Video: Optimus Prime hiding in plain sight

With Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen holding the number box office spot for two weeks, there couldn't be a better time for this ardent Autobot fan to be flogging his truck on eBay. Done up thoroughly enough to qualify as an Optimus Prime replica, this 1997 Peterbilt 379 wears custom PPG paint and clearcoat, along with hand-applied pinstripes.





If you do actually want to haul things, under that extended hood – just like Prime has – there's a 475 horsepower Caterpillar running through a ten-speed Eaton Fuller transmission. Bidding is up to $20,300 at time of writing, but you've got nine days left to get your bid in and make room in your back yard... and then you can retrieve the Allspark.





Perhaps unsurprisingly, Optimus has been showing up all sorts of odd places lately, including a guest appearance on The Light Show With David Letterman last night. The booming Autobot leader led his vocal talents to the program's trademark Top 10 list, and you can check out how he did by watching the video after the jump. Hat tip to 94 Taurus owner!





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1997 McLaren F1 GTR race car for sale in Japan

For those whose cash reserves have not been completely depleted by the current global recession, a very special car is currently up for sale in Japan via Wintel. This racer is one of ten long-tail McLaren F1 GTRs built especially for the 1997 FIA GT season.


The F1 GTR first hit the track in 1995 when a model barely removed from the roadgoing version raced to victory at Le Mans. By 1997, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche had seen the writing on the wall, and combined with the series' updated rules, had created their own competitors, including the CLK-GTR and the 911 GT1.


McLaren's 97 F1 GTR had all-new bodywork with a longer nose and tail that reduced drag and dramatically increased downforce. By this time, the new purpose-built Mercedes and Porsche cars were regularly outrunning the McLaren, although the latter did manage 197 mph on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans. There is no indication of a price tag, although if you have to ask...


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Ferrari 250 Testarossa sets new world record for a car sold at auction

Ferrari has set a new world record for a car sold at auction with a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa fetching €9 million at the weekend (17 May 2009) in an auction of Italian supercars organized by RM Auctions at Ferrari’s Maranello home in Italy.


The previous world record for a car sold at auction was just last year and was
also set by a Ferrari, when UK radio host Chris Evans paid €7 million for a
black 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California previously owned by James Coburn. Both
cars were sold at the “Ferrari Leggenda e Passione”, an annual auction of the
finest Ferrari and Maserati supercars organized by RM Auctions and held at
Ferrari’s test track, Fiorano, in Maranello.


The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa, one of just 22 similar models built at
Maranello, boasts an important race history in North and South America. It
debuted in the Buenos Aires 1,000km in 1958 and came 4th overall before being
sold to a U.S. client who raced it extensively in the SCCA championship.


"It's rare to see one offered for sale, and it is a guarantee that a massive sum
of money will exchange hands when one comes on the market. Those high-end car
collectors who remain unaffected by economic woes will have the chance to part
with such funds this coming May when a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR, chassis #0714TR,
crosses the block at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda E Passione sale in Maranello.


This particular example was campaigned extensively from 1958 to 1963 and is
painted in its period-correct black paint with a red nose. RM expects the 250 TR
to set a new world record for a car sold at auction, potentially exceeding the
$10.89 million dollar sale of a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder last year."


Considered one of the most alluring, competitive and iconic of all Ferrari
racing cars, the beautiful and immediately recognizable Scaglietti-designed,
'pontoon-fender' 250 TR was produced from 1957 to 1958 during which only 22 were
constructed. The Ferrari 250 TRs entered 19 international championship races
from 1958 through 1961 emerging with 10 victories and earning them legendary
status among discerning collectors, as well as the honor of being one of the
most desirable and competitive racing Ferraris ever built.


Unlike last year, this year’s top bidder was not at the auction, remaining
anonymous and bidding over the telephone while competing against three other
bidders.


Although its bids reached a level higher than last year’s record setter at
€7.25 million, a rare Ferrari 330 P4 was passed in at the event.

via:mymodernmetmotorauthority

Shelby Daytona Coupe a $6.8 million no-sale at Mecum auction

　
There was plenty of hype leading up to Mecum's Spring Classic Auction this weekend, and rightfully so. Up for grabs was the 1965 Shelby Daytona Coup -- one of six ever made -- that clinched the FIA World Championship. Bidding was expected to reach into eight figures, with the potential to break several records for cars sold at auctions.


　
In a packed house filled with excited bidders and spectators, the Daytona Coupe finally crossed the block last night. Bidding started at a respectable $4 million, quickly went to $5 million, $5.5, and then $6.5. Then bidding slowed, eventually stalling out at $6.8 million. An astronomical sum of money, but not enough to reach the reserve price. With no one willing to bid higher, the Daytona Coupe rolled away unsold. However, Dana Mecum was confident that the car would eventually sell, saying "I'll think we'll get a deal done by the end of the weekend," but unfortunately no auction records were broken.
　

　
Several other notable Shelbys were no-sales as well, including a 1964 Cobra 289 competition model that reached $1.3 million, a 1963 Cobra 289 with a high bid of $525,000, and a 1966 Cobra 427 S/C that also hit the $1.3 million mark without finding a new buyer. The top sale of the auction was a 1966 Ford GT40 that went for a gavel price of $2,300,000.

Source:autoblog

Car that chauffeured Mussolini, Franco, Hitler up for auction

There were a little more than 600 Fiat 2800s made between 1938 and 1943, only about 400 of them for civilian use. The one you see above is one-of-a-kind: a 1939 Fiat 2800 Torpedo whose cushions have supported the rear ends of King Vittorio Emanuele II, Queen Margherita, the Princess of Pistoia, Pope Pius XII, Benito Mussolini, Generalissimo Francisco Franco, and Adolf Hitler.

A couple of prime ministers have graced those seats as well, but with that diverse, high-profile roster who's worried about bit players?

The car will be auctioned by COYS International Auction House and is expected to fetch something north of £250,000. If you're interested in a slice of history, you'll want to be in Espace Fontvieille, Monaco on Monday, May 18.
Source:COYS via:autoblog




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eBay find of the day: n2a Motors 789 serial #001

The n2a Motors 789 is perhaps the ultimate automotive expression of retro styling. Based on a C6 Corvette chassis and using hand-crafted carbon composite body panels, the 789 features styling cues from 1957, '58, and '59 Chevrolets. Just over 20 of these unique cars have been built over the past few years, the first of which n2a Motors is putting up for auction on eBay.

Featuring an LS2 V8, custom Budnik wheels, and a Borla exhaust system, chassis #001 was used as the promotional car at the Los Angeles and New York auto shows and still has the remainder of GM's five-year/100,000 warranty. Best of all, the winning bidder gets to take delivery of the car immediately and doesn't have endure the typical 12-week wait for a brand new 789.
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Iconic 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Could Fetch $15 Million at Auction

Mecum Auctions will be holding its 22nd Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction from May 13th to the 17th in Indianapolis, Indiana and will be putting up for sale a 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601. Expectation is that it will sell for between 10 and 15 million US dollars.







Press Release

MECUM AUCTION PROUDLY PRESENTS AMERICAN RACING’S CROWN JEWEL

1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Beat Ferrari to Capture First U.S. Victory in World Manufacturer’s Championship

High performance collector car specialists Mecum Auction will offer collectors a chance to own a piece of American race history when they auction the 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601 at the 22nd Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction taking place May 13-17, 2009, in Indianapolis, Ind.

And when this Crown Jewel of American Racing powers across the auction block, Mecum anticipates the championship race car to garner the highest bid ever paid at public auction for an American automobile – eight figures and counting. The Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe will be sold on live national TV Friday, May 15, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. during the company’s series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More,” on Discovery Communications’ popular HD Theater.

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra was one of six cars built by Carroll Shelby to compete against the dominating Ferrari in the F.I.A. (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Manufacturers Championship for GT race class. An experimental coupe body designed by Pete Brock was built on an existing Cobra chassis, immediately increasing the top speed by 25 mph. That car won its first race, the 1964 Daytona Continental (prompting Shelby to adopt the name), and five more coupes were built, including CSX2601.

After competing at Daytona, Monza, Spa and Nurburgring, CSX2601 made history when it clinched the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship for the United States and Shelby American on July 4 in Reims, France.

“Many vintage race cars have a strong American racing history to share – including this vehicle’s sister car CSX 2299 – but no car can claim a finer race hour than the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601,” said Dana Mecum, president, Mecum Auction. “The legacy of its World Manufacturer’s Championship win stays with us more than four decades later, reminding us of one the proudest moments in U.S. race history and a competitive spirit of victory against all odds.”

Driving the car – and America – to victory on that fateful July afternoon was legendary driver Bob Bondurant.

“I won a lot of races with this Daytona Cobra Coupe, but when I crossed the finish line at the Reims race track I yelled ‘Yes!’ It was a fantastic feeling,” Bondurant shared. “I always wanted to race in Europe against the world’s best drivers. Winning that World Championship was the crowning achievement of my career. I think it’s wonderful that the car is being showcased 40 years later.”

The Daytona Cobra Coupe didn’t just race, however. At one point, a North Dakota businessman with six gas stations owned the car, and each day, he’d drive the 300-mile round trip to collect station receipts in this race-trimmed Cobra.

“This car is a true slice of Americana, representing a different time in America’s past when driving a full-blown race car on the roads didn’t turn heads,” added Mecum. “The Daytona was also leased to Paramount Pictures for use in the Howard Hawks cult classic ‘Redline 7000’.”

Now fully restored and wearing its famous Reims livery, the Shelby Daytona Cobra CSX2601 headlines the Original Spring Classis Auction, which is expected to feature 1,250 vehicles.

Held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the auction is open to the general public with tickets are available at the door for $10. It will be broadcast live on Mecum’s popular television series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on HD Theater – Discovery Communications’ first 24-hour high-definition cable network, offering compelling real-world and motorized content.

The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars, muscle cars and Corvettes for more than 20 years. In spring 2008, the company sold its 50,000th car. Consignment, Bidder, event and accommodation information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
via:World Car Fans



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Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Pinin Farina racer wins at Villa d'Este

Ferrari's 250 GT chassis is a legend in the world of extreme high-end collecting. Racing examples draw most of the attention, and the latest is no exception, with the Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pininfarina chassis no. 0419 GT taking top honors for the Best Restoration at the 2009 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
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eBay watch: Dodge Challenger widebody convertible by West Coast Customs

Dodge may have ruled out building a convertible version of its Challenger muscle car but if you’re determined enough to purchase one then there are a score of vehicle customizers across the country willing to serve your needs, for the correct price. One such customizer is California’s West Coast Customs (WCC), the same company made famous on the original MTV Pimp my ride series.


The custom Challenger was originally commissioned by Joshua 'Chop' Tobin from Las Vegas car dealership Towbin Dodge. It is based on the mid-level R/T model and includes a custom widebody kit in addition to the convertible conversion.


It wouldn’t be a true WCC car without some modification of the interior, and as such the Challenger was given a complete overhaul inside, with contrasting black and white leather trim and a premium Polk stereo system. Other modifications to the car include 26in Asanti wheels, a sports exhaust system, blacked out tail lamps, and a discrete rear spoiler.


The eBay auction has now come to an end, but considering the highest bid of $50,200 didn’t meet the reserve anyone interested in the car will likely be still able to purchase it.
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First 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 & Two Mustang GT Concept Cars to be Auctioned

Ford has announced plans to auction off the first production 2010 Shelby GT500 and a pair of Mustang GT concepts at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction next month.


The pair of Mustang GT concepts first bowed at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show and have since toured the nation at various national car shows. Each features an interior packed with charcoal and deep red leathers, billet aluminum and retro-inspired instrument displays.


Twenty-inch rolling stock and Brembo brakes keep the 400-plus supercharged horsepower in check. While multiple design elements have clearly been translated onto the current 2010 Mustang, some failed to make it past the conceptual stage.



Press Release:

Ford Motor Company will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Mustang by auctioning the first retail 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 and a pair of Mustang GT concept cars during the 7th Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction on April 9-11, 2009. The three historic Mustangs will be sold for charity and are among 400-plus collector vehicles to be auctioned at No Reserve during the automotive lifestyle event at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. SPEED will provide live, high-definition TV coverage of the auction once again.

“It’s rare for a concept vehicle, especially one as iconic as the Ford Mustang, to be sold to the public,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Giving enthusiasts an opportunity to take home the ultimate keepsake is an admirable way to mark the 45th anniversary of the Mustang, which will be celebrated a few days after our event.”

All proceeds above MSRP from the sale of the Shelby GT500 will be donated to The Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation. The two Mustang concepts will be auctioned to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“During the last three years, Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised more than $2 million for charity through the auction of Ford vehicles,” noted Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company’s president, The Americas. “Ford and Barrett-Jackson will continue this important tradition at this year’s Palm Beach auction. The winning bidders for these fantastic Mustangs will be contributing to worthy causes while purchasing automotive history.”

The first 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 (Lot #665) is the latest in high-performance cars and features a color scheme and equipment personally chosen by Carroll Shelby. Clad in Kona Blue with white stripes, this GT500 has world-class handling, aggressive styling, and extreme levels of horsepower and torque that are unparalleled in its segment.

The two Mustang concepts on the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach docket debuted at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and have traveled to more than 50 auto shows around the world. The fresh design foreshadowed a new direction for the 2005 model year that is still relevant in today’s Mustangs.

The Redline Red Metallic Ford Mustang GT convertible concept (Lot #655) features a distinct “showbar” with a rim of billet-aluminum trim picking up where the instrument panel and console trim leave off. The dazzling red car is pure muscle from its 20-inch wheels and cross-drilled Brembo brakes to the sharp accent line that runs the length of the body and culminates in a “C-scoop” behind the door cutline. The convertible’s interior, awash in supple red and charcoal leather, includes perforated surfaces on the seat backs, as well as a billet-aluminum shifter for the 5-speed automatic transmission, 4-point racing-style seatbelts and unique instrument gauges that resemble a fine watch with its face removed.

“This car began with a significantly modified Ford Thunderbird rear-wheel-drive architecture,” noted Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “The platform was sectioned to achieve the proper proportion and the front-end geometry is all original. This is truly a piece of history that represents the transition to an entirely new Mustang.”

The Tungsten Silver Ford Mustang GT coupe concept (Lot #655.1) has a glass roof and lush red and charcoal leather interior accented by billet-aluminum hardware. Its upward rake angle makes the car appear to be in motion even while at a standstill. The styling matches its convertible sibling. The functional hood scoops help the supercharged engine breathe as it churns out nearly 400 horsepower.
via:wot.motortrend




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eBay Find of the Day: World's Fastest Production Car

You've always had the opportunity to buy the world's fastest car, but now you can buy THE world's fastest car. The actual SSC Ultimate Aero TT that set the Guinness-certified top speed record for a production car is up for auction on eBay with your name on it.

The 2007 model comes with Palladium paint and black Alcantara interior, nav system, 10-speaker audio/DVD system, back-up camera, and power everything. Oh, did we mention the 1183 horsepower twin-turbo V8 mounted behind the seats?
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Original Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe up for auction in May

Expectations in May is a historic, rather than a two cars may have to break the record auction price of the same weekend. We have already reported a TR Ferrari 250 rooms will be sold Maranello auction, Mecum will now announce the sale of a 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona legendary sports car at its 22nd annual Spring Classic at Indiana polydor Adams auction. Live auction will be conducted discovery HD Theater, with sales of Daytona sports car at 20 o'clock on Friday, May 18.

Mecum car will be fully expected to exceed the maximum amount to be paid at public auction of American cars, This is the best of our knowledge, in the Shelby Cobra Super Snake for sale Barrett Jackson in 2007, a total of 5,500,000 U.S. dollars. Auction house or even the hope of achieving the figure 8 markers. The current record holder of any motor vehicle in 1961 are the Ferrari California Spyder sold for 10.89 million U.S. dollars at the auction room last year.


Sold at Daytona sports car, chassis CSX2601, is the fourth of only six built, won the three games of the competition the following 8 FIA it one one of the people are in France Lance win points, get the Shelby the performance of the world's manufacturers of third-grade GT Championship. Car had been fully restored to its original state and the Lance sports coating. Bob Bondurant, who is driving the Daytona sports car win early in 1965 it also has before long, returned to the homeland of the car in his high-performance driving schools in Chandler, AZ this weekend. He also joined the彼得布罗克, who designed sports car, the two stories together to develop and car racing. Since then, Bondurant even put the first car at the track on his first driving it at more than two decades. Jump in accordance with more details about the auction, and check for an excessive number of high-resolution photo gallery below.
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Event Alert: March Calendar of Automotive Events

Besides the gradual thawing of most of the country, March means the beginning of the Formula One season as well as Sebring, the Geneva Motor Show, the Amelia Island Concours, and NASCAR ramping up to full speed.

Those events alone would be enough to sate even the healthiest automotive appetites, but there's plenty more going on in the motoring world. As always, we tried to list the highlights as well as a few smaller events that we hope will be of interest to you. Feel free to use the comments section to add or modify listings.
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Barrett-Jackson 2009: Hurst Viper good as gold, sells for $275,000

Autoblog was the first media outlet that was granted access to the matte gold-colored Hurst 50th Anniversary Dodge Viper.

Unfortunately, our pockets aren't nearly deep enough to actually purchase one for ourselves. We did, however, manage to witness the sale of the very first model down the assembly line to one very lucky bidder here in Scottsdale, AZ, at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction. Included in the deal were an adjustable Motion Sport Suspension with Eibach springs, a custom Corsa exhaust system and a fresh set of Hurst black chrome wheels sized 19-inches up front and 20-inches in the rear. Oh, and a custom dash-mounted plaque with the buyer's name engraved on it for all to see. How cool is that? Wondering what sum of money it took to secure rights to the first Hurst Anniversary Viper of 50? Exactly $275,000 after auction fees. In what has been a very charitable night, Woodhouse Dodge vowed to donate the profits from the sale to Victory Junction who runs a camping facility for chronically ill children.
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Carroll Shelby catches a cold, first 2010 GT500 rescheduled for Palm Beach auction

If you were watching the Barrett-Jackson auction on SPEED on Saturday evening, you might have noticed that a fairly important car wasn't shown crossing the block - the first retail production 2010 Shelby GT500. Did they auction the car off during a commercial? Nope, in fact the car wasn't auctioned at all.

We, among many others, were disappointed not to see the car sell, especially with the first Camaro selling earlier in the evening. We asked around, and the official word from Barrett-Jackson is that Carroll Shelby caught a cold in the last few days and was unable to make it to Scottsdale. Since both Ford and Shelby wanted Carroll to be there when the car was auctioned off, the sale was rescheduled for the Palm Beach event in April. By that time production GT500s should be rolling off the assembly line, so instead of the winning bidder buying the rights to the first car, Carroll Shelby will pick out the options and colors and sell the actual vehicle. Will it be the same Grabber Blue with Red stripes like the car we saw in Detroit? Something tells us it will be something more conventional. Until then, get well Carroll!
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