Classic Car Gallery

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Best Porsche Car Show this 2009


Porsche is a German luxury car currently owned by the Volkswagen Company. The company was founded in 1931 and has been touted to be a luxury car for the rich and famous. Since the beginning, Porsche has always catered to an exclusive clientele.

The current Porsche cars include the Boxter Roadster, Cayman, Carrera and the Panamera. Unlike many other car companies, Porsche has had the ability to weather the financial crises of the 40, 70s and 90s. The reason has been chiefly due to limited car production, good engineering and reasonable price.
Parts of the car are made in various European countries and then the car is assembled in Stuttgart. Recent reports indicate that Porsche remains the most successful car company both in terms of profitability and stability of ownership.

Porsche' major competition both on the racing circuit and the consumer market has been Ferrari. While Ferrari is prohibitively expensive and has done well on the racing circuit, Porsche on the other hand has done well with the consumer market. In the consumer market, Porsche competes with Mercedes, Audi and BMW.

The great engineering and innovational skills have allowed Porsche to be a consultant for Audi, SEAT, Subaru, Daewoo and Yugo.

Since the 60s, a lot has changed about Porsche. Porsche has always lent its engineering skills to others car manufacturers and has now teamed up with Toyota to develop the next generation of hybrid sports car. The four door coupe Panamera will be the first hybrid for Porsche. The all time most costly Porsche is the Carrera GT, currently costing close to $500,000 in the USA and is the most expensive Porsche ever built.

The company has gone extensive re-structuring by Volkswagen. In 2000, the famous 911 has again regained its name as the top selling Porsche of all time and continues to sell well world wide.

With solid finances and a great car, Porsche has not been hit with the global economic downturn. With all the money available the company should remain stable for many more years.

Learn more about Porsche at http://www.eurorennen.com and sign up for the Porsche Car Show

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Herskowitz

A New Brand From Toyota?


Although Toyota is one of the leading auto manufacturers in the world, the late 1990's saw a shift of younger consumers away from the Toyota brand. This is not a new concept, as most car manufacturers have had to deal with this unique shift at some point in their histories. Industrial psychologists throughout the twentieth century have concluded that the issue stems from a natural need for human offspring to develop independence outside of the parent-child relationship. Studies show that younger consumers naturally make choices that allow them to develop a separate identity. Brand shifting is just one more way that the next generation establishes this unique identity.

In order to combat this, Toyota announced plans in the latter half of the nineties to lure generation Y back to the Toyota brand. The project was entitled Project Genesis. While the project itself was not successful, the Scion line grew out of this failed attempt.

The public got its first glimpse of Toyota's new concept car at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show on January 2, 2003. The xA and XB were the 2004 models that were displayed at the show. Toyota introduced the vehicles slowly. The cars were made available at just 104 dealerships and were limited to California only. The next year Toyota made the cars available nationwide. The Scion xB was unveiled in December of 2006. Scion currently has three models available to buyers in the United States. These include the tC, which is a three-door lift back, a five-door box shaped compact wagon and the xD, which is a five-door subcompact car.

Toyota has changed its sales strategy for the Scion line up, calling it Value Innovation. The concept is founded on key factors that include price, options, performance handling, confidence in buying and 21st radio. Scion has incorporated into its sales strategy a concept it calls "Pure Price" and monospec trim levels. The monospec allows for a wide selection of factory and TRD accessories.

The "Pure Price" strategy entails listing the price of the vehicle, whether on the car, in an advertisement of on a display board at the dealership. The price includes the vehicle, accessories, finance and insurance products. Whatever price is listed is what the customer pays. This removes any negotiation from the price. It was meant to entice buyers by offering a simpler and cleaner process that was open and balanced. The strategy is not a new one, having been used by both Geo and Saturn with mixed results.

The monospec strategy offers consumers only one trim level with the ability to make the car unique to the individual buyer. To do this Scion has joined with various aftermarket companies to give each buyer up to 40 different options from which to add to the vehicle. The success of this has yet to be determined and as some critics have pointed out, Toyota is taking an unusual risk in terms of its history of quality automobiles. Because aftermarket items have proven in the past to be of far less quality than the products that Toyota installs while vehicles are assembled in the factory, Toyota may be jeopardizing their to date sterling reputation for produce superior automobiles.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at SW Engines. He writes about used Scion engines and other departmental updates for the company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronnie_W_Tanner

Friday, May 15, 2009

Tesla S a Luxurious Electric Sedan


This past March, Tesla Motors unveiled a prototype of its second vehicle, dubbed the Tesla S. Following on the heels of the recently released Tesla Roadster, the Tesla S takes the automaker in a slightly different direction - seeking to appeal to mainstream buyers, particularly those of less costly sedans with long term higher ownership costs.

Initial Appeal For The Sedan Is Strong

A seven passenger model, the Tesla S will not be going into production until late 2011, which means that when the sedan hits the market it will be cast as a 2012 model. That is still a long way off, but interest in the car is rising steadily. The automaker made a recent announcement that more than one thousand people have plunked down a $5000 refundable deposit on the sedan, signaling that the appeal for this car will eventually prove to be strong.

The Tesla Roadster made its debut in 2008 and is the first pure electric car of its kind. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the Roadster is famous for going from zero to sixty in just 3.9 seconds while emitting zero emissions. Priced at around $108,000 before a $7500 federal tax credit kicks in, the Tesla Roadster is for the hard core sports car enthusiast, thus it is a low volume vehicle. To date, Tesla has produced just 400 copies of the Roadster although many times that number of people are on the their waiting list.

Going For A Broader Audience

With the Tesla S, Tesla Motors decided to go with a wider audience in a bid to attract customers. Priced at about $57,000, the Tesla S will get the same $7500 federal tax credit Roadster buyers receive, pushing the car's price just below $50,000. Styled like a European luxury sedan, the S will seat five adults and two children, an unusual configuration for a car in this class.

Like the Roadster, the zero emissions S will appeal to environmentally concerned drivers. Powered by a lithium ion battery pack the sedan should have a driving range of about 300 miles. At this time, the automaker says that they are working on a QuickCharge onboard recharging unit, a device that could recharge the sedan's depleted batteries in as little as 45 minutes. This means that for the person taking a long trip, they could stop long enough to enjoy dinner before heading out in their freshly recharged sedan without having to lose out on travel time.

All The Amenities Luxury Drivers Demand

Inside, the design of the Tesla S will astound buyers especially as they take note of a whopping seventeen inch display panel for navigation and offer all of the technological feedback and enhancements that today's luxury car buyers demand. Premium car buyers who are attracted to a BMW or a Mercedes will feel at home in the Tesla S, perhaps finding that the car's power and low ownership costs beyond the base price make it an attractive vehicle for them.

As far as the mass production of the Tesla S goes, a lot will depend on customer demand at that time. Several other automakers are coming out with their own electric sedan, including the Fisker Karma which will be priced some $30,000 more than the Tesla S model.

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including BMW rims and Ford Mustang rims

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan

The Best Jeep Cherokee


It seems that everyone is obsessed with money. Before the recession hit, if you didn't have the latest television technology in your bathroom or the fastest lawnmower for your flat, you weren't with the 'in' crowd. It never used to matter if you needed something, just that others were buying it. Nowadays it's the opposite, if you do spend money on anything nice, then you're an idiot because no-one should buy anything in the current economic climate. So how do you treat yourself without the neighbours lecturing you on the value of money? Easy, buy a Jeep Cherokee.

The beauty of Jeep has always been that for the money, you get an awful lot of equipment and high specification as standard. The downside has always been that they're cheaply put together, depreciate faster than a gambling addict's bank balance and quite frankly, pretty rubbish to drive. I can't say how the new Cherokee will depreciate, but I can confirm that it's a very good SUV for the money.

The latest Jeep Cherokee is the most recent update in the company's range and has the wealth of 65 years experience to draw upon. There are two things that dawned on me when viewing the latest offering - Jeep appear to have hired designers from Porsche's 911 studio as they've not restyled it at all. As a result it looks identical to the previous model, with more than a hint of mini Land Rover about its features.

This of course is no bad thing. The styling was previously very likeable whilst being utilitarian, the predilection of any good Jeep. Therefore you get chunky features, the famous seven slot front grill and that mud-splattered heritage. I'd actually go so far as to say it's my favourite styling on any 4x4. If it was a woman it'd be Sophie Ellis Bextor - not everyone's cup of tea initially but look closer and she's actually very attractive.

The lines are very unfussy, with just the wheel arches bulging out from the cubist body. Even little features such as the wing mirrors and door handles are made chunky, giving the Jeep Cherokee a robust look as well as feel. On the engine options front, Jeep won't spend too long on the specification - you can either have a 2.8 litre diesel with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox. Yes that's it. Clearly this isn't a performance vehicle but despite its bulk the Cherokee will reach 60mph in 11.2 seconds and has a top speed of 112mph. Not much from 174bhp I hear you shout, but then it does weigh 2520kg so this isn't too shabby at all.

Due to the heritage of the firm and all its off road war pedigree, I'd hazard a well-judged guess that a Jeep owner will do more off road driving than the typical SUV owner. They'll be happy too as the Cherokee can cope ably with rugged terrain, thanks to its high ground clearance, powerful engine and hill descent option as standard. So does that mean it has sacrificed its handling on the tarmac, which is still where the majority of the driving will take place? Thankfully no. Make no mistake it isn't as refined as a car, or SUVs in a much higher price bracket from Europe, but the Jeep combines on and off road duties perfectly well. There is minimal body roll or road noise on the motorway and the steering wheel has good feedback letting you know at all times what is going on. Inside the Cherokee is well equipped with the aforementioned hill descent accompanied with air conditioning, stability and cruise control, parking sensors and seats that are both electrically moved about and heated. For an extra £950 you can open your roof to the sky above with the 'Sky Slider' option - a panoramic canvas roof. It really isn't an after-thought either, as it stretches back from above the driver to behind passenger heads. On sunny summer days, you'll be the envy of all other 4x4 owners. Some may complain that the materials used on the interior aren't to the highest standard but they all function perfectly well and keep a good chunk of money off the retail price.

That price starts at £24, 300 which in any economic climate is good sense. There's no denying that your neighbours will initially be banging your door down, demanding how, in this time of crisis, you have been so foolish to spend so much on an SUV. Never fear, I'm sure once what you actually paid is laid out, they'll be congratulating you on a bargain buy.

Mark Creese is a writer and a car enthusiast. Here he writes about the Jeep Cherokee.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Creese

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Sumitomo HTR ZIII for Porsche


When I purchased my 1997 Porsche 993 C4S the odometer read 24,000 miles. From the service history I could see that it had four new tires installed (Continental ContiSportContact 2s) less than 4,000 miles ago. This basically matched up with the information from my PPI and with my visual inspection upon receipt of the car.

Enjoying the car as much as I do, I clocked more than 6000 miles last season (including a great trip to Prince Edward Island). This meant the tires now had 10,000 miles on them and the rear tires were starting to feel a little worn. It was very subtle at first, a little chirp around a tight corner or a quick spin on a fast start. Given these signs I decided to start shopping for new tires.

The first place I started was the 993 forum on Rennlist (RL). As a quick aside, if you haven't been to Rennlist, and you own a Porsche (any type of Porsche), you owe it to yourself to check it out. The recommendations and opinions on RL were varied, to say the least. Like me, a lot of people felt strongly that you get what you pay for and therefore the more expensive tires must be the best. Thankfully, especially grateful was my bank account, I/they were wrong.

Tire Choices for a Porsche 993

Back in January I posted this article "Tire Choices for a Porsche 993." As you can see I had listed the following tires as my choices:

1. Bridgestone Potenza S-02

2. Continental ContiSportContact 2

3. Pirelli PZero Rosso

4. Michelin Pilot Sport Rib

I even went on to mention the following two tires as cheaper alternatives but I was going to shy away from them as I felt "you get what you pay for."

5. Sumitomo HTR Z II

6. BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2

As I said, turns out I was wrong. When push came to shove and it was time to pull the trigger to purchase the new tires for my Porsche, I did one last round of research. What I found was this thread which pushed me over the edge.

Sumitomo HTR Z III for Porsche

You see, when I was researching, the Sumitomo HTR Z III wasn't on the list (just the HTR Z II). It seems that with the HTR Z III, Sumitomo made some significant improvements. So, without wasting any more time, I went online to The Tire Rack and ordered four (4) new tires all for $700 delivered. That's a cost savings of almost 45% to my original choice of the Michelin Pilot Sport Rib.

My 993 was scheduled to visit the shop for a spring check-up, 30k service and brake bleed so I opted to have the tires delivered directly to them. After seeing the wear pattern on my old tires I decided to do a four-wheel alignment (they were cupping a little on the interior front edges) along with a hi-speed balance. This way, not only am I starting with a matched set of four new shoes, but I know they alignment and balance is correct. Assuming I keep the proper air-pressure and don't play too hard, I should get some significant wear from these tires. First Impressions

Since picking the car up I have turned almost 1500 miles on the new tires, each one with a huge smile on my face. The Sumitomo HTR Z IIIsare as advertised. They are very sticky, with a firm/stiff sidewall that handle great for daily driving (spirited or otherwise). I have not yet used them on the track or in the rain so I can't comment on that aspect. However, for driving on back roads, highways and anywhere else, I am most pleased. They stick as good, if not better, than any tire I have driven in the past. They seem to blend well with my stock suspension and absorb the bumps and pot holes quite well. I can't comment on road noise as I usually have the windows open or the revs too high to hear. :-)

All in all, I am extremely pleased with these tires and would recommend them highly to anyone, for any modern Porsche, regardless of budget. We all know that there are lots and lots of modifications to do to our Porsches. So, if you can get a great bang for the buck with this tire, why not turn around and roll the money into another mod!! Keep sliding down that slippery slope.

I publish http://www.PorschePurist.com the web's foremost destination for Porsche owners and automotive enthusiasts interested in the cars, products and lifestyle associated with the Porsche brand. With articles covering everything from purchasing and maintenance tips, car and product reviews to motorsports and other Porsche news, the site welcomes over 15,000 unique monthly visitors and growing.

PorschePurist.com focuses on the creation of original and entertaining content. Our goal is to have fun, enjoy our cars and pass along informative, fun and factual information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_S_Irving

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The 2009 Kia Borrego LX V6



The 2009 Kia Borrego LX V6 Engine is 3.8L V6, 24 valves 276 hp at 6000 rpm. 17 mpg to the city and 21 mpg to the highway.

2009 Kia Borrego is an ll-new, mid-size SUV and an alternative to luxury-brand SUVs, according to Kia.

* Smoothness of six-speed transmission
* Surprising interior room with standard three rows of seats
* Power from V-8
* Covered standard trailer hitch
* Overall quality

The Honda 2010 Hybrid Insight


The Honda 2010 Hybrid is a 5 passenger cabin. The front of the car is strong and lean with projector beam headlights. The rear of this 5 door hybrid slip easily through the air and has unique LED Brakelights complete the look.

4 System for Enhanced Efficiency.

1. The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA® or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your local Honda dealer for details on compatibility.

2. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on the EX model in the United States, except Alaska. See your local Honda dealer for details.

3. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.

4.Eco Assist is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and may not be used or reproduced without prior written approval.

Eco Scoring at the conclusion of the drive provides drivers with even more of an incentive to drive green.

1. ECON and Eco Assist are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and may not be used or reproduced without prior written approval.

2. 40 city/43 hwy/41 combined mpg. Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Ferrari 166 Inter


You may well ask what is a Ferrari model 166 Inter? Not too many people have ever heard of this car, and even Ferrari owners look a little confused. Why shouldn't they? The 166 was the first Ferrari road car. The Ferrari Company was primarily involved in building pure race cars. This was Enzo Ferrari's passion. However you do have to pay the bills and this was the car that started the road car business. In 1948 the Ferrari 166 introduced at the Turin Motor Show. Typical of the companies' later cars, this was powered by a V12 engine in the front. The engine had two overhead cams, one of which was on each side of the V12 banks.

Total engine capacity was 1995 cc or about 2 liters. If you were to divide the total 1995 by 12 you would get 166.25. The company dropped the .25 and the car was called the 166. Naming a Ferrari after the cubic centimeter of one cylinder is now common, and this was the first car to be named this way. The word "inter" was the way the factory would designate cars that were not built with the idea of racing in mind. However, many owners felt that a Ferrari was a dual purpose car. That is, you could drive it in a race and then drive it home. Ferrari owners were not alone in this belief, as many other sport car owners felt the same way about their brands.

The car was a two passenger two door coupe. Ferrari coupes are sometimes called "berlinetta" or a "little saloon" car. Since the 166 Inter Ferrari has built two and four passenger cars, but they all have two doors. No four doors Ferrari has been sold to date. The 166 Inter was raced and it won the Mille Miglia race in May of 1948. Cars like this continued their dual purpose role and over the years Ferrari's reputation began to grow. Total production of the 166 Inter was 36 cars over a three year span. In today's world a 105bph car capable of 120 mph would not be looked at twice. But if you would like one RM Auctions is advertising a 1949 model for sale on May 17, 2009. Estimated value is around $500,000.

Dennis Dater has been interested in cars since he learned to drive in a 1952 MG TD. He has two unique web sites that offer Honda Accord aftermarket parts. Visit him and see the products or read more articles.

http://www.accordmania.com for Accord performance products

http://www.accordtopia.com for Accord appearance products

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Dater

The Ferrari 250 GTE


When most people talk about Ferrari they think about and discuss either the single passenger pure race cars or the two passenger sports racing or the two passenger road cars. Very little is ever mentioned about the four passenger cars.

Ferrari decided to build a four passenger car so that the company could get into additional markets. However, one of the decisions he made was that it had to have two rather than four doors. To date, as far as I can tell, the factory has never produced a four door model for the general buyer.

The challenge faced by the company was to make a four passenger car on their current two seat chassis. In later years they were faced with the same problem, and they came up with the 308 GT/4, not a particularly popular car.

In 1960 they solved the problem with the 250 GTE 2+2. Was it successful? Well about 950 of them were made, which makes it the top seller in the 250 series.

The designation of 250 GTE 2+2 as the model number was based on several factors. First the 250 represented in cubic centimeters the cylinder size of one of the V12 cylinders. The GT was for Grand Touring and the E was from the 508E, a new chassis design. The 2+2 meant that the front two passengers found a normal sized area up front, and the +2 meant that two could sit in the rear. For this car the two rear seat passengers had adequate but not spacious room. Many other brands have used the 2+2 designation, but in the majority of cases, the rear area had no leg room. It was more of a marketing ploy to satisfy some government regulations about the need for larger capacity cars.

The 250 GTE 2+2 was rated at 235bhp, slightly lower than the typical 250 series car. It had an unusual gear box with four speeds and an electric overdrive. Disc brakes were fitted all around. The top speed was listed as 136mph, again lower than other 250 series models. However, keep in mind that this particular car was designed as a road car and not a sports racing automobile. Other significant factors were a generous boot to hold luggage, and improved heating and ventilation for the passenger's comfort.

While an outstanding handling car and a great touring car, the 2+2 does not rival the other 250's when it comes to the used car marketplace. It has been typical of Ferrari 2+2's that the original prices are higher than the companion two seat versions, they depreciate much faster and are less sought after by collectors. A 1961 model with 34,000 miles was recently advertised in England for $134,000. Still a lot of money for a used car, but nothing like what other Ferrari collector cars would bring.

Dennis Dater has been involved with cars for over 50 years. His first love was sports cars when he drove a 1952 MG to high school. He has produced over 40 articles for EzineArticles on cars, and almost a hundred on his web sites. His two web sites are designed for Honda Accord aftermarket accessories. Please visit him at:
http://www.accordmania.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Dater

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Ferrari 212


The Ferrari 212 Inter was produced from 1951 through 1953. About 80 cars were built during this time period. Typical of early cars, the factory designed and built a chassis with full engine and running gears and the buyer was able to commission a different company to build the body. This is why many early Ferrari cars carry the same model number but do not look alike.

Typical for Ferrari the 212 designated the cubic centimeters of one cylinder of the engine. So the V12 engine for this automobile was 212cc x 12 or around 2,544 cc. The actual value was 2,562 cc as values for model numbers were rounded up or down at the factory's discretion.

The basic engine was the same design as the earlier 166 Inter, however it had been bored out to increase the horsepower to 150 with two carburetors. Cars towards the end of the series received three carburetors and were rated at about 170bph. As in earlier cars the Inter models were not designed for racing, but raced they were. If you wanted one specifically for racing you chose the 212 Export model.

These cars were bodied in coupe, cabriolet and spider designs by some of the leading companies such as, Vignale, Ghia and Pinin Farina (who changed their name to Pininfarina years later). The chassis was tubular steel, a practice that you could see on cars produced through the 1980's. The transmission was a five speed manual, again a design that lasted until 1994 when a six speed manual was introduced.

Are these models very valuable? Well at a December 2008 auction a Ferrari 212 Export (remember the model designed for racing) was bid up to $1,946,000 and not sold as the reserve had not been met.

Dennis Dater has been interested in cars since he learned to drive in a 1952 MG TD. He has two unique web sites that offer Honda Accord aftermarket parts. Visit him and see the products or read more articles.

http://www.accordmania.com for Accord performance products
http://www.accordtopia.com for Accord appearance products

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Dater

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The Volvo P1800


The company was founded in 1994 by Christian von Koenigsegg. Its profiles is world class super cars. Their first car - Koenigsegg CC prototype - was first publicized in 1996. It took them four years to present the full production prototype. It was shown at the 2000 Paris Motor Show.

After that it took two years to make a delivery. So in 2002 at the Geneva Auto Show first customer received his CC8S. In 2006 Koenigsegg introduced the CCX, but in 2007 - first green super car in the world - the CCXR, which is a bioflexfuel version of the CCX.

In the company works Swedish auto engineer Mattias Vöcks. His day job is also his hobby. He unbelievably loves these orange asphalt carnivorous. But there are something that he loves even a little more - the classical Volvo cars. Fortunately to Mattias, Koenigsegg management has authorized him in his free time to play with his hobbies. He creates old Volvo into quick and breathtaking super car.

First time when the world heard about Mattias Vöcks was in 2006. In time when he presented the classic 1967 Volvo Amazon, which looked like a hotrod and had 600 horsepower engine.

Now Mattias Vöcks has told that he is preparing a new Volvo explosive, which will be built on the basis of 1961 Volvo P1800 coupe. Now on public has came some of design studio Vizualtech made images so it is possible to see what Koenigsegg engineering masterpiece will look like.

The author of the project has noted that he had to changed classical P1800 proportions to achieve the desired power, aerodynamics and manageability. The car front end has had to extend about 70mm to mount 4.4-liter V8 engine with a turbine and it will reach around 600 horsepower.

The Ferrari 250GT


Have you seen the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off? If you have, I'll bet you remember the red Ferrari that went off a driveway and crashed at the base of a hill. Well that was a replica of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. Ferris and his friend Cameron looked rather stunned when they watched this car become airborne. As did all Ferrari lovers. Why was a replica used? It could have been because only 55 of these cars were made, and it is considered one of the most beautiful examples of the car maker's art.

There are really two different 250GT California cars. The first one produced from 1957 to 1960 was based on the Ferrari 250GT Tour De France, which had its top removed, and a coupe became a convertible. Pinin Farina designed these spiders and they were built by Scaglietti built them. The initial request came from Ferrari's North American importer. This run of 49 cars are now referred to as the LWB or long wheel base models.

The Ferrari 250GT SWB (Short Wheel Base) California was built from 1960 to 1963. It is considered one of the most desirable and beautiful cars ever made. How desirable? At the RM auction on May 18, 2008 a 1961 model sold for $10,894,900, setting a new record. The car had been owned by actor James Coburn, which may have helped a little in the final price.

From a mechanical standpoint the 250GT SWB was powered by a V12, rated at 280bph. Top speed was about 145mph. A little unusual was a four speed manual gearbox rather than the five speed. These particular cars now had disc brakes front and rear. The purchaser had a choice of either an aluminum or steel body.

While the 250GT series of cars set international racing records throughout the early 1960's most of the competition was done in the coupes rather than the California models.

When the average non Ferrari owner thinks of a Ferrari, chances are this is one that comes to mind, or perhaps the 308GTS shown in the Mannix TV show.

Dennis Dater has been involved with cars for over 50 years. His first love was sports cars when he drove a 1952 MG to high school. He has produced over 40 articles for EzineArticles on cars, and almost a hundred on his web sites. His two web sites are designed for Honda Accord aftermarket accessories.

Please visit him at:

http://www.accordmania.com

http://www.accordtopia.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Dater