eBay Find: Luigi Colani’s 1970 Lamborghini Miura Le Mans Concept Car

Unveiled in 1970, the Lamborghini Miura Le Mans was an out-of-this-world concept car, envisioned by legendary Italian designer, Luigi Colani. According to Colani’s website, the design study was a “two-part hybrid car”, with a Miura chassis rear section and front passenger cabin designed “like the cockpit of a glider”.

It was used as a show car for about four years, when it suddenly went under the radar, only to be discovered 30+ years later by Bad Influence Hot Rods (BIHR), at an estate auction in Indiana. The new owner put it up for sale last October for $79,000, but the reserve wasn’t met. Now it re-surfaced on eBay for a starting bid of $74,999.

Unfortunately, the Miura Le Mans hasn’t aged very well, as the canopy is broken into several pieces and the engine is gone. However, many parts are still there, including the rear and front suspension, golden rear alloys with blue knockoffs, double nose wheels, brakes, calipers and steering.

While BIHR says that this should be an easy car to restore, we’re not that convinced, but whoever decides to pick it up for this kind of money might as well go all the way. Otherwise, it could make for an interesting coffee table…

By Csaba Daradics

Link: eBay

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Audi UK Launches Online Heritage Showroom

It’s nice to see that modern cars are evolving at an astonishing pace, incorporating innovative gadgets, advanced safety features and powerful engines, but, once in a while, you just want to spend some time looking up older models. This can be frustrating, as information about certain cars can be pretty scarce and not entirely accurate, to say the least. That’s why we salute Audi’s decision to launch a virtual heritage showroom on its UK site.

The dedicated web-page is a corner of Heaven not only for Audi fans, but for all enthusiasts who can appreciate a blast from the past.

The virtual tour showcases a bevy of historic models, ranging from the 1913 Audi Type C to the über-achieving R8, as well as the brand’s trademark innovations, such the quattro all-wheel drive system, and glorious motorsport moments.

By Csaba Daradics

Link: Audi.co.uk

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Mercedes Celebrates 25 Years of 4MATIC Four-Wheel Drive and Other Vehicle Dynamics Systems

In 1986, Mercedes launched the 4MATIC four-wheel drive system on a test ground in Rovaniemi, Finland, alongside two other, equally important vehicle dynamics components: the automatic locking differential (ASD) and acceleration skid control (ASR), which used the sensory technology made available through the anti-lock braking system (ABS), first introduced by the German maker in 1978.

In a press release for the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in 1985 the company wrote: “State-of-the-art automotive mechanics and hydraulics combined with intelligent electronics now open up perspectives in the field of traction control systems that go far beyond conventional traction systems currently available. Three stepped electronically controlled automatic systems, tuned to meet various requirements, represent both the result and content of the Mercedes-Benz vehicle dynamics concept, which sets new standards in the relationship between the human and the vehicle – automatic locking differential (ASD), acceleration skid control (ASR) [and] Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC”.

Benefitting from advanced microelectronics and hydraulics for that era, the systems were able to record and limit wheel slip, thus improving the so-called longitudinal dynamics of the motor vehicle.

The first generation of 4MATIC had three selectable settings, two differential locks and self-regulating electronics. Unlike today’s variants, it was a non-permanent system, so there was a delay until all wheels were engaged. Still, it was a big step ahead in terms of stability and traction compared to rear-wheel driven Mercedes models.

The automatic locking differential (ASD) was an electro-hydraulic system, capable of measuring the speed difference between driven and non-driven wheels through a control unit. If necessary, it was able to lock the differential 100 percent to improve traction, essentially serving as a start-off assistant. It was replaced with an all-electronic acceleration skid control in the 90s.

By controlling the interplay of longitudinal forces between the tires and road surface, the acceleration skid control (ASR) limited wheel spin and the lateral sliding of the vehicle. Its main purpose was to help start-offs done on very slippery surfaces, like ice, snow or gravel.

According to another excerpt from the original press release, “the unique benefit of this Mercedes-Benz development is that they minimize the possibilities of incorrect or impaired human reactions. The recognition, decision-making and response are objectively accurate, timely and quicker than those of a human being – moreover they do not tire or distract the driver, nor mislead him into inappropriate action”.

By Csaba Daradics

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Flashback: Steve McQueen Drives the 2005 Ford Mustang... 25 Years after His Death

In 1980, the world lost a cultural icon. Steve McQueen, the star of such films as Bullitt and Le Mans, had died. Metastatic cancer had claimed the life of the King of Cool.

Still, the legacy lives on. The actor’s love of cars and motorcycles was well known. McQueen competed in many motor races including the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Baja 1000. He also owned several semi-unique vehicles including a Jaguar XKSS, a Porsche 356 Speedster and a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. Here was a man who loved his cars almost as much as we loved his movies.

Flash forward 25 years. In 2005, Ford released this ad for the fifth generation Ford Mustang. In it, a farmer carves a racetrack through his cornfield in a non-too-subtle nod to the 1989 film, Field of Dreams. As in that movie, “If you build it, he will come.”, and Steve McQueen magically appears out of the cornfield (looking pretty good for someone who’s been dead and buried for a quarter of a century) and takes the wheel of the Mustang for one last turn around the track.

Through the use of a body double and some nabbed footage, McQueen is there in the cornfield and behind the wheel. Even five years on the ad is pretty impressive from a purely technical standpoint. But don’t take my word for it! Watch it yourself and let us know what you think.

By Tristan Hankins

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eBay Find: 1981 E23 BMW 735i Touring Prototype [with Video]

Yep, that’s not a typo: BMW did actually build an E23 735i Touring and it showed it at the 1980 Frankfurt Auto Show to gauge the public’s reaction. Unfortunately (or not), the car didn’t make it into production and was slowly forgotten, up until ten years ago. That’s when this example, one of only two custom built prototypes, first surfaced on eBay with 8,179 miles (13,163 km) on the odometer. Now, it has been posted on the auction site once again, for an opening bid of US $7,000.

The collector who originally imported it to the U.S. sold it three years later and the current owner bought it last November. At that point the car had clocked up 9,002 miles (14,487 km) but wasn’t running.

However, this ultra-rare 7-Series, boasting an interesting green paintjob, tan cloth interior, manual sunroof, roof rack, alloy wheels and automatic transmission, wasn’t in a disastrous condition. A quick service brought it back to life and onto the road and, according to the seller, it has a Massachusetts December 2011 inspection sticker and was driven for only 40 extra miles (64 km).

Being a 30-year-old car, the 735i Touring isn’t flawless. Luckily, it only seems to suffer from some minor surface rust, both on the body and underneath, which can be easily mended.

Other than that, the interior and engine bay appear to be neat and the owner’s detailed description of every fault, accompanied by revealing pictures, should be evidence enough that there’s no foul play involved.

Currently, the bid stands at US $7,600, which is pocket change for something as rare as this. And even if it sells for double the amount, the buyer can rest assured that this car will never depreciate. In fact, it’s a sound investment and, with some mild restoration, it can be turned into a great gem of automotive heritage.

Gallery and videos below.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: eBay , Via: Jalopnik

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