Ringbrothers ADRNLN Pantera is yellow, isn’t mellow

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Ring Brothers ADRNLN Pantera

In the annals of automobile history, there have been many successful vehicles from small European automakers powered by good old-fashioned American V8 engines. Perhaps the most well-known of these Anglo-American mashups is the Shelby Cobra, but another model that figures prominently into the discussion would be the De Tomaso Pantera.

The mid-engine exotic you see above started life as a 1971 Pantera (the car's first model year), but it's been heavily modified by the crew at Ringbrothers and renamed ADRNLN... which, for whatever reason, is 'adrenalin' in all caps and without any vowels. The car's original 351-cubic-inch Ford V8 has been replaced with a GM LS3 engine made by Wegner Motorsports, hooked to a ZF five-speed manual transmission.

While the striking yellow paint may draw in the most eyeballs, the interior is equally unique, with work performed by the innovation skunkworks design team from Nike - yep, that Nike. There are a ton of intricate details worth checking out in the image gallery above, and all the specs and suppliers can be found in the press release below.

Continue reading Ringbrothers ADRNLN Pantera is yellow, isn't mellow

Ringbrothers ADRNLN Pantera is yellow, isn't mellow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1978 Chevy K1500 E-Rod is a factory-fresh restomod

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1978 Chevrolet Performance Classic Truck Concept

Among the Stingrays, Camaros and various concept vehicles Chevrolet has setup at its massive SEMA display, the one vehicle tugging at our heart strings the most might be the fully restored 1978 Chevy Performance Classic Truck Concept. While this truck's beauty is merit enough, Chevy also tucked its E-Rod powertrain under the hood of this K1500 giving it the classic styling of a '70s pickup with the 50-state-legal exhaust emissions.

This E-Rod package consists of a 5.3-liter V8 putting out 326 horsepower (about 80 hp more than the big-block, 454-cubic-inch originally offered in the '78 C/K trucks), and its mated to a 470-E automatic transmission with overdrive. To meet emissions regulations, it also includes catalytic converters, a fuel tank evap canister and a full two-year warranty. A Chevy rep said that the whole E-Rod system used on this truck costs around $10,000.

Even though this isn't Chevy's first E-Rod pickup, there's just something a little extra special of seeing a 1973-1987 C/K truck in this condition. Chevy acquired the truck from a private owner in Wisconsin, and did a full frame-off restoration at the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds. The Chevy rep we spoke with said that the truck had very little rust damage that needed to be repaired before the two-tone paint job was applied, and that it was already in decent shape when the project was started back in July. The end result is a truck that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line - right down to the side-saddled gas tanks.

Chevy issued a press release (posted below) for the 1978 Chevrolet Performance Classic Truck Concept, but we're guessing you'll want to spend more time checking out our full live gallery, above.

Continue reading 1978 Chevy K1500 E-Rod is a factory-fresh restomod

1978 Chevy K1500 E-Rod is a factory-fresh restomod originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1978 Chevy 4×4 E-Rod is a factory-fresh restomod

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1978 Chevrolet Performance Classic Truck Concept

Among the Stingrays, Camaros and various concept vehicles Chevrolet has setup at its massive SEMA display, the one vehicle tugging at our heart strings the most might be the fully restored 1978 Chevy Performance Classic Truck Concept. While this truck's beauty is merit enough, Chevy also tucked its E-Rod powertrain under the hood of this machine giving it the classic styling of a '70s pickup with the 50-state-legal exhaust emissions of a modern vehicle.

This E-Rod package consists of a 5.3-liter V8 putting out 326 horsepower (about 80 hp more than the big-block, 454-cubic-inch originally offered in the '78 C/K trucks), and it's mated to a 4L70-E four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. To meet emissions regulations, it also includes catalytic converters, a fuel tank evap canister and a full two-year warranty. A Chevy rep said that the whole E-Rod system used on this truck costs around $10,000.

Even though this isn't Chevy's first E-Rod pickup, there's just something a little extra special of seeing a 1973-1987 C/K truck in this condition. Chevy acquired the truck from a private owner in Wisconsin, and did a full frame-off restoration at the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds. The Chevy rep we spoke with said that the truck had very little rust damage that needed to be repaired before the two-tone paint job was applied, and that it was already in decent shape when the project was started back in July. The end result is a truck that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line - right down to the side-saddled gas tanks.

Chevy issued a press release (posted below) for the 1978 Chevrolet Performance Classic Truck Concept, but we're guessing you'll want to spend more time checking out our full live gallery, above.

Continue reading 1978 Chevy 4x4 E-Rod is a factory-fresh restomod

1978 Chevy 4x4 E-Rod is a factory-fresh restomod originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-100 ‘Snakebit’ shown off by Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed at SEMA

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1956 Ford F-100 Snakebit

Ford, along with KISS bassist Gene Simmons and his wife, Shannon Tweed, used SEMA as a backdrop to pull the covers off Snakebit, a 1956 Ford F-100 pickup truck that's been updated with Shelby Mustang-derived styling bits and a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine. All 550 horsepower are funneled through a six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels.

Underneath the custom bodywork sits a chassis that's been stretched five inches and a bed widened and bedecked with billet machined pieces that are supposed to look like wood. The 20-inch rear and 18-inch front wheels ape those of past Shelby Mustang models. The interior is swathed in two-tone leather with a bench seat designed to look - try to act surprised - like a Shelby Mustang.

Like what you see? Bidding for the truck will take place in 2014 at an unspecified Barrett-Jackson event (we'd assume Scottsdale). Proceeds will be used to help build a children's hospital in Saskatoon, in the province of Saskatchewan, where Ms. Tweed grew up. See the high-res gallery above and the press release down below for more.

Continue reading Ford F-100 'Snakebit' shown off by Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed at SEMA

Ford F-100 'Snakebit' shown off by Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ADRNLN has Pantera bones with Nike skunkworks know-how [UPDATE]

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Nike's skunk works team and Ringbrothers collaborate on ADRNLN, a custom hot rod based on a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera.

ADRNLN, the car pictured in the rendering above, is based on a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera that had seen better days. But in its transformation to its soon-to-be-revealed second act, Ringbrothers, a custom car shop and parts maker, and Nike's innovation skunkworks team have given the De Tomaso a new lease on life. It's going to be a vibrant life, too, courtesy of a 600-horsepower Chevy LS3 V8 swap - Ford V8s powered stock Pantera models - but we're not going to complain about the car's Bowtie engine transplant. ADRNLN will debut at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas on November 5.

The project started when the car's previous owner passed away after battling cancer and his wife wanted to finish his Pantera project and make his dream a reality. After searching for the right shop for the build, she was referred to Ringbrothers, an outfit of SEMA regulars who in turn captured the attention of the Nike skunkworks team with the Pantera project.

So in addition to the new V8, transmission, exhaust system, Baer six-piston brakes and HRE wheels, Nike's team has designed custom fender flairs and rocker panels with brake-cooling ducts to complete the package.

Take a look at the press release below for full details on the project's origins - we'll be looking for this tasty Italian-American restomod in the Royal Purple booth when we cover SEMA early next month.

UPDATE: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated: "It's going to be a vibrant life, too - courtesy of a 600-horsepower Ford V8, which power stock Pantera models, but we're not going to complain about the car's Bowtie engine transplant." The text has since been corrected.

Continue reading ADRNLN has Pantera bones with Nike skunkworks know-how [UPDATE]

ADRNLN has Pantera bones with Nike skunkworks know-how [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doug Evans Voted SEMA Chair-elect; Two New Volunteers Join Board

Doug Evans of Source Interlink Media has been elected the Chairman-elect of SEMA and joins two newly elected Board members to help lead the association for the 2013–2015 term.

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SEMA Unifies Racing Industry Trade Shows

SEMA has announced it has finalized an agreement to purchase the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS)—the racing trade show that has been held annually in Indianapolis since 2009.

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Pure Vision Design imagines what could have been with Martini Racing 1966 Ford Mustang T-5R [w/video]

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Imagine, for a moment, this scene taking place way back in the 1960s:

"Ford has so much success with the Shelby racing program in the US, they had the new Indy motor that they wanted to get more development out of, they wanted to promote the Mustang more in Europe, and Martini Racing was just coming about. So the idea behind the car is that Ford contacted Martini and asked if they would do some testing on the Indy engine if they gave them some performance parts from Shelby."

It didn't actually happen, but it's a unique bit of historical coulda-woulda-shoulda-been described to us by Peter Harksell of Pure Vision Design. Its Martini Racing livery is enough for us to make us take notice, but the real story is the Indy Car engine underhood. It's an original Ford Indy engine from the 1960s, originally displacing 251 cubic inches and revving to a stratospheric 9,000 rpm.

The mill was rebuilt with the street in mind, now fuel-injected and measuring 300 cubic inches, and it boasts a wide and flat torque curve with over 300 pound-feet available from 3,000 to 7,000 rpm, maxing at 362 pound-feet. Horsepower comes to 426 at 6,900 rpm.

Just as importantly, the Mustang T-5R is built to handle with a modern suspension system from Detroit Speed & Engineering. Kept to just 2,300 pounds all in, this 'Stang is bound to be a serious performer. Check it out in our complete gallery above and read more about the car and its build process on Pure Vision Design's official website. Finally, be sure to watch the set of videos below.

Continue reading Pure Vision Design imagines what could have been with Martini Racing 1966 Ford Mustang T-5R [w/video]

Pure Vision Design imagines what could have been with Martini Racing 1966 Ford Mustang T-5R [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1940 Ford is a blank-slate for hot rod dreams

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1940 Ford Coupe Body Shell

The 1940 Ford Coupe body shell from Ford Restoration Parts presents a clean canvas for those people who've always wanted the perfect hot rod. The durable body is a far better starting place than similar kits made from fiberglass, and is much easier to source than an original 70-year-old car.

Ford is taking the first crack at putting one of these babies together, in the appropriate environs of the SEMA show. This factory version has received a heart transplant in the form of a V8 crate engine, which should give it plenty of performance to back up those classic good looks. Hot rod inspiration, thy name is Ford.

Get a good look at the resto-mod, as well as some more snaps of the body shell in the raw, in our galleries of live images from the show floor.

1940 Ford is a blank-slate for hot rod dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ICON Dodge D200 Reformer Series pickup is an unstoppable rebel force

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ICON Dodge D200 Reformer

Icon 4x4 has once again made a big splash at SEMA, this time with its heavily customized 1965 Dodge D200 Crew Cab pickup built as part of its Reformer Series - old machinery with modern underpinnings. We love it.

Powered by a 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine pumping out 975 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels, courtesy of some tweaking from Banks Performance, we have a feeling there's not much that can stand in this brute's way.

Having a crapton of ground clearance certainly doesn't hurt, either, thanks in no small part to a 4.5-inch Baja 1000 Chase lift kit, Fox 3.0 reservoir shocks and 37-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. The interior wasn't left out, with seats covered in free-range American Indian Reservation sourced bison leather, plus a JL Audio subwoofer and amp, 165 KRC series mid-range speakers and tweeters to pump, pump the jams.

Feel free to read more in the press release below, but not before checking out the high-res gallery of live images above.

Continue reading ICON Dodge D200 Reformer Series pickup is an unstoppable rebel force

ICON Dodge D200 Reformer Series pickup is an unstoppable rebel force originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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