The rare and unusual Buick, the 1987 GNX, 13.43 in the 1/4 from the factory. Wow.

A Gnx delivered 275 bhp and a whooping 360 lb-ft.

It also received a special rear axle housing cover made of aluminum (with GNX embossed on it) that serves as an additional strengthening element and point for the torque bar. For even more strengthening, the car body received special structural reinforcements in the form of "behind the back seat bracing" and special chassis (steel cross member between the chassis rails) bracing.

The GNX was the only Regal to ever receive 16 inch wheels. The wheels were made of a lightweight alloy and the rear wheels were wider than the front. The GNX came with P245/50VR16 tires in front and P255/50VR16 tires in the rear.

Inside, the dash had a special Steward Warner analog gauge package.

All GNXs received a special numbered plaque mounted on the passenger side dash which identified the number of that particular car (1-547).

But all of this came at a price. The cost of the GNX option was a whopping $10,995, which resulted in a final MSRP of $29,900.

Even more rare are the Buick Regal T-Type "Special T." These models had a Grand National exterior, but a Regal T-Type interior.

Production: Grand Nationals: 20,193
GNX: 547

Engines: Grand National: 3.8L V6 Turbo 245 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 355 ft-lb @ 2000 rpm.

GNX: 3.8L V6 Turbo 276 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 360 ft-lb @ 3000 rpm.

Performance:
Grand National: 1/4 mile in 14.23 seconds @ 98 mph.
GNX: 1/4 mile in 13.43 seconds @ 103 mph.

http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/buick-grandnational/buick-grandnational.shtml

Carroll shelby once had a special AC Cobra made for Bill Cosby

Bill met Carroll in a department store one day, and Carroll asked Bill why he drove foreign cars - outraged that an American would buy foreign cars. Bill said no American car was fast enough for the daily drive to work. So Carroll took this as a personal slight, being the builder of the coolest and fastest American car, and had a duplicate made of his own personal customized AC Cobra, just like this one in this February 1968 Road and Track article.
Listen to the Bill Cosby stand up routine on side A of the album, 200 MPH around a tree, no one can tell a story as well. Dual supercharged, dual quad, Shelby 427 side oiler... and Carroll had his mechaincs put it together exactly to his specs, and never allowed any others made that could match it. It held the record for the fastest production car for about 3 decades.

Not exactly a production car, but neither is an Enzo model Ferrari. At the level these guys compete, and build, it's close enough for me. Worth reading and learning.

Pictures I took at Speed fest last year.

I'm a big admirer of multi carbs....

Hot Rod City ( in El Cajon) went out of business a couple years ago

This is in the showroom, of the now "East County Collision center". How a full race saturn ends up there, minus the drivetrain... no idea. Hot Rod City was a cool place to look around in, full dealership feel to 30's and 40's customs for sale, think of a Good Guys car show where it's all for sale.

I wish these were wall posters

One unique vehicle, the transporter of course, Renntransporter

It is the recreation of the famous Renntransporter or 'race transporter', used by Mercedes-Benz in the Fifties to carry the Grand Prix Racers to the tracks throughout Europe

Initiated by Mercedes-Benz race manager Alfred Neubauer, who wanted a fast option of getting race cars to the circuit or back to the factory if necessary, the Prototype-Department created a hybrid between a sports car and a truck.

It started with a frame of a 300 S, extended it in the front and the rear, installed a 300 SL engine with direct fuel injection and 192 hp. For the cabin, components of the model 180 or Ponton were used - extended in width by several inches. The grille came from the SL model - only the rear glasses could not be found in any existing model and had to be especially manufactured. This was neccessary to allow a W 196 Streamline to fit on the Renntransporter.

It started with a frame of a 300 S, extended it in the front and the rear, installed a 300 SL engine with direct fuel injection and 192 hp. For the cabin, components of the model 180 or Ponton were used - extended in width by several inches. The grille came from the SL model - only the rear glasses could not be found in any existing model and had to be especially manufactured. This was neccessary to allow a W 196 Streamline to fit on the Renntransporter.

When it first appeared on the race tracks, the Renntransporter received more attention in the paddock than the actual Mercedes-Benz race cars. It did not fail to increase the image of Mercedes-Benz as a manufacturer of superb automobiles : 'If their trucks are already that fast and powerful, how much faster must be their other cars ?' But the days of the original Renntransporter were limited. After Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing in 1955, it was still used for several years to promote the brand abroad. It even came briefly to the U.S., where it received a Max. Speed 105 mph painted on the rear fenders. Constant questions and rumors about the potential top speed were the reasons. In late 1957, it returned to The Works in Stuttgart and ended up at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Due to limitations of the static of the higher floors in the museum it was denied a permanent place in the exhibition. Ten years later and in the state of disrepair it was scrapped. In 1993 an effort started to recreate what was so easily discarded some 25 years earlier. The result was first presented at Goodwood in 2001 and is expected to be part of all major events in the years to come.

The 1955 race car (no idea what the deal is on the new one) was numbered with 722 for the time of it's start on the 1955 Mille Miglia, when Sterling Moss won driving this particular race car. Stirling set the record that year for the fastest Mille Miglia, averaging about 100 mph, and no one since has beat that speed record in 52 years!

For more on this Transporter : http://oleragtop.blogspot.com/2008/12/vintage-auto-transporters.html

Dean Moon purchased a tribute transporter that is just as cool http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/worlds-fastest-car-hauler-200-mph-had.html#links

The race cars have returned! They'll be racing on North Island NAS all weekend, it's called Speedfest. They met at Orange and Isabella for a car show

Driven from the pits of the track on NAS Miramar, and over to Orange and Isabella near the Hotel Del Coronado... in the usual location of the Coronado car show that happens each spring in March or April

Two Lagondas were there... way cool! Above and below are both Lagondas

Keep fresh spark plugs handy... great idea!