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Filed under: Auction Action

Bentley gets a Brazilian: Continental GT by pop artist Romero Britto

Filed under: Auction Action, Etc., Bentley

Bentley Continental GT by Romeo Britto - Click above to enlarge

With dozens of exterior paint shades and even more choices for the interior, there's no shortage of color combinations on the Bentley Continental GT. Beyond that, the British automaker's Mulliner customization division will be glad to set yours up any way you want... for a price, of course. But some people are never satisfied with the options laid out before them; people like Romero Britto, the creator of the rather, um..."intriguing" example you see here.

The Brazilian pop artist, whose work hangs in such prestigious museums as New York's MoMA and Guggenheim and the homes of celebrities and notables including Elton John, Governor Schwarzenegger and the Rothschilds, comes from an impoverished village and uses cheerful colors and lively shapes to brighten people's spirits. Do they belong on a Bentley? That's a matter of taste, but curious connoisseurs can see it in person in Britto's exhibition at the Automobil Forum Unter den Linden in Germany from July 10 to September 6, after which the one-of-a-kind creation will be auctioned off to benefit multiple sclerosis and the mentally handicapped. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Bentley]

eBay Find of the Day: 1966 Batcycle with sidecar

Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action, Lifestyle, Motorcycles, Celebrities


1966 Batcycle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Where does Batman get those wonderful toys? We may finally have an answer for the Joker: Batman shops on eBay, just like the rest of us, and he apparently also sells off his unwanted bits and pieces after they've served their purpose. Such is the case with the classic 1966 Batcycle, which was ably replaced a few years back by the far more menacing Batpod.

The Caped Crusader must have finally decided the Batcycle would be better served fighting crime in the hands of a new hero than collecting dust in a remote corner of the Batcave, as it's just been sold on eBay with a final winning bid of $29,500. It seems that Batman had put just 8,245 miles on his Batcycle before retiring it for more advanced machinery.

According to the auction, the bike itself was designed and assembled by Kustomotive for the original 1966 Batman feature film and made subsequent appearances in the television series from the '60s. The seller notes that this Batcycle was based on a 250cc Yamaha Catalina with a custom sidecar featuring a removable go kart for Robin that was powered by its own 50cc engine. While it's clear that the Batcycle wasn't exactly a barnburner, it sure makes up for its lack of power with style.



[Source: eBay via Tilted Horizons]

eBay Find of the Day: Mammoth 1930s Hariss steam-powered split-window prototype

Filed under: Concept Cars, Time Warp, Minivans/MPVs, Trucks/Pickups, Auction Action, Etc., Special/Limited Editions


Hariss Steam Car prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

Now here's just the thing to mix up with a heated-up Flattie, or better yet, a Rajo Model T powerplant, which would be perfectly authentic for the vintage. Oh sure, purists will argue that this artifact, which apparently started life as a Hariss Steam Car prototype carrying a Stanley Steamer power unit, should be returned to its original state. Good luck figuring out exactly what that was.

With a deft enough touch, you could pay homage to the 1930s craftsmanship in this vehicle without ruining it. Either way, if you're determined enough to buy this obviously Stout Scarab-inspired vehicle (it currently has one bid at $8,500) it will be yours to do whatever you choose, critics be damned. Going all Travels With Charley with this split-window behemoth, especially towing a homebuilt teardrop trailer, would be a fantastic summer diversion, and if you did go all external-combustion-engine on it, you'd always have a fire to sit around at night.



[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Mustang Dominator, straight off the cover of Road & Track [w/VIDEO]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Time Warp, Tuners, Sports/GTs, Auction Action, Ford


1989 JBA Dominator GTA Mustang – Click above for an image gallery

The Fox body was hardly a high point in the history of the Ford Mustang. But every kingdom must have a king, and in the late-'80s and early-'90s this was it: the JBA Dominator GTA. Commissioned from J Bittle American by Ford in 1989, the Dominator took the pony car to new heights, installing what was likely the first independent rear suspension on a Mustang along with a long list of features that differentiated this custom muscle car from stock. The Lightning 351 engine features the iron heads from the GT40 and the intake manifold from a Cobra. A custom exhaust and aircraft-derived fuel system kept it breathing, while 17-inch rims obscured race-spec disc brakes at all corners.

The list goes on and on, and during its reign, the Dominator received plenty of media attention. The Mustang was featured on the cover of Road & Track in November 1989 in a shoot-out against other factory-backed custom muscle cars and went on to star in various hot-rodding and Ford-specific magazines. The JBA even has its own website, which will transfer to the buyer willing to pony up the $34,500 asking price for this piece of Mustang tuning history. Check it out in the gallery below and the video after the jump, or follow the link to the eBay auction page to make an offer.



[Source: eBay Motors via BAT]

eBay Find of the Day: Hummer H1 gets beaten with aerodynamic ugly stick

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUVs, Auction Action, HUMMER


Custom Hummer H1 on eBay Motors – Click above for image gallery

It takes a special talent to infantilize the brute strength of a Hummer H1, but someone's gone and done it with an oddly swoopy redesign. One of only two made (yes, there is another), this unique Hummer features a custom hood and front bumper, as well as a multi-section removable roof should the driver and occupants actually wish to be seen tooling around the neighborhood in this beast.

Inside, it's been all tricked out with a trifecta of television screens, ostrich leather interior, iPod-compatible entertainment system, sat-nav, back-up cameras...the works. Even the turbodiesel V8 has been tweaked and mounted with a polished aluminum snorkel, complimented by a chrome Mack truck bulldog hood ornament. Oh, and it has a $2,000 train horn, just in case someone can't see this behemoth coming from a mile away. All this can be yours for the low price of $89,900 or best offer.



[Source: eBay Motors via Carscoop]

1997 McLaren F1 GTR race car for sale in Japan

Filed under: Auction Action, Supercars


1997 McLaren F1 GTR "Long-Tail" - click above for a high res image gallery

For those whose cash reserves have not been completely depleted by the current global recession, a very special car is currently up for sale in Japan via Wintel. This racer is one of ten long-tail McLaren F1 GTRs built especially for the 1997 FIA GT season.

The F1 GTR first hit the track in 1995 when a model barely removed from the roadgoing version raced to victory at Le Mans. By 1997, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche had seen the writing on the wall, and combined with the series' updated rules, had created their own competitors, including the CLK-GTR and the 911 GT1. McLaren's 97 F1 GTR had all-new bodywork with a longer nose and tail that reduced drag and dramatically increased downforce. By this time, the new purpose-built Mercedes and Porsche cars were regularly outrunning the McLaren, although the latter did manage 197 mph on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans. There is no indication of a price tag, although if you have to ask...


[Source: Wintel.co.jp]

White-Wall Intertubes: RM launches first online car auction

Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action



Online auctions make sense when you're looking for a digital camera or a replacement part for your car, but for buying an entire car? It's been working for years on eBay Motors, and now Canadian auction house RM Auctions is joining the fold.

Even those who don't closely follow classic car transactions may recognize RM as the auction house that set new records with the $10.8m ex-James Coburn 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder and then set 'em again with the $12.2m 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa at the annual Ferrari auction in Maranello. Ferrari has since launched an online benefit auction for research scholarships, and on August 9, RM will follow suit with its own premier online auction.

Registration starts July 10 and several enticing – albeit hardly record-worthy – vintage rides will be on offer, including a 1953 Cadillac convertible (pictured above) and a 1963 Corvette split-window coupe. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: RM Auctions]

RM auctioning off two Ford GTs to benefit juvenile diabetes research

Filed under: Auction Action, Supercars, Ford


Ford GT National Rally II – Click above for high-res image gallery

Still grumbling over having missed the chance at buying a Ford GT when it was still in production? Well, if you've got the cash on hand, there are probably dozens of examples up for sale by owners who need the liquid assets more than they need the retro supercar. But few are as enticing at what Ford and RM Auctions have going on this August.

At both the Meadow Brook and Monterey concours the month after next, RM will be auctioning off an early VIN example to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The sixth example produced, decked out in red with white stripes, will be on offer at Meadow Brook, with the seventh Ford GT, in white with blue stripes, up for grabs in Monterey. Each is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $200,000 for the medical research endowment, so if getting your hands on Motown's hottest piece of machinery in decades wasn't cause enough, altruism ought to do the trick. Details in the press release after the jump.



[Source: RM Auctions]

eBay find of the Day: Ford RS200... in California!

Filed under: Motorsports, Auction Action, Ford


Ford RS200 eBay Find - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Really, what more needs to be said about the Ford RS200? Students of Group B rally history are well aware of Ford's efforts with the R200 during the '80s, including the required 200 homologation versions that were sold during its run from 1984 through 1986 and the two disastrous crashes during the '86 season that spelled the end of the Group B era. With a turbocharged, 1.8-liter inline four putting out a conservative 250 hp to all four wheels (in road-going guise), the RS200 has become The One to those of us who grew up watching the Blue Oval's rallying exploits in our PJs.

This particular example is #135 and was purchased from Robert Sutherland (according to the seller, the lone importer of the RS200 to the States) after it competed in the La Carrera Panamerica in 1986. It's a gorgeous yet subdued gray over red with a few minor blemishes and a host of options, but the only bits that matter are the mid-mounted turbo'd four-pot, front-mounted transmission and its ability to dominate on nearly any terrain on the planet. And if you're willing to risk tinkering with the two-decade old mill, 450+ hp can be yours with minimal modifications. The bidding begins at a ridiculously low $2,500 (expect this to climb... quickly) and, located in Lake Arrowhead, CA, it's one of the few examples left in the U.S. Bid early and bid often. We're pooling our pocket change now.



[Source: eBay via Bring a Trailer]

eBay Find of the Day: Lamborghini-Bizzarrini Targa one-off

Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action, Etc., Supercars, Lamborghini


click the picture for a gallery of the Bizzarrini-Lamborghini

It's not much of a shock to find an automotive mash-up on eBay Motors. However, it's rare that one of those Frankencars is a combination of one vintage Italian exotic with an even rarer and more exotic body on top, all assembled by the genius responsible for much of the hardware in the first place.

Initially intended to be a Bizzarrini GT America, this striking red coupe has been assembled on top of a Lamborghini 400GT chassis carrying the very V12 Giotto Bizzarrini designed for the marque of the bull before striking out on his own. It's more than the melding of one man's portfolio of work, the seller says it's a true Bizzarini because the car was actually finished in Livorno, Italy by Giancarlo Reali, former coachwork chief for the Bizzarrini operation.

While the car is in need of some elbow grease to render it fully stunning, that doesn't make it a bargain at a $250,000 starting bid. Given that this car seems to have actual pedigree that's sorely lacking from most of the stock offered on eBay, that price may not be as outlandish as it first seems for a one-off put together from 40-year-old leftover parts.



[Source: eBay]

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