Tesla selling like gangbusters in China | Automotive News

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“Will it play in Peoria?” asks the age-old question about how Broadway shows would be received in Middle America. Well, apparently Tesla Motors plays well in Beijing. It’s part of Tesla chief Elon Musk’s grand plan, of course.

The California-based maker of the battery-electric Model S has delivered about 1,000 of the vehicles in China since shipments started there in April, Bloomberg News says, citing Dougherty & Co. analyst Andrea James, Barclays Plc analyst Brian Johnson and Wedbush Securities analyst Craig Irwin. Tesla also started shipping its first right-had drive Model S sedans to the UK in June.

It is estimated that all those deliveries helped push Tesla’s second-quarter global vehicle deliveries close to the 7,550 mark, which is more than the company forecast and would set a new quarterly record (Tesla’s second-quarter results will be announced later today). It would also mark about a 45 percent jump from Tesla’s 2Q sales a year ago.

via Tesla selling like gangbusters in China | Automotive News.

 

tes

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

tesla model x

Tesla trying to keep Model X demand low for now

When running a business, having to throttle the hype for a new product isn’t such a terrible problem to have. That’s exactly was Tesla is doing with its Model X SUV, which is slated to go on sale next year. During a quarterly earnings call (transcript …

Panasonic partners with Tesla on Gigafactory – Jul. 31, 2014

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Since Tucson, AZ (where I’m located) is in contention for the Gigafactory, I like keeping up to date with Tesla events…plus I think they are  nice cars!!!

The companies announced Thursday that Panasonic PCRFF will contribute an undisclosed sum to a proposed “Gigafactory,” the location of which has yet to be announced. Panasonic will also make and supply cylindrical lithium-ion cells to be assembled into batteries at the factory, and the two companies will set up a supply network for the materials used at the plant.

Check out the detail @ Panasonic partners with Tesla on Gigafactory – Jul. 31, 2014.

 

Gigafactory!

Gigafactory!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

tesla tucson

Tucson to Tesla Motors: Your building permit is ready

Tesla Motors has received a $3 billion building permit for construction of a battery assembly plant in Tucson. The permit is for a one-story building of up to 5 million square feet in size at an address “to be determined.” It was issued by the city of …

Mopar Fans….LOOK AT THESE!!!!

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Ok…I never really liked the look of the original Superbird…..but I have to say….the rear of these look great.  The front I could live with that.

What do you thing?

I think they look great from the back the wing looks like it belongs there.

I think they look great from the back the wing looks like it belongs there.

Front..I could live with!!!

Front..I could live with!!!

 

Let’s here it!!!!

Tim

mopar superbird

Roush previews their own version of the 2015 Mustang | Mustang News

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As we get closer and closer to the 2015 Mustang getting into customer hands, we are also starting to see more previews of the various aftermarket Mustangs that will be built. We’ve earlier shown you versions from Saleen, Steeda and Galpin Auto Sports, and now we can show you the newest one from Roush. The company today released a photo with the outline of what is presumably a 2015 Roush Mustang on their Facebook page, although with the exception of the 5-spoke wheels it’s impossible to tell some of the design changes.

Roush didn’t offer up much information either. They simply said to “keep a close eye on our page during the coming weeks as we start to pull back the curtains and reveal what Roush Performance has planned for the 2015 Ford Mustang.”

From the looks of the image we suspect the photo is real and not just a rendering like other previews. This wouldn’t be a huge surprise, as Roush has close ties with Ford and often collaborates on engineering. In the past Roush has had early access to create parts for the Mustang and often is first to market with their aftermarket version. We fully expect to see a Roush Mustang in the next couple months, so stay tuned!

via Roush previews their own version of the 2015 Mustang | Mustang News.

roush-2015

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Roush Teases Their 2015 Ford Mustang – We Reveal More with Crude Editing

While we don’t know anything about the 2015 Roush Mustang, we do have the shadowy image above that teases the next generation aftermarket tuned Mustang and thanks to my very questionable photo editing skills – we have an even better look at the fine …

roush mustang

 

Engine Line UP – 1964-1966 Griffith

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Ok…how many of you stopped to Google Griffith?

Not a commonly mentioned classic car, right?

Well the Griffith was developed by a Ford dealer, Jeff Griffith.  It was a tubular frame with a British TVR body bolted on.  He produce the cars in that configuration, until the source of the TVR bodies dried up he found replacement with a sleeker (nicer looking in my option) by Intermeccanica in Italy.

So what powered this homogenized sports car?

Well since Jeff was a “Ford” guy so you can bet he at least had a Ford iron block in the mix.  The total production of the Griffith was 285 cars from 1964 t0 1966.

The TVR Body looks great!!!

The TVR Body looks great!!!

This 1964 Griffith in the British TVR body had two engine options.  Both were Ford 289.   Both were overhead valve and had cast iron blocks.  The first option had a bore and stroke 4.00″ x 2.88″ and a compression ratio of 9.0:1.  Five main bearing and hydraulic lifters topped with a Ford model C3AF-9510B two barrel it produced 195 bhp.  The second option matched up with the first option, except with a higher compression ratio (10.5:1) and topped with the Ford model C30F-9410AJ “4” barrel. That boosted the bhp to 271!!!  That’s a heck of a jump…but wait…keep in mind this car weighted only 1450 lbs!!!!    Think about that!!!!!

Love the British Racing Grreen in this '65 Griffith

Love the British Racing Green in this ’65 Griffith

For 1965,  TVR bodied car matched the two options in the previous year to the ‘T’.

'65's 289

’65’s 289

1966 was a different animal. No more TVR bodied Griffith, this baby tucked it’s power house iron in an Italian steel body from Intermeccanica.   And like the body…the Ford engine was gone.  In it’s place was a Plymouth V8…yes a MORPAR!!!!  It was an iron block with overhead valves. Bored and stroked to 3.63″ x 3.31″  and a compression ratio of 10.5:1.  Add in the 5 main bearing and solid lifter and top it off with a Carter 4 bbl. carb (ADB3853S) and you could coax 235 bhp out of it.  Not bad…down from the 271 with the Ford 289.   However the car with it’s new Italian designed steel body, weighted over 1000 lbs more then the TVR version, topping the scale at 2540 lbs.

Sharper looking with the new body!!

Sharper looking with the new body!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

TVR Griffith 200

The TVR Griffith 200 (or Griffith Series 200) was a lightweight fibreglass -body sports car . make was TVR and the model was Griffith 200. …

“Blood Muscle” highlights seized vehicle sale | Hemmings Daily

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“Blood Muscle” highlights seized vehicle sale | Hemmings Daily.

David Nicoll purchased his car collection with the blood of others – literally. During his time as president of BLS, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office maintain that Nicoll received $33 million in payments from a medical blood test bribery scheme that he personally ran for seven years, and which netted more than $100 million in total revenue. Per prosecutors, BLS would bribe physicians to send their patients for medical tests which were oftentimes unnecessary, to be paid for by insurers. Far from being sly and frugal with his ill-gotten profits, Nicoll was an extravagant spender. It’s on record that he spent $154,000 at a gentleman’s club, over $400,000 on sports tickets, $700,000 on an apartment for his “female companion,” and, most importantly, over five million dollars on cars.

DSC_2790-700x466 DSC_2755-700x466

See the rest of the collection @    “Blood Muscle” highlights seized vehicle sale | Hemmings Daily.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

xoxophaany

He keeps taking me to check out these muscle cars and what not

Ain’t Social Media Great? Converstation with Top Gears’ Rutledge Wood

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Are you a fan of Top Gear?  I am!  Have been since it’s been on cable.  Of course we don’t travel in the same circles, Rut has his Fox Sports gig(covering motorsports) beside all the Top Gear filming and promo events and I’m a wannabe writer, covering the automotive world.  So it’s highly unlikely we’d cross paths and sit down for a car discussion.  Unless????

That is what’s so great about the age we live in.  On my twitter account (@restortation)  I’m a follower (among many) of Top Gear and guys (Tanner, Rut (@rutledgewood) and Adam).  Just luck let me catch a Tweet by Rutledge that mentioned that he had a Facebook event today where fans could chat with him.

So I closed my office door (yeah I was at work) and joined the crowd on Facebook.  I actually got a few questions answered.  Here they are:

Write a reply…

Tim Sweet: Who finds the cars you use in the show? Private individuals?

Rutledge Wood: I have found almost all the ones I’ve used…but I’m not in LA to go test drive them. We have some amazing producers that bust their butts for us. Huge support team…but we find most of them online. Craigslist, Auto trader, and even a few on ebay

Tim Sweet: Thanks…great!!!!

Tim Sweet:  So who is the STIG…I won’t tell anyone….?
Rutledge Wood: honeslty…I have no idea. They wont talk to me. Never seen them.

Rutledge Wood: I want them to give me a hug

Tim Sweet: Everyone wants to hug the STIG

Tim Sweet: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. I got to get back to this ‘work’ thing I do every day…my C6 needs a super charger!!!! Take care!!!!

Rutledge Wood: Thanks! Good luck with the C6 !

 

Twitter and Facebook are great tools.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

'Top Gear's' Rutledge Wood on

Two Time Trophy winner. 1970 Mustang

Two Time Trophy winner. 1970 Mustang

Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 set for complete restoration – Road & Track

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I’m not sure they should restore it.  Maybe just preserve it.

Elvis' BWM 507!!!

Elvis’ BWM 507!!!

Only 253 examples of the BMW 507 were ever made, and Elvis Presley owned two of them. The first, a white ’58 roadster, he famously gifted to his Fun in Acalpulco co-star Ursula Andress; the other, a ’58, has been in storage for over 40 years. Now, BMW Classic has obtained Elvis’s “lost” sports car and will give it a full restoration.This Bimmer’s circuitous history begins in March 1958, when the U.S. Army officially inducted its most famous Korean War draftee. While assigned to the Third Armored Division, Elvis met hill-climb ace Hans Stuck, who was racing a 1957 BMW 507 at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry in southern France. Presley was smitten with the 150-hp drop-top. After having its 3.2-liter V8 rebuilt and a new four-speed manual gearbox installed, he leased it that December.

 

Read the article at  Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 set for complete restoration – Road & Track.

 

Awesome car none-the-less.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

“Elvis’s BMW 507: lost & found” exhibition comes to Munich

“Elvis’s BMW 507: lost & found” exhibition comes to Munich. 27 July 2014. After nearly 60 years, the BMW 507 formerly owned by Elvis Presley returns to its birthplace. You can currently visit the Roadster, still untouched, in the BMW Museum – but when …
BMW plans to restore 507 Roadster previously owned by Elvis Presley

BMW has revealed intentions to restore a 1957 507 Roadster which was originally purchased by king of rock ‘n’ roll Elvis Presley. The BMW 507 Roadster seen here had a white paint and rolled off the assembly line in 1957 with the chassis number 70079.
Elvis’ BMW 507 | Dieser Oldie ist ein echter Rock ‘n’ Roller

Der Kult-Roadster ist noch bis zum 10. August in der Sonderausstellung „Elvis’ BMW 507: lost & found“ im BMW-Museum zu bewundern. So lange bleibt der Scheunenfund im Originalzustand, danach geht’s zu den Experten der BMW Group Classic.

Parking Lot Spotlight – 1958 Porsche – Survivor!

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We all love vintage cars.  On a trip to Dana Point, Ca this past weekend I happened to spot this beauty in the hotel parking lot.

DSC_0193

This 1958 Porsche 1600 Speedster appeared to be all original.  The seats appeared to be still clad in the original – nicely worn leather.  This is the 356A which was a modification of the 356 body (from 1957) it was known as Type 2 in the factory (or T2).

This beauty is in the  original color, maybe original paint, but interior looks stock, right down the thin rubber floor mats.

DSC_0195

I did notice a couple of things – the steering wheel looks to be metal, they were originally wooden and the under the dash gauges of course are after market. As the 356 was track raced the wooden steering wheels were quickly identified as a safety issue.  During crashes they would splinter and pierce the drivers body – some career ending injuries.  They were often swapped out for metal.

The engine was a OHV flat four with 60 bhp, 1,582 cc and horizontally-opposed OHV four-cylinder engine (the four-cam “Carrera” engine was a more power/extra cost option for the 356A).  It came with a four-speed manual transmission, torsion bar independent front suspension, swing axle independent rear suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

The production numbers were around 21, 000 for the period of 1955-1959.

Great tail lights!!

Great tail lights!!

Now that's what I like to see - bug spots....this car gets driven!!!!

Now that’s what I like to see – bug spots….this car gets driven!!!!

Missing the 'cage' that often covered the headlights.

Missing the ‘cage’ that often covered the headlights.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

1958 porsche 356a

AutoCherish

Buy & Cherish this 1958 PORSCHE 356A COUPE LA CARRERA PANAMERICANA RALLY CAR Coachwork by… http://t.co/gL5hI8Hxu0
Numbers Matching 1958 Porsche 356A Coupe-Trike

This 1958 Porsche 356A Coupe is said to be a matching numbers example, but where you will find the chassis number on the back-half is beyond us. The roof and rear panels do look like the right shape, and the engine has …

1951 Chrysler New Yorker Is the Most Unlikely Rally Car – Carscoops

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Ever wondered what’s it like to run a long-distance vintage car rally in a 1951 Chrysler New Yorker? Well, consider this: the car is as heavy as it is unbreakable.At least that’s what owner Jake Auerbach says in the following Petrolicious video about his 1951 New Yorker, a car that unfortunately hit and killed two deer at the same time during a rally and carried on like nothing happened.Bought from eBay, the car has an impressive racing pedigree. It ran in the famed La Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in Colorado. Since Auerbach and his father bought the Chrysler, they drove many miles in it, running the New York-to-Vancouver leg of the Trans-America Challenge in 2012 in addition to numerous other events.

IMPRESSIVE!!!!!

IMPRESSIVE!!!!!

via 1951 Chrysler New Yorker Is the Most Unlikely Rally Car – Carscoops.

Check out this amazing story.   Cool Car…Cool Story!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim