1970-1972 Chevrolet Chevelle/SS/Malibu

The Chevy Chevelle is one of my favorite muscle cars, especially the SS 454 variant. It looks and sounds magnificent, and can accelerate faster than many vehicles produced during the Muscle Car Era (1965-1972). However, the Chevelle is not as upscale as its platform-mates, the Pontiac GTO, Buick GSX/GS 400, and Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Chevelle is worse than any of the aforementioned muscle cars. In recent years, the Chevelle and its platform-mates have appreciated significantly in value because vehicles like these won't be made again, and not too many examples in excellent condition are in existence. A bulk of the Chevy Chevelles I have seen were at car shows, especially the best and nicest examples. Lastly, my favorite Chevelle in this post would have to be the black 1971 SS, which was present at a car show I attended at the beginning of May, along with the light green 1972 Malibu and matte green 1970 SS.

Maserati GranTurismo/Sport/MC Stradale

The Maserati GranTurismo is the best vehicle out of Maserati's current lineup and one of the greatest cars to ever wear the trident badge. The name "Gran Turismo" means "grand touring" in Italian, for those of you not familiar with this car and/or its background. It was introduced in 2007 to replace the aging GranCoupe and Spyder. Its sole engine option is a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter V8 developed by Ferrari ranging from 433 to 454 horsepower and 361 to 384 foot-pounds of torque. It can blast from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 to 4.7 seconds, onto a top speed of 183-185 mph. Its sole gearbox option is a six-speed automatic. A mid-cycle refresh was given to the GranTurismo in 2012. Called the GranTurismo Sport, this version received a new front fascia, which is similar to that of the more track-focused MC Stradale (introduced in 2011), a modest power increase, and a decrease in overall weight. A redesigned GranTurismo is expected to debut sometime next year, and it has already been confirmed that the new model will only be a coupe. The Maserati GranTurismo is a phenomenal car and one of the best looking vehicles in its segment. I've seen quite a few of these on the streets and they continue to grab my attention and fascinate me.

MINI Superleggera Vision Concept

The MINI Superleggera Vision Concept had its original debut at the 2014 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como, Italy. The BMW Group usually unveils an interesting concept or two at the Concorso d'Eleganza every year; for 2015, it was the BMW 3.0 CSL Homage Concept. This vehicle is crafted mainly by Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera. For those of you who are unfamiliar with coachbuilding, this is where a company restyles an existing car completely and calls it their own. In this case, the BMW Group collaborated with Touring Superleggera to create the MINI concept above. It is uncertain whether the MINI Superleggera Vision Concept will hit production or not. If it does, it may be powered by a turbocharged three-pot sourced from BMW, send power to the front wheels, contain a sole automatic gearbox offering, and have a simplistic, driver-oriented cabin. Honestly, I think this is a cool concept, but I'm unsure if I would buy one if it went on sale.

Toyota 2000GT (1960's)

The Toyota 2000GT is credited as Japan's first sports car. It was introduced at a time when Japanese automakers weren't selling cars in the U.S. yet and changed the Japanese auto industry forever. Around the time the 2000GT was released, it could compete on the same level as Ferrari while being two to three times less expensive. Today, a Toyota 2000GT in excellent condition can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars; part of this is due to the fact that only 351 of these were produced. There was also a drop-top 2000GT, except it was made specifically for the 1967 James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice," which takes place in Japan. The 2000GT was originally a coupe, but Sean Connery, who played James Bond, was too tall to ride comfortably in the hardtop version, explaining why a 2000GT roadster had to be made. It is a magnificent automobile and deserves more recognition/praise from the general public.

Ferrari F2014 Formula 1 Car

I believe this is the F2014, the vehicle Ferrari used to compete in Formula 1 with last year. The differences between each F1 model used by a specific racing team from one year to the next are subtle, explaining my confusion. Due to FIA regulations, every Formula 1 vehicle today is powered by twin-turbo V6s with a minimum of at least 1100 horsepower. Modern F1 vehicles can hit 60 mph in approximately two seconds and hit top speeds of over 200 mph. However, the naturally aspirated V12s and V8s of yesteryears sound better. Ferrari isn't happy with the current FIA regulations and believes more in the enjoyment of racing than mainly focusing on efficiency. They feel that they would perform better if the regulations changed; a few other F1 teams feel the same way. Regarding the F2014, every body panel helps to improve handling and aerodynamics. Lastly, the Ferrari Formula 1 team is the most valuable motorsports team in the world. Formula 1 racers are some of the fastest and coolest motorsports vehicles around, and the Ferrari F2014 is no exception to this.

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray (2014-)

By now, most of you should know that I am a Corvette guy. It has been at least one year since the C7 broke cover, and this is my first post dedicated solely to the latest Corvette generation. The C7 does not share any of the same components as its predecessor and sheds the "plastic fantastic" image some folks may have of the Vette in general. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 making 455 ponies and 460 foot-pounds of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds. The two transmission offerings with the new Vette are a 7-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic. One cool feature the C7 Stingray has that no other vehicle before it contained is the Performance Data Recorder. This allows the driver to record lap times on any racetrack and film the experience. Another unique feature available in the Corvette C7 Stingray is Valet Mode. If the owner ever decides to hand the keys over to a valet, he or she can set the vehicle in Valet Mode so the valet doesn't mess with its features. Valet Mode also tracks the speed at which the valet is traveling at in the vehicle. This feature is also useful for when the owner lends his or her Corvette to someone other than a valet, especially an individual they know they can't trust with the vehicle. For those of you who don't know, the Corvette has been manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky for many years. The new Corvette will be the first generation to be offered in Europe and other global markets, even though some examples of previous Vettes have been imported to Europe and GM is currently phasing out the Chevrolet brand there. Overall, the C7 has improved greatly over its predecessor, and still remains the best bang-for-your-buck sports car. Lastly, to all of our American viewers, have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend.