1972 Chevrolet C50 Dually Restomod
Short is the new long, at least when it comes to vintage pickup restomods. This Chevy C50 pickup has been shortened by ten feet, and a shorter truck bed was added. The new look is…
Hennessey’s HPE1000 Corvette vs. a Ferrari 488 GTB in a Rolling Drag Race
Yes, the Chevy Wins
This hardly seems like a fair race. Hennessey took the ZR1 Corvette and boosted horsepower to 1,000 and then pitted it up against the Ferrari 488 GTB. It’s clear from the start which car would win. The Ferrari is at a major displacement deficit and down on power. It was bone stock. With that said, it’s still fun to watch in the video below.
With all of the buzz out there about the new 2020 mid-engine Corvette, Hennessey had to remind people about how insane the C7 Corvette actually is. Also, the Ferrari 488 GTB while down on power compared to the heavily modified Chevy honestly performed very well. The car has a 3.9-liter V8 engine that produces 661 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque. That’s down considerably from the HPE1000 Corvette’s 1,000 hp and 966 lb-ft of torque.
Despite the Ferrari being far down in terms of power and displacement, the car performs admirably. The HPE100 should blow it away, and it does by the end of the strip, but for a split second when they first cross the cones, the Ferrari looks like it’s going to hold on. Then the Corvette begins to stretch its legs and its all over. It’s a short and entertaining video. We highly suggest you check it out.
[embedded content]It Looks Like Chevy Will Cancel the Camaro
Say Goodbye to the Chevy Muscle Car
The Camaro was canceled once before. That was in 2002. It made a comeback in 2010 and soldiered on until the present day. Now, it seems GM will decide to let the model die after its current generation’s lifecycle. Plans for the seventh-generation of the car have been shelved, according to Muscle Cars and Trucks. That means eventually the car will die a slow and sad death.
According to the publication, the Camaro won’t disappear overnight. The model will continue on until 2023, so there’s still time for people to buy and enjoy the car in its current form. That form is arguably the best the muscle car has ever been. According to Carscoops, multiple publications reached out the Chevy after the report hit and the company neither confirmed nor denied the claims. Here is the official response:
We will remind you of our recently announced updates coming to the Camaro lineup this fall. An all-new LT1 model will provide customers V8 power with the design and affordability of our LT trim. The award-winning SS model will feature a new front fascia from the Camaro Shock concept. All of our updates are customer-driven to improve the car and its driving experience.
So, it’s business as usual then, right? Well, Chevy didn’t say they weren’t going to let the Camaro die after the car runs its lifecycle to the 2023 cutoff. They smartly didn’t say much of anything other than point to the fact that they have new versions of the current car in the works. According to sales data at Good Car Bad Car, Camaro sales have been on a downward trajectory since their peak in 2012, so it makes sense that Chevy would consider letting the model go. Time will tell what the company decides to do.
1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS from Classic Car Studio
You can’t escape the past. Or perhaps you don’t want to. Such is the case with this brutally sinister 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS from Classic Car Studio. A customer who wrecked his brand new Chevelle…
2019 Chevrolet Camaro In Shock Yellow
Chevy just unveiled a refreshed 2019 Chevrolet Camaro called “Shock” for the Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. In a lustrous new Yellow colorway, no less. This Camaro SS coupe comes with a slew of new accessories that customers can buy directly from Chevy dealers throughout the country.
The most notable thing about the car is how Chevy describes its new features. The Michigan automaker says something like “concept front-end styling,” referencing the bowtie emblem relocated from the bumper beam to the upper grille. The center beam is now comes in the car’s body color instead of black. This adds a bit more flair to an already incredible-looking car. You’ll also find extra graphics on the hood and fenders. In effect, you get what’s essentially production car with a slightly tweaked front end.
We have to be honest here. The look of the original 2019 Chevrolet was somehow, well, aesthetically disappointing. It’s not exactly a terrible presentation for a vehicle, it’s just that we’ve definitely seen better coupes. This version corrects that design faux pas and shows that Chevrolet is actually listening to customer feedback and is implementing changes accordingly. And we do like the results.
As for the new accessories, we’re looking at Recaro seats, emissions-legal cold-air intake kits, a Brembo six-piston front brake kit, and suspension upgrade parts from the racy 1LE models. In terms of styling, you get a black rear wing, a carbon-fiber fuel-filler door, and black Camaro badges. This Shock Yellow Camaro variant goes on sale starting early 2019.
Photos courtesy of Chevy
C8 Corvette rumored to launch next summer at dedicated event
GM Authority returns with more insider trading on the C8 Chevrolet Corvette. The site, which recently reported that America’s sports car will be delayed six months over an electrical issue, says now that the launch won’t come at an auto show. Citing “sources close to the matter,” GMA says we’re looking at a summer reveal, “perhaps May at the earliest,” at a dedicated event where the ‘Vette won’t share its new look on life with any other vehicle. Seems only fitting, since two years ago Chevrolet launched the latest Camaro at a standalone event in May in Detroit.
Price has been an even more confusing topic than the launch date, with numbers from $70,000 to $170,000 making claims. Seems that three months ago, Bob Lutz told Autoline the C8 would run roughly $5,000 more than the current C7. With 2019 C7 prices having just risen for the new year, the entry Stingray Coupe starts at $56,995 out-the-door, putting a Lutz-based estimate around $62,000.
The Bob has revised his figures, though. The Mid-Engined Corvette Forum got hold of Road and Track‘s December 2018/January 2019 issue, and posted a snippet from Lutz’s “Ask Bob” column. He writes, “I expect the goal is to sell the C8, version for version, at a little more than the C7.” We don’t know how Lutz defines “a little?” If Chevy can get the cap the starting bid at $70,000, that feels like win in spite of a 25-percent price jump. There’s a healthy gap to the C7’s price, which will sell beside the C8 for a while, and that buys a 6.2-liter mid-engined V8 with more than 455 horsepower. Besides, the 992-series Porsche 911 starts at $110,000.
More expensive versions will come, though. In the same column, Lutz wrote, “The superfast variants will come out two to three years later and cost more than $100,000.” Those roaring trims are predicted to include the much-discussed twin-turbo DOHC V8, and a hybridized model with four-figure horsepower and all-wheel drive thanks to an electrified front axle.
On a side note, Hagerty ran a story in October interviewing three previous Corvette chief engineers whose tenures ran back to 1975, when Zora Arkus-Duntov retired. They talk about why the mid-engined Corvette has taken so long, from GM skepticism to core-customer apathy. There are a few revelations, such as when Dave McLellan says it was clear Chevrolet designed the C8 first, then designed the C7 to be an obvious evolutionary step from the C6. And Dave Hill, sounding just like Porsche 911 boss August Achleitner, says of the C8’s automatic gearbox, “Traditional customers will certainly resent that change because the manual-shift cars are fun to drive. But I believe that machines often outdo humans…”
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Hennessey’s “Goliath” 2019 Chevrolet Silverado
American tuner Hennessey now comes out with its own six-wheeled version of the all-new Chevrolet Silverado, nicknamed Hennessey Goliath 6×6.
The car began life as a Trail Boss Z71 model, but now it’s gained a third axle with an additional pair of wheels (all six run on automatic transmission), which means it also has a new suspension system as well. Hennessey says it lifted the truck by eight inches to help it course through anything that stands in its way.
You’ll find more upgrades upon closer inspection. Among them is the 6.2-liter V8 engine (same as the base vehicle) with a 2.9-liter supercharger. That’s if you want to boost the Silverado’s horsepower to 705 at 6,200 rpm and 675 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm.
Outside, you’ll find that Hennessey created a grille specific to this model. In addition, there’s also a roll bar in the bed. Also, you’ll find BF Goodrich 37-inch off-road tires for the 20-inch wheels. However, there’s no information yet on whether the company did some tinkering in the interior, too.
Planning to get your hands on the Hennessey Goliath? Bear in mind that it’s not going to be easy. Production of the custom car is underway, to be sure. However, Hennessey is only making 24 examples worldwide, costing $375,000 apiece. Optionals include Brembo brakes on all three axles, a custom-designed interior, and an upgraded V8 engine. That’ll bump the horsepower to 808 if you’re mad for speed.
The best part about all this is that Hennessey’s latest handiwork is actually approved by Chevrolet, which means customers will be able to order the vehicle at participating Chevrolet dealers knowing that Chevrolet itself gave the go-ahead.
Photos courtesy of Hennessey
1972 Chevrolet Blazer On Auction
Classic Car Studio teases nostalgic car lovers with a professionally restored 1972 Chevrolet Blazer. Also knows as the Cheyenne, this special frame off project showcases amazing paintwork with its Medium Olive exterior—that blends exceptionally well with the Olive shade of the cabin.
A full rework has likewise been done on its 5.7-liter 350 V8 engine which is now paired to a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. Therefore, you can expect its performance to be as close to the day it rolled off the production lines. We love the fact that everything was laboriously handled to offer the same experience as the original did.
Another feature that remains intact is the removable white top, which is a great way to get some fresh air if the weather is agreeable. Moreover, it frees up more space to allow bigger stuff that wouldn’t normally fit with the top on. Nevertheless, a roof rack is likewise available for more options when it comes to your cargo. Four-season air conditioning is built-in to keep you comfortable during your drive.
Photos courtesy of Classic Car Studio
1969 Chevrolet Camaro On Auction
Those who are in the market for a classic muscle car are in for a treat. A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro just recently went up the auction block and could be yours for a listed price of $124,900. Buyers need not worry about future maintenance and repair since there is ample aftermarket support for this beauty. The folks over at RK Motors currently have it on offer and we think it won’t stay that way for long.
This appears to be a factory-perfect rebuilding of a quintessential American muscle car. The project was handled by Scott Whidby, an award-winning restoration guru for Camaro projects based in Moultrie, Georgia. They reportedly spent around six figures as well as sank multiple hours into this particular venture—so it’s understandable as to why it looks so unbelievably good.
Even though it is intended to look exactly the way it did back when it made its debut, this one features a few upgrades. Added creature comforts such as modern air conditioning and audio systems might raise a few eyebrows for purists. However, we believe that it was purposely-rebuilt to be enjoyed and flaunted as the owner sees fit.
Moreover, Its eye-catching color scheme is not only limited to its exterior—painstaking attention to detail was spent to ensure that the interior, engine, engine bay, and even the trunk featured the same Hip Hop Red and Silver combination.
For those who are wondering, yes, it is one powerful machine. Armed with a 600-horsepower V8 engine that’s mated to a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed manual transmission, this is not a car that you want to pick a fight (race) with.
Photos courtesy of RK Motors
2019 Chevrolet Blazer
Borrowing looks from the Camaro and build from the GMC Acadia, the 2019 Blazer announces the model’s comeback, this time arriving in a midsize crossover SUV body instead of the old full-size frame.
The new SUV boasts a muscular, aggressive stance, with a sharp front, thin LED headlamps and a massive grille. Power will come from either a 2.5L inline four-cylinder engine producing 193-hp & 188 lb-ft of torque or a 3.6L six-cylinder with 305 hp and 269 lb-ft, both coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission to engage the front wheels (all-wheel drive is optional).
The five-passenger crossover offers up to 64.2 cubic feet of cargo space and up to 4,500 pounds of towing capacity. Other noteworthy features include a rearview camera for lining up the hitch to a trailer and a new rail cargo system that allows the load to be separated and secured for an effortless hauling drive.
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2018 Chevrolet Tahoe Custom Midnight Edition
Chevrolet has just rolled out their 2018 Tahoe Custom Midnight Edition, a stealthy, blacked-out SUV that’s as capable as it looks and doesn’t cost a fortune.
Based on the LS trim, the rugged, full-size SUV features off-road-inspired styling cues with its 18-inch black wheels wrapped in aggressive Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac rubber, a black grille, off-road assist steps and black bowtie emblems. Those in need of extra room will be happy to know the third-row seat was removed and now the vehicle offers 54 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row.
Available in 2WD and 4WD configurations, the Tahoe Custom Midnight packs a 355-hp, 5.3L V-8 engine with direct injection and Active Fuel Management offering an estimated 23 MPG on the highway.
GM’s European Opel division may eventually go all-electric
General Motors’ Opel division in Europe may transform itself into an all-electric vehicle maker by 2030. Granted, a lot can happen between now and then, including a potential buyout by French automaker PSA Group. Regardless, Opel appears to view its electric future beyond the Ampera-e, which is the sister vehicle to the Chevrolet Bolt, and more like Tesla.
Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann indicated that focusing on electric drivetrains would be a superior strategy to expanding its EV technology while pushing forward with conventional drivetrains, says Automotive News Europe, citing comments Neumann made to German publication Manager Magazin. General Motors could make the decision to move towards an all-electric vehicle line for Opel as soon as May.
Of course, that depends on whether Opel is bought out by PSA, the parent country to Peugeot and Citroen. PSA is in talks to buy General Motors’ Opel and Vauxhall divisions, though government and labor representatives in Germany have expressed concerns over potential job losses from the proposed buyout, Reuters says.
Regardless, GM has hinted at expanding its electric-vehicle line far beyond the Bolt, which has a 238-mile single-charge range and debuted late last year. Mary Barra, in an interview with CNET, said the Bolt’s all-electric platform could be applied to a “huge range of vehicles,” though wasn’t specific about additional EV models.
Opel first showed off its Ampera-e at the Paris Motor Show last fall. The name of the model raised some eyebrows because the Ampera badge had been previously used by Opel for the sister version of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in. Either way, Opel is looking to take on Renault for electric-vehicle sales supremacy across the Pond.
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