It seems that 2 words send the auto writers into a flurry of activity. Pagani Zonda. What the hell? The car is unavailable to us Yanks (at least without a zillion dollars to import via the gray market), it's quite repugnant to look at (compared to other "exotics"), uses Mercedes Power, and what else? It doesn't have a racing pedigree, it's produced only for the idle rich, it's used as a way of generating ratings (or views, or selling copies) to the auto related shows, blogs, and rags. Yet, all of the fanboys (including this blog) just melt at those vary two words; Pagani Zonda. Well, melt away.
So, between Zonda and Bugatti, we're hurtling toward the inevitable point where every single car they produce is a special edition. One of one.
"We call this one the Muffkins F Zoomie-Do Edition, and that one we're building over there is the All-Powerful and Eternally Righteous R Edition. The Sesame Street JKLMNOP Edition is still on the drawing board, but come back next week. It will have carbon fiber feathers."
Well played and a hearty click for you, my good Friction! I'd also like to submit a COTD nomination, now, where did I put my forms, I know they're around here somewhere...
For a glorious, brief time, this car was like the hot, dry, dusty wind blowing down from the Andes and across the Argentinian pampas. And then the 'F' happened and it was over.
Phew. His jacket was a total turn-on. I think I need some blood pressure meds after that. Of, if not that, then at they very least, the sound that car made. It was right up there with P-51 taking off.
That was pretty damn impressive, but I dunno, if given the choice, I would probably choose a run-of-the-mill Corvette, E-Type, CSL.
@pauljones: I must admit,even if i had that kind of money i wouldn't buy one. Like yourself i can think of cars i'd rather have,but i'm just pleased cars like that exist.
Not one tear will be shed for this unfortunate car. Zondas have been overpriced for what they really are, and have never been offered within the US (well, legally at least). Just another mid engined, semi high performance, plaything for the rich and infamous.
I wonder how many of these things (and those produced by other manufacturers) won't be sold because of the collapse of the equity markets. And with criminals like Bernard Madoff actually responsible for their clients evaporating wealth, I wonder if there will be any of the more tenuous companies that will close for good (Like Gumpbert, Koenigsegg, Bristol, and others)
I don't know about it being a "semi-high performance" car, but I am with you in that I am not particularly saddened at this point. Since the end of Countach production, these super cars have done nothing for me. I just don't find them appealing. I went to the doctor's office to see if perhaps I simply didn't have a heartbeat, but nope, the ol' ticker is still going strong.
I know, I'm weird. I just would rather have an old Firebird or something along those lines.
As far as super car companies going under, you may be right about Gumpert, but nothing can kill Bristol. Nothing. Bristol has somehow survived all these years, and will somehow continue to survive. God bless Bristol. Not even a rogue asteroid can kill that dinosaur.
@UDMan: A lot of the smaller sports car makers have had a boom in sales this year,i guess if you're that rich this little credit crunch doesn't matter. Bristol for one even turn customers away that they don't like.
@pauljones: Seconded. There are some parvenus (sp?) out there for sure, but Bristol have been at this for more than 60 years, and have a proper engineering and automotive history.
William G's got the right take on this here. It''s not so badly damaged. Needs some glass, a new engine cover and rear fenders. Front can be smoothed back into shape with about forty pounds of bondo. Then you need the reasonably priced engine/transaxle group. The space frame can be repaired by welding in some new gas pipe that's been sitting by the side of the house. Yer good to go!
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
"We call this one the Muffkins F Zoomie-Do Edition, and that one we're building over there is the All-Powerful and Eternally Righteous R Edition. The Sesame Street JKLMNOP Edition is still on the drawing board, but come back next week. It will have carbon fiber feathers."
02/26/09
02/26/09
Well played and a hearty click for you, my good Friction! I'd also like to submit a COTD nomination, now, where did I put my forms, I know they're around here somewhere...
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
And you might get to make out with Angelina Jolie.
02/26/09
02/26/09
12/22/08
12/22/08
12/22/08
[uk]
12/22/08
Phew. His jacket was a total turn-on. I think I need some blood pressure meds after that. Of, if not that, then at they very least, the sound that car made. It was right up there with P-51 taking off.
That was pretty damn impressive, but I dunno, if given the choice, I would probably choose a run-of-the-mill Corvette, E-Type, CSL.
12/22/08
12/22/08
I wonder how many of these things (and those produced by other manufacturers) won't be sold because of the collapse of the equity markets. And with criminals like Bernard Madoff actually responsible for their clients evaporating wealth, I wonder if there will be any of the more tenuous companies that will close for good (Like Gumpbert, Koenigsegg, Bristol, and others)
12/22/08
I don't know about it being a "semi-high performance" car, but I am with you in that I am not particularly saddened at this point. Since the end of Countach production, these super cars have done nothing for me. I just don't find them appealing. I went to the doctor's office to see if perhaps I simply didn't have a heartbeat, but nope, the ol' ticker is still going strong.
I know, I'm weird. I just would rather have an old Firebird or something along those lines.
As far as super car companies going under, you may be right about Gumpert, but nothing can kill Bristol. Nothing. Bristol has somehow survived all these years, and will somehow continue to survive. God bless Bristol. Not even a rogue asteroid can kill that dinosaur.
12/22/08
12/22/08
12/22/08
12/22/08
12/22/08
12/22/08
ZING!