Journal

A chronicle of people, places, happenings, and creations we admire.

Official: Clarkson Hammond & May to Amazon Prime TV

Photo: The Times / driving.co.uk

Photo: The Times / driving.co.uk

After the now infamous "Fracas", mourning the end of the Clarkson era of BBC übershow Top Gear, and months of speculation, the lads have signed a three-year deal to do a nonfiction automobile show on Amazon Prime TV.  Also joining the crew will be former TG co-mastermind and producer Andy Wilman.  Wilman resigned from the BBC after co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May followed Jeremy Clarkson out the door.  Clarkson was fired from the BBC after berating and assaulting a producer during filming over dining arrangements (keep a Snickers handy, Jezza).

The trio (and Wilman) together turned what Clarkson at one time called 'a pokey little car show' into the largest viewership on the planet, with over 350 million weekly viewers in over 190 countries in various formats.  The show was famous for its classic British humor, double entendres, often controversial jokes and sophmoric antics of Clarkson mixed with great photography, soundtracks, races and challenges performed by the three all over the world.  The onscreen chemistry of the three hosts cannot be overstated.

Filming of the new series begins in the fall, hopefully we won't have to wait 5-9 business days after release of the first episode.

Follow @JeremyClarkson

Follow @RichardHammond

Follow @MrJamesMay


Steve McQueen's Last Special Order Porsche - Mecum Auctions

It's no secret that the late actor Steve McQueen (Bullitt, The Getaway) was a lover of all things mechanical.  This rare, special ordered, non-intercooled 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo goes on the block at Mecum Monterey 2015. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to benefit The Boys Republic, a non-profit treatment community for troubled youngsters in Chino Hills, California. McQueen, who himself attended Boy's Republic as a wayward youth admitted that the institution had "...changed my life..."  

www.boysrepublic.org

The Andrews Collection at RM Sotheby's: 1959 Lister-Chevrolet

RM Sotheby's has a very special example of British-American racing cars at auction today, Saturday, May 2--the 1959 Lister-Chevrolet.  This gorgeous machine (Chassis No. BHL / Engine No. 3789935) with lightweight aluminum "knobbly' body that many Lister cars are famous for, is mated to a 436 bhp Small-Block Chevrolet engine making for a potent combination back then, and we suspect so even today.  This cars holds lap records at Oulton Park, Goodwood and Spa, Belgium, has proper FIA paperwork and would make any serious collection complete.

$500,000-$650,000 (No Reserve)

Follow @rmsothebys

Images ©RMSotheby's / Andrews Collection

The Month of March

A Recap of our discoveries in March.

Audi at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

The 2015 Geneva Motor Show opens this week, where Audi AG debuts the new R8 and R8 V10 Plus, along with other concepts like the Prologue Avant, a (possible) glimpse into the future of the vaunted A9 platform currently under development.

R8 / R8 V10 Plus / R8 E-Tron

Quite possibly the most thoroughly resolved of its development, the new R8 pulls the new body panels even tighter around its now famously aluminum chassis, it appears to be leaping forward even at rest.  Front and rear aero is cleaned up considerably, rear exhaust exits are now further integrated into the rear diffusor along with the rear heat vents.  The side 'blades' are now visually 'woven' into the body panels giving it a more lengthened appearance; the belt-line, greenhouse, rear haunches and nose now look like they were carved from a single solid ingot.

The R8 offers a 601 bhp 5.2 liter V-10 only for now, with a new V8 coming online later in the production cycle; this is counter to traditional rollouts that had initially offered a V8 with the higher output V10 following.  The E-Tron version is a fully electric version with an achieved 280 mile range, giving production a green light.

Prologue Avant Concept

The Prologue Avant is the next concept variant to bow giving a possible preview to the much discussed A9 program. The coupe received positive reviews at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, and this latest offering expands the range of ideas brought forth from Ingolstadt as the new flagship platform continues to be developed.  Prologue Avant increases the scale of Europe's most popular upmarket form factor (estate / shooting brake)  for transcontinental travel in comfort with the preserved drivability, usability and fuel efficiency of traditional platforms vs. SUV's and crossovers that are more popular in the US.

RS3 / RS4 / RS6

Audi RS returns with facelift programs for its RS estate cars, new front and rear facias, interior finishes and wheel options for 2016.

TT / TTS

The long-popular TT coupe is all new with re-proportioned grille, an innovative instrument cluster with integrated navigation and information, and a harder edge throughout while keeping the classic 'teardrop' shape that was inspired by the streamlined Auto Union speed record cars of the 1930's.

R8 LMS

The LMS program for 2016 focuses on safety, to meet the latest GT3 competition regulations for enhance integrity of the driver cabin on impact.  A new insulated floor and rear diffusor allow the use of a smaller (yet still quite large) rear wing with no increase in drag. Audi plans to enter the works LMS at Nürburgring and Spa endurance races later this year.

R18 E-Tron Quattro

Audi's legendary prototypes, piloted by Tom Kristensen (recently retired), André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer and Allan McNish have dominated FIA WEC (World Endurance Championship) for over a decade; this latest version of the prolifically successful LMP1 car looks to beat back the challenge of Porsche, Toyota and Nissan for the 2015-2016 season.  Audi and its R18 have led the industry in diesel / hybrid / electric technology development on the racetrack with the adaptation of such systems for road car use.

Images ©Fourtitude.com / G. Achorn / Audi AG

The Month of February

A Recap of our discoveries in February.

(Left to right from top)

1.1971 Lamborghini Miura SV at RMSotheby's / 2. MONOCLE Quality of Life Conference, Lisbon 2015 / 3. Formfreu.de Photo Blog / 4. MONCLER Grenoble 'Evry' Jacket FW15 / 5. Corner Pack Shipping Boxes / 6. Enrico Marone-Cinzano Furniture Collection / 7. The New Yorker '90 for 90' / 8. The Cliff Vaughs Story / 9. Pia Mouwitz / 10. Ice Hotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden / 11. The Terroir Project /  12. How to be a Proper New Yorker

Upcoming: 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV at RM Sotheby's Amelia Island

Ok, just take a moment.

Are you drinking it in?  

All done?

You are looking at arguably the most beautiful thing on four wheels; the 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV.  This example, chassis No.4884 formerly owned by notable Lamborghini authority Joe Sackey (www.joesackey.com) is documented as the very first SV model imported to the United States.  The SV model, slotted between the standard P400, S and J (Jota) competition models was fully restored by the renowned Gary Bobileff of Gary Bobileff Automobiles between 2005 and 2006.  The Marcello Gandini-designed (he penned the car at age 27) Bertone body all but physically defines the term "supercar", which the Muira is credited with being the first mid-engine configured road car.

This concours car will be going on the block in March at RM Sotheby's Amelia Island auction.

Follow @rmsothebys