1957 Porsche 356A Speedster "Outlaw" Was Built with Parts from the Future

Most people would say it’s a crime to modify a classic Porsche 356 coupe, but what do you do when you have one so full of rust that you can’t restore to its original form? Well, if your name is Chuch Olenyk, then you start transforming it into a Speedster.

Using only original Porsche parts, including from 911 and 912 models, Olenyk converted his rusty 356A into a 356A Speedster “Outlaw” in his home garage, all by himself over a period of seven years.

The car is nicknamed the “Outlaw” because it uses parts that weren’t available at the time it was originally built – you know, from the future.

The result is spectacular to say the least: the car looks more aggressive with its Speedster windshield and lower ride height. And it drives and sounds pretty good too, as Jay Leno found out towards the end of the video.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

Redditor Shares Guide to In-Dash Integration of Nexus 7 Tablet in BMW 3-Series E46

A recent Reddit post from forum member Brake_L8 elaborates on how it was possible to transplant a Nexus 7 Android tablet into the center dash of a BMW 3-Series E46. The photos provided prove it looks pretty good once done up and it apparently works really well too.

The author goes into more detail about how it uses custom software that is activated upon turning the ignition key, as well as the need to move the climate control unit to make room for the touchscreen.

It looks fairly easy to do, but make sure you know what you’re doing before you set out to dismantle your dashboard. If you’re not sure of how, explain your idea to somebody who is more handy (i.e. a friend or a professional audio installer) and pay them a menial amount to do it for you.

The problem with buying an older car, say from the early 2000s, is that while it may still be desirable today and still competent from an engineering standpoint, it will lack most of the connectivity features that are now commonplace.

Any car similar to the E46 is still a nice, modern car to own, however the same problem of nonexistent infotainment persists (not limited to BMW) and given the more unusual shapes of the center stack’s openings, a great solution is difficult to find – plopping a tablet in in this way is definitely one way to go!

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References and Photo Credits: Reddit/Brake_L8

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1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Veloce 1600 is a Reminder of Italy’s Finest

While Alfa Romeo is gearing up (for the past…10 years) to become a global premium carmaker with the help of all-new products like the upcoming rear-wheel-drive Giulia sedan, it’s good to take a trip back in time to see a bit of the Milan-based carmaker's fabulous heritage.

In 1962, Alfa Romeo launched the Giulia sedan, along with the Giulia Sprint (coupe) and Giulia Spider (roadster). The latter two models were actually rebadged and updated versions of earlier Giulietta models, featuring 1.6-liter engines instead of 1.3-liter units. The Giulia Spider also had a performance version called Veloce (Italian for fast), and that’s exactly the type of car featured in the latest episode from Petrolicious.

The following video serves as a reminder of Alfa Romeo’s special place in the history of the automobile, and it’s also a pleasant way to find out what an automotive work of art like the Giulia Spider is like to own and to drive.

VIDEO

1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder Driven by Michael Jackson Up for Auction

If you’re experiencing a feeling of déjà vu after seeing these photos, it’s because this car was featured in 2012 on our website. The Ferrari Testarossa Spyder was not built by Ferrari, although the carmaker did commission Pininfarina to build a one-off model for the late Gianni Agnelli.

The silver-colored one-off really attracted a lot of attention at the time, with coachbuilders seeing a business case for converting Testarossas into convertibles. One of these companies was R. Straman of Costa Mesa, California, which converted a black Ferrari Testarossa for the 1987 Pepsi commercial “The Chopper”, which featured Michael Jackson behind the wheel. The conversion work cost $40,000 at the time.

Available for no reserve at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona (January 12-19), the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spyder had a major service done in February 2013 by factory-authorized L.A. dealer The Auto Gallery that set the owner back $17,680. The car’s service history dates back to 1998.

Powered by a 4.9-liter flat-12 engine producing 390 horsepower and 361 lb-ft (489 Nm) of torque, the Testarossa coupe was able to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).

By Dan Mihalascu

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VIDEO

Parking Lot Test Drive Annihilates Stanced E36 M3 BMW

If you’re up for a few laughs, then the video posted below will definitely do its best to extract them from you. The YouTube title may contain the word "review", but it’s not really that.

What it is is a narration of an editorial, peppered with occasional well-placed profanity (that's a NSFW warning right there) and loosely based around the idea of (not) stancing one’s car in general or this yellow BMW M3 E36 in particular.

The reviewer wonders why the model is such a big hit in the US' stancing community, given the fact that it’s not all that special and to make matters worse it also comes from a time when cars were easily forgettable. Moreover, the US version wears a weaker engine than the Euro equivalent, as well as some lower grade components in the drivetrain.

The E36 M3 is still a nice car, but as this video advises, if you want to buy one and enjoy it when it’s not parked, then you’re better off not leaving the suspension as it is; you’ll lose some curbside appeal but possibly gain a driver’s car.

Feel free to add your thoughts after having scrolled down and clicked play.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

All-New 2015 F-150 and Mustang Share the Limelight at Ford's Detroit Motor Show Booth

Ford rolled out the successors to two of the most important nameplates in its portfolio at the Detroit auto show today, the 2015MY F-150 pickup truck and the 2015MY Mustang. The former is the Blue Oval's bestseller in the United States for the past 37 years, and the latter is the brand's most famous car worldwide.

Starting with the F-150, the new model carries over many of the design and tech features seen on last year's Atlas concept. Ford says that while it's bigger and tougher than ever, the new model is also 700lbs (~320 kg) lighter and more fuel efficient thanks to the use of lightweight materials, including a high-strength aluminum-alloy body.

The new Mustang needs no introduction as Ford made sure we knew most things about the sixth generation of its sports car series several weeks before the Detroit event.

Also on display is a very different Ford from another era, yet with a familiar pony emblem positioned on its fenders and front and rear ends, the 1 Concept.

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