chase with a Corvette ZR1

There are lots of fun things one can do with a Corvette ZR1. Autocar decided it was going to strap a camera to the back of a car and let the 'Vette play chase. The results are pretty entertaining, to say the least.

SEMA Preview: 2010 FlatBack Mustang

This year's SEMA show in Las Vegas is still a few months away, but that won't stop tuners from showing some of the goods they plan on bringing to the table in November. The first Mustang to be previewed for the show is this, the "FlatBack" from CGS Motorsports.

The black on black 'Stang features goodies like a two tone paint job, 22 inch wheels, Roush body kit, Baer brakes, KW coilover suspension, and a Whipple twin screw supercharger to up the pony count. Check out the press release below for all the details.

PRESS RELEASE:

CGS Motorsports is one of the leading manufacturers of High Performance Cat Back Exhaust Systems and Air Intake Systems for late model cars, trucks, & SUVs.

Besides being one of the leading manufacturers of Performance Products, CGS has also become one of the leading creators of many SEMA Show vehicles over the years. CGS has built several trucks and SUVs for the Big 3.

Once again, CGS is creating another SEMA Show vehicle for Ford, which will be showcased at the 2009 SEMA Show. They will be customizing a new 2010 Ford Mustang, designed by Sean Smith of SS Designs, and named "FlatBack"

This modern day street machine will feature custom matte paint by BASF Refinishes with paint preparation by 3M, 22" one-off Colorado Custom wheels, Pirelli Tires, custom seats by Recaro, coil over suspension by KW, body kit by Roush, Baer racing brakes, and a supercharger by Whipple Superchargers.

As illustrated in the rendering, FlatBack will feature a Matte grey metallic paint, with gloss black graphics. So be sure to check out the completed FlatBack at this year SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV.

Shelby Distribution announces new and improved Daytona Coupe MKII

Based on one of the most legendary cars of all time, the Superformance Daytona Coupe is a modern interpretation of what is also one of the most expensive cars of all time, the 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe.

And now Shelby Distribution USA has announced that it will be building a newer and better version of the car, the Daytona Coupe MKII. For those who want a Daytona Coupe but can't pony up the multimillion's of dollars necessary to get one, this is the perfect back up plan.


In addition to the new name, the Daytona gets an updated interior with more room for the driver, external door handles, and electric windows. It also receives a host of performance upgrades, including revised air scoops behind the rear window, a revamped suspension setup, and an improved cooling system. Pricing comes in at $89,000 – plus the cost of an engine and transmission of your choosing.


PRESS RELEASE:

Irvine, CA - The long-awaited new CSX 9000 series Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe MKII with a number of improvements, upgrades and new features has arrived in the USA. The new model will be allocated CSX9000 series chassis numbers and will come complete with a Shelby-issued MSO certificate and Chassis tag.

"The new CSX 9000 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe will replace the SPF Daytona Coupe and this famous marque will in future only be marketed as a Shelby product,", says Lance Stander, President of Shelby Distribution USA of Irvine, CA.

The new models are available with a fiber glass body or aluminum-body.

"Every CSX 9000 series Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe will be listed in the Shelby World Registry, making this new addition to Carroll Shelby's stable of sports cars a collector's dream. The new Coupe will feature Shelby signature door handles and seat covers, and the stopping power for the powerful Coupe will be provided by Shelby branded brakes."

Asked how the Coupe had had progressed from a Shelby-approved replica of the original World famous Shelby Cobra Daytona CSX2000 series Coupe, that in 1965 won the World Manufacturers Championship, Stander said market requirements had demanded that the new model be upgraded and improved in a manner that would make it worthy of the Shelby appellate.

"A sports car with the heritage and image of the Coupe begged for improvements and new features to make it a worthy contender in the market in which it already is one of the most sought after contenders. This awareness led to the development of the CSX 9000 series," says Stander.

In order to increase the clearance between the driver's head and the roof as well as between the driver's left hand and the A-post, the seats were repositioned and the steering wheel moved over to the right. This created a much more comfortable seating environment.

New external door handles do not mar the sleek look of the coachwork and facilitates entry without the use of a remote key, and the doors are fitted with electric windows.

The side air intakes behind the doors now form part of the rear panel behind the B-pillars with an added quarter vent style window. In addition to improved interior air flow, visibility has been significantly improved.

Gear heads will be delighted with the improved front and rear independent suspension. This development includes the replacement of the rose joints with ball joints, and the new design facilitates the adjustment of camber, caster and toe adjustment up front, as well as easy camber and toe adjustment at the rear.

To eliminate noise, the front and rear anti-roll bars have been redesigned, the chassis has been stiffened and a new fuel tank with internal baffles incorporates a swirl pot design.

To improve oil cooling the oil cooler has been separated from the radiator and fitted in an area with adequate air flow, the radiator core diameter has been increased and more efficient radiator fans are fitted.

"With the high ambient temperature in most of the USA in summer, and the congestion on our roads, adequate engine and oil cooling are "must haves" in an auto that is as comfortable cruising along at 20 mph or when hugging the corners at well over a 100 mph!" remarked Stander.

In keeping with modern design, the heater and climate controls for the air-conditioning have no cables and are operated via servo units, the side muffler pipes have been increased in diameter to ensure a deeper rumble, and the wheel wells have been adapted to accommodate 18 inch, deep dish Shelby Cobra style rims.

"Although the new Coupe shares all the visual magic of the original, the new CSX 9000 series is just so much more sophisticated and will have enormous appeal in the market for full-blooded American retro-styled sports cars," said Stander.

The first two new Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes have already been delivered. The order book is filling up fast, and Shelby dealers are now taking orders for later deliveries. Production will initially be limited to two units per month.

The MSRP of the fiber glass bodied CSX 9000 is $89,900.00 TKM and the aluminum-bodied model will be offered at $195,900.00 TKM. Orders can be placed by following this lead to the Shelby dealers' web site.

www.shelbydistributionusa.com

Or 1-888-SHELBYUSA.

Tuner developing turbo V6 Camaro to take on 'Ring time for GT-R

A tuner by the name of East Texas Muscle Cars is fitting a pair of turbos to a 2010 Camaro V6 in a quest to beat the 'Ring time which is currently held by the Nissan GT-R.

The 304hp base V6 Camaro makes for an interesting car to use in their quest to best the GT-R. It will more than likely end up being the best selling version of the car. The reason ETMC chose the car and it's target is most obviously publicity. And publicity drives sales.

So how do they plan to wring out enough power and grip to accomplish their mission? ETMC is going to start with forged rods, crank and pistons in order to handle the estimated 500 horses thanks in large part to twin Squires Turbo Systems turbos. The turbos are remote mounted and bolt up under the car near the exhaust. Handling will be tightened up thanks to harder bushings and Pedders coil-overs, along with a Baer big brake kit and lightweight forged 20-inch wheels.

To further make it's point, ETMC will fly out a friend's stock GT-R to race the Camaro simultaneously. The car is set to debut at 2009's SEMA show. Let the games begin.

2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 dyno tested, lives up to it's 540hp rating

It's no surprise that the new GT500 is fast, but it's also no surprise that someone was going to throw the thing on a dyno to confirm rated horsepower. It's a practice that's been going on for many many years, back to when manufacturers underrated power numbers to keep insurance cheap for car buyers.

And some things never change. 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords strapped a 2010 Shelby GT500down and the results were better than expected. The Mustang belted out a stout 478.53 horsepower and 470.43 lb-ft torque at the rear wheels on a hot and muggy day in Florida. The traditional calculation of allowing a 15% loss of power through the drivetrain puts flywheel horsepower at over 560hp.

Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang revealed

Last night Lee Iacocca himself pulled back the curtain to reveal a car built to celebrate his legacy and importance to the automotive industry, the 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang.

Unlike most tuner Mustangs, this version isn't just a bolt on body kit and some bolt on engine mods. The design is a rework of the entire car's lines, and it comes off rather untacky and clean.

The first example sold last night for a hefty sum of $125,000. If you want one, only 44 more examples will be built.

Ford releases 2010 Mustang customizer

Ford has released an online customizer for it's 2010 Mustang. You can customize your Mustang in virtually any way possible, including trying out different hoods, louvers, scoops, spoilers, grilles, wheels, and stripes. You can even decide the size of your car's burnout. Check it out here.

Video: Nissan GT-R plays nice with other supercars

This video features a nice in car trailing shot in a Nissan GT-R following some pretty gaudy company. A little stroll through SoCal with some of it's friends, including a Viper, M6, and a couple of Ferrari's. The GT-R more than holds it's own through the course of the video.

Video: Tramontana R Edition gets worked out by Fifth Gear

The Tramontana is a Spanish made beast sporting a carbon fiber chassis and an AMG 5.5liter V-12 with 720hp and 811 lb-ft of torque. It weighs a mere 2,500 pounds and looks like something out of a Transformers movie.

While the specs and the speed are simply ludicrous, the price is as well. Each Tramontana is build to suit it's owner, and your lone passenger sits behind you while you are at the wheel.

Thankfully some people other than the exorbitantly rich are able to drive cars like these and video tape the results so they can then broadcast the mayhem to everyone via the web. Fifth Gear got dibs on the Tramontana, and you can check out their hijinks in the video.

Unique Corvette Grand Sport to be raffled off by NCM for 15th anniversary

The National Corvette Museum is celebrating it's 15th anniversary in style by raffling off a one off Corvette Grand Sport. The Vette is Arctic White with a black hood treatment and a Corvette Racing's Jack at the center bulge of the hood with red accents. NCM's logo is also present on the car's B pillar. This particular car is a six speed manual, with dual mode exhaust and a ZR1 rear spoiler.

Tickets for the raffle cost $150 each. Only 2,009 tickets are being sold, so you want to act fast if you want a shot at the car. Second prize is $10,000 and third prize is $5,000. The Vette will be auctioned off on September 6th at the Museum's 15th anniversary celebration.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Yenko 427 with matching Camaros

Don Yenko is the legendary owner of a Chevy dealership in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania who produced his own high performance versions of Chevy's finest. In the late 60's he realized that Camaros could be ordered with L-72 427CI V8 through GM's Central Office Production Order program, originally intended as fleet vehicles for police cars and taxi cabs.

He took the cars and outfitted them with power disc brakes, a 4.10 rear end, upgraded suspension, a heavy duty radiator, front and rear spoilers, a cowl-induction hood, and plenty of Yenko badges and graphics. Just over 200 of the '69 Yenko Camaros were built, and they are still one of the most sought after muscle cars of today.

Chop, Cut, Rebuild teamed up with Original Equipment Reproduction (OER) and D&P Classic Chevy to build a tribute car that would honor the Yenko's legacy and celebrate it's anniversary. The overall goal was to produce a car that would look like something Don Yenko would produce today.

Starting with a brand new repo '69 body shell, the builders dropped in an LS7 crate motor and six speed transmission. They then decided to paint a new Camaro to match, creating a duo of sweet looking cars.

Source: Autoblog, Original Equipment Reproduction
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

PRESS RELEASE:

As Camaro fans worldwide celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1969 Yenko Camaro this year, the guys over at "Chop, Cut, Rebuild" decided to get in on the fun and partner with D&P Classic Chevy, Original Equipment Reproduction (OER) and Classic Industries to build a unique, never-before-seen vehicle: the 1969 Yenko Tribute Car.

The Tribute Car is actually a "new", modernized 1969 Camaro built using the best products available in the automotive aftermarket today. The build was a complete ground-up re-creation, beginning with a brand new body and using an extensive list of products and parts from OER, a leading manufacturer and distributor of classic restoration parts and the project's principal sponsor, based in Westminster, California.

The goal was to maintain the classic design and appearance of the '69 Camaro, but integrate a high level of modern components into the construction; a concept based on what D&P feels that Don Yenko himself would have done.

To complete the "What If" project, OER, a long time sponsor of "Chop, Cut Rebuild", provided an extensive list of parts including body, trim, interior, chrome, and many other reproduction components.

The completed Tribute Car is a driver-friendly, comfortable street machine that is also able to competitively handle a drag strip or road course. The vehicle's exterior looks relatively stock, but the modern drivetrain components and cutting-edge technology inside are what allows it to be very fast and far exceeding what was available in 1969.

Originally, the '60s era Yenko Camaro was a special order vehicle, available only through Don Yenko Chevrole tin Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Don Yenko used the Central Office Production Order (COPO) program, a program GM used for fleet vehicles like police cars, taxi cabs, etc. to special order the most powerful Camaros available.

Today, an original Yenko is one of the most sought after Camaros in the world, garnering five to 10 times the resale value of a regular Camaro.

Currently, Darryl and Peggy Nance, owners of D&P Classic Chevy, a full service restoration and street rod shop based in Huntington Beach, Calfifornia, own this car.

Engine:
- LS7, 427 Cubic Inch – fuel injected by GM Performance Parts (rated at 505 horsepower)
- Front Engine Accessory Drive system for the motor, computer, computer harness and engine accessories by GM Performance Parts
- Headers by Lemons Headers
- Exhaust system by Flowmaster
- Radiator and electric fans by Be Cool
- LS7 oil tank and components by Petersen Fluid Systems
- High performance battery by Knetik

Transmission:
- Tremec T56 Magnu 6 speed transmission – this was the first T56 Magnum rated at 700 foot pounds of torque
- Transmission conversion products and technical/installation support provided by Keisler Engineering

Suspension:
- Front and rear suspension by Detroit Speed & Engineering
- Powder coated 1st Generation Hydro-formed subframe, including rack and pinion steering, tubular control arms, front suspension and spindles by Detroit Speed & Engineering

Brakes:
- Complete front and rear 6-piston brake calipers with drilled and slotted rotors by Baer Brakes
- Brake master cylinder and special accumulator assembly by ABS Power Brake

Tires and Wheels:
- 18" BF Goodrich KDW tires
- D&P custom 18" wheels built by US Wheel

Exterior:
- Paint materials were provided by PPG

Interior:
- Air conditioning by Vintage Air
- Kicker stereo system
- Clarion stereo head unit
- Interior installation by Stitchcraft