Jaguar ALIVE driving school [w/video]

We love driving schools.

Any chance we get to strap into a car and fling it around the cone-laden confines of a wide-open area makes for a great day. Thus it should come as no surprise that when Jaguar rang us up on the Hoon-phone to invite us to their latest driving experience, we sputtered out a “F*#k yes!” before they finished speaking. We apologized for swearing, and marked the date on our calendar.

Keep reading to find out what went down when the marked day arrived… … Continue Reading

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Let’s go behind the scenes with Chop Cut Rebuild

Muscle car and restoration fans, rejoice. The Emmy-nominated program (they’re up against Martha Stewart) Chop Cut Rebuild is back for its eighth season, and the show on Speed invited Hooniverse into its garage for a sneak peek at a build that will take all year. Host Dan Woods and his team are holed up not far from our Huntington Beach HQ (one of our three HQs around the country, not counting our Canada and Finland facilities). The filming takes place at the Classic Industries Tech Center, and we knew we were in the right location thanks to the various pilfered parts cars covered up in the back of the lot.

The main focus in season eight is turning bits of metal into a showstopping 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. The team found a donor car, but quickly realized it wouldn’t fit the bill after it started to bend in half when they picked it up. They didn’t have to look very far for their next option, however, because Classic Industries sells a ’56 Bel Air body right out of their catalog.

Pair that fresh skin with the an Art Morrison chassis, and you have a package that’s ripe for a serious powertrain. Enter the dragon, err, the LSA. That’s right, these Hoon-minded folks are taking the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that’s usually found under the hood of the Cadillac CTS-V (and now the Camaro ZL1) and using it to bring Project OpenAir to fire-breathing life. That mighty mill will be paired with the slick-shifting six-speed gearbox it’s so often found bolted to.

Stay tuned, because we’ve been invited to come back and take a look at the build as it progresses. For now, hop past the break for more photos from our trip to the set, and a rendering of what the finished product will look like.

[Images copyright 2012 Hooniverse.com/Jeff Glucker | Rendering of OpenAir courtesy of Chop Cut Rebuild]

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Hagerty puts out its Top Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Lists

The Hagerty insurance company has put together a few lists, and the focus is on vehicles that are described as threatened, endangered, or extinct. For a car to be considered threatened, it has to have had a production run greater than 10,000 units and now Hagerty insures less than 25 of them. Endangered cars see fewer than 15 insurance policies, and extinct cars see zero.

Here’s how Hagerty sees the lists broken down…

Threatened:

1. 1975-1980 Chevrolet Monza
2. 1963-1966 Studebaker Wagonaire
3. 1971-1974 BMW Bavaria
4. 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT
5. 1971-1977 Toyota Celica

Endangered:

1. 1971-1976 Mercury Capri
2. 1971-1972 Mazda RX2
3. 1975-1981 Volkswagen Scirocco
4. 1979-1981 Toyota Supra
5. 1971 Plymouth Cricket
6. 1981-1985 Chevrolet Citation X-11

Extinct:

1. 1980 Dodge St Regis
2. 1986-1986 Chrysler Laser XE
3. 19871 Renault/AMC Alliance Convertible
4. 1983-1986 Izusu Impulse

 Why are there 6 in the endangered list and only 4 in the extinct list? A reader wrote in to Hagerty to let them know his Cricket is covered by their insurance, and Hagerty were happy to move the Plymouth off of the extinct list. Head over to the Hagerty site to read more about each vehicle on each list.

Thanks for the tip, DukeisDuke!

[Source: Hagerty | Image: Allpar]

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Video: Finnish track day nearly turns tragic but not in the way you’d expect

What starts as your standard track day video soon turns nearly tragic… but not in the way you’d expect when the subject is motorsports. A Finnish driver was enjoying both his Toyota MR2 and the Ahvenisto Race Circuit in Hämeenlinna, Finland. His car appeared to be running well despite his ham-fisted one-hand-on-the-wheel approach to driving. Halfway through the video however, things take an unexpected turn.

The driver pulls into a pit area of the track, and sits in his car. Though he is parked in an outdoor space, carbon monoxide begins to filter into the cabin, and the driver begins to doze off. Attentive track officials notice the man, and probably assume he is taking a nap so they attempt to wake him up. First, by tapping on the window with their hands, then by tapping on the window with a hammer.

Their actions saved a life in a way they probably weren’t expecting that day. Click past the break for the video. Window smashing PAH! action occurs around the 5:45 mark.

Update courtesy of our Favorite Finn Antti:

“Guy smells gas at 1:22, so that’s when the gases start to get in. He hasn’t got any recollection after the spin at 3:25, in the comments he describes how he gradually starts to drive sloppier and sloppier as he’s losing consciousness and awareness. At the end, he’s barely hanging in there and can’t function anymore. You can hear him commenting in English, how he’s just scared and scared when he manages to pull off the track.

Apparently the sealing between the midship engine and the cabin was iffy, and thus the carbon monoxide started to seep in.

BTW, that’s the track where I wrecked my car. The guy is barely conscious and still he drives better than me.” 

This MR2 apparently has the greatest sealing T-Tops of all time.

[Source: YouTube]

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California Craigslist: The “… just frame damage nothing big” BMW M Coupe

A BMW M Coupe remains very high on my “must own” list. I recently took to Craigslist to get an idea of what they might be going for behind the Orange Curtain. My eyes were instantly drawn to a link with the words “1999 Bmw M Coupe – $10,000″.

That seems like a great deal for a clownshoe in solid shape. The seller states that the car is in fact in great shape, and runs “like brand new.” So why is the owner only asking for $10k when all the “maintains” has been done, including the “breaks”?

The car has a salvage title. “It was just the frame nothing big”

Ugh. Check out the ad for yourself, here.

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California Craigslist: “Slant nose” Porsche 930

I didn’t even enter anything into the search bar in the automotive section of my local Craigslist. Still, one of the first results was this 1975 Porsche 930 Cabriolet. Not just any 930 mind you, this one has the ultra rare Slant Nose or “Flachbau” option. Wait… didn’t the seller say this is a 1975? Porsche didn’t offer the slant nose option until 1981.

Regardless of the flacid bow, the seller states that this particular Porsche features the upgraded 3.3-liter drivetrain from a 1985 911. That would be a nice jump in go-energy over the 1975 3.0-liter motor. However, the seller claims that the car is smog exempt because the chassis is from 1975, yet the engine is from 1985. That might cause a bit of a no-no from the California DMV.

So what’s the asking price for this confused cabriolet? Just $12,900, which seems like a good deal for a fun looking Porsche. The car has a salvage title, which is apparently the result of theft recovery. I’m not one to judge about that since Project Civic Si(gh) has the same title situation (Crap, I need to get that to a smog station too…).

Here’s the full ad for those interested:

1975 Porsche Slope Nose Cabriolet with 1985 Rebuilt Engine Trans VIN 9115211018 This is a real steel slope not fiberglass Since it is a 1975 Chassis it is smog exempt It has had upgrade of a 1985 Drivetrain. One of the best most bullet proof engines Porsche ever made. The car is quick but also very reliable with this drivetrain New clutch New Top The conversion was done on a salvage title car (theft recovery) however the car drives and stops straight and true. The car has been reinspected and re-certified by DMV Porsche Cup Wheels in great shape Proper Paint Job Rear tires are new Great Driving and Looking car that gets noticed Call (831) 241-4144 Car is in Costa Mesa $12,900 Lots of photos here: http://s1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb405/rhart66/Slope%20Nose%20Porsch/?start=40 See video here http://youtu.be/nBdiyxoH150 See another video here:http://youtu.be/nBdiyxoH150 Will consider trades

Click here for more photos and the actual ad.

[Source: Craigslist]

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California Craigslist: 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV

If you think I’m sexy, and you like my body, come on baby let me know!

Well, I do think this 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV is quite a looker. I was browsing the best damn Craigslist in the Union (California), and I stumble across this fine piece of Italian motoring history. The seller states that with 119,000 miles on the odometer, things are still running molto buona.

Here’s the full ad:

this beautiful 1974 alfa GTV has 119k miles,new tires,original interior,originally cal car with blue plate,
all gauges,lights are in good working condition, great body, original color ,new paint,she looks,runs great,please stop by or call us for more info. 

Good look making that phone call though… as there’s no number provided. Question for you all, is this worth the $12,995 asking price?

Check out the ad for yourself here. 

[Source: Craigslist]

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Holden to your hats (I’m so sorry…): The Commodore is coming!

We’ve heard a bit o’ exciting news this morning that comes courtesy of our friends down under. General Motor’s Australian arm Holden is getting ready to bring the Commodore to the United States. Not only is the full-size rear-driver heading here, but it’s being reported that a few other body styles will follow suit not longer after the Commodore. First to make the trek though is the large four door, which will arrive stateside with Chevrolet badges, and it will be called the SS.

Initially, the Chevrolet SS will make its debut on the left-turn loving tracks of NASCAR. That should occur in 2013, and then the public will get their turn behind the wheel sometime in 2014. If this sounds awesome, you better have your money ready. General Motors says that the amount arriving in dealerships will be fewer than the 50,000-odd Pontiac G8 sedans that were sold during that vehicles production run.

No word yet on what the other body styles might be. If we could suggest something… offer either a wagon or a ute, we don’t care which because both sound awesome. The wagon will sell better, and the ute will be crazier, but both will be welcomed with open arms by all here in the Hooniverse.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Found in the Forums: A discussion on lame convertibles

For some, having a roof over your head as you motor down the road is a terrible thought. Regardless of whatever the make and model ragtop one is helming, the very idea of top-down motoring brings a smile to the face of any convertible enthusiast. Not every convertible is a winner, however, and forum Hoonizen NoKetchup started a discussion to find out what other folks believe comprise a potential list of lame convertibles.

Things get started with mention of a Cavalier convertible before quickly moving on to the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. From there, someone mentions a Triump Stag… but they’re mistaken, because the Stag is awesome.

Regardless, get your asses into the forum and join in on the discussion.

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Video: Big Muscle shows us a super sleeper 1972 Nova

I’m not in love with every show on the Drive network on YouTube. There are, however, a few shows that should be firmly planted on your radar. Oddly enough, all three shows are shot and produced by our friends behind the excellent videos from TheSmokingTire.com. I’m talking about Ride Apart, Tuned, and the newcomer Big Muscle.

It’s that last one that I’m going to talk about right now because the latest episode happens to feature a car that I think is an early Hooniverse Car of the Year candidate. Host Mike Musto, AKA Mr. Angry, (AKA Mr. Surprising Falsetto) travels to Northern Chicago to meet the owner of a fairly plain looking 1972 Chevrolet Nova.

While it might look like your standard Craigslist find, it has a bit of a secret lurking beneath. I’m not going to spoil the video for you, so click past the break to watch the clip…

[Source: Big Muscle on YouTube]

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