1:18 supercar collection

with my own eyes: the Mercedes SL65 Black Series

2010-09-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I was in Chicago again and brought 2 cameras (in case my main one ran out of battery, which it did) to go back to my favorite part of the city: the Gold Coast. There they have one of the best dealerships I have ever been to, Bentley/Bugatti Gold Coast on Rush St. Since the last time I went, when they had a Bugatti Veyron, they have gotten a lot of new inventory, much better than the last time I went. They haven't sold the Veyron yet, in fact I saw the dealers driving it around the streets of Chicago late at night, so I got another look at it. But since I have already taken a full photoshoot of the Bugatti, I had to pay attention to the other cars there - which included a Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche Carrera GT, several Lamborghini's and Bentley's and this Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series.

This is not the luxury Mercedes your boss would drive. With the price tag of over $300,000, it takes CEO money to buy one, but this SL65 Black is a real supercar that is best driven by a race car driver or a fighter pilot. The engine is a twin turbo V12 that is capable of 670 horsepower, and the top speed is almost 200 mph, making it almost as fast as other Mercedes supercars such as the CLK GTR and SLR McLaren. This is my first time seeing a "Black Series" Mercedes, it's just an awesome car and it looked great in white. Hopefully soon I will buy a 1:18 model of it.

Soon I will write about the 458 and Carrera GT

in the driver's seat: the Lotus Evora

2010-08-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I went to the Geneva Concours d'Elegance, in the small town of Geneva, IL. It takes place every August and is one of the best car shows in the Midwest US. I took hundreds of photos, and will post them on my blog in the upcoming weeks, but first, I will post about the car I got to sit in: the brand new Lotus Evora.

I'm a big fan of Lotus, I recently wrote about my 1:18 Esprit V8, which there was a yellow Esprit V8 at the Concours. I've sat in several Elise's, and now, an Evora. The Evora was put into production in 2009, as a brand new model not related to the Elise or Europa. Lotus stuck with their mid engine, rear wheel drive platform that makes their cars so much pure fun to drive, and the Evora was given a 285 horsepower V6 engine. EVO Magazine, one of my favorite car magazines, named the Evora Car Of The Year for 2009.

I'm very tall and lanky but had no problem sitting in this Evora. I love sitting in cars that are low to the ground with a lot of leg room, and this Evora is perfect for that, it has one of the nicest interiors on a sports car I have ever seen. The next step is for me to drive it Here are the pictures!

English gentleman: the Ascari Ecosse

2010-08-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

In the United Kingdom, there are several small car companies that make exotic cars. One of the most notable people in the British exotic scene is Lee Noble, creator of Noble Automotive, a legit line of supercars that give Ferrari and Lamborghini a run for their money. But before he created his own line of high performance Britons - Noble's M12, M400 and brand new M600 - he designed this: the Ascari Ecosse. The Ecosse began life in 1995, showing at different car shows in the UK. It was then called the F-GT, but they later renamed it the Ecosse, which is the French exonym for Scotland. In 1998, it was put into production. The Ecosse used a 4.7 liter V8 sourced from Ford, and the Ecosse's narrow, finesse shape kept its weight down to 2756 lb. The performance figures were impressive for its time, top speed was 201 mph and the 0-60 time was only 4.1 seconds, making it comparable to the Ferrari 550 Maranello. The Ecosse's design screams 1990's, and it has gone down as a rare and forgotten supercar, as only 17 were made. Ascari has now moved onto the KZ1 and A10 under the direction of Klaas Zwart and Paul Brown.

British exotics being my favorite, I think they are underrepresented in 1:18 scale. This Ascari Ecosse would be a great addition to my collection that already has such supercars from England as the Lotus Esprit V8, McLaren F1 and Jaguar XJ220.

sunflower: the Lotus Esprit V8

2010-08-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

In 1993, Lotus' Esprit had been in production for over 25 years when the legendary English car marque founded by Colin Chapman, had decided it was time for a redesign. Up until then, the Esprit had been boxy and aggressive; with the redesign, codenamed the S4 and drawn up by Julian Thomson, the Esprit became a classy and beautiful supercar. In 1997, they released the Esprit V8, one of the most beautiful cars of the 1990's and a defining example of why I love British cars. It was given a 350 hp twin turbocharged V8, very nice new 6 spoke rims and some other changes. When new, the Esprit V8 costed a little over $70,000, but by now, the Esprit V8 has decreased in value and along with the Ferrari F355 it is one of the relatively affordable exotics I will work towards owning one day, hopefully! Until then, this AutoArt model can hold me over, it is a very well detailed model that is worth the high price. I especially love the pop up headlights.

hypercar: the Lotec C1000

2010-08-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Lotec C1000 was a German supercar and one of the most special exotics ever dreamed up. Commissioned in 1991 by a wealthy oil magnate from the United Arab Emirates, and built by former race car driver Kurt Lotterschmid, the one of a kind C1000 has a fascinating story behind it. Costing $2.2 million dollars, Lotterschmid used lightweight aerospace framing in an aerodynamic shape to sculpt the car, and a huge engine to power it. The C1000 had a claimed output of 1000 horsepower (hence the name) from a twin turbocharged V8 placed in the middle while being driven by the rear wheels. Sheikh Mahktoum wanted the fastest road legal car ever made, and that he got. According to Barrett Jackson, the C1000 has a top speed of 268 mph, a number which even Bugatti and Koenigsegg have yet to top. Despite the impressive performance figures, the C1000 is a little known and obscure supercar, but sometimes, those turn to be the hidden gems.

There aren't too many one-of supercars available in 1:18 scale, and I already have most of them in my collection (including the Lotec Sirius) but any car like this C1000 will be a must have for my colection.

fresh kraut: the Artega GT

2010-08-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Artega GT is a brand new exotic that fits right in with Wiesmann and Young Engineers in the German sports car scene. As soon as you lay eyes on it, the Artega is a striking design. It was penned by Henrik Fisker, the same man whose design credentials include the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, the GT had critics raving and customers lining up to place orders. Not dissimilar to Porsche, the GT is a rear wheel drive car with a 6 cylinder engine in the rear. The Artega has some supercar cues though; some say its lines are reminiscent of the Porsche Carrera GT or Ferrari 360. With only 500 to be made per year, it has some exclusiveness to it. All in all, the Artega GT is in important and exciting new exotic to watch out for on the city streets of Europe.

This model is made by Revell and it's one of my favorites. It's composite plastic, not diecast, but the build quality is just as good as my other models. The blue paint is absolutely stunning and I wish every car in my collection would have such pretty blue paint. It's also a perfect companion for my Wiesmann GT, and if Revell can make a YES! Roadster, then that will be a perfect trio.

exclusivity: the MCA GTB

2010-08-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

In 1990, the Monte Carlo Automobile club of Monaco was celebrating its 100th anniversary, and in commemoration to celebrate the exclusive club, they launched an exclusive supercar. Backed by Lamborghini, MCA came out with a stunning exotic called the Centenaire, later renamed the GTB. The GTB had a low, roundish front and wide, squarish back giving the car an unmistakeably aggressive look. The GTB also had the performance to match those looks. Powered by a 720 horsepower mid mounted V12, the GTB had a top speed of 217 mph, which made it one of the fastest cars in the world of its time in the early 1990's. With a grand total of only 6 made, this Monégasque supercar was about as exclusive as the MCA club itself.

There is a 1:43 model of this car, so why not a 1:18? One of the model companies needs to get to work...

Scud missile: the Ferrari 430 Scuderia

2010-08-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

In 2007, Ferrari unveiled an upgraded and much more exciting version of their F430 - the 430 Scuderia. Much like the 360 Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia is a track bred version of the base V8 Ferrari model. The 430 Scuderia, which is lighter and more powerful than the stock F430, was clocked faster around the Fiorano Circuit than the Enzo and faster around the Nürburgring and Top Gear test track than the Lambo LP640 and Mercedes SLR.

This model is made by Hot Wheels Elite. It is very well detailed, and blue is my favorite color for any car, so it's one of the best Ferrari models in my collection!

out of this world: the LCC Rocket

2010-07-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Many automobiles have claimed to be Formula 1 cars for the road. While a handful of marques such as Caparo and Hulme can stay true to their goal, none are as original and distinctive as the Rocket - which, in the early 1990's, was the first car to be built around this concept. Produced by an obscure marque in England called Light Car Company, the Rocket was very light indeed - weighing only 848 lb. The driving experience was identical to that of an F1 car - climb into the car and the cockpit surrounds you. There is no roof, no doors and a tiny windshield. The Rocket's wheels and suspension were external, which meant it could handle hills and corners better, again like an F1 car. Right behind the driver in the fiberglass body was the engine - a 4 cylinder Yamaha motorcycle motor that produced 143 hp. The Rocket had a top speed of 145 mph, and although that is not enough to keep up with Ferrari and Lamborghini, it still meant plenty of G forces for the lucky driver. The way I see it, this is the SR-71 Blackbird of cars. Sometimes I think if I could own any one car in the world, this would be the one, and that is really, really saying something. Only 55 were made, making it even more desirable, but prices are dropping, making me hopeful. The Rocket was designed by Gordon Murray, a couple years later he was the architect of another "F1" project - the McLaren F1.

There is nothing like this in 1:18 scale, but I'm lining up already...

with my own eyes: the Bugatti Veyron

2010-07-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

So, today when I was in Chicago I had a great day. We ate at my favorite Italian café, l'Appetito, which is in the John Hancock building, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. I remembered that I knew about a Bentley dealership somewhere on Rush St, and I thought maybe they will have the new Continental SuperSports or a Brooklands or something, nothing special though. Plus, it's a Sunday so I thought it would be closed but maybe I could take pictures through the glass windows. So, we walk 2 blocks and I see the dealership. I walk up to it, and then saw in the Lamborghini part on the bottom floor they had some Gallardo's, a Bentley Continental SuperSports and a Ferrari F430. Then, I looked to the left and saw the unmistakable inserted two tone paint and 12 spoke rims of what many consider to be the ultimate supercar: the Bugatti Veyron. And behind it, an open door. It was a golden opportunity for some picture taking.

The Veyron's numbers speak for the car. $1.5 million dollars, 16 cylinders, 253 mph. Plus, it was designed by Czechoslovakian born Jozef Kabaň...Czech pride!

This is not my first time seeing the Veyron, but the other one I saw was all black which really dulled it down. Pictures were taken with my sister's camera so quality is not the best but hope you enjoy anyways.

The Veyron was not the only car there, of course. Some other exotics I saw today:
Aston Martin DBS

Ferrari 599 HGTE

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Bentley Continental GT SuperSports

Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

Expect to see more of my photography of real cars soon, including my favorite Ferrari of all time...

record breaker: the SSC Aero

2010-07-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ever since 1991, America has been competing with Europe in the high end exotic supercar scene. Some American supercars go onto success - like the Ford GT and Saleen S7 - while others remain in concept form or are held back for whatever reason - like the Chrysler ME 4-12 and Vector WX-3. Then, in 2007, an upstart car company based in the Washington Cascades called Shelby Supercars burst onto the scene with their Ultimate Aero TT. The SSC Aero became then the world's fastest production car with a top speed of 257 mph. That record has since been broken, but the Aero still holds the title of most powerful production car; the twin turbocharged V8 is capable of a massive 1287 horsepower. The Aero uses the rear wheel drive platform and with that huge engine in the middle, you know it's going to be fast; but designer Jerod Shelby gave the Aero a wedge shape for better aerodynamics. In fact, the Aero is so aerodynamically advanced that SSC had NASA test a prototype of the car in one of their wind tunnels, and the research concluded that the SSC could be capable of a 273 mph top speed. The Aero will be limited to a production run of only 25 cars, giving it about the same limited availability as the Spyker C8 LM85, B Engineering Edonis and Pagani Zonda F. Cars have already been sold in Turkey, Russia, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, far east Asia and different parts of the US. Overall, this would be one of the best possible additions to my supercar collection.

missing link: the Ferrari GTO Evoluzione

2010-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

After Ferrari was done producing the legendary 288 GTO, they weren't quite ready to give the mid engined 8 cylinder supercar a successor just yet. Thus was born in 1987 the 288 GTO Evoluzione, a radically styled GTO which the F40 took many design cues from. With its low front and rear bumper, big spoiler, and overall more roundish look than the angular 288 GTO, the influence it had on the F40 was unmistakable. Designers at Pininfarina did not have in mind a mass production car when they penned this; but rather a car built for track days, kind of similar to the F50 GT and FXX. Only 5 were made, and in addition to the visual upgrades, the Evoluzione had upgraded performance compared to the original Omologato as well. The twin turbo V8 was tuned up to 650 horsepower and with a top speed of around 230 mph, it is still one of the fastest cars Ferrari has ever made. And of course, the Sultan of Brunei has one.

Model is made by Jouef and the quality is not the best, I hate the chrome rims. But the subject matter alone makes it worth having in my collection.

the ultimate Lamborghini: the Diablo GTR

2010-07-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

In 1999 and 2000, Lamborghini made in limited numbers a car that they have yet to top themselves with: the Diablo GTR. Conceived as the ultimate version of a Diablo line up that stretched an entire decade, the GTR was truly the ultimate Lamborghini. The Diablo, designed by Marcello Gandini, was already the quintessential Lambo: beastly, aggressive, loud and powerful. The GTR was even more extreme, with added black Speedline rims, air intakes from the GT, no passenger seat, and a large carbon fiber spoiler. Only 40 were made, and they could be both raced on the track or driven on the road. With a top speed of over 216 mph, it is the fastest car Lamborghini has ever produced, despite their claim that the Murciélago SV is faster. But, I guess you could say that represents everything wrong with Lamborghini over the past 10 years...forgetting their roots and assimilating into the Volkswagen Auto Group empire.

This model, made by AutoArt, is one of the best detailed in my collection.

Nazca Lines: the Italdesign Nazca M12

2010-07-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

The BMW Nazca is one of my favorite supercar concepts. Named after the mysterious Nazca Lines, giant 2 dimensional field drawings carved by the Inca people of ancient Peru, there were 3 variants: the C2, C2 Spyder, and this one, the M12. Only a handful of each were made, from 1991 to 1993, and at least one was sold to the Sultan of Brunei. The Nazca was made for BMW and used similar engines to the 8 Series, but the genius behind the Nazca is Italdesign leader Giorgetto Giugiaro - my favorite car designer. Another BMW he designed: the legendary M1. The Nazca was powered by a mid mounted V12, and its top speed was well over 180 mph. Model made by Revell, enjoy the pictures.

a Japanese supercar: Tommy Kaira ZZII

2010-07-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

In my model car collection, I have cars from 6 countries, soon to be 7. I do not have any Japanese cars, and there are 2 reasons for this. The first is, the JDM cars from the 1990's I like such as the Supra Twin Turbo, NSX, RX-7 and Skyline R33 GT-R are all very hard to find for under $100. The second is, the most fascinating Japanese supercars...and not the Lexus LFA or Nissan GT-R...but instead rarer ones that were either concepts or only available in Japan...are unfortunately not to be found in my beloved 1:18 scale. My favorite of which is the Tommy Kaira ZZII.

Tommy Kaira is a tuner of Japanese cars such as the Subaru Impreza and Nissan Skyline. In 2001, they showed the world a truly exotic and beautiful car: the Tommy Kaira ZZII. Although powered by the same RB26 6 cylinder engine as in the Skyline R34, the ZZII was a true supercar that made even a V-Spec II Nür Skyline look tame. The engine was switched to the middle, and the power was cranked up to 542 horsepower. The ZZII had supercar performance to match that of the Lamborghini Diablo and other European exotics, with a top speed of 210 mph and a 0-60 time of only 3.3 seconds. Not to mention, it was one of the best looking supercars of the early 2000's. It was only going to cost only $100,000 or so, giving it extremely good value for money for a supercar that can go over 200 mph. Sadly, production never came to be and only one was made. It was painted in the best color for any supercar: blue. It is now in a museum in Tokyo. I so want a 1:18 model of this car!

Keep reading for more supercars I want to see in 1:18 scale, and pictures of my own...

mon chat

2010-07-12T21:48:00.000-07:00