I’m not sure why I keep thinking this is a Lamborghini, but I stand corrected, it’s a Gumpert.

The Gumpert Apollo is a supercar produced by German automaker Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH in Altenburg.

In 2001 Roland Gumpert proposed a new generation sports car. One of the first concerns of this car was that it be a street-legal car, ready for the race track. Gumpert returned to Germany at the end of 2001, after more than three years in China. There he was the head of sales and marketing, responsible for the development of the dealer network of the Audi-VW joint enterprise. Just after he returned to Germany, Roland Mayer asked him if he would assist him in building a prototype sports car. Audi approved Gumpert's involvement in this project, on the condition that, if they did eventually develop a new sports car, it would not be a prototype, but a series product.

The Apollo is a 2,400 lb to 2,600 lb (depending on options), street-legal race car. It is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive two-seater constructed on a tubular chromoly frame, with fiberglass or optional carbon fiber body panels. The manufacturers, Gumpert, claim the design of the Apollo is optimized so that the car could drive upside-down in a tunnel if driven at sufficiently high speeds (over 190 mph),[6] though this remains to be tested. Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond claims that Gumpert have already found a suitable tunnel and have made all the preparations necessary and are simply waiting for a volunteer driver willing enough to do the test.

A 4163 cc bi-turbo intercooled V8 engine powers the Apollo. The 90° V8 has a closed-deck light metal crankcase with dry sump lubrication. The light metal cylinder heads have five valves per cylinder, four overhead camshafts, VarioCam Direct variable valve timing on the intakes, and hydraulic valve clearance compensation. The double-flow exhaust system has four oxygen sensors to monitor the gas mixture, and a 3-way catalytic converter. Modern controls include an on-board diagnostic system, eight-coil electronic ignition, sequential multipoint fuel injection, and an electronic (drive by wire) accelerator system.

So I got schooled again, no worries I'll never call it a Lambo again.

Oh, how times are changin'. Gone are the days of stuffing a Ford Racing crate motor into any and every Blue Oval show car at SEMA. It's all about the boost now... or at least EcoBoost. As part of their "Driving Green" initiative at this year's SEMA Show, Ford will be displaying a 1934 3-Window Coupe fitted with the twin-turbo V6 to create a blend of classic styling with modern performance and efficiency.

Built by Detroit Street Rods, the '34 Coupe is actually the first rear-drive application of the EcoBoost motor. The dual Honeywell turbochargers had to be repositioned to allow the 3.5-liter V6 to fit into the engine bay, but the rest of the motor is in production trim and pumps out 400 horsepower and an equal amount of torque. An all new replica steel body ensures that the coupe is quite a looker.

The engine was repackaged and fitted with an engine plate adapter to mate with an aluminum flywheel, performance clutch and a Tremec TKO five-speed transmission. The turbochargers were repositioned to the front of the cylinder heads and custom aluminum tubing was used to route the air from the custom air cleaner through the air-to-air intercooler. The exhaust gases are routed from the cylinder heads through coated headers, through the stock wastegates, and pass through large custom exhaust cones located outside the engine bay and just above the front fenders.

Ford has recently announced the first four-cylinder EcoBoost engines, launching in global applications beginning next year. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 first arrives in Europe, followed by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 launching on products in both Europe and North America.

Going forward, Ford will shift its powertrain strategy to be built around EcoBoost technology. Under the new system:

* A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 would replace naturally aspirated V-8 engines
* A 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated V-6 engines
* A 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated large I-4 engines

I was driving down the street with my twin 5-year old boys. They love Fords and can identify them as we drive down the street. When they see a car they don’t recognize they ask, Dad, what’s that?

We pull up to a light on the way to soccer the other day and approaching from the right is a Smart car. #1 asks, Hey Dad, what’s that over there? I say that’s a Smart Car, #2 says it doesn’t look very smart.

In the late 1930's this one-of-a-kind Helicron was placed in a barn and forgotten. More than six decades later this odd lost little gem was rediscovered, rebuilt, and reintroduced to the world. Although the manufacturer is unknown, it's believed that this car was built in France 1932. Following the first World War it was not uncommon for recently displaced airplane engineers to look towards the automobile industry for employment.

As in this example, a few entrepreneurs developed propeller-powered cars with the notion that propeller power was an efficient means of moving a vehicle. On this car, when the wooden propeller is spinning at full speed and efficiently,this little 1,000-pound boat-tailed skiff can hit freeway speeds exceeding 75 mph. This is the one and only Helicron in existence, owned by Lane Motor Museum in Nashville ,TN.

The last time I had my ’99 Jaguar XK8 smog tested it barely passed (~65k miles). In California we have to have our cars smog tested every two years or we can’t register it. I now have 88k miles and its 10-years old and suspected my car may not pass this years Smog Test.

I studied up for this one…

The most common reason for a late model car to fail is because the O2 sensors “wear out”. An O2 sensor lasts for about 100k miles and then gradually starts failing. In my case my car has (4) O2 sensors, 2 on each side of the engine, one before the cat and another after. They cost $150/each and have the potential to last up to 200k miles. I though I would take my chances that the OBD computer would know if one was bad or near failing. I would just have to clean up everything and hope for the best.

A week before the test I added 1 Qt of Dextron III ATF to a fresh tank of gas. ATF is loaded with detergents and within a day it made a noticeable difference.

When that tank of gas was nearly empty I filled up with 91 octane Shell V-Tech gasoline.

The weekend before the test I disconnected the battery, which forces the ECU to relearn the Air/Fuel mixture when reconnected and I cleaned my Mass Flow Sensor (MFS) with throttle body cleaner. I changed the air filter, oil filter and the engine oil. Put everything back together, topped off the oil, reconnected the battery and started the car up. It was very smooth and when I took the car for a drive it was almost like the day they delivered the car new.

On Monday I took it down to the AAA smog test station and it passed with lots of margin, “Passed with flying colors” the tech said. I compared the test results and those were the best Smog test results I have ever had on that car since I bought it.

So if your car is getting up in the miles, whether you need emissions testing or not, it’s a good idea to not only perform the scheduled maintenance, but treat yourself to some performance and clean the old car up.

info@AutoAppraisalNetwork.com

Let me offer you the most important reasons for getting a classic or collectable car appraisal:

Insurance If you have a house fire, or fire in your garage, your insurance company will not pay replacement value. Also in the event of an accident, the insurance company will not pay replacement value. An appraisal will provide documentation to an insurance company as to the value of your car, and therefore, making it easier for you to obtain insurance.

Estate Planning In the unlucky event of your demise, your children or heirs will have a statement as to your cars worth. This will assist them in settling and liquidating your estate.

Selling Your Classic Car An appraisal by a qualified individual is always a good thing to have when selling your classic car. Your potential buyer can contact your appraiser to verify your claims. Like any car purchase, it is smart to maintain all paperwork regarding scheduled maintenance and repairs to help justify your offering price.

Obtaining A Loan There may be times when you will need to use collateral for another purchase, maybe another classic car. You can use your written classic car appraisal to help you get a loan.

Buying A Classic Car There is nothing worse than the realization you just got ripped off by a dishonest seller. Before you purchase a classic car, an appraisal can help keep you from paying too much, and, uncover any unseen or undisclosed defects present in the classic car. A classic car appraisal will normally consist of an evaluation of the cars exterior, interior, mechanics and accessories. The appraiser will factor in data from various classic car guides, auction results and retail and wholesale sales of similar model cars. By taking this extra step in getting an appraisal for your classic car , you are saving yourself from a lot of headaches in the future and keeping the fun in classic car ownership.

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We all like to see the under dog win. While I was going through my email I found this awesome video of a Subaru Impreza on track day hanging in with and overtake a Corevette twice. You have to give it to driver of the Impreza who was out to make a point that the big heavy plastic Chevy just doesn't have what it takes on this track.

The camera in dash mounted in the Impreza.

Video is at the the Jacques Villeneuve Grand Prix of Mirabel.

Awesome Video

I found this story particularly interesting, since I have already appraised 2 different George Barris Oldsmobile Toronado 67X.

Listed on e-bay a third 67X that looks nothing like the other 2 and yet there are only supposed to be 2 left.

The car you see below is dubbed Toronado 67X, and according to the seller on eBay, it is one of the only two cars remaining. The big coupe was originally gold, but time and poor treatment have turned it a lovely shade of something other than gold.

Cars like this are fun to appraise since they are nothing more than a movie prop, but since the famous builder George Barris built it has a sentimental value to someone.

Ebay Find of the day

SEMA starts in a couple more weeks and it's certainly a benchmark event for us as Automotive Appraisers. While at SEMA we'll be able to see all of the latest designs and products used in our industry. It's a great place to network and meet so many people working within the automotive business.

If you are at SEMA looking at Hot Rods, we'll have a booth right in Hot Rod Alley, Booth# 23078. Several of our territory owners will also be at SEMA participating in what has to be the largest show we'll attend this year.

I know China is a big market, but i have mixed emotions about Russo and Steel going to China.

[From Sports Car Market]

Russo and Steele has announced plans to expand its auction business to China, thanks to proposed joint venture with China Auto Logistics Inc. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the Russo business in that country, and the next step in the process is a Definitive Agreement.

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There are several different methods by which your insurance company may calculate the amount it will pay you for a loss. Payment based on the replacement cost of damaged or stolen property is usually the most favorable figure from your point of view, because it compensates you for the actual cost of replacing property. If your camera is stolen, a replacement cost policy will reimburse you the full cost of replacing it with a new camera of like kind. The insurer will not take into consideration the fact that you ran three rolls of film through the camera every day for the last two years, causing a considerable amount of wear and tear.

In contrast, actual cash value (ACV), also known as market value, is the standard that insurance companies arguably prefer when reimbursing policyholders for their losses. Actual cash value is equal to the replacement cost minus any depreciation (ACV = replacement cost - depreciation). It represents the dollar amount you could expect to receive for the item if you sold it in the marketplace. The insurance company determines the depreciation based on a combination of objective criteria (using a formula that takes into account the category and age of the property) and subjective assessment (the insurance adjuster's visual observations of the property or a photograph of it). In the case of the stolen camera, the insurance company would deduct from its replacement cost an amount for all the wear and tear it endured prior to the time it was stolen.

What Does "Replacement Cost" Mean?

The term "replacement cost" is defined or explained in the policy. Simply stated, it means the cost to replace the property on the same premises with other property of comparable material and quality used for the same purpose. This applies unless the limit of insurance or the cost actually spent to repair or replace the damaged property is less. Refer to your policy for the exact definition and explanation of replacement cost.

What is "Actual Cash Value"?

The term "actual cash value" is not as easily defined. Some courts have interpreted the term to mean "fair market value," which is the amount a buyer would pay a seller if neither were under undue time constraints. Most courts, however, have upheld the insurance industry's traditional definition: the cost to replace with new property of like kind and quality, less depreciation. Courts have varied in their rulings as to whether or not depreciation includes obsolescence (loss of usefulness as a result of outmoded design, construction, etc.).

So What's the Difference?

The only difference between replacement cost and actual cash value is a deduction for depreciation. However, both are based on the cost today to replace the damaged property.

I think about all the cool cars we see at auctions, cars shows and magazines, some of these cars make me think that life is too short and we should at some time at least drive one of the vehicles we think are the coolest car ever. Given the choice of dying of old age or taking one of these car into a cement wall, I’m going to take one of these with me to wherever I end up. No worries if it will be hot or cold, all of my friends will be there.

Bentley Continental GT
Austin-Healey 100M
Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
Porsche 911 Carrera
Aston Martin Vanquish S
Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano
Ford Pantera
BMW M3
Lamborghini Diablo Roadster
Porsche 356
Ford GT
Ferrari F430
McLaren F1
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar XKR
Ferrari Enzo
Mercedes 300 SLR Coupe
Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster
Nissan Skyline GT-R
Lamborghini Miura
Porsche 550 Spyder
Bugatti Veyron
Mercedes McLaren SLR
Rolls Royce Phantom
Lamborghini Countach

I have driven 5 of these and hope to drive some more, but it’s tough to actually get one on the open road and open it up, I have only had one of these up to the rev limiter.

Barrett-Jackson Auction Co., operator of one of the flashiest classic car auctions in the country, has brought the hammer down on a deal to hold a sale next year at the Orange County fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

Barrett-Jackson, best known for its gigantic annual auction in its hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz., will stage the O.C. event either June 25-27 or July 1-3. It will be an Auto Appraisal event of the year for Orange County.

The Vegas auction which is going on this weekend features 400 classic and collectible cars, and is expected to draw 50,000 people.
Barrett-Jackson

A 1957 Ferrari 250 TR is expected to bring more than the record $21.7 Million dollars ever paid for an automobile, when auctioned at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda E Passione sale in Maranello.

This car is more than just a piece of art, in it’s day it was one of the most competitive racing Ferraris of it’s time, having entered 19 international championship races from 1958 to 1961 emerging with 10 victories. It has now been restored to most likely better condition than it ever raced in and it’s now one of the most sought after racing cars ever.

The Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event, now in its third year, is firmly established as the place to sell important road and race going Ferraris, and it’s especially meaningful as Maranello is it's birthplace.

I’d love to just sit in the seat and dream of the victories won in this absolutely beautiful piece of automotive history. As I look at this fine automobile, it’s disappointing to me to know that the Ferrari’s of today are a coveted pieces of art and are hardly ever driven the way they were intended to be driven, hard and at wide open throttle…

Many of you know this car. I have built it twice. Each time being better. Well, it looks like I get a third time around. I was shuffling cars in the driveway saturday after work and parked it in the street for about three hours and a drunk driver hit it. Guess what, no insurance... I at least have uninsured/underinsured motorist. I did all the work myself and never wanted to "really" know how much money was wrapped up in the car. Now I wish I had an appraisal or better coverage on my car. I never really thought this could happen to me. Get your cars appraised or spend the extra for full coverage!!! It is worth it when you need it most! (Dave - Crash 51 should have had an "Agreed Value" insurance policy with a specialty carrier.)

[This is a testamonial straight out of the H.A.M.B. Forums]

The H.A.M.B. Tread

There is one school of thought that the muscle car was born in 1964 when the Pontiac GTO was first introduced with a 389 CID 348 HP Tri-Power engine and a 4-speed manual transmission.

The most widely accepted definition of a Muscle car is a late 1960s and early 1970s American 2-door, rear wheel drive car that the average guy could afford. Although Australia, South Africa and the UK have also capitalized on the Muscle car phenomenon.

Every American car manufacturer has defined the concept from AMC AMX to the Ford Thunderbolt and the MOPAR Hemi powered death traps that bring the big bucks at auction.

Surviving muscle cars are now prized possessions and some of these which have been purchased for over a half million dollars are now just dust collectors for us to appraise like fine art.

Oh well…

Auto Appraisal Network

Owners of collectable cars have many choices when it comes to specialty insurance for their cars, add one more to the list. Barrett-Jackson has joined forces with a division of AIG to extend classic and collector car insurance to owners.

Classic and collector cars are often only driven limited miles, sometimes highly customized, and their market values often higher than other automobiles of the same era – meaning a simple appraisal is usually out of the question.

Gee, how is this going to benefit Auto Appraisal Network? For years we have specialized in the appraisal of complex and often one of kind vehicle appraisals. Everywhere we go, we set new standards for appraisal reports. All of our competitors produce a simple appraisal reports and while the appraised value may be the same as ours, they avoid these specialized vehicles and their reports lack the details needed to justify the appraised value on many of these unique and highly sought after vehicles.

More Info on Barrett-Jackson Insurance

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When we appraise cars, periodically a customer can be put off because we haven’t given their 1988 Firebird some kind of credit for being a “Classic Car”. Many people assume there is some legislation, rule or law that your car will start to appreciate magically when it becomes 20 years old.

I have my own ideas about what makes a classic car "classic", the guy sitting next to me disagrees and his know it all buddy we meet on Saturday morning says were both wrong.

NADA Guides Classic Car pricing starts at 20 years old, Kelley Blue book ends at 20 years old. Some people say it’s a classic after 25 years, others say when it becomes a "collectible". Ask 25 car enthusiast and you’ll have 25 answers. For this reason we don’t credit cars for being "classic", we use market values to determine the appraised value. If it’s a rare collectable, the price will reflect its desirability.

To me a Classic Car is an icon that people can identify with for the type of car and its popularity of no specific age or value, one thing is for sure, it has to have a steel body… Just kidding.

Wikipedia definition

Classic Car Club of America

The Auto Appraisal Network is now searching for qualified men and women to exclusively franchise our product in various regions throughout the United States.

This is a great opportunity for you to become a professional automobile appraiser for the one company universally recognized as the 'Best in the Business.' There is no doubt that AutoAppraisalNetwork is the best home based business opportunity on the internet!

We can offer you the chance to:

-Be your own boss
-Get paid to look at classic and collectable cars
-Operate a business with very low overhead, few expenses, and all equipment supplied
-Experience tremendous growth in new markets

If you are looking for a small business opportunity or are trying to start your own business because you want to be your own boss then AutoAppraisalNetwork is your answer.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will allow you to do what you really want to do, and make a living looking at cars!

If you join us, you will not only be actively involved in the Classic, Collector, Custom Car, Show Car, and Street Rod hobby, you will also be recognized and accepted as an expert who makes significant contributions to the profession!

You've seen the magazine articles about us. You've read our name in the automotive TV credits. Custom builders like Chip Foose, Boyd Coddington, Pete Chapouris, and Barry White endorse us. Now join us. Become the best and most professional automobile appraiser in your area. And remember: each Auto Appraisal Franchise is a PROTECTED TERRITORY.

Our reputation is know worldwide and will provide you instant recognition as an individual who has had professional training associated with a company the provide superior corporate support and national advertising. What career is best for me?

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Try telling your insurance agent that you want to insure a tricked-out '95 Acura Integra that — without modifications — is valued at roughly $5,000. But you want coverage for the car’s newly modified 385 horsepower engine ($5,000), chrome donks (wheels) with spinning reels and racing tires ($10,000), chrome bumpers ($420), vertical doors ($1,000) and neon undercar accent lights ($200). Maybe you even added a custom paint job and body art to the car that cost you another few thousand.

He’ll say, "Good luck," They’ll insure Ferraris and Bentleys, but souped-up cars? They won’t insure them. They are too high risk. . . . Companies who sell insurance for your daily driver won’t touch them.

Specialty insurance carriers like Sneed, Grundy, Hagerty Parish Hecock, JC Taylor and many others are companies who sell Agreed Value insurance that will protect your investment, but there might be restrictions.

Insuring a customized vehicles is obviously a good idea — if you want to be fully covered for the modifications you’ve made. Let's say you want to insure a '93 Toyota Supra that you bought for $7,000. You spent four years making modifications to it. It now has a 600-horsepower engine, custom paint job, spoilers, ground effects, custom wheels, a highly customized interior and roughly $30,000 worth of stereo components. You poured around $130,000 into the car. A specialty insurance agent will sell you an agreed-value policy insuring your car for that amount. That means if you total it, you’ll receive a predetermined amount from your insurance (in this case, that's $130,000).

Custom Car Appraisals