Journal Classic Cars

Lego and McLaren first joined forces in 2015 and have since collaborated on six Lego Speed Champions McLarens and two Lego Technic McLarens. Now, for McLaren’s 60^th anniversary, Lego will be producing a double-pack featuring the F1 LM and the Solus GT.

Though it’s been 60 years since Bruce McLaren founded the company that bears his name, the Kiwi has been deceased for over 50 years. However, the impact he made on racing, from his Grand Prix, Can-Am and Le Mans victories to his racing team’s engineering prowess, has been profound. In the 1980s, an automotive company was formed, which resulted in the inaugural F1 and since has produced several vehicles on par with fully established greats like Ferrari.

“As 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of McLaren and our founder’s passion to create the ultimate supercars, we felt this was the perfect opportunity to come together with LEGO and celebrate some of the iconic McLaren road cars whose designs were born of that vision,” says Goran Ozbolt, McLaren Automotive’s Chief Designer.

The McLaren F1 LM (for Le Mans) was a street-going track version of the F1. Six were built, with five sold to the public. Though initially all were to be painted Papaya Orange as a homage to Bruce McLaren’s race color, two were painted black as specified by the Sultan of Brunei.

The Solus GT may be less familiar because it’s new for 2023. It’s a mid-engined track-only sports car that’s McLaren’s sixth vehicle in the Ultimate Series (McLaren also has the Sports Series and Super Series). Interestingly, the Solus GT can find its origins from a concept car that appeared in the Gran Turismo Sport game for Sony PlayStation 4.

Of course, the two models include authentic details in Lego’s unique analog 4-bit-esque manner. The F1 LM comes in the signature Papaya Orange with a central driving seat and cooling ducts on both sides, while the Solus GT also features a central driving seat plus prominent wheel arches and rear wing.

“We aim to inspire LEGO vehicle fans of all ages with new and unique building experiences, every time we expand the Speed Champions Collection,” adds Christopher Leslie Stamp, Lego Group’s Design Manager. “This launch is another great example of this long-standing partnership.”

The new LEGO Speed Champions McLaren F1 LM and Solus GT set will be available globally starting on March 1, 2023, retailing for $34.99.

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a restored 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.

“This Mustang is one of 2,378 Shelby vehicles built in 1966,” the listing states. “During the restoration 13 years ago, the exterior was refinished in Sapphire Blue. Features include chrome bumpers, a fiberglass hood with a hood scoop and hood pins, white GT350 side stripes, a Rotunda accessory driver-side mirror, side scoops, clear Shelby quarter windows, a Shelby gas cap, and GT350 badges. The selling dealer states that this Mustang was originally ordered without the optional Le Mans stripes.”

It rides on the reportedly original 14-inch Shelby alloy wheels with older radial tires. The sale includes the matching spare wheel with a tire.

The interior has front bucket seats, door panels and trim upholstered in black vinyl. This Shelby GT350 features a floor-mounted manual transmission shifter, manual steering, and manual brakes.

The odometer reads 55,051 miles, which the selling dealer reports to be accurate and documented.

Under the fiberglass hood is the reportedly original 289ci Hi-Po K-code V8 engine that produced a factory-rated 306 hp when new. The engine bay is accented by a chrome air cleaner, black cast aluminum finned valve covers, and an aluminum intake. It also features inner fender and shock tower braces. A four-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels.

This GT350 has manual front disc and rear drum brakes, and rides on an independent front suspension. It also features a full-length dual exhaust system.

The sale includes a clear title, and registration records dating back to the 1970s. The selling dealer charges a $150 documentation fee in addition to the price of the vehicle.

This 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350’s auction ends on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 4:40 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

If you’re looking for a distraction, this video compresses the build of Travis Pastrana’s Family Huckster Gymkhana car down to less than four minutes.

Built for filming of “Gymkhana 2022,” the Family Huckster is a purpose-built stunt machine styled to look like a 1983 Subaru GL wagon. It was built by Vermont SportsCar, the same shop that built Pastrana’s previous Gymkhana car—the WRX STI Airslayer—as well as multiple Subaru rally cars.

The video shows just how little the Family Huckster has in common with a stock GL wagon. The car is based on a bespoke tube-frame chassis, over which carbon-fiber body panels are draped. Even those are heavily massaged from stock GL wagon panels, incorporating active aerodynamic elements similar to those used on the Airslayer.

Sitting under the flat hood is a turbocharged 2.3-liter flat-4 like the one used in the Airslayer, but featuring a unique exhaust system with 3D-printed tips that exit through the passenger side front fender. Output is 865 hp, which is sent to all four wheels through a 6-speed sequential transmission.

After the car is assembled, the bare carbon fiber bodywork gets a vinyl wrap inspired by the livery of the original GL wagons Subaru built as a marketing tie-in with the U.S. ski team. That livery is one of the reasons why Pastrana chose the GL for Gymkhana instead of doing another WRX build.

Pastrana’s association with Subaru extends beyond Gymkhana to the American Rally Association (ARA) championship, where he’ll continue racing Vermont SportsCar-built WRX rally cars for a little while longer. However, he has announced that he will bow out of the 2023 championship, mainly due to his desire to spend more time with his family while still being able to focus on his own Nitro Rallycross series.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

Aston Martin is to cast open its doors to women and girls as part of an event to inspire the next generation of talent and highlight employment opportunities in the automotive sector on International Women’s Day.

Celebrating International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8 March, Aston Martin will invite ambitious women and girls from across the country to visit Aston Martin Works, its iconic heritage site in Newport Pagnell, and experience a day in the life of an Aston Martin employee.

The day will include a tour of the Newport Pagnell facility and heritage dealership, as well as a conversation and panel event in partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One^TM team. Guests will also have the chance to hear from female leaders across Aston Martin’s business, before enjoying a meeting with Aston Martin Formula One^TM team Chief Information Officer, Clare Lansley.

The event is aligned to Aston Martin’s Racing.Green sustainability strategy announced in 2022, with the British ultra-luxury brand setting bold targets across all aspects of the business, from tackling climate change, creating a better environment and building a stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive company. A key component of the strategy is a goal for 25% of all leadership roles at Aston Martin filled by women within the next five years. The company continues to work towards its women in leadership target, while also supporting ongoing efforts to create equitable spaces for all.

Aston Martin Chief People Officer, Simon Smith, said: “Aston Martin is passionate about increasing female leadership at the company as well as inspiring girls to consider the huge career opportunities within the automotive sector. Through initiatives like this event on International Women’s Day and our successful Graduate/Apprenticeship programmes, we are confident that we can find the right talent for the future of Aston Martin.”  

Clare Lansley, Chief Information Officer of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One^TM team said: “This year the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1^TM team joins forces with Aston Martin in a bid to Embrace Equity and offer opportunities to ambitious women and girls. We are excited to host the event at Aston Martin’s heritage site Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell and look forward to the future generations of women and girls joining our organisations – as we continue to drive an inclusive workplace for all.”

Open to women and girls, the day is aimed at those wanting to find out more about career opportunities within the ultra-luxury automotive sector.

Registrations are open now with places strictly limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sign up at: https://careers.astonmartin.com/cw/en/job/509816/international-womens-day.

1985 was a good year in the film industry. The iconic Back to the Future trilogy got its start on July 3rd of that summer, and over the course of the next five years earned $975 million at the box office. The fantasy of being able to travel through time captured the country’s imagination.

One of the most famous Toyotas in history was the black Toyota SR5 4×4 pickup that was prominently featured in the film. However, another Toyota from the same model year had an equally high cool-factor. The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1985 Toyota Celica listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Edina, Minnesota. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Get a slice of the 80s with this one-owner 1985 Celica GT-S,” the listing begins. “With only 88k miles, the original window sticker, and in great shape – this is the Celica to buy.”

Showing just 88,757 miles on the odometer, this Celica has relatively low mileage for being 38 years old. Cosmetically, there are a couple of small need to address including a broken headlight and marker light, but the car appears unmodified and retains its characteristic 1980s look with pop-up headlights, fender flares, and wedge-shaped silhouette.

The included window sticker shows that this car is finished in “Super Red” with a black cloth retractable top, and it was originally delivered to Rudy Luther Toyota in a Minneapolis suburb called Golden Valley. The car carried an original MSRP of $18,394 including freight and handling. Rudy Luther, incidentally, is still open in the same location today.

This car comes from the Celica’s third generation, dubbed the A60, which launched in 1981. Available initially only as a notchback coupe or a liftback, a GT-S convertible was released in limited production in 1984. The car was manufactured in Japan but subsequently customized by American Sunroof Company (ASC) in California. Between 1984 and 1985, about 4,500 units were produced.

Interior appointments were substantial for the time including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, an AM/FM/cassette stereo with an equalizer, and a split-folding rear seat. And under the hood lies Toyota’s robust fuel-injected 2.4-liter 22R-E motor mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. “Runs and drives great,” the seller says.

“It is a true time capsule, and this is a stunning example,” the seller says. “This Celica is the real deal.”

The asking price is $16,995 or best offer for this Celica GT-S, which is just as cool of a vehicle as Marty McFly’s pickup.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

The Pontiac Bonneville first appeared in 1957, with it being mainstreamed into the Pontiac lineup in 1959. That was the first year of the brand to exhibit General Manager Bunkie Knudsen’s efforts. Starting in 1964, a Brougham package became available for those who wished for something fancier. One of those cars, a 1967 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham four-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is our Pick of the Day. (Click the link to view the listing)

The full-sized Pontiac line was redesigned in 1967, now longer/lower/wider as was the trend of the time. The 1965-66 Pontiacs were athletic-looking and were a tough act to follow but, to contemporary eyes of the time, Pontiac may have pulled it off. Of special note was an interesting grille for the lower part of the front end that had multiple looks — the Catalina, Executive and Bonneville featured the trademark vertical headlights, while the Grand Prix hid its headlights behind the grille and featured unique parking lights.

Underneath the hood, the 389 was bored to 400ci, while the 421 was bored to 428ci. Tri-Power also was put to rest due to some strange edict that restricted multiple carburetion for the Corvette, but the Rochester Quadrajet was up to the task — Motor Trend magazine said that the top GTO was “the equivalent or better in performance” to its Tri-Powered predecessor.

The Brougham package for both the Bonneville two-door and four-door hardtops included Morrokide vinyl blended with Plaza bolster cloth and Princessa pattern cloth, Strato-bench front seat with center armrest., thick nylon-blend carpeting, power windows, door pulls, extra-thick foam seat padding, Carpathian elm burl woodgrain on the door panels and dashboard, electric clock and deluxe steering wheel.

Standard was a 333-horsepower 400ci backed by a three-speed manual on the column, which could also be had on the floor for a fee, as could a manual four-speed; opt for the automatic and horsepower was 325. A step-down option was a 265-horse 400 two-barrel, while two 428s (360 and 376 horsepower) were available as upgrades.

This 1967 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham four-door hardtop features what’s likely the most common combination for this car: 325-horse 400 backed by the TH400 automatic. Though the seller doesn’t give much in the way of description, the color looks like Plum Mist. Air conditioning is a fine addition to the option list, wouldn’t you say?

The seller is asking $19,995 for this plum-hued 1967 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham four-door hardtop. If you like the idea of a Pontiac that thinks it’s a Buick, look no further.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

A restored matching-numbers 1971 Porsche 914/6 Targa once owned by Motorsports Hall of Fame member Chip Ganassi is being offered at Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction on March 2, 2023. Bonhams estimates the Porsche 914/6 will sell for $100,000 to $125,000, and its pedigree is backed up by a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity and extensive restoration receipts totaling more than $38,950.

This 914/6 was manufactured in May 1971 and delivered new to Mr. Vernon W. Gurzenoa of Somerset, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1971, with a mere 30 miles on the odometer. It is unknown how long Mr. Gurzenoa owned the Porsche, but service records from the original maintenance booklet indicate the 914/6 was serviced at the same Pittsburgh Porsche dealership from new until recorded service stopped being documented in the booklet after 56,600 miles.  

“Eventually, the Porsche made its way into the hands of former racing driver and race team owner, Mr. Chip Ganassi,” the listing states. “Being the team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing and a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame means the staff and headquarters would be fully prepared to handle a nut and bolt restoration on a car. That is exactly what the Chip Ganassi Racing team did, they completed a full restoration for their legendary owner in the car’s original color combination. The restoration is documented with photos in the CD which is included in the file for this vehicle.” 

Chip Ganassi founded Chip Ganassi Racing in 1990 and, in the ensuing decades, the Indianapolis-based team has competed in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series, IndyCar, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Extreme E. His teams have won 21 championships in various racing disciplines, and his extensive list of achievements as a team owner include five Indianapolis 500 wins plus victories at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2010 Daytona 500 and the 2010 Brickyard 400. Ganassi is the first team owner to have Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and 24 Hours of Daytona victories within the same 12-month span.

This matching-numbers 914/6 is chassis No. 9141430383 and is powered by the original 1,991cc SOHC flat-six (Engine No. 6414137) with twin carburetors that produced a factory-rated 111 bhp at 5,800 rpm when new. The engine was overhauled during current ownership. This 914/6 features a matching-numbers five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel disc brakes and four-wheel independent suspension.

Bonhams’ Amelia Island Auction is scheduled for March 2^nd, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Every car guy and gal who visits Scottsdale knows about it. During Barrett-Jackson’s three-ring circus in January, the number of cars and spectators is off the hook. We couldn’t be talking about anything other than the Pavilions Rock ‘n Roll Car Show, a weekly event where automotive enthusiasts bring their cars to be social and show off. Vehicles come and go throughout the day, so the mix of cars can change within minutes. It was at the Pavilions (or, as staffer Jalopy Jeff calls it, “The Pavs”) that we caught up with this very interesting 1968 Pontiac Bonneville.

To be honest, any full-size 1968 Pontiac is not the most collectible car out there. Some feel the snout echoes shades of Edsel, while others feel earlier (pre-1967) full-size Ponchos had more style. Plus, it’s a muscle car world out there, so most sporty and performance models garner more enthusiasm. However, 1968 Bonnevilles feature strong land yacht qualities, plus it’s the last full-size Pontiac available with a four-speed. A friend owns a Catalina two-door sedan with a factory 390-horsepower 428 HO and four-speed, so clearly there was someone out there who was attracted to the charms of full-size Pontiac performance in 1968.

This Bonneville convertible that pulled up to the Pavilions is a little different, but no less unique. Take a look and you’ll notice hidden headlights. Hey, who put a Grand Prix grille on a Bonneville? Looks cool but that’s a GP piece, right?

Well, yes and no. In a May 24, 1968 bulletin, Pontiac introduced T83 concealed headlights as an option for all Bonneville models. There is no information on how many Bonnevilles were built with this option, but I bet even the most knowledgeable Pontiac folks aren’t aware it was available. I myself didn’t learn until five years ago when one with documentation appeared on eBay.

Taking a look at this Poncho’s window sticker continues to impress — here’s the complete tally.

• April Gold
• L79 428/375
• M40 Turbo Hydramatic transmission
• J75 power antenna
• U58 AM/FM Stereo
• B93 Door edge guards
• T83 Retractable headlamp covers
• D34 Right-hand vanity mirror
• D33 Left-hand remote mirror
• A39 Custom seat belts
• K30 Cruise control
• N10 Dual exhaust
• A90 Remote trunk release
• N40 Power steering
• N33 Tilt steering wheel
• Y87 Brougham trim group
• J52 Front disc brakes
• A02 Tinted windshield
• A93 Power door locks
• A32 Power vent windows
• A42 Power front bench seat
• A53 Strato-bench seat
• C75 Automatic temperature control
• C60 Air conditioning
• B32 Front floor mats
• B33 Rear floor mats
• T87 Cornering lamps
• U41 Low fuel warning lamp
• UA1 Heavy-duty battery
• K45 Heavy-duty battery
• P26 White sidewall 8.45 x 15 Rayon tires

Base price for a 1968 Bonneville convertible was $3,800. This one was originally ordered with $2,191.12 worth of options plus $65.99 destination fee, this Bonnie stickered at $6,057.11. That’s quite an expensive Pontiac at the time!

Even without the hidden headlights, this is quite a loaded Bonneville with many rare options. It also goes to show that you don’t need to be hung up with Hemi this and solid-lifter that in order to have a fun and interesting collectible.

Today we’re looking at AutoHunter Cinema’s Interesting Find of a heavily modified 1989 Ferrari F40 with racing history. This car was originally finished in Rossa Corsa, as all F40s were, before it was repainted yellow while racing in various motorsports events, including the Ferrari-Porsche Challenge series. Eventually, it would make its way to the Zanasi group in Maranello, Italy, where the car would be finished in Nardo Gray.

Aside from the color change, the car would undergo engine upgrades producing a base tune of 700 horsepower, with the option of turning up the power to 1000 horsepower. The car would feature further mechanical work and interior upgrades like the blue bucket seats intended to pay homage to the early Ferrari racecars of the 1960s. This 1989 Ferrari F40 went on to sell at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $2,750,000. We wish the owner better luck than this guy.

Honda co-founder Takeo Fujisawa has been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Detroit-area shrine to prominent auto-industry figures.

Fujisawa was the business partner of Soichiro Honda and was instrumental in building Honda into a successful company. While Honda supplied the ideas, Fujisawa brought a pragmatic business sense to the operation.

Born on November 10, 1910, Fujisawa originally thought of becoming a teacher but ended up as a salesmen for a steel products company and then a lumber company. He met Honda in 1949, about one year after he founded his eponymous company, which then was a small operation in the Japanese city of Hamamatsu. The company was just transitioning from making small engines for mounting on bicycle frames to making complete motorcycles, having just launched the Dream D-Type.

Despite different personalities (Fujisawa was much more reserved than Honda), the two hit it off. Fujisawa formally joined Honda in October of 1949 as Honda’s right-hand man, responsible for sales, finance, and marketing. He helped steer Honda, who maintained control of product development and engineering, making several crucial decisions to grow the company.

One of those decisions was the 1959 establishment of American Honda, the company’s first overseas branch, something Soichiro Honda wasn’t initially enthusiastic about. He hoped to build the company’s reputation mainly through motorsports, but Fujisawa thought it was more important to enter the U.S. market, declaring that “to succeed in the U.S. is to succeed worldwide.”

Fujisawa also insisted that Honda establish its own U.S. dealer network (initially selling motorcycles and later cars), rather than rely on an importer, as most other Japanese companies were doing at the time. In 1960 he also established Honda R&D as a separate company, ensuring that research would be separately funded and wouldn’t have to rely on the volatile car and motorcycle market.

Honda and Fujisawa agreed to retire together, which they did in March 1973. Fujisawa died in December 1998.

Located next to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, the Automotive Hall of Fame was founded in 1939 to honor individuals who have had a significant impact on the auto industry. It includes not only automaker founders like Ferruccio Lamborghini, but also enthusiasts like Jay Leno and concours organizer Helene Rother. Fujisawa will be formally inducted in July 2023.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.