Built For Speed

Today is a Sunday celebration of the need, the need for speed. I was reading my new copy of Motor Trend Classics that featured the sheer, over the top exuberance of the sixties muscle-cars, when something hit me. These cars, with their rumbling big block V-8's and straight pipe exhausts, were all about bluster, 'sturm und drang', burning rubber and attracting chicks. But with 0-60 times of around 7.5 to 8 seconds (about as quick as my daughter's Honda Element), they really weren't all that quick. Back in the days when 'drivers were fat and tires were skinny', they simply couldn't put all that rumble to the road. Only the fastest Ferrari's, Cobra's and Italian Jobs could get to 60 in under six seconds. Today this seems almost quaint. Today, my Honda S2000, with it's 2,157 naturally aspirated cc's can reach sixty in about five seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph and get 25 mpg all the while. The fastest of the cars shown today (Nissan GTR) can reach sixty in 3.5 eyeball popping seconds and lap some of the fastest race cars of that beloved era. As Einstein once said, "It's all relative". Today's Mustang GT 5.0 can run rings around the fastest GT-350 track car of its day. These ARE the good old days....

Raging Bull

I spotted this rare beast on Bayfront Parkway leading up to the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola. In 2009, Lamborghini released a limited-run update of the Murciélago Roadster. The LP 650-4's engine is rated at 641 hp and 490 lb·ft, allowing the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 330 km/h (210 mph). All cars are painted Grigio Telesto grey with Arancio orange highlights. The color scheme is continued on the interior, which features an asymmetric dash design. You don't often see one of these on the road with it's tent like canvas top in place. I really didn't expect to find myself side by side with such a rare exotic in this part of the country. There's one old Nascar saying that applies to this machine. "She is just all ett up wit motor."

Flux Capacitor...Fluxing?

Now that the Carspotter has moved to Northwest Florida, I expected to see a lot more classics, hot rods, customs, and the like. Imagine my surprise when I encounter this stainless steel glistener-in-the-sun just in from the past. It appeared to be a daily driver.

The DeLorean DMC-12 was the brainchild of General Motors executive John DeLorean. He was known for his rock star lifestyle and flamboyant ways. The car was a brilliant design in many ways, with a chassis designed by Colin Chapman of Lotus, gull wing doors and a maintenance free stainless steel body. (You can fix scratches with a Brillo pad). Alas, it's execution was flawed by poor electronics, a weak Renault engine and bad timing, being introduced at the end of a recession. While the owner and the car became more infamous than famous, many of the design and build techniques ended up being used in sports cars today. About 9,200 of these were produced, and it's still possible to buy a new, upgraded DeLorean from a company called DMC Houston. This fellow bought up the remaining parts and dies from the factory and assembles complete, upgraded cars with new VIN numbers. Hurry though. Supplies are limited.

Curvaceous

Some cars have great curves. Some are great IN the curves. Some are both. Here are some examples of great curved surfaces moving through the air. Curves guide the wind and help to guide the eyes where the designer wants them to go.

Modes of Transport

As I review my time in Las Olas, the exotics aren't the only thing that stick in my mind. The oddball, hot rod, one-off wonders that roam the streets and canals of Fort Lauderdale will always serve to amuse and amaze me. Step right up for the wonders of the boulevard. Besides a variety of hot rods, you'll see an experimental three wheeled Fiat, a couple of logo cars as well as a genuine Batmobile. Holy Turbines, Batman!