Gilded Moment of Zen

Has anyone out there heard about the Jaguar Mk2 show car where every chrome part was gold-plated?

Well, it still exists and I have seen it with my own eyes.

Automobiliac Video of the Week: Lancia Rally cars on Japanese roads

Here's a video I had to share just for its sheer surrealism. Imagine you are driving along a Japanese highway and come across an Alitalia-liveried Lancia Stratos in the other lane. Now imagine you happen to be driving your own Martini-liveried Lancia Delta HF Integrale...too cool!

Here is a wonderfully dreamy little video from the same youtube account from inside the Stratos, along with a pleasing Hip-Hop beat. This guy is really adept at taking awesome footage with one hand while driving with the other!

Sleeping Beauty: Porsche 912

This morning, I was fortunate enough to drop in on a friend of mine who has recently acquired a very nice piece of machinery for himself.  He hasn't sorted it out yet, but the car's sheer presence was enough to make me catch my breath as its timeless form emerged from the hulking, modern SUV it was parked behind.  This dark green Porsche 912 really looks fantastic in person, having benefitted from a top notch respray 8 years ago, yet it retains a lived-in feel that I found intoxicating when I sat inside.  My friend has some big plans for this car, and I can't wait to see how it comes out once he goes through it and makes a few tweaks.  Let's have a vote: Who thinks he should keep the original wheel (shown), vs. replacing it (dont worry he isn't throwing it out, folks!) with a 3-spoke 917-style leather/matte black racing wheel?

Enjoy the full gallery HERE. Sorry there arent more exterior shots, as it was close quarters in the parking garage!

Lancia Stratos Prototipo by Stile Bertone: Where is the future we were promised??

I don't think car design ever really surpassed the extremes to which the styling houses of Italy went in the early 70s with their space-age wedge designs. And perhaps the most extreme example of that archetype was the Lancia Stratos Zero by Marcello Gandini, which actually did lead to the renowned Stratos production car.  This clip is really cool because I had never seen any footage of this earth-bound spacecraft in motion before-- and the synth music just makes it even better! Those of you know me personally know that this video is so right up my alley!

How to get an Italian crowd back on your side after you mess up

I had to share this little clip.  Driver spins out. Driver heckled. Driver does wicked donut/burnout maneuver. Crowd LOVES IT!

and a second angle!