Journal Classic Cars

Iceland’s Arctic climate was the perfect backdrop for Nissan to unveil its Ariya, an electric vehicle that will attempt a 17,000-mile North Pole to South Pole adventure through the Americas in March 2023. Chris and Julie Ramsey have spent the last four years planning the odyssey that will traverse three continents and is expected to take 10 months to complete. The Ramseys are using the adventure to demonstrate the capabilities of EVs and highlight positive action against the climate crisis.

“The planning and preparation for Pole-to-Pole has been such a big part of our lives over the past four years so I am really looking forward to getting the expedition underway in March,” says Julie Ramsey, co-driver on Pole-to-Pole. “We’re going to discover so many interesting initiatives from communities and individuals who are taking positive action against climate change and I’m looking forward to sharing these experiences and stories with everyone.”

This isn’t the first EV challenge for the Ramseys. In 2016 they became the first entrants to complete the Mongol Rally in an all-electric vehicle when they piloted a modified Nissan Leaf 8,000 miles through 13 countries.

For its upcoming adventure, the Nissan Ariya’s battery and powertrain were not changed, but the EV did receive suspension upgrades and 39-inch tires from polar vehicle experts, Arctic Trucks.

“One of the things that underpins all the adventures we do is that we take a standard production EV and aim to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you are driving it,” says Chris Ramsey, Pole-to-Pole EV Expedition Leader. “Our Nissan Ariya is no different as the vehicle’s drivetrain and battery has remained factory standard, demonstrating just how capable and versatile the production Ariya is.”

To keep the adventure going in polar regions without power sources, a portable, renewable energy unit with a packable, lightweight wind turbine and solar panels will be towed by the Ariya. The prototype renewable energy unit is intended to harness the strong wind and longer daylight hours and will recharge the EV’s battery when the Ramseys stop to rest. An Instagram page has been set up to showcase the Ramsey’s electric vehicle journey and convey the excitement from a 17,000 mile adventure across numerous forms of terrain.

“We are doing something that has never been attempted before, a world-first, and ultimately that is what makes it so exciting,” adds Julie Ramsey.

Arizona Auction Week has plenty going on to keep an automotive enthusiast busy. Whether your tastes run towards Pontiac or Pegaso, you’ll be entertained with the dense richness of what you can witness on four wheels. As we at the ClassicCars.com Journal are an eclectic bunch, we feel an obligation to bring to you, our dear readers, coverage of RM Sotheby’s that ran the gamut, from a Volkswagen transporter to a LaFerrari and everything in-between.

Of course, Sotheby’s is a famous British auction house that primarily deals with art and jewelry, but they do have their place in the automotive world as RM Sotheby’s. Since 2015, Sotheby’s has had a 25% ownership interest in RM Auctions, a Canadian auction house that was founded in the early 1990s after years of restorations and sales. Today, the company known as RM Sotheby’s claim to fame today is that it’s the world’s largest collector car auction house by total sales.

If you wish to see the sale price of each vehicle pictured, be sure to visit RM Sotheby’s website. Trust us: most of these are not vehicles for mere mortals, but considering we’re all ending up six feet under, embrace the egalitarianism end enjoy.

Arizona Auction Week has plenty going on to keep an automotive enthusiast busy. Whether your tastes run towards Pontiac or Pegaso, you’ll be entertained with the dense richness of what you can witness on four wheels. As we at the ClassicCars.com Journal are an eclectic bunch, we feel an obligation to bring to you, our dear readers, coverage of RM Sotheby’s that ran the gamut, from a Volkswagen transporter to a LaFerrari and everything in-between.

Of course, Sotheby’s is a famous British auction house that primarily deals with art and jewelry, but they do have their place in the automotive world as RM Sotheby’s. Since 2015, Sotheby’s has had a 25% ownership interest in RM Auctions, a Canadian auction house that was founded in the early 1990s after years of restorations and sales. Today, the company known as RM Sotheby’s claim to fame today is that it’s the world’s largest collector car auction house by total sales.

If you wish to see the sale price of each vehicle pictured, be sure to visit RM Sotheby’s website. Trust us: most of these are not vehicles for mere mortals, but considering we’re all ending up six feet under, embrace the egalitarianism end enjoy.

I didn’t think a 9,000-pound pickup could invoke a level of acceleration that had me covering my eyes, but I was wrong.

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to ride shotgun in a GMC Hummer EV Pickup at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction and, in less than three seconds, I was covering my eyes in true terror as my professional driver launched the electric truck from a dead stop to an undetermined high speed. I had no idea how fast because I was covering my eyes as I got pinned to the seat. I was advised afterwards that 0-to-60 mph takes about three seconds, and the acceleration figures are legit when you consider that the three-motor Ultium Drive system (featuring an Ultium 24-module battery system) produces an estimated 1,000 horsepower and a GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of combined axle torque. The acceleration was impressive but, during the public demonstration of the EV’s abilities, I was equally impressed by its crab walk. Who knew you could make a large vehicle go sideways?

“We demonstrate crab walk and people have never experienced that before,” says Rich Latek, Director of GMC Marketing. “It’s just amazing and it just puts a smile on their face and then we just show the pure power of the vehicle, do a demonstration of Watts to Freedom (a driving mode that offers the full acceleration on tap), we’ll get zero to 60 in less than three seconds.”

The Hummer EV Pickup’s appearance at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction was a demonstration of the vehicle’s ability and advanced technology to let automotive consumers and media know what GM has been up to with the development of this all-electric beast.

“These are $100,000 vehicles that you see here today,” says Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer for the Hummer EV. “We will have other trim levels that are lower, but the idea was to kind of shock the world. We not only did this vehicle in about two and a half years from sketches to production, which was amazing, but we also have the performance. It has 13-inch wheel travel, 16-inch ground clearance, can water forward 32 inches. I mean, it’s amazing the actual off-road capability. So we call it the world’s first all-electric super truck.”

As a former EV owner, the consistent questions I got from friends, family and colleagues were charging times and range. With the Hummer EV Pickup, you get an estimated 329 miles of range on a full charge and, in a pinch with a 350-kilowatt charger, you can get approximately 100 miles of range in just over 11 minutes. Numbers are nice, but a firsthand experience carries more weight for possible electric vehicle consumers.

“Whatever their view on EVs changes completely after they experience driving the Hummer,” said Latek. “Whether a truck or the SUV just from power, maneuverability, comfort, utility, all doubts are erased.”

I didn’t think a 9,000-pound pickup could invoke a level of acceleration that had me covering my eyes, but I was wrong.

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to ride shotgun in a GMC Hummer EV Pickup at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction and, in less than three seconds, I was covering my eyes in true terror as my professional driver launched the electric truck from a dead stop to an undetermined high speed. I had no idea how fast because I was covering my eyes as I got pinned to the seat. I was advised afterwards that 0-to-60 mph takes about three seconds, and the acceleration figures are legit when you consider that the three-motor Ultium Drive system (featuring an Ultium 24-module battery system) produces an estimated 1,000 horsepower and a GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of combined axle torque. The acceleration was impressive but, during the public demonstration of the EV’s abilities, I was equally impressed by its crab walk. Who knew you could make a large vehicle go sideways?

“We demonstrate crab walk and people have never experienced that before,” says Rich Latek, Director of GMC Marketing. “It’s just amazing and it just puts a smile on their face and then we just show the pure power of the vehicle, do a demonstration of Watts to Freedom (a driving mode that offers the full acceleration on tap), we’ll get zero to 60 in less than three seconds.”

The Hummer EV Pickup’s appearance at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction was a demonstration of the vehicle’s ability and advanced technology to let automotive consumers and media know what GM has been up to with the development of this all-electric beast.

“These are $100,000 vehicles that you see here today,” says Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer for the Hummer EV. “We will have other trim levels that are lower, but the idea was to kind of shock the world. We not only did this vehicle in about two and a half years from sketches to production, which was amazing, but we also have the performance. It has 13-inch wheel travel, 16-inch ground clearance, can water forward 32 inches. I mean, it’s amazing the actual off-road capability. So we call it the world’s first all-electric super truck.”

As a former EV owner, the consistent questions I got from friends, family and colleagues were charging times and range. With the Hummer EV Pickup, you get an estimated 329 miles of range on a full charge and, in a pinch with a 350-kilowatt charger, you can get approximately 100 miles of range in just over 11 minutes. Numbers are nice, but a firsthand experience carries more weight for possible electric vehicle consumers.

“Whatever their view on EVs changes completely after they experience driving the Hummer,” said Latek. “Whether a truck or the SUV just from power, maneuverability, comfort, utility, all doubts are erased.”

The driver lineup for the modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Next Gen NASCAR race car headed to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was confirmed on Saturday during the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The three drivers confirmed were Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller.

Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, was widely rumored to be among the drivers for the NASCAR Le Mans program since the Next Gen racer will be fielded by his former team, Hendrick Motorsports. It will be fielded in Le Mans’ single-vehicle Garage 56 class designed for experimental vehicles.

Johnson, who switched from NASCAR to IndyCar after the 2020 season, announced his retirement from full-time racing last September, but a month later came out with the announcement he would return to NASCAR on a limited schedule for 2023 as a driver and part-owner of Petty GMS.

Button is an ex-Formula 1 driver who won the title in 2009 driving for Brawn GP. He previously raced at Le Mans in 2018, sharing driving duties in an SMP Racing entry that retired early with engine failure. He’s also competed extensively in Japan’s Super GT touring car series.

Rockenfeller is the most experienced of the three drivers when it comes to Le Mans, and as a result he’s been the primary driver during testing of the Next Gen race car modified for the French classic. He won the race outright in 2010 driving for Audi, and took home a win in the GT2 class in 2005 driving for Porsche. This year’s race will be the 11th of his career.

Outside of Le Mans, Rockenfeller made his NASCAR Cup Series debut last year, joining Spire Motorsports for appearances at Watkins Glen International and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course.

This year’s Le Mans race is scheduled for the weekend starting Jun. 10. The event, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, is the highlight of the World Endurance Championship calendar and this year will see new LMDh cars go up against LMH cars in the premier Hypercar class.

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

The driver lineup for the modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Next Gen NASCAR race car headed to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was confirmed on Saturday during the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The three drivers confirmed were Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller.

Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, was widely rumored to be among the drivers for the NASCAR Le Mans program since the Next Gen racer will be fielded by his former team, Hendrick Motorsports. It will be fielded in Le Mans’ single-vehicle Garage 56 class designed for experimental vehicles.

Johnson, who switched from NASCAR to IndyCar after the 2020 season, announced his retirement from full-time racing last September, but a month later came out with the announcement he would return to NASCAR on a limited schedule for 2023 as a driver and part-owner of Petty GMS.

Button is an ex-Formula 1 driver who won the title in 2009 driving for Brawn GP. He previously raced at Le Mans in 2018, sharing driving duties in an SMP Racing entry that retired early with engine failure. He’s also competed extensively in Japan’s Super GT touring car series.

Rockenfeller is the most experienced of the three drivers when it comes to Le Mans, and as a result he’s been the primary driver during testing of the Next Gen race car modified for the French classic. He won the race outright in 2010 driving for Audi, and took home a win in the GT2 class in 2005 driving for Porsche. This year’s race will be the 11th of his career.

Outside of Le Mans, Rockenfeller made his NASCAR Cup Series debut last year, joining Spire Motorsports for appearances at Watkins Glen International and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course.

This year’s Le Mans race is scheduled for the weekend starting Jun. 10. The event, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, is the highlight of the World Endurance Championship calendar and this year will see new LMDh cars go up against LMH cars in the premier Hypercar class.

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

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.

This Boss 302 is one of 767 Laguna Seca models produced for 2012 and the black exterior is complemented by Boss 302 graphics, and red highlights on the grille frame, roof, mirror caps, sides, and rear spoiler.

It rides on 19-inch machined aluminum double-spoke wheels with red pockets and Z-rated 255/40 Pirelli tires.

“The manually adjustable Charcoal Black Recaro cloth bucket seats feature red Boss 302 embroidery on the backrests,” the listing states. “The rear seats have been deleted and replaced with a red cross-car X-brace. Other features include an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a glossy black shift knob, an AM/FM/CD audio system, air conditioning, and power windows, locks, and mirrors.”

It’s powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear end featuring a Torsen helical differential. Per the CARFAX report, it was last serviced In December 2022 when it received a four-wheel alignment, and an oil and filter change. This Mustang has a shock tower brace, unique rear springs, and a larger stabilizer bar.

The sale includes a clear title, promotional materials, original owner’s manual, and a Track Key. The digital odometer shows 10,318 miles, which matches the mileage shown on the CARFAX report.

This 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca’s auction ends on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 4:40 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.

This Boss 302 is one of 767 Laguna Seca models produced for 2012 and the black exterior is complemented by Boss 302 graphics, and red highlights on the grille frame, roof, mirror caps, sides, and rear spoiler.

It rides on 19-inch machined aluminum double-spoke wheels with red pockets and Z-rated 255/40 Pirelli tires.

“The manually adjustable Charcoal Black Recaro cloth bucket seats feature red Boss 302 embroidery on the backrests,” the listing states. “The rear seats have been deleted and replaced with a red cross-car X-brace. Other features include an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a glossy black shift knob, an AM/FM/CD audio system, air conditioning, and power windows, locks, and mirrors.”

It’s powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear end featuring a Torsen helical differential. Per the CARFAX report, it was last serviced In December 2022 when it received a four-wheel alignment, and an oil and filter change. This Mustang has a shock tower brace, unique rear springs, and a larger stabilizer bar.

The sale includes a clear title, promotional materials, original owner’s manual, and a Track Key. The digital odometer shows 10,318 miles, which matches the mileage shown on the CARFAX report.

This 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca’s auction ends on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 4:40 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

There’s a lot of buzz in the news this week about a green-colored comet heading toward Earth that was last seen 50,000 miles ago. It’s called “C/2022 E3 (ZTF)” and it’s expected to come within 26 million miles of our planet on Wednesday, February 1. While the comet is deemed harmless by scientists, a lot of folks are excited for this rare occurrence. In honor of this once-in-a-lifetime space phenomenon.

The Pick of the Day is a 1967 Mercury Comet Caliente listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Pendleton, Kentucky. (Click the link to view the listing)

The Comet started out as a compact model in 1960 and was not branded under any specific nameplate, although it was sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. Two years later, the car was formally incorporated as part of the Mercury family and received some restyling of the exterior. A second generation launched in 1964 and a third in 1966, when the car grew into the midsize segment.

Adding to the complexity, naming conventions changed again in 1967 when the Comet took on new titles that were determined by the subseries hierarchy: In order, they were the Comet 202, Capri, Caliente, Cyclone, and Cyclone GT. Today’s feature Comet is a Caliente two-door hardtop. The listing reads, “Body is straight and perfect. Cyclone hood, fiberglass lightweight bumpers.”

The black exterior finish is emphasized with color-matched bumpers, steel wheels, and tinted windows. On the interior, we see a lot of red materials, along with embroidered floor mats, woodgrain dash trim, a wood steering wheel, a modern Bluetooth audio system, and a B&M shift lever.

Comets from this generation were available with three engines from the factory: a 200cid inline-six, a 289cid V8, and a 390cid V8. This Comet comes with a completely upgraded drivetrain in the form of a 460cid V8 that sends power rearward through a C6 three-speed automatic transmission and a nine-inch positraction differential.

The green comet heading our way is going 128,500 miles per hour. This four-wheeled one might not go that quickly, but the seller says it’s a crowd-pleaser anyway: “Haven’t left a car show empty-handed yet,” the listing concludes. “Make an offer I can’t refuse.”

The seller is asking $35,000 for this Comet.

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