Haltech World Cup Finals Import vs Domestic presented by WiSECO will take place at Maryland International Raceway on November 1-5, 2023. The CarShowz crew will be in attendance to cover the event. Stay tuned here for coverage and a recap of the event, here. More About Haltech World Cup Finals Import vs Domestic The 27th […]
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The “Herbie” Volkswagen Beetle captured the hearts of a generation with its unforgettable adventures on the silver screen. But there’s more to Herbie than meets the eye. Beyond the distinct white racing stripes and lovable demeanor, the Herbie VW Beetle boasts a rich history that has left an indelible mark on pop culture. This spunky car made its debut in the 1968 film “The Love Bug” and quickly became a symbol of automotive joy and enthusiasm. The original Herbie, a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, was sold at an auction for $126,500.
Herbie was known for his unique personality, displaying emotion through the positioning of his headlights and lovable horn honks. These playful quirks added a layer of endearment to the character that resonated with audiences worldwide. In this article, we’ll peel back the nostalgia and uncover the untold stories, quirks, and surprising tidbits that make this car an enduring symbol of automotive magic. So, fasten your seatbelts and join us to discover the unexpected facts about Herbie, a truly one-of-a-kind Volkswagen Beetle.
Although the Volkswagen Beetle fit the personality of Herbie quite well, there was a rumor that it almost didn’t happen. Producer Bill Walsh had a few other ideas in mind for the movie. There was a Toyota, Volvo, and even an MG lined up. But when all was said and done, the Beetle seemed to fit the part perfectly. The spunky little car, looking back, was a great choice. The Herbie franchise wouldn’t have been the same without the Beetle (via Auto Evolution).
The fact that there were a few options for Herbie just further complicates the complex history of this car. Nevertheless, the Herbie VW Beetle is by far one of the most iconic movie cars of all time. The cute little Beetle changed the way that we looked at the iconic Volkswagen. Before Herbie, there wasn’t a modern racing franchise associated with the car.
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One of the biggest indicators that the car industry is constantly improving is the rapid evolution of performance. The relentless quest for speed has inspired many engineers to make cars faster and more exciting, especially when it comes to sports cars.
However, while many car fans believe that all sports cars are fast, this just isn’t the case. There are more than a few sports car models that are downright disappointing due to the fact they’re ridiculously slow. We chronicled those engineering failures, so find out which cars attempted to create speed and failed right here.
For decades, French company Matra delivered innovative solutions, and new technologies while working with some of the biggest names in the industry. In cooperation with Simca in the early 1970s, Matra decided to produce a small sports car for the European market. Called the Bagheera, this three-seater was introduced in 1973 (via Hagerty UK).
The Bagheera had three seats up front. Even though it was very compact, three people could sit comfortably next to each other. Unfortunately, the power came from diminutive 1.2 and 1.4-liter engines that didn’t provide any exhilarating performance. However, with three seats and some French charm, the Matra Bagheera was a moderate success.
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The automotive industry evolves faster than just about any other industry. Every year, new advancements and models hit the roads. Companies like Tesla are changing the way we drive while the old guard of Ford, GM, and Chrysler continue to try and stay relevant heading into 2024 and beyond. Some cars have been on the road for decades now. But even a good ride with solid sales numbers has to reach the end of the road at some point.
With places like California outlawing gasoline-powered vehicles in a few years, there isn’t room for a lot of these older models. The choice for cars has never been wider and these models are becoming long in the tooth. While it’s sad to see some pioneering models hit the road, it also opens the door for innovation. The next generation of cars and trucks will be even better and more efficient than ever before. Join us as we look at the cars and trucks that are calling it quits for the 2024 model year.
The Audi TT has been around for a long time. It was one of the original new-generation style sports cars that came out in the late 1990s. And if the styling looks familiar, it’s because Volkswagen was utilizing that type of design language in 1998 with all of their cars. Nevertheless, the TT became a surprise hit and spurred new interest in Audi. The car had a reasonable run in the racing circuit and it did quite well on sales as well. Nevertheless, the TT is long in the tooth so Audi will discontinue all variations of the car for 2024 (via Team BHP).
The TT was a notable car because of its traction control and the power plant under the hood. There wasn’t anything overly powerful about the TT but it did manage to crave a niche for itself. The convertible version was also a fun little roadster that took the twists and turns like a professional track car. All in all, the build quality of the TT is something most sports cars can’t compete with.
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This is the 2023 Toyota Sequoia, potentially the best full-sized SUV on the market today. Our $77,784 MSRP test vehicle boasts power from the optional i-FORCE MAX twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 hybrid system that produces 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift, this Toyota tank hits a sweet spot between traditional Yankee utility and modern efficiency. Like previous generations, the Sequoia is based on the Toyota Tundra Pickup truck and excels as a main battle tank, but I suppose it could be used as a family vehicle or motivated people mover. The base trim sequoia SR5 starts at $59,865.
Before I begin with the exterior features, we should talk about the Easter egg on the passenger side windshield. If you look closely at the windshield stippling, there is a line of Morse code near the Toyota Truck logo in the bottom corner. This reads “Badass Trucks” and is something you can find on the Toyota Tundra as well. Our Silver Metallic Sequoia has aggressive butch styling, with 8.6 inches of ground clearance to provide 15/20 approach departure angles in the event you want to go off road. In front, the Platinum features trim with a dark accented chrome mesh grille with chrome surrounding it. Just behind the grille are active grille shutters, a cool piece of technology to improve vehicle operating temperature characteristics and aerodynamics. You’ll also find auto leveling LED headlights with LED daytime running lights. A standard feature on the Platinum Sequioa, that comes optional on the Limited trim, are the sequential turn signals on the front and rear that are a pleasant cosmetic addition, though admittedly, not necessary. The Platinum features 20-inch dark painted alloy wheels, but if you want them even bigger, opt for the top-tier Capstone trim’s 22-inch wheels. This Sequoia features the $1,000 extra power extending running boards over the fixed boards, which is up to personal preference, but the power folding boards could also slightly improve aerodynamic efficiency. As with most manufacturers, you’ll also find an array of color keyed or piano black options which vary on trim level to provide a premium appearance.
As a full-size SUV, it comes as no surprise that the interior is spacious but done well with a variety of functionality. The Platinum features seating for seven thanks to the second-row captain’s chairs over a standard bench, and there are eight seat options available in other trims. All the seats are trimmed in leather, yes, that includes the third row. The Platinum trim features heated and ventilated front AND rear seats, which is impressive, along with three zone climate control, split for the front and universal for the back seats. For the technology, the Platinum features a massive 14-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto funneled through a 14-speaker JBL audio system. The driver gets a 12.3-inch gauge cluster display which has adjustable multi-information displays for your preference, and additional options include a $6,000 heads-up display that Toyota implements well.
Pop the hood and you will find an engine, but more Easter eggs as well. The passenger side headlight features an outline of Michigan with the letters “R&D” for Toyota’s research and development headquarters. There’s also an outline of Texas with the word “Born” signifying the Toyota factory where it’s built alongside the Toyota Tundra. Power comes from an i-FORCE MAX twin turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 hybrid, the optional Tundra powerplant which produces 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift. The hybrid powertrain is standard across all trim levels and comes as a huge improvement over the previous generation Sequoia V8. The Sequoia’s standard drive mode is two-wheel drive but can be kicked in to 4WDemand (part-time four-wheel drive) thanks to an electronic transfer case and even offers a limited slip differential. Weighing in at 5,855 pounds, the Sequoia achieves 0-60 in just 5.6 seconds, an impressive feat for such a massive vehicle. All that grunt also presents towing capabilities with a max towing capacity of 9,310 pounds for the platinum along with drive mode select and tow/haul modes. All this power comes with a cost and an EPA fuel rating of 19 mpg city / 22 mpg highway / 20 combined, with the 22.5-gallon fuel tank, this gives you an estimated 450 miles of range. If you stay out of the turbocharged boost. Not bad when you consider the size of the vehicle, but it’s not good fuel economy either.
The Sequoia drives like a tank. You have the benefit of high-up visibility through an upright windshield and massive tow mirrors, but a glimpse in the rearview mirror reminds you of the sheer size of the Sequoia. Thankfully the Platinum has a digital rearview mirror that I find helps improve visibility. Under-accelerating and braking the Sequoia exhibits a fair amount of body roll forwards and backward but seems mitigated in lateral movement relatively speaking when turning. The acceleration is smooth with no shortage of power, and the brakes are strong as expected for such a heavy vehicle. The main note for driving is the massive size of the vehicle means you must pay more attention to keeping the vehicle in lanes and when parking, which can be a challenge and may not be suitable for less confident or less skilled drivers.
If you get anxious driving or have trouble parking this is not for you. There is an all-conquering presence that is hard to dispute, and the crazy amount of storage and compartments gives the 2023 Toyota Sequoia a great argument as a family hauler.
Muscle car fans know that real performance cars often have their own cues that establish their levels of insane performance. These include massive hood intakes, spoilers, racing stripes, and aggressive stances. The rumble of the exhaust might just be the biggest indicator of true speed. However, some unique cars were both fast and desirable. These luxury coupes delivered a huge level of performance luxuriously.
These rides weren’t necessarily flamboyant or loud. They were models that appealed to customers who wanted luxury but craved performance. The best of luxury coupes were notorious for their ability to cocoon the driver in luxury but provide it with enough firepower to beat Mustangs at the stoplight. Find out which luxury coupes featured massive performance right here.
Today, the Mercury brand is defunct. But back in the ’60s, it was a well-respected luxury division above the working-class Ford and just below Lincoln. Mercury did well in the muscle car segment with the Cougars and Cyclone. Luxury performance models were scarce until 1969 when a new generation of the Marauder left the factory. Imagined as a luxury coupe, the Marauder had a fresh design with new features like concealed headlights, a massive front end, and a sloping rear end with concave glass (via Hemmings).
It was a big, heavy car intended for cruising rather than racing. However, Mercury needed something to fight the Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Riviera GS. They needed to upgrade the Marauder to higher spec if they wanted a piece of the action. So the Marauder X100 was made. Behind the strange name was a regular 1969 Marauder but with a 429 V8 engine with 360 hp, bucket seats, heavy-duty suspension blackout rear trim, and fender skirts.
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This 1936 Ford pickup was fitted with a 351ci V8, a four-speed AOD automatic transmission, and independent front suspension before being acquired by the seller in 2020. The truck has been repainted in burgundy with black fenders over a red interior and is equipped with 15″ black-painted steel wheels, front disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, a tilt-out windshield, a wood-lined cargo floor, a dual exhaust system, an aftermarket bench seat, and Dolphin gauges. This Ford pickup is now offered with an Idaho title.
The body was refinished in burgundy with black fenders and running boards under prior ownership. Exterior details include tinted windows, a tilt-out windshield, a wood-lined cargo floor, and an electric cowl air vent. The rear fenders were covered with gloss black 3M vinyl after the left fender was damaged by a bird.
The 15″ black-finished steel wheels wear bright hubcaps and 205/60 Cooper Tires CS5 Grand Tour tires. Mustang II-style independent front suspension components have been installed in addition to rack-and-pinion steering and front disc brakes.
The cabin features an aftermarket bench seat upholstered in red and fitted with lap belts for two occupants, along with red door panels and carpets. Vintage Air climate control has been added, and the air conditioning does not function.
The four-spoke steering wheel is mounted to a LimeWorks column and fronts aftermarket Dolphin gauges that consist of a 140-mph speedometer along with auxiliary readouts for coolant temperature, voltage, fuel level, and oil pressure. The six-digit odometer shows 8k miles, approximately 6k of which have been added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 351ci Ford Windsor V8 is equipped with aluminum cylinder heads, a Holley carburetor, a Pertronix ignition system, tubular headers, and an aluminum radiator. An oil change was performed in June 2023, and the air conditioning compressor belt was installed in preparation for the sale.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed Ford AOD automatic transmission. A dual exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers has been added. Additional underside images are provided in the gallery.
There is currently a lien on the truck, and the seller’s lender will need to be paid off before the title can be transferred to the new owner.
This 1941 Ford Sedan Delivery was modified under previous ownership, with work consisting of repainting the body, reupholstering the interior, and installing a modified front and rear suspension as well as a 302ci V8 linked with an AOD four-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear axle. The car is finished in black over black vinyl upholstery, and equipment includes power steering, adjustable front coilovers, rear leaf springs, power front disc brakes, red-finished 15″ steel wheels, an Edelbrock intake manifold and four-barrel carburetor, PerTronix Flame Thrower ignition coil, air conditioning, and Stewart-Warner instrumentation. The car was acquired by the owner in 2020 and subsequent work consisted of installing front coilovers, rear shocks, and replacement suspension bushings and tires. This modified Sedan Delivery is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with a clean California title.
The car is finished in black and is said to have been repainted under prior ownership. Details include a polished grille, a trailer hitch receiver, chrome bumpers, dual side mirrors, bodyside moldings, dual taillights, and black rubber-lined running boards. Paint blemishes are shown up close in the gallery.
Red-finished 15″ wheels wear chrome trim rings, Ford Deluxe-branded smoothie covers, and Coker classic whitewall tires up front and Hankook Kinergy tires out back. The vehicle has been fitted with power rack-and-pinion steering, a Mustang II-style front suspension, adjustable front coilovers, front and rear sway bars, and a Camaro-style leaf spring rear suspension. Braking is handled by power-assisted front discs and rear drums.
The cabin features a split-folding bench seat trimmed in black vinyl upholstery joined by a color-coordinated dashboard, door and cargo panels, and carpeting. Equipment includes air conditioning, a floor-mounted shifter, lap belts, and wooden rear cargo side panels. A battery cut-off switch has been mounted below the seat and a 1991 SCTA Bonneville timing plaque is affixed to the passenger side of the dashboard. The radio does not work.
The banjo-style steering wheel frames a Stewart-Warner 160-mph speedometer and four supplementary gauges. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 10k miles, approximately 1k of which have been added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 302ci V8 was installed under prior ownership and features an Edelbrock intake manifold and four-barrel carburetor, a PerTronix Flame Thrower ignition coil, Ford Racing-branded valve covers, aluminum accessory pulleys, and tubular exhaust headers. An oil change was performed under current ownership.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through an AOD four-speed automatic transmission and a 9″ rear axle. A transmission cooler with an electric cooling fan is installed as well as a dual exhaust system with Super Turbo mufflers.
This ’34 Ford hot rod was built in 2020 by West Coast Choppers utilizing a three-window coupe body from Gibbon Fiberglass Reproductions. The body is mounted on a Total Cost Involved chassis, and power is provided by a 383ci Chevrolet stroker V8 mated to a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. The car is also equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, air-ride suspension, a dropped front axle, adjustable rear coilovers, and billet aluminum wheels measuring 18″ and 19″ in diameter. The interior features bucket seats trimmed in black leather and also incorporates electric windows, lap seatbelts, red instruments, and a Vintage Air HVAC system. This hot rod was acquired by the seller around a year ago and is now offered with a clean Texas title in the name of the seller’s LLC.
The ’34 Ford fiberglass body is finished in black and features rear-hinged doors, tinted windows, and louvered engine covers. A ceramic coating has reportedly been applied to the paintwork. The seller notes various rock chips and states that the actuator for the trunk lid has occasional difficulty opening and closing. A paint crack and scratch are shown up close in the gallery below.
Billet aluminum wheels from Curtis Speed Equipment measure 18” up front and 19” out back and are shod with Excelsior tires. Braking is via Wilwood discs at all four corners. The car is equipped with air-ride suspension, a dropped front axle, and QA1 adjustable coilovers in the rear. The compressor for the air suspension is reported to have a loose ground.
The cabin houses bucket seats trimmed in black leather with white stitching. A Vintage Air HVAC system has been installed along with a JVC CD stereo, electric windows, and lap belts.
A two-spoke steering wheel frames red gauges from Classic Instruments, including a 140-mph speedometer with an inset tachometer. A pressure gauge for the air-ride system is mounted under the dash. The six-digit odometer shows approximately 10 miles.
The 383ci Chevrolet stroker V8 features an Edelbrock intake manifold and an aluminum radiator.
The car was built on a TCI chassis, and power is sent to the rear wheels via a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission.
The car is titled in Texas as a 1934 Ford two door using vehicle identification number 007134, which is stamped on the car as shown above. The title carries an “exempt” notation in the odometer reading section.