If you were fortunate enough to visit last year’s Detroit Auto Show, you may recall something special lurking in the Ford booth. The automaker featured an expansive slot car track with a variety of Ford Mustang racers darting around an immensely detailed course. As it turns out, the track was built by David Beattie, a slot car enthusiast who has turned his passion into a serious business. Beattie uses a CNC router to carve the topography of your favorite track before applying numerous handmade details. The track surface itself is airbrushed to mimic well-worn tarmac, and Beattie makes every tree and fence by hand.

The craftsman can create any track from Le Mans to Laguna Seca. You’ll need deep pockets to put one of these slot car venues in your man cave, however. Prices begin at ,000 and ratchet all the way up to ,000. Of course, that may be a small price to pay if you absolutely have to own a Porsche 917 shell that opens up to reveal an intricate figure-eight. Hit the jump to check out a few videos of Beattie’s handiwork, including an interview with Jay Leno.

Continue reading The ultimate in slot car tracks comes at a price [w/video]

The ultimate in slot car tracks comes at a price [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford has officially added another model to the company’s licensed reproduction steel body shells. Those looking to spin their own wrenches toward restoring a 1964 1/2, 1965 or 1966 Mustang Convertible can snap up a brand-new body from Dynacorn that uses higher-quality steel and more modern welding techniques than the originals. Even better, every last inch of the piece comes rustproofed straight from the factory. That means you can save the pennies and time you would have blown on cutting out cancer (rust and rot) and welding in new pieces and put both toward designing the perfect 289 for your build.

Ford and Dynacorn plan to show off the reproduction 1965 Mustang Convertible body shell at this year’s SEMA show. If you like what you see, the two companies will be happy to send one your way for the reasonable sum of ,000.

As you may recall, Dynacorn produces a number of body panels for a wide range of classic vehicles, including a complete 1969 Ford Mustang body shell. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Licensed ’65 Ford Mustang Convertible body shell is the ultimate repro

Licensed ’65 Ford Mustang Convertible body shell is the ultimate repro originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The world is filled with curious questions. Why are we here? Why do we hate tomatoes but love ketchup? Why do Americans love crossovers? Why are there 150 brand-new 1997 Dodge Neon models with zero miles on the odometer up for sale in Singapore? That last one is particularly perplexing. Arete Trading Pte Ltd. has somehow managed to get its hands on a small flotilla of pristine Neon models and is currently in the process of parceling them out for the lowly sum of ,350 each. That means, if you had 2,500 laying around, you could live the dream of driving a brand-new 14-year-old car every day for 150 days straight.

Or at least you could once you had the necessary vehicle systems straightened out. We’re guessing that each of these Neons could use some fuel and brake system work in order to be even quasi viable. Still, as the good people at Motor Authority point out, get enough friends together and you could have one hell of a one-make race. Check out the sale here.

150 brand-new 1997 Chrysler Neons is the ultimate barn find originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato may have won top honors upon its unveiling at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. But it’s not just a pretty face. Aston Martin is keen to highlight that point, taking the V12 Zagato straight from the shores of Lake Como to the tarmac of the Nürburgring.

The racing version of the show car has already had two outings on the Ring in the past month or so, but those campaigns were merely in preparation for what’s in store this weekend, when a pair of Zagatos – dubbed “Zig” and “Zag” – will take on the grueling ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours.

A red example (Zag) will be piloted by the company’s CEO and Nürburgring test center director along with a pair of European automotive journalists, joining the previously-seen green car (Zig) driven by one of Aston’s top engineers, a pair of experienced race car drivers and another British fourth-estatesman. Both can be seen in the video after the jump.

We’re not clear on where that leaves the rather more attractive white and red livery depicted in the high-resolution photographs, then, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking it out in the gallery, along with the full press release after the jump.

Continue reading Aston Martin V12 Zagato returns for ultimate showdown at the Nürburgring [w/video]

Aston Martin V12 Zagato returns for ultimate showdown at the Nürburgring [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To mark the 125th anniversary of the automobile, Auto News Europe is hosting a poll to determine which car represents the Ultimate Legend on Wheels. The Citroen DS is certainly near the top of our list of contenders, but the organizers have put together a group of 130 candidates, so determining the winner is going to take some work.

The list is populated with 10 entries from each of the last 13 decades, and includes names like the Jaguar E-Type, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Ford Mustang, BMW 2002 and Porsche 911. This won’t be an easy choice. The Citroen DS may have been the pinnacle of style and grace in its day, but it’s got plenty of stiff competition to best.

To make things more interesting, each voter will have the chance to win a trip to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, where the Ultimate Legend on Wheels will be crowned. The lucky voter will get free travel and accommodations, as well as a free pass to the rest of the show. Head over to the Legends on Wheels website to enter your vote.

Is the Citroen DS the Ultimate Legend on Wheels? If not, what is? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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