Thursday, January 3, 2013

Auto Countdown: 2013 Wish List

Since moving back to Houston after graduating from college, I have been to a variety of car shows. From the monthly Cars and Coffee events to the annual Houston Auto Show, Classy Chassis, Lamborghini Festival, and Ferrari Festival, I have seen thousands of classic and modern cars. However, there a some cars that I have not seen yet. These are the cars I would like to see at some point in 2013.
10. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
Saleen S7
The Saleen S7 Twin Turbo was on display at the March 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. I was in Dallas that weekend for a cousin's wedding. Unfortunately, the S7 has not appeared at a Cars and Coffee event since. This car is beautiful and fast. The S7 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 248 mph. Powering this American hypercar is twin-turbocharged 7.0L V8 that produces 750 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque. Hopefully, someone will bring a Saleen S7 to a Cars or Coffee event or even Classy Chassis.

9. Hennessey Venom GT Spyder

Hennessey Venom GT Spyder
At the December 2010 Houston Cars and Coffee event, Hennessey revealed the Venom GT, a 267 mph hypercar based on the Lotus Exige. Powering this hypercar is a twin-turbocharged 6.2L LS9 V8 that produces 1200 hp and 1155 lb-ft of torque. Now there is an open top version of the Venom GT, called the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. The horsepower for the Venom GT Spyder is increased to 1,244 hp. Since Hennessey will show up to Houston Cars and Coffee events, it is not a longshot that he would bring the Venom GT Spyder. It is great when local dealership and local auto manufacturers support various car shows.

8. Ford GT40
Ford GT40
The Ford GT40 is one of the most important American cars. It has one of the most successful racing history of any cars. It won the 24 Hours of LeMans four years in a row. The car is so iconic that Ford came out with the Ford GT in 2005 to pay homage to the GT40. The GT40 was produced from 1964 to 1969 with 107 GT40s being produced. The GT40 utilized four different V8 engines. The GT40 used a 4.2L V8, a 4.7L V8, a 7.0L V8, and a 4.9L V8. I have seen a few Ford GTs, but never a GT40. Hopefully, that changes in 2013.

7. Duesenberg Model SJ
Duesenberg Model SJ
I have seen Model J Duesenbergs. I have a bad picture of one from the 2010 Houston Classy Chassis. The Model SJ is a supercharged version of the Model J. The Model SJ Duesenberg is the fastest car from the Pre-World War II era. Powering this classic American car is a supercharged 6.9L straight-eight engine that produces 320 hp. The SJ has a top speed of 130 mph, which is high by pre-World War II standards. At one auction, a non-running Duesenberg Model SJ that was missing its supercharger sold for over $600,000. I hope to see one at the 2013 Houston Classy Chassis and get a quality photo of this iconic American car.

6. Ferrari 250 GTO
Ferrari 250 GTO

I have a couple of pictures that includes the Ferrari F40 parked next to a Ferrari F50 parked next to a Ferrari Enzo. I have seen the Ferrari 288 GTO parked next to a Ferrari 599 GTO. There is one Ferrari GTO missing, the 250 GTO. The 250 GTO has a very successful racing career. The 250 GTO holds the record for being the most expensive car to be sold at auction, selling for over $30 million dollars. This is low on my list since I did a a Classic Car review of the 250 GTO, even though I have not seen one. I used the excuse "I saw a 250 GTE" to justify covering the 250 GTO. The 250 GT0 is a museum car, but there is no reason for it not to be at the 2013 Houston Classy Chassis.

5. Lamborghini Miura
Lamborghini Miura
The Miura is an important car in Lamborghini's history. It is the first Lamborghini to have the engine located behind the driver and passenger instead of in the front. From 1966 to 1972, 764 Miuras were built. There were three versions of the Miura. The Miura P400 has a 3.9L V12 that produces 350 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Miura P400S has a 3.9L V12 that produces 360 hp and 286 lb-ft of torque. The Miura P400SV has a 3.9L V12 that produces 380 hp and 286 lb-ft of torque. The Miura has a top speed of 171 mph. The Miura is the predecessor to the Countach, Diablo, Murcielago, and Aventador. I have seen those for Lambos, but I have yet to see a Miura. May 2013 be the year I finally see the Miura.

4. Any Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg Agera R
Koenigsegg has been making Swedish hypercars since 1994. In 2002, the first Koenigsegg was released, the CC8S. In 2005, the Koenigsegg CCR dethroned the iconic McLaren F1 as the world's fastest street legal production car with an average top speed of 241.63 mph. This was beatened by the Bugatti Veyron in 2005, with the Veryon having an average top speed of 253.81 mph. In May 2003 during the Gumball 3000 Rally, a CCR set the record for the fastest speeding ticket in the United States. The CCR was caught doing 242 mph in 75 mph zone in west Texas. There have also been the Koenigsegg CCX, CCXR, and Trevita. Koenigsegg is currently producting the Agera and Agera R. The Agera R broke the Guinness world record for going from 0 to 300 km/h with a time of 21.19 seconds. I have never seen any of these Swedish Agera R. I hope 2013 is the year I finally see a Koenigsegg.

3. Pagani Zonda/ Pagani Huayra
Pagani Zonda
Pagani Huayra
The Zonda has been around since 2000. Zondas are not street-legal in America. That is a shame because the Zonda is one lines of high-performing cars to come from Italy. There were many variants of the Zonda, all powered by a Mercedes-Benz AMG V12 engine with different sizes. Its successor, the Pagani Huayra is street legal. The Huayra is beautiful. It is one of the best looking cars with gull-wing doors.Powering the Huayra is an twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 engine provided by AMG that produces 720 hp and 740 lb-ft of torque. The Huayra goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 230 mph. After watching Top Gear cover various Paganis since Series 1, I have always wanted to see one in person. Hopefully, 2013 is the year I see at least one Pagani.

2. SSC Ultimate Aero/SSC Tuatara
SSC Ultimate Aero

SSC Tuatara

The SSC Ultimate Aero is an incredible machine. This American hypercar is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.3L V8 that produces 1,287 hp and 1,112 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.78 seconds and has a theoretical top speed of 272 mph. During a speed run, the Ultimate Aero reached an average top speed of 257 mph, dethroning the might Bugatti Veyron as the world's fastest street legal  production car. However, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport dethroned the Ultimate Aero with a top speed of 267.86 mph. In 2012, production of the Ultimate Aero ended with the production of a new car from SSC, the SSC Tuatara. The Tuatara is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.9L V8 that produces 1,350 hp and 1,042 lb-ft of torque. The Tuatara goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reaches a theoretical top speed of 275. From the pictures released, the Tuatara looks incredible. I love its design. I just hope to see one of these hypercars this year.

1. Porsche 959
Porsche 959
The Porsche 959 is one of the most important supercars of all time. 337 959s were produced from 1986 to 1989. When it first came out, it was the fastest street legal production car, reaching a top speed of 197 mph while going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Powering the 959 is a 2.85L twin-turbocharged flat 6 engine that produces 444 hp. The 959 is loaded with technology. The 959 is one of the first high-performing cars to have an all-wheel drive system. The body is made from an aluminum and kevlar composite with a nomex floor. The 959 also has an automatic ride-height adjustment. At the various car events, I have seen a variety of 911s, Caymen, Panameras, Carrera GTs, 924s, 928s, 356s, and 550s. The one Porsche have not seen is the legendary 959. Hopefully, that changes in 2013.

What cars do you wish to see in 2013? Please let me know in the comments below.

CarJunkie

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1 comment:

  1. Impressive blog.Selling the car through some websites and putting the pictures of our car with specifications on the automotive portal eases the problem of searching of a buyer.

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