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• SoCal Scene: Crossroads First Friday Meet Coverage

  In Car Events / By Freddy Chen / 6 February 2013

  

  Before I knew it, the first month of 2013 had come and gone and I had attended a whopping total of zero car shows/meets all 31 days. Disappointed in my lack of commitment, I set my sights on the Crossroads First Friday meet in Torrance, charged my camera battery, and drove southbound with “Eye of the Tiger” playing loudly on the radio. Nice.

  As I rolled into the Torrance Crossroads Shopping Center around 7:05PM, a small group of FR-S and Club4AG owners greeted me in the southern corner of the parking lot. While I took out my camera and started shooting test shots, I was surprised by the seemingly low attendance. Apart from the small FR-S crowd, there was a Datsun 510 here and there, a first-gen Scion xB, a blacked out third generation Camaro, and a Porsche Carrera GT. Wait what?

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• 2012 Scion FR-S Cup: Small Cars, Big Event

  In Car Events / By Staff / 18 November 2012

  

  Quick question… How do you fit over 100 Scion FR-Ss into just one small area of a parking lot? Easy, have Scion in collaboration with HPI Racing host a remote control (RC) event exclusive to the FR-S called the Scion FR-S Cup!

  Imagine controlling an FR-S zooming down a straightaway – the ground is a little wet and a turn is coming up, so you ease off the throttle. The FR-S clears the turn, but you can’t get stable. The FR-S jumps a small barrier on the track and does a couple flips. Normally this would be a major tragedy, but not when the FR-S is at 1/10th scale; it’s all part of the fun and excitement of an RC race.

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• SEMA 2012: The Final Countdown

  In Car Events / By Freddy Chen / 3 November 2012

  

  There are a number of times every year where I avoid my Facebook news feed like the plague. In no particular chronological order, these times include election season, major sports finals, whenever it rains in California, and the weeks leading up to and after SEMA. Why do I avoid checking my feed then you ask? Because everybody is posting the same frakkin thing. You see sites across the internet posting about the same cars, kits, builds, on and on. It’s madness.

  Needless to say, SEMA poses a unique coverage challenge to enthusiast sites unlike any other show on the automotive calendar. Do we write about the recognized heavy hitters and risk becoming “just another SEMA article” floating around the interwebs? Or do we cover the cars just out of the spotlight – and risk the lack of an established audience? I’ll make it easy on you. In no particular order, here are 20 SEMA 2012 standouts that should have caught your eye:

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• SEMA 2012: Scion FR-S & Subaru BRZ Invade Las Vegas [45 Pics]

  In Car Events / By Ari Cox / 3 November 2012

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

• SEMA 2012: Our Top 20 Favorite Rides

  In Car Events / By Tom Anderson / 2 November 2012

  Pure Vision Ford Mustang T-5R

  

  We’re big fans of alternate history. The science of the what-if, if you will. Pure Vision, a SoCal shop, wondered what would have happened if, in the mid-1960s, Ford executives had teamed up with an infant Martini Racing to help promote the Mustang and Martini spirits in Europe. Their best guess? The Martini Mustang T-5R. The distinctive red-and-blue stripes and Shelby GT350 aping body mods are certainly convincing, but the enlarged-to-300-cubic-inches version of the DOHC V8 that powered legends like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti to Indy 500 wins pushes the bounds of believability. Not that we’re complaining, mind you; in fact, we’re doing the exact opposite.

  Ranz Motorsports Mercedes-Benz 280C

  

  In 99.99% of cases, we aren’t fans of engines from one manufacturer transplanted into a car or truck from another manufacturer. But this black baroque beauty from Ranz Motorsports fits into the 0.01% of vehicles for which we’ll make an exception. The stock 2.8L SOHC straight-six has been replaced with a 3.0L DOHC turbocharged 2JZE inline-six from a Toyota Aristo (the Lexus GS300’s JDM cousin). The dashboard is a narrowed Lexus IS250 piece. And the stance is right on the money. Keep your peepers peeled for a feature on this malevolent Merc in the near future.

  Eckerts Rod and Custom Ford Mustang Mach 40

  

  Some time ago, someone must have asked what a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 crossed with a Ford GT would look like. Thanks to the work of David Eckert and his team of craftsmen, the whole world now knows the answer. The Mustang Mach 40 features a GT engine and transaxle mounted in the middle of a squished and stretched ’69 Mustang body shell riding on C6 Corvette suspension. In case that’s not enough, the driver can dial up as much as 850hp from the supercharged 5.4L V8, and its overall victory in the annual Gran Turismo Awards means it will eventually appear in a Gran Turismo game.

  Karlsson Holden8r

  

  Australia, in addition to being crawling with animals that can kill you and mind-meltingly beautiful women, is also a sort of an automotive Land of the Lost. Ford and GM both build rear-wheel-drive sedans offered with either six- or eight-cylinder engines, which is cool. Even cooler is the fact that they build pickup trucks called utes based on those sedans. Bernt Karlsson not only imported the Holden Ute seen above, and converted it to lefthand-drive, he also grafted a Camaro nose onto it. Are you paying attention, Chevy product planners?

  Underground Racing Audi R8 GT Stage 3

  

  The Audi R8 GT is fast. An Audi R8 GT with an Underground Racing twin-turbo kit is faster. And an Audi R8 GT with an Underground Racing Stage 3 kit, which offers up 1,000hp on pump gas? Hooooooo boy. Naturally, the Underground crew chooses to display this Teutonic terror sans rear fascia, so engine-porn addicts like us can ogle the team’s handywork. We’re told the car is cloaked in matte red, but all we saw was turbo plumbing. Twisty, sexy turbo plumbing…

  Cartel Customs Scion FR-S Masterminded

  

  Cartel Customs has built many custom Scions over the years, including an FR-S prior to this. It was a roadster that debuted at the Long Beach Formula Drift event, and was present at SEMA. But the FR-S making its debut at SEMA was this orange and black beast called Mastermind. The top has been chopped, and then mostly removed. The B-pillars have also been ditched, and the front and rear fenders have been pushed outward. Obviously the FR-S’s driving dynamics have been severely compromised, but for cruising or stationary showing, this baby is a work of genius.

  Patrick Ng Toyota Corolla TE27

  

  We love old-school Japanese resto-mods as much as the next gaijin, but this orange Corolla is just right. The fender-mounted mirrors. The fender flares. The throwback Enkei wheels. And that so-early-‘70s orange paint. The Toyobaru siblings wish they could be this bitchin’.

  Cosworth Ford Focus ST CS 330

  

  Ford and Cosworth are basically the Simon and Garfunkel of the motorsports world. They haven’t been working together non-stop, but when they have been collaborating, the results (DFV Formula 1 engine, Sierra RS Cosworth, Escort RS Cosworth) have been amazing. Their latest project? The Cosworth Focus ST CS 300. The name drives one to assume two things: 1) It’s based on the new Focus ST, and 2) its 2.0L EcoBoost powerplant has been coaxed into making 330hp. Both assumptions are correct.

  Tanom Motors Invader

  

  Trikes that are cruiser motorcycles that have been converted to dual rear wheels? Lame. Trikes that have car-like fronts pushed along by superbike rears? Rad. Thankfully, the Tanom Motors Invader (offered in roadster or semi-enclosed coupe versions) belongs to the latter group. With a beastly 1,300cc Suzuki Hayabusa four-banger shoving the crypto-Italian supercar cockpit and front wheels toward the horizon, the Invader is a refreshingly different way to scratch your performance driving itch.

  Jeff Dunham UltraViolet Dodge Challenger

  

  Finally, it wouldn’t be SEMA without at least one celebrity-commissioned custom ride. This year the one getting most of the attention in that arena was comedian/ventriloquist/car nut Jeff Dunham’s powerfully purple Dodge Challenger. The grape-a-licious hue and functional hoodscoop add to the Challenger’s baked-in retro vibe, but the 22” HRE wheels and Mopar 426 cubic inch Generation 3 Hemi crate engine keep it firmly grounded in the 21^st century. See parents, playing with puppets and being the class clown can pay off eventually.

   

• SEMA 2012: The Top 5 Emerging Trends

  In Car Events / By Tom Anderson / 1 November 2012

  

  It’s hard to believe that November is upon us yet again, but a check of the calendar (and, in less well-behaved neighborhoods, candy wrappers and/or smashed jack-o-lanterns on the street outside) indicates that that is indeed the case. And for fans of and builders of custom cars, trucks and motorcycles, their equivalent of Christmas comes every year during the first week of the eleventh month. That is when the SEMA Show sets up shop at the Las Vegas Convention Center, bringing with it all the chrome, carbon fiber and cheesecake you can handle.

  But one of the other attributes of SEMA that is frequently overlooked is how it acts as an instrument for measuring which vehicle modifying trends are hip or soon will be hip. Hike enough miles of exhibit space and you’ll start to see some clear patterns form. These patterns, in turn, can point to the popularity of a particular style of customization, or vehicles being used as starting points for customizing projects. Here are what we believe to be the five hot or about-to-be-hot trends on display in America’s preeminent adult playground.

  Vast Orange

  

  While we’re baffled by the staying power of matte finishes and all-black “murdered out” color schemes, we’re fairly confident we know at least one of the chromatic fads that will replace them once they do fall out of vogue. And its name is orange. The color-that-rhymes-with-nothing (though, come to think of it, the same can be said of purple) is being very well represented in Sin City, particularly by this sick widebody GT-R. Clearly, the Ornch Car Cult’s master plan is working perfectly.

  Thinking Small

  

  With the line graph for gas prices of late looking like a ride design the bigwigs at Six Flags rejected as “too hardcore,” subcompact cars – and now sub-subcompact cars like the Fiat 500, Scion iQ (shown) and recently introduced Chevrolet Spark – are starting to gain a foothold here in the land of Suburbansaurus Rex with ordinary consumers and tuners alike. This isn’t terribly surprising, as their affordable purchase prices leave buckets of baksheesh leftover for personalization. Combine that with fantastic fuel economy and maneuverability and these little runabouts become very attractive.

  Toyobaru FTW

  

  Anyone who didn’t expect the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ tag team to be the darling of the tuning community right out of the gate clearly doesn’t know how the car enthusiast brain works. The mere idea of a small, light, cheap-ish rear-wheel-drive coupe is all it takes to perk up almost every pair of ear in these circles. But to build such a marvelous machine and offer it for sale? You bet your backside us gearheads are going to be all over it. And SEMA Show organizers were all over it, too: They named the FR-S the Hottest Sport Compact of this year’s event.

  Intergenerational Hybrids

  

  No, don’t worry, we aren’t talking about dropping a third gen Prius’s battery pack into first gen model. We are, however, talking about mixing the DNA of modern muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro with that of their predecessors. Some use the bones of the classic originals and give them modern mechanical and cosmetic touches; the Mustang above features a 2012 nose and roofline on a 1968 body. Others start with modern cars and graft classic body parts onto them. The latter seems more popular, especially with new Camaros being restyled to look like the fifth generation Pontiac Firebirds and Trans Ams that woulda/coulda/shoulda been.

  Big Old Trucks, Big Bucks

  

  Finally, continuing with the theme of mixing old with new, SEMA 2012 is the coming out party for a couple of classic crew cab Dodge pickups with modern innards. Icon put together a lovely white 1965 Dodge D200 riding atop a modified late model Dodge Ram 3500 chassis and powered by a Banks Power tweaked 5.9L Cummins inline-six turbodiesel putting down 975 lb.-ft of torque. Legacy Classic Trucks, meanwhile, is showing off a big green Power Wagon – the famous WWII era 4×4 brute – with a gaggle of modern bits aimed at improving capability and reliability, including beadlock wheels and a 3.9L Cummins inline-four turbodiesel generating 480 lb.-ft. These king-sized, king’s-ransom-priced trucks certainly aren’t for everyone, but we’re thinking they are about to become the it toys of the rich and famous.

   

• Monterey Car Week 2012: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

  In Car Events, Motorsports / By Andre Ravinowich / 21 August 2012

  

  For the third time this year, Sub5Zero traveled once again to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula, home of the Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. Each year, around the 3^rd week of August, the Peninsula plays host to dozens of car-related events – including what is probably our favorite, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

  Over the course of 2 days, more than 500 cars, divided into 17 race groups, each took part in 2 20-minute races. Cars varied from a 1907 Renault Grand Prix car, to Mazda IMSA GT Prototypes from the early 1990’s.

  

  Group 2B featured the 1958-63 Formula Junior cars. Many of the cars in this group were built by famous marques such as Lotus, Cooper, Brabham, and Lola. The car pictured above, a Lotus 18/21, was driven in 1961 by none other than Sir Stirling Moss. He took the car to victory at two events, including the famous Brands Hatch circuit. This Lotus was also driven the following year by Graham Hill – who was Formula 1 Champion that year. In those days, it was not uncommon for a Formula 1 driver to participate in other racing events during the season, something that I’m sure is strongly forbidden by modern-day Formula 1 driver contracts.

  

  The fire-spewing machine in the photo above is a Mazda 787, which was the last rotary-powered car to ever compete in the World Sportscar Championship. In 1991, a slightly modified version of this car, the 787B, was the only car from a Japanese marque to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A total of only 5 787’s and 787B’s were built – and we believe a few replicas as well. The car seen at Laguna Seca this week may have been one of these replicas, but it still looked and sounded phenomenal to us.

  

  Every car enthusiast has a list of cars they dreamt about growing up. The BMW M1 is one that I’m sure was on many of our lists. The M1 was first designed to compete in Group 4 of the World Sportscar Championship. In order to support the homologation requirements for that series – a little over 400 street versions of the car were also built. It is still to date – the only mid-engine BMW to be mass-produced. The M1 also competed in the Procar Championship – a one-make series that ran in support for Formula 1 races in 1979 and 1980. In each race – top Formula 1 drivers competed against local drivers from each stop in the Formula 1 calendar. The Procar series only survived for two years, with Niki Lauda winning the inaugural season and Nelson Piquet its last. The M1 in the photo above competed in the IMSA GTO category, in events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona.

  

  Ferraris are always a fan favorite at most motorsports events. This year’s Reunion featured many pristine examples of the historic marque.  The car pictured above was part of Group 4A – 1955-62 GT cars. This group featured everything from Lotus to Alfa Romeos, and quite a number of other Ferraris. This car, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Competizione, and like many cars racing this past weekend, is worth north of $1 million dollars. But that didn’t stop this and many others of similar value from racing hard throughout the weekend.

  

  As many of you know, Carroll Shelby passed away in May of this year. Even before his passing, Shelby’s cars had been chosen as the featured marque for this year’s Reunion event. Group 3A was one of the most anticipated groups to take to the track this weekend – featuring over 40 of Shelby’s creations. The car seen leading the group is a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe – one of only 6 ever built. A second Daytona Coupe was also at the track – inside Ford’s display featuring such historic Shelby Cobras as the original prototype, and the first production model. The Daytona Coupe in the Historic display was the actual car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965, the Daytona 24 Hours, as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring that year. It was driven Dan Gurney and Bob Bondurant, among others. Rob Walton drove the Daytona Coupe pictured above. And in case you are wondering, yes – it is that Walton family. Wal-Mart anyone?

  

  In all – it was another fabulous day at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. Once again we cannot thank the track’s team enough for their hospitality. Each year, Laguna Seca hosts many great events, but the Reunion continues to be one of our favorites. It is simply difficult to match the variety of cars and the non-stop track activity. And not much can beat seeing racecars that are more than 100 years old, and a few hours later on the same track – a Le Mans prototype. We’ll be back to Laguna Seca soon for one more event this year. Stay tuned for our coverage of the Continental Tire Sports Car Festival – featuring the Grand-Am Sports Car Series.

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

• Monterey Car Week 2012: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

  In Car Events / By Andre Ravinowich / 20 August 2012

  

  Our coverage of Car Week at the Monterey Peninsula continues with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This year marked the 62^nd anniversary of the Concours, which takes place on the grounds of the beautiful Pebble Beach Golf Links. Much like the Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, the Pebble Beach Concours also selects different themes and marques to focus on each year.

  This year’s Concours featured cars with coachwork by Jacques Saoutchik, cars previously owned by the Maharajas of India, and Shelby Cobras. These were just a few of the dozens of different Classes of cars that competed for Best of Show at this year’s Concours.

  

  For many car collectors, being invited to show a car at Pebble Beach is a lifelong dream and great achievement. This year, Sub5Zero was able to arrive at the Concours early enough to see some of the very proud owners driving their prized cars onto the 18^th fairway. It is simply amazing to see cars that are more than 100 years old being driven, like the 1907 Cadillac Model A Wilso Rear Entrance Tonneau in the photo above. Each year, the Pebble Beach Concours brings some of the best cars from not just across the United States, but also across the World to the 18^th fairway of the famous golf course. Judging at the Concours focuses not only on originality and authenticity of each car, but also design, styling, and elegance.

  

  Many other articles have already been written about this year’s Concours featuring the actual cars that won Class Awards as well as Best in Show. So we chose instead to play the role of Concours Judge, and chose some of our favorites from this year’s show. As we mentioned, this year’s Concours featured cars that were previously owned by the Maharajas of India. There were many beautiful cars in this Class, from famous marque such as Bentley, Duesenberg, and Mercedes. But the car in the photo above is the that really caught our eye, unlike anything we have ever seen. It is known as the Swan Car, or the 1910 Brooke 25/30 HP Swan Car to be exact. A wealthy British engineer originally created the car. He then took the Swan Car to India, where it caught the eye of the Maharaja of Nabha who purchased it. It features actual gold leaf details, and a squirt out steam out of its nose to clear a path on the street.

  

  Class F at this year’s Concours featured cars with coachwork by Jacques Saoutchik.  Although he was born in Russia, Saoutchik immigrated to Paris in the late 1890’s, where he founded a coachbuilding company in 1906. In the early days of the automobile industry, it was common practice for one to buy a chassis & powertrain from a manufacturer, and then select a coachbuilder to create a custom body to be created. Many of us have heard of other prominent names in the coachbuilding trade, such as Pininfarina, Zagato, and Bertone. Cars built in this era were extremely special; each was unique and built to reflect the desires and personality of its owner. The car pictured above is a 1948 Talbot-Lago T-26 Saoutchik Grand Sport Coupe. It featured some incredible, flowing lines, as well as a very eye-catching color scheme that clearly stood out in the foggy morning we spent at Pebble Beach.

  

  This year’s Concours was not just about cars, as represented by Class V, which featured German motorcycles. This is where we first ran into Jay Leno at this year’s Concours, chatting away with a few owners. Even though we have seen Jay quite a few times over the years, it still amazes us just how knowledgeable he truly is about everything with wheels, not just cars. In this group of gorgeous motorcycles, some more than 100 years old, one bike caught our attention. The motorcycle in the photo above is a 1922 Megola Touring, which was built in Germany in the early 1920’s. As you can see from the photo, this bike is powered by a radial engine that is built onto its front wheel. It is unlike anything we have ever seen – simply an incredible piece of engineering. It actually has no clutch or gearbox – it is essentially a single-speed. A racing version of this same bike was actually capable of reaching speeds over 80 mph. Only a few of these have survived over the years, and they are worth close to $200 thousand.

  

  Similar to the Rolex Reunion at Laguna Seca, Pebble Beach also honored the late Carroll Shelby. Class N-2 featured over 10 unique and significant Cobras, from coupes, to FIA Competition Roadsters. Cobras were seen everywhere during the weekend, many of us joking that it was the opposite from the usual – odds are, most of the ones you saw were actually real. To us, none was more thrilling to see in person then the car in the photo above. This is the original 1962 Shelby Cobra 260 Prototype – the first Cobra ever built. Carroll Shelby personally owned this car up until his death earlier this year.

  

  The first cars visitors see as they enter the Concours grounds are not actually part of the judging competition. Each year, the golf course’s practice ground is home to the Concept Car display. This year’s group included the Fisker Surf, Lexus LF-LC, McLaren’s newly unveiled 12-C Spider, and Aston Martin Vanquish. But our clear favorite was Lamborghini’s Sesto Elemento. Although it was first shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, this was the first chance we had to see and hear this car in person (yes, it has an engine, not just a rolling showcar). With a carbon fiber body, the Sesto Elemento weighs in at just over 2200 lbs., and with its 570HP V10, can reach 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Although originally intended solely as a show car, after strong demand from some of its top customers, Lamborghini chose to build 20 of these marvelous machines. Maybe someday they’ll loan Sub5Zero one to review? We can dream can’t we?

  

  In our opinion, no show is complete without a Ferrari or two. And this year’s Pebble Beach Concours did not disappoint, featuring not one, but two separate Ferrari groups. Class M1 featured Grand Touring Ferraris such as 410 Superamerica and the famous 250 GT LWB California Spyder.  Class M2 was home to the Competition Ferraris at this year’s show, such as a gorgeous 500 TRC Scaglietti Spyder. Our favorite from both groups was the 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Pinin Farina Coupe owned by famous collector Jon Shirley shown above. We know most love Ferraris in their classic red, but this blue just left us breathless. This car actually won this year’s Gran Turismo Trophy. Yes, we are talking about “that” Gran Turismo. Each year, GT5’s creator, Kazunori Yamauchi picks his favorite car of the show to receive this trophy, and later be future on a future Gran Turismo title. Although this Sub5Zero author has met Yamauchi-san in the past, we were saddened that we did not see him at this year’s show.

  

  As you can see, there was no shortage of fantastic automobiles at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours. This event clearly demonstrates that an automobile can be truly seen as a rolling piece of art. If you have not attended this event in the past, do yourself a favor and go. You will never see a more impressive gathering of some of the world’s fines automobiles. And be sure to book your hotel soon, don’t be caught paying $300 a night for a 2-star hotel as we did this year.

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  
  

   

• 2012 Hot Import Nights Los Angeles: Kicking Off the Summer in Style

  In Car Events / By Jason Kwon / 10 July 2012

  

  As you may know, Hot Import Nights was the first big event of the summer, and it was a mishmash of all different types of cars, tournaments, and models. The first thing I was rather surprised by was the collaboration with IGN to host a Starcraft II tournament in the convention center. There was also a wrestling tournament in the corner of the building, which looked a bit odd taking place next to showcars. However, it was great to see more types of people come in through the doors, hopefully exposing their eyes to the greatness that is the SoCal car scene.

  Getting to the cars: there were cars from all across the board — European, American, Asian — you name it. I remembered HIN to be an essentially exclusive meet of JDM tuners and models, but things have changed. That is a good thing, of course, as more variety stirs things up. Now, before I show you the pictures, I apologize for the excessive noise, as the lighting conditions were less than ideal.

  I'd like to start off the coverage with one of my favorite cars of the event, an Alpine White turbocharged E46 M3.

  

  Being one of the most well-rounded cars BMW had to offer, and the last of the M's to feature a high revving Inline 6, some may consider this Bimmer to be the last "pure" BMW. 

  

  This example was very well modded, wearing tasteful carbon fiber ​Voltex​ carnards at the front…

  

  …and sitting on 10-spoke HRE ​wheels, reminiscent of some Hartge vintage wheels of yesteryear.

  

  The 3.2L S54 powerplant of the E46 M3 was outfitted with a custom intake manifold to handle the centrifugal supercharger and a carbon fiber valve cover for maximum form and function. (Pic is from another M3) 

  

  The BMW's weren't the only Germans to show, however.

  Don Lyson's Porsche 911 SC came to visit as well.

  

  Every time I see this car, the trunk is always open to showcase the beautiful velocity stacks laid out in an unconventional way. I'd love to hear the roar of this rear engined monster.

  

  Miatas seem to be gaining lots of popularity these days, and for a good reason. Cheap, reliable, tossable, huge aftermarket support, rear wheel drive, convertible… and the list goes on. Every event I go to, the numbers seem to be growing. There were none at the first HIN, one at Motion Auto Show, and now there are 4 of them, brought to you by Project G. This red Miata caught my attention because of the rolled fenders and aggressive stance…

  

  …but mainly because of the unique soft top. I first saw this type of top on a Boxster Spyder, and later by Miata for their NC roadster concept, but never on a street car. I gotta say, it really lightens up the car visually, and gives the 20-year old NA a breath of fresh air. 

  

  Included in the lineup was an NC with a set of beautiful, genuine gunmetal ​Volk TE37s ​with a red accent. I had no hope for the bloated NC, but seeing this car made me a believer. A perfect combo, and a functional one at that.

  

  I found a SW20 MR2 with some interesting scoops.

  

  I was more than glad to see the Scion FR-S make an appearance. The car looks great in olive green!

  

  Of course, its twin brother, the Subaru BRZ was just as stunning. It's interesting as a simple bumper swap could so drastically change the look of the car. The BRZ looks far more composed and refined due to the straight lines on the front fascia.

  

  A Veilside body kit completely changed the look of this NSX.

  

  It almost looks like a Noble supercar from the rear.

  

  A full carbon fiber RX-8, looking ready to jump at any moment.

  

  It's a shame Mazda has stopped producing Wankel engines, they truly brought innovation and soul into the industry, where all others were too afraid to take the risk. I feel like it could be of great use for lightweight sports cars due to its high revving nature and simplicity in design. 

  

  Surprisingly, there was a fairly rare Mazda RX-3, which was powered by a 2 rotor Wankel motor. The period-correct foglights and dam were nice minimal touches.

  

  Note the recurring triangular theme, from the logo in the front grille to the muffler in the rear. 

  

  A sick Datsun Bluebird 710 showing off a tasteful wheel fitment. They look to be bronze Watanabes, which are a perfect universal match to any older Japanese car.

  

  This Ferrari F430 stood out, especially with its signature red paint.

  

  Mr. Dunbar's WRX with HRE wheels wrapped in Falken Azenis RT615. Man, those HRE's are really in nowadays, aren't they?

  

  I've never seen this color before, but it looks great on this WRX.

  

  The fender flares give it an enhanced presence and also looks like it could take on any turn in its way, pavement or gravel.

  

  I found a blacked out hardtop S2000 devoid of any stickers and a berserk powerplant.

  

  Not only is the fantastically potent F20C ​turbo'd, but the exhaust and wastegate were routed straight out of the hood. That's gotta be one of the shortest exhausts ever, coming in close to Bisimoto's twin turbo 964.

  

  Speaking of power, Corvette engines are becoming ever more popular these days due to the simplicity and price to horsepower ratio. There is not a single motor out there that could match the ease of use and the sheer, thumping all-American power. There is an old saying in the community that goes, "Cheap, fast, or reliable, pick two." Well, the LS motors seem to be really close to be an exception. 

  Seen here is a supercharged Z06, and good lord, that is a gigantic supercharger. Crazy forced inductions aside, this is actually a very clean job with most of the factory parts looking intact.

  

  This Kouki S14 drifter was getting a lot of attention, and rightly so. It had vents on the trunk to cool the rear mounted radiators, as you can see by the fans in the trunk.

  

  Also worth mentioning is that there was an LS motor in there, which is a significant upgrade over the usual SR20DET. Almost double the horsepower, with room to go forced induction in the future. And all that torque should help getting slideways easier…

  

  Here's an oldie but a goodie: the High End Top Secret Supra, reunited with its original 2JZ motor…

  

  …this time with a double snail setup. It's amazing the amount of abuse the 2JZ motor can take, every example I see seems to be pushing 500+ HP. Toyota fan or not, you have to at least acknowledge that they make some kickass motors.

  

  I'd like to wrap up this coverage with an interesting sticker I found on the Supra.

  

  WWJS?

   

• Cars and Coffee Irvine: Classic Cars Galore

  In Car Events / By Jason Kwon / 5 June 2012

  

  Cars and Coffee always brings out a huge selection of vintage cars, dating from the 1900s all the way to cars that haven't even been released yet (Jaguar CX-75, Lincoln MKR, Hennessey Venom). It's almost guaranteed you won't recognize at least one car every time you go, simply because of the insane variety of cars, most of which are classic, pre-1980s cars. 

  To be frank, I used to find many older cars boring, dirty, and obsolete, and I'm sure some of you can relate. I just didn't find a reason to be interested in something so unrefined with so little power, that smelled like it was leaking oil all the time. However, I began to realize truly how beautiful vintage cars can be. In the present day, cars are crammed with technology to make them safer, easier to operate, and more reliable. On paper, it's a good formula, but it dulls the experience of driving to the point where a computer is steering the wheel for you. On the other hand, older cars feel much more connected to the driver; no drive-by-wire, no traction control, and sometimes not even power steering!  Even driving a 70's Corolla would be a more visceral and raw experience than driving a present day Mustang. The melody of the carburetors, the lack of excessive catalytic converters and sound deadeners, no plastic… you get the idea. There's also the novelty of owning a car from a different era, constantly reminding you of the ideologies and ideas of the past. In a way, it's like a time capsule. A badass time capsule you get to enjoy driving, that is.

  

  That said, I slowly converted to a classic lover after seeing the legendary Mercedes Benz 300SL "Gullwing." Funny, because this particular Cars and Coffee meet just happened to be packed with Benzes. There must have been at least 4 300SLs there, one of which was parked right next to its modern day recreation, the SLS. This white one caught my eye, and it complemented the curvy form of the SL300 perfectly. This is what I'm talking about when I say vintage cars offer a fully visceral experience. Even when you're not behind the wheel, there is something about the car that is intrinsically stunning that you can't quite describe with words.

  

  The reason the 300SL was so attractive was really because of its proportions and curves and of course, those unmistakable gullwing doors. At first glance, the car looks like a beautiful showcar, made to merely look great. However, everything on the car is functional; even the doors, which were added for further chassis optimization along the side panels. The 300SL was built for racing after all, and it was the fastest production vehicle of its time. There's honestly nothing bad to say about the car, and this Depth of Speed highlight on the 300SL really reinforces that idea. 

  

  This is the 190SL, the 300SL's younger sister. It looks almost identical to the 300SL, but came with only 104 HP, powered by the SOHC 4 banger and had an entirely different chassis. Considering the car was introduced in 1955, the numbers don't seem too meek after all. However, people didn't buy this car for speed. They bought it for its style and class, the latter being Benz's strongest attribute. 

  

  Just take a look at the interior. Simple, classy, and elegant.

  

  As I was snapping away at the Benzes, I barely caught this flick of a mysterious Ferrari. Loving the raw metal look, like the panels were hammered right off the Ferrari factory. Remember when I stated that you will most likely come across at least one car every week that you don't recognize? For me, this is one of them. If anyone can identify this beauty, please feel free to leave a comment!

  

  The legendary Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 has aged incredibly well. Very timeless car!

  

  This race-spec British racing green Jaguar XK120 had a cover for the passenger seat and a roll bar. Very cool vintage touches on this vehicle, such as the leather hood straps and the meshed headlight protectors in place of the "x" taped headlights that frequent racetracks today.

  

  At first I thought this was a Maserati Bora, but it happened to be the junior version of the Bora, called the Merak. The difference lies in the flying buttresses of the Merak and the enclosed hatch of the Bora. I personally prefer the Merak because of its eccentricity. Where else would you see such a feature on such an exotic car?! It almost looks like some sort of ute! 

  Unusual features aside, the proportions are also spot on. It has that recognizable supercar silhouette, with a very rounded geometric personality, brought to you by the infamous designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

  

  The rest of the car is nearly identical, save for the bumper in the front fascia. Loving those vents on the hood, it really adds an 80's look to the car. It almost looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie.

  

  It had a beautifully laid out interior. 

  

  When I turned around, I saw quite an unusual car: the Fiat Dino Spider. 

  

  This car has a rather interesting history behind it; the engine was made by Ferrari, the body styled by Italian design powerhouse Pininfarina, and produced by Fiat. It's got soul for sure.

  

  Here's another Italian beauty: the Alfa Romeo GTV. As I stated in the previous Cars and Coffee coverage, I believe this car to be the most beautiful Alfa Romeo ever built. Sometimes less is more. Colin Chapman said it best: "Simplify, then add lightness."

  

  Simple and understated lines result in an elegant little car. It's also fairly quick; some people have taken advantage of its nimble, lightweight chassis and swapped newer engines in them. A popular choice is the SR20DE(T), which is a great choice in my book.

  

  The OG VW Beetle​ Porsche 911S Targa. ​The 911 is a car I have deep respect for. Ever since its birth, it's been criticized endlessly about its "wrong" engine placement, most notably by Mr. Clarkson. It also came with an air cooled flat six engine, which was a bit of an oddity for such a high performance car. These features however, not only set the car apart from the competition, but won Porsche countless motorsports victories. 

  

  It had a set of stock Fuch wheels on, complementing the smooth body lines.

  

  Reppin' the Porsche Club of America.

  

  I spotted a 911SC not too far from the 911S, also sporting some Fuchs. The thing I love about Porsche is its evolution of the 911, making full use of its engine placement, and refining the design and improving performance again and again. To this day, the 911 provides the benchmark for sports cars, and is among one of the best sports (super?) cars for the price. You can clearly see the subtle changes this 911SC has gone through, but it still retains the original trademark shape.

  

  The hips are also getting wider, and the spoilers bigger to deal with the extra power the flat six is putting down… Getting ready for the first turbo 911, the 930.

  

  Okay, enough classics. Check out this Factory Five GTM. ​It's a kit car, meaning that it's sold in parts to be assembled by the owner. This means it bypasses most of the safety regulations, making it a lightweight supercar for the fraction of the price. A torquey Corvette engine placed in a nanny free, no-nonsense body gives it that all-American vibe to it. I like it think of it as a mid engined Viper.

  

  Another kit car that doesn't entirely look like a kit car: the Ultima Can-Am. A more radical approach to the supercar, looking like a classic Le Mans racer. 

  

  The exposed velocity stacks were an excellent touch. Who doesn't love a set of individual throttle bodies?

  

  Evosport's McLaren MP4-12C also made an appearance. Just… wow. That presence is phenomenal.

  

  The level of detail is stellar. I love how the tail lights, the vents, and the exhaust all integrate beautifully in a single panel in the rear. McLaren really outdid themselves with this car. It has the performance figures expected of a McLaren…

  

  …and it also has the sophistication of a high end luxury car. It's been said that the ride quality is among the best, thanks to its adaptive chassis and suspension in place of solid bars. Sure, there are some downsides to digitalizing the car, but the infinitely adjustable settings make for a convenient and seriously quick ride.

  

  The McLaren's engine bay was beautifully contoured, and decorated with a healthy dose of carbon fiber, McLaren's specialty. It's hard to believe such a car is only $229,000. Truly a car of the future.

  

  When I heard the scream of this E60 M5 from afar, I pictured a V10 F1 Ferrari. I knew that couldn't be true, so I thought it may have be a modified Carrera GT. Boy, was I in for a surprise. 

  

  I see a plain looking M5, and was instantly reminded of the beastly powerplant the luxury saloon was hiding under its hood; a 5 liter 507 HP V10 with a redline at a staggering 8250 RPM. Beneath the love-it-or-hate-it Bangle butt design is still a pure, naturally aspirated Bavarian monster. This car summarizes what BMW is all about; supercar-tier performance wrapped in an unsuspecting business suit. The ultimate driving machine. Now imagine if they made a real​ supercar, a la the legendary M1. Maybe this time it could be front engined…

  

  Gotta show some JDM love too! A Nismo 350Z painted in pearl white was looking beautiful sitting there by itself. This is about as perfect as a 350Z can get. Just enough bodywork to convey the aggressive performance, but not enough to the point where it is gaudy. 

  

  The rectangular bump on the rear bumper for the diffuser is a nice touch. Very reminiscent of JGTC/GT500 racecars.

  

  Clean, almost stock looking EK9…

  

  …Until you take a peek in the hood. Jesus, look at that turbo manifold! I believe this was a turbo B16 with GReddy blow off valves. I'd imagine it would sound glorious in full throttle. And off throttle, where those BOV's will make a beautiful "PSHHHHH" sound. I'd usually prefer high revving NA builds, but this car has the best of both worlds.

  And that concludes our coverage of this week's Cars and Coffee! If you haven't already been to one of these events, we strongly urge you to go check it out at least one Saturday morning. It goes down every week in Irvine!