Auto Shows/Museums

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No place like home, office and car all in one new odd EV concept

No other vehicle at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show attracted any more bizarre reaction than the Redspace REDS EV concept. It’s the automotive version of a tiny house. It’s transportation. It’s living space. And it’s a mobile office all in one small, futuristic-looking machine. Chris Bangle, a former designer at BMW, originated the idea of the wacky electric vehicle for equally wacky, congested Chinese market. Bangle and his colleagues at the auto show touted the vehicle with statistics. In China, they stated, cars are stopped 90 percent of the time. With living and office space also at a premium, Bangle believes he will have success with buyers who wish to combine three components of their lives into one place.

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Episode 18, California Automobile Museum curator Carly Starr

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:21 — 43.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreCarly Starr is the curator of the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. She has incredible knowledge of the cars and trucks in the unheralded museum as well as its diverse outreach programs throughout the year. The museum, located at 2200 Front St., opened in May 1987. It has more than 150 classic cars, race cars, trucks and rotating displays of different generations of vehicles from various regional clubs. The California Automobile Museum is also unique among car museums. It selectively buys and sells vintage cars and trucks. During a recent visit to the museum, co-host Bruce Aldrich and I visited the museum, chatted with

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Mecum Auctions rolls into Las Vegas for 1,000-car debut

Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector-car auction company, will produce its inaugural Las Vegas collector-car auction Nov. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. An estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, Hot Rods and Resto Mods will be on the auction block. Among the “Main Attractions” consigned to date for Mecum Las Vegas 2017 is a well-documented 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster (Lot S105.1). It retains its original aluminum body, red seat covers, 6-inch chrome wire wheels and remains one of the most original automatic-equipped Cobras in existence. Listen to The Weekly Driver Podcast about the Mecum Auctions debut in Las Vegas below: Another headliner is a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (Lot S108). It’s documented with a copy of

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Mecum Auctions Las Vegas debut live on Facebook

Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector-car auction company, will produce its inaugural Las Vegas collector-car auction, featuring an estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, Hot Rods and Resto Mods, November 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Vehicles from approximately 20 states and and Canada, including a well-documented 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster (Lot 105.1) that retains its original aluminum body, red seat covers, 6-inch chrome wire wheels and is most original automatic-equipped Cobras in existence, will be among the main attractions. A 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (Lot S108) documented with a copy of the original build sheet confirming its matching-numbers chassis, body, engine, four-speed transmission and differential, is also also among the expected most coveted vehicles. The consignments

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World’s most expensive car? Lamborghini Veneno Roadster

The Lamborghini Veneno debuted at the Geneva International Auto Show in 2013 with a price tag of $3.9 million. It was followed by the Veneno Roadster with a price tag of $4.5 million. Nine were made, according to the website autoguide.com, and are the most expensive new cars on the market. The website, curious about other expensive cars, recently compiled a list of the world’s 10 most expensive cars. The prices are estimates, the site reported, because manufacturers aren’t always forthcoming with prices of their exotic, limited production vehicles. Bruce Aldrich (tahoetruckeeoutdoor.com) and a contributing editor for TheWeeklyDriver.com, created the following image gallery at The Quail. Rarities in the automotive world are always prominent during Monterey Auto Week. But exotics

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Rolls-Royce unveils most expensive new car ever made

If money is no problem in your car-buying habits, why not purchase the most expensive new car ever made — a one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce? An unnamed buyer, seeking a vehicle styled after the Rolls-Royce offerings in the 1920 and 1930s, spent a reported $12.8 million on a Rolls-Royce Sweptail. The car took four years to make and was unveiled to the public recently at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy. The custom coach was designed via the customer’s wishes: a coach-built coupe with a glass roof. The buyer is described in the carmaker’s press release as a “connoisseur and collector of distinctive, one-off items including super-yachts and private aircraft.” Further, the vehicle was detailed as having traits of several iconic Rolls-Royce models

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Pacific Coast Dream Machines: All things for all engines

The recent 27th annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show occurred exactly as billed. Trailer queens to muscle cars, dragsters to junkers, rarities to one-of-kind machines that looked like they were made for Mad Max movies, were all displayed at the Half Moon Bay Airport, 20 miles south of San Francisco. The all-inclusive event, a charity for an area adult daycare center, works well under the premise of 84-year-old founder Bob Senz, who says: “If it’s a mean matchine, you bring it.” Senz’s description works, albeit with a loose description of the word “mean.” Perhaps better described, about 2,000 vehicles on display were the possessions of passionate owners, whether the “mean machine” was a valuable vintage car or a vehicle of

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The Quail: A Carmel car show with prestige, civility

Monterey Auto Week has something for every enthusiast. High-end auctions throughout the Monterey Peninsula attract wealthy silent bidders from far-flung countries. The Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach serves appropriately as a grand finale with its rarities and fanfare. The Concours on the Avenue in Carmel and the Little Car Show in Pacific Grove are free. They define the charms of small-city gatherings and the passion owners have for their vehicles regardless of value. Likely the most successful event in recent years during the August automotive pilgrimage is The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering. Billed as a “Luxurious Lifestyle Event,” the invitation-only show will celebrate its 15th edition August 18 at Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel. Reasons for the show’s

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For sale: 340 cars, 5 acres in British Columbia for $1 million

After 40 years of collecting vintage cars, Mike Hall has had enough. The rock scaler from British Columbia is selling more than 340 cars is various conditions as well as the property where the relics rest. Hall is the owner of the unique real estate listing. The combination of the five-acre listing includes the cars, a salvage business, storage property and a 900-square-foot stocked restoration shop. The asking price is slightly more than $1 million (converted from Canadian dollars). Hall explains further details of his obsession with old cars on the website www.driving.ca. While traveling often in his job as a rock scaler, Hall finds cars he wants and buys them. The cars range from Dodges to Fords to Chevy

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Enduring Dream Machines show supports adult health center

Viewing muscle cars, trailer queens, new cars, old cars, micro cars, dragsters and auctions of rarities and junkers is a pastime for some, a passion for others. Automotive enthusiasts can attend a car show of their favorites nearly every weekend in nearly every state. Nearly three decades ago, Bob Senz had a better idea. He decided to showcase nearly everything with an engine in one show. The result is the 27th annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, scheduled April 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Half Moon Bay Airport. It’s located about 20 miles south of San Francisco. “If it’s a mean machine, you bring it,” said Bob Senz, 84, the show’s founder who owned a hardwood and

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2017 Geneva International Motor Show: New cars galore

As arguably the most important international auto show, the Geneva International Motor Show will this year offer its usual complement of debuts and concepts in the ever-changing automotive industry. The year’s show, scheduled March 9-19, will be held in its traditional neutral location, the Palexpo in Geneva next to the international airport. Here’s a list of some of the manufacturers’ offerings in alphabetical order: Audi — The 400-horsepower RS3 Sportback debuts. Dendrobium — It’s a new hypercar from Singapore. Ferrari — The Superfast, with its 800 horsepower V112, will debut with plenty of fanfare. Kia — Say hello to tiniest Kia, the Picanto. McLaren — The Super Series is the replacement of the 650S lineup. Seat — The Ibiza supermini

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Watch Car of the Year pick live from Geneva Motor Show

The Geneva International Motor Show is arguably the most important car event of the year. In addition to new model debuts, the Car of the Year is selected. This year marks the 54th year of the honor. The announcement will be made Monday, March 6 at 3 p.m. local time in Switzerland. Among 29 original candidates, seven finalists were selected last November after a week of testing in Denmark. The finalists for the sixth Car of the Year celebration during the Geneva International Motor Show include: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Citroën C3, Mercedes E-Class, Nissan Micra, Peugeot 3008, Toyota C-HR and Volvo S90/V90. The finalists were tested again in Denmark. The Car of the Year honor is organized by seven of

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New Ferrari 812 Superfast: Italian carmaker’s finest?

Ferrari may have outdone itself. The iconic Italian automaker will debut the Ferrari 812 Superfast, “the most powerful and fastest Ferrari” in the manufacturer’s history at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show. Th 87th Geneva Auto Show will be held March 9-19. According to Ferrari, the 812 Superfast will be brand’s last naturally aspirated V12. It’s powered by a 6.5-liter V12 that outputs about 789 horsepower, 8,500 rpm and 525 pound-feet of torque at 7,000 rpm. The 812 Superfast, which is front-mid mounted, is matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s the first Ferrari to use electric power steering. Four-wheel steering has been added to increase low-speed maneuverability as well as high-speed stability and responsiveness. The V12’s acceleration is 0-100 kph in 2.9

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2016 LA Auto Show: foam cars, electric vans, new colors

The 2016 LA Auto Show is emphasizing technology this year with its newly named segment, AutoMobility LA. The expanded format allows for more innovation exhibits — some logical advancements in the automotive landscape, other products and software hard to decipher. In the latter category, consider the Spira4u Co. It debuted its three-wheel electric trike. It’s steered with a tiller and its exterior looks like a toy car covered in styrofoam. The Spira4u can be driven with a car or motorcycle license in California, and a helmet is not required. The body is constructed of recyclable light foam, fiberglass and plastic. Top speed is 75 mph. The gas version is priced at $6,000 and the electric version is priced at $10,000.

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LA Auto Show: New technology, global car debuts

The LA Auto Show has a unique position in the automotive industry. It’s annually the first major new car showcase of the season, but it’s held at least one calendar year behind the model years of debuting vehicles. The oddity is representative of the industry at-large. New car models were once almost always announced in late summer or early fall. Now, with increased competition, many 2017 vehicles have been available for months. They’re released when manufacturers believe the timing is right to best challenge rivals. At the Los Angeles show, scheduled Nov. 14-27, including three media-only days, 2017 and 2018 models will be unveiled. But how vehicles will operate and interact with our lifestyles as far into to the future

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Elio Motors set for live debut of $6,800 car at LA Auto Show

The latest prototype of the $6,800, three-wheel vehicle Elio Motors has promoted for several years but has yet to deliver to the public despite a substantial public online reservation investment, will be unveiled in a live video broadcast Nov. 19 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Arizona-based experimental vehicle maker’s prototypes have generated polarizing interest. Its fifth generation vehicle will be introduced at the 10 a.m. press conference. To view the unveiling, visit: ELIO MOTORS/L.A. AUTO SHOW The vehicle’s CAD renderings detail a similar but update version of the car’s previous concepts. The company, building what it’s touting as the cheapest car in the United States in a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, has collected different levels

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