Could be worse. We may lose combustion eternally.
Tag Archives: Worse
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Barn Find Is Rare, Ripped Apart, And Rescued
This 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A may be in rough condition, but it’s still a remarkable find. Despite missing an engine, interior, and suffering from rust throughout the floor, this rare Challenger T/A is being saved from near decay after being parked outside for almost fifty years.
Auto Archeology on YouTube, known for their car rescues, uncovered this gem. What sets the Challenger T/A apart is its status as a single-year trim designed for Trans Am road racing. Unlike other American cars at the time, it featured four-wheel disc brakes and a specially tuned suspension with sway bars. Under the hood, it packed a smaller 340 cubic-inch “Six Pack” V8 engine, named for its three two-barrel carburetors.
While the Challenger may be severely corroded, there is hope for its restoration. The original engine block and many key components were stored close by, along with the original rally wheels and other body parts. Despite sitting outside for decades, the car was covered under a canopy, preventing it from completely decaying. The YouTube video begins by showcasing the car in its found state before transitioning to loading it onto a trailer for transportation.
However, the story doesn’t end there. The latter half of the video highlights the slow resurrection of the Challenger’s exterior. The extent of the rust becomes apparent as the car receives new interior and trunk floors, as well as additional metalwork. A fresh black vinyl top is also installed. Unfortunately, the video does not show the car’s completion, but a follow-up video is promised to document the green machine’s return to the road.
During the classic muscle car era, only 2,399 Challenger T/As were produced in 1970, making this find all the more special.
The exciting new cars to look out for in 2024
With the approaching end of the year and the changing weather, you may be wondering what cars are set to debut in the coming year. Well, wonder no more! Here’s a preview of the new cars making their way to the UK in 2024, ranging from Alfa Romeo to Zenvo.
The year is shaping up to be quite thrilling, featuring some significant arrivals such as Citroën’s new electric crossover priced at £22,000 and the next-generation Mini hatch.
And it’s not just electric cars that are making waves, as the new Ferrari Roma Spider and Lamborghini Revuelto, both exotics, will also be making their debut.
Furthermore, several big brands will be evolving in 2024. Renault will be launching a new electric Scénic, while Range Rover will introduce its first battery-electric car, just to name a couple.
Continue reading for a guide to the new cars arriving in 2024.
Alfa Romeo small SUV
Alfa Romeo’s first electric vehicle, shown in leaked images, is the sporty sibling of the Fiat 600e and the Jeep Avenger. It will be Alfa Romeo’s smallest car since the Alfa Romeo Mito was discontinued in 2018. The new design language features a squared rear end known as ‘Coda Tronca.’ While it’s expected to have an electric version, there’s still uncertainty about whether a mild-hybrid petrol engine model will be offered in the UK.
Everything you need to know about Alfa Romeo’s small SUV
Audi Q6 E-tron
The Q6 E-tron is a technology-focused vehicle, offering a range of 372 miles and fast 270kW charging. Inside, it boasts multiple touchscreens and a new digital assistant that can learn a driver’s preferences and automatically adjust climate control and other functions accordingly.
Read our Audi Q6 E-tron review
Audi Q8
The Audi Q8 receives a minor mid-life facelift with updated infotainment software and a slightly tweaked appearance, featuring new front and rear lighting signatures. The high-performance SQ8 will also undergo these improvements, and reports suggest that the hotter RSQ8 will receive similar upgrades in the upcoming months.
New Audi Q8 makes its public debut
BMW X2/iX2
The new and sleeker X2 will be the first to offer an electric powertrain. The iX2 will feature a dual-motor powertrain producing 309bhp and 364lb ft of torque, with a range of up to 279 miles. However, it’s not the fastest X2 available, as that distinction belongs to the petrol M35i, which reaches 62mph 0.2 seconds quicker, achieving the benchmark speed in 5.4 seconds.
Ultra-Rare $3.1 Million Ferrari 275 Runs Off The Road, Crashes In Italy
If you’re having a bad day, it could be worse. You could be the driver of this Ferrari 275 GTB, who had the misfortune of losing control of the million-dollar machine at a most inopportune time. The good news? The driver is okay. The car, however, is not.
This collision occurred early on October 19 in Italy, specifically in the northern region near San Rocco al Porto. IlPiacenza reports the 60-year-old driver was leaving a shopping center when the car went off-road, sliding into a fence. Details on exactly how it happened aren’t available, other than the driver simply losing control. Based on the single photo showing the scene, damp conditions could be partially to blame.
The driver walked away without injury, but the Ferrari didn’t fare as well. Damage is clearly visible to the fender as well as the front pan, and the headlight cover is missing in action. Mind you, this is only what we can see on the one side – there could certainly be mechanical issues underneath with suspension components. Hopefully, the Colombo V12 engine is unaffected. And with these cars generally selling for upwards of $3 million these days, it was a very bad day for this Ferrari driver. At least the car looks repairable. Depending on potential damage underneath, it could still be drivable.
But one doesn’t simply take a 60-year-old Ferrari to a shop. That’s especially true for the 275 GTB, of which less than 500 were built during its 1964-1966 production run. The successor to the iconic 250 GTO, the 275 GTB was the first road-going Ferrari to feature a rear-mounted transaxle with independent rear suspension. Under the hood, the 3.3-liter V12 was the final iteration of the Colombo mill, ultimately producing upward of 320 horsepower in quad-cam format.
We don’t have details regarding this specific 275 GTB, but when you’re talking about a rare Ferrari involved in a crash, the heartbreak is the same across the board. Stay safe out there everyone.
McLaren 750S Makes its American Debut by Reaching 204 MPH on Public Road
Former McLaren and Ferrari F1 driver Stefan Johansson recently had the opportunity to drive a McLaren 750S on a beautiful road in Idaho. However, it wasn’t just a leisurely drive through the mountains. Johansson managed to reach speeds over 200 mph on a two-lane highway.
This impressive feat was McLaren’s way of announcing the official arrival of the 750S in North America. It’s worth noting that the road used for this speed demonstration was closed for the occasion. McLaren chose to showcase the car during the 2023 Sun Valley Tour de Force event, where a 3.2-mile stretch of asphalt in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Idaho is designated for unrestricted speed runs. In the past, a Bugatti Chiron managed to reach a top speed of 253 mph on the same road. Although Johansson didn’t quite match that level of insanity, he did manage to briefly bring the McLaren 750S to a speed of 204 mph – quite an achievement for the new supercar.
Toyota Prius High Speed Police Chase In Arkansas Doesn’t Last Long
Getting involved in a police chase is always a bad idea. Worse, if it’s a two-lane rural highway bordering on the southern edge of the Ozark Mountains with state troopers that know every dip and curve of the road. When it involves a third-generation Toyota Prius, it’s probably safe to say the driver’s made more than a few wrong turns in life.
The third-generation Toyota Prius is a reliable hybrid that makes an excellent commuter car, getting up to 48 mpg on the highway and 51 mpg around town. It’s practical and capable of many things but does not make a good chase vehicle. With a 0 to 60 mph time of 9.8 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph, plenty of vehicles will outrun it.
If someone ever made a remake of “Smokey and the Bandit,” rural Arkansas, where this chase occurred, would make a good backdrop, but the Prius would be crash fodder or a punchline. Maybe the modern equivalent to Burt Reynolds would sail a Chevrolet Camaro customized with a Trans Am beak over one, but the Prius would not be a hero car.
The driver of the Prius is no hero either. Traveling at speeds over 100 mph with the rear bumper cover partly torn off, she is taking a lot of risks in a futile attempt to evade the police. The Prius would already be forced off the road at lower speeds or in a less busy area.
Even so, the chase doesn’t last long. About nine minutes into the video, it appears the Prius sheds a tread on one of its tires but keeps going. More chunks of the tire fly off and the driver skids off the road, pinned by the police cars against the berm of a railroad track. The driver is quickly handcuffed but puts up a fight as she’s taken away.
No reason is given as to why the young lady was running from the police. At one point someone mentions that the driver is 17 years old, which might complicate how she is charged. But one thing is for certain, neither the car or the driver will be on the road anytime soon.