A Scale Model of a Ferrari 312PB Built By Pierre Scerri

Back in 1978, a Frenchman named Pierre Scerri wanted a Ferrari. He was a racing fan and loved the look and sound of the Ferrari race cars he saw at the circuit. He knew he couldn’t afford one, so he decided to build one himself, a Ferrari 312PB… but one that would fit in his living room. So he took pictures of the 312 PB, the real one, and sketched out all details.

It took him 3 years to complete every schematic and drawing. Then it took him another 12 years and 20,000 hours after that to build it, in its entirety. By entirety, I mean, he built everything: the body, interior, seat belts, switches, spark plugs, engine, gearbox, electrical system, lights… everything is there, perfectly. And it works.
Check out the pictures and info after the jump:

It has exact scale operating Ferrari gauges which precisely indicate RPMs, oil pressure, water temperature and oil temperature. Scerri had to learn how to make glass so he could make the exact pattern lens for the headlights. He learned to make rubber so he could mold his own tires. He built a perfect 1/3 scale pressurized fuel injection system and the electrics and the hydraulically controlled brakes from the brake pedal, which have actual quick-change brake pads just like the real car.

The best part, though, is the sound. The flat 12 cylinder, fuel injected, dry sump engine starts up and runs, with the same beautiful Ferrari sound as the original. It apparently took Pierre six months of running the engine on his own dynamometer to tune the header pipes so they would give off the same sound value as he had recorded from the engine of the real car.

You can visit Pierre Scerri’s website here

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Video Leak: Knight Rider Series Premiere, A Knight In Shining Armor

The full episode of the Knight Rider series premiere has been posted on video-sharing website Hulu [which we came across via MuscleCarBlog], and we’ve embedded it below for your viewing pleasure. Although the new Shelby Mustang GT KITT is definitely hotter than ye olde Trans Am, KITT’s witty repartee loses its comedic effect when it’s filtered through his automated, Microsoft Windows-ish voice. When KITT dryly suggests to Michael that he could probably run faster if he didn’t spend so much time drinking and casually screwing, KITT winds up sounding more like a school guidance counselor desperately trying to be hip than he does a wise cracking sidekick.

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Car Trivia of the Day: The Importance of Your Windshield

Structural Integrity - The windshield is an important part of a vehicle’s energy management systems, which directs crash energy around the occupant compartment. If the windshield is improperly installed, the vehicle may crumple differently than the manufacturer intended, which may jeopardize occupants.

Rollover Strength - In a rollover accident, the windshield provides strength by helping to keep the roof from crushing in on any vehicle occupants. The windshield can supply anywhere from 30% to 50% of the vehicle’s rollover strength.

Airbag retention - On impact the windshield acts as a brace to support the passenger side airbag. If the windshield separates, the airbag does not have a constrained space, and it is not effective in protecting the occupant.

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You Gotta Fight For Your Right To…Repair?

There is a piece of legislation currently trying to push its way through Congress known as the Right to Repair Act. According to the explanation on the bill’s website, the Right to Repair Act “…would develop regulations requiring car companies to share the same information and tools that they make available to their franchised dealers with the independent service industry and car owners.”

To the everyday consumer, this sounds like a great idea. Finally, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to have your ten-year-old Benz serviced at the dealership just because your neighborhood mechanic is terrified to even attempt to fix the crankwalk. I myself understand this unique problem, as I own a 12-year-old Volvo. Although I perform most of the maintenance myself, when I’m in over my head I take it to a professional mechanic. Invariably, upon hearing the word “Volvo,” one of two expressions appears on the master-technician’s face, either:

1. Dollar signs as he begins tabulating the cost of each part he will be forced to order directly from the manufacturer since Volvo parts are not interchangeable

Or

2. Sheer, unadulterated, grown-man, terror, at the prospect of having to stumble through a mass of intricately individualized, sophisticated electrical and mechanical codes (true fact: the Mobile Audio guy at Best Buy literally took one look at the after-market sound system I wanted installed, put it down gently on the car seat, and slowly backed away).

Over the years, I’ve come to anticipate these reactions and have become fairly adept at handling the “virgin” mechanic. It requires much the same patience one would demonstrate when attempting to coax a skittish deer out of the forest: no sudden movements or loud noises. It also helps if you lure them slowly to the car while uttering non-threatening, soothing messages like, “It’s just routine maintenance…don’t be afraid little guy…” and “…why don’t you come over, nice and easy like, and we’ll have a look under the hood? I promise it won’t bite…”

Despite the fact that I can empathize with difficult-to-repair European-model car owners though, I don’t support the Right to Repair Act. It’s a frivolous piece of legislation that neglects to take into consideration the fact that cars are not a right.  There is no constitutional statute that guarantees the inalienable right of every American citizen to own a really sick ride. That’s a luxury, and as such, it is ludicrous to hold an automobile manufacturer responsible for anything other than what is explicitly stated in the service agreement. Car companies are being portrayed as these huge conglomerates whose sole intention is to make money, and who don’t give a damn about whether you the consumer can afford to keep up with their standards of living - and you know what? That’s a dead-on-balls accurate assessment. They don’t give a damn about affordability, because they don’t have to. The automobile industry is exactly that - an industry, it’s a business. It’s not a philanthropic endeavor, nor should it be. Lamborghini does not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the brightest engineers in the business so you can go and stick a Ford Taurus intake filter in your Diablo. If you’re looking for a vehicle that can be routinely serviced with Bondo and some strategically placed duct tape, then bypass that 3-series BMW and take a look at a Geo Prism. Or take the bus.

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Are you ready for an Engine that Runs on Air?

Introduced at Barcelona in 2003 by the French company Motor Development International, or MDI Enterprises as they are known now, the air powered engine appears closer than ever to coming to market. The question for many is will they find a market for such unique and questionable (to some) auto?
The idea seems simple but engineers have been working on designing an engine that runs on air since the 19th century. MDI Enterprises engine runs on compressed air, has a top speed of 70 mph and a range of 125 miles. When the tanks run dry (or preferably before that happens) all you do is plug in the electric air compressor that comes with the cars purchase and allow it to refill the tanks. A fill-up takes approximately 4 hours at a cost of $2.50.
To learn more about the Compressed Air Fueled Engine and the cars designed to be driven by them take a look at the videos below.

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BestBuy rewards some Halo 3 fan with a special Pontiac G6 GXP

As video game fans flocked to their local stores to score their copy of the new Halo 3 game for the XBOX 360 there will be one lucky(?) gamer about to win a new car. BestBuy has souped up a Pontiac G6 into a special Halo 3 GXP Street Edition coupe in tribute to one of the most financially successful games. To win the specially decal-ed G6 all you have to do is buy the Halo 3 video game and register as a contestant on this site on the release date of the game (September 25th).

From all the registrants there will be a drawing of 144 winners who will walk away with a substantial collection of Microsoft Points. From the 144 points winners one name will be drawn that will be the winner of the Halo 3 Pontiac G6 GXP Street Edition that is emblazoned with the Halo 3 graphics and interior package.

While the graphics may leave a lot to be desired for some there may be a few fans out there anxious to display their loyalty and devotion to the game. The interior received the Halo 3 treatment aswell with LCD screens in the headrests and an XBOX 360 mounted between the seats.

A suggestion for next time BestBuy wants to grab a cheap car and give it some Halo inspired alterations: go mini van. It may not be totally cool to cruise around in a mini van you can at least game in comfort and have installed larger LCD screens.

Source[IGN]

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BMW 335xi with all-wheel drive in 2008: Is Audi getting too close?

BMW has announced that they will be putting their xDrive all-wheel drive system in the 335i in 2008. The new 335xi is said to have better take-off at zero-to-sixty by .1 and .2 seconds depending on the transmission. But is this choice a response by BMW to the expressed demands of owners looking for the added stability or performance of an all-wheel drive 335 or are they merely responding to added market pressure for a strong Audi Quattro line-up?

BMW does not seem accustomed to competing against other brands as they have been the trend setters and market dominant luxury sport coupe for years. Audi on the other hand has had great rally and race success with their Quattro racers and have recently made strong improvements in their design and interior quality. So much so that many in the auto industry are sitting up to take notice; including BMW.

The BMW 335xi will house the same twin-turbo engine with its 300-hp straight-six as the 335i. The improved sensitivity to the potential loss of traction with the xDrive all-wheel drive system will help manage to keep the BMW snug on its line and just ahead of the Audi Quattro, or so they hope. Look for the BMW 335xi in the 1st quarter of 2008, but you may have a hard time finding one in your local dealers lot. The 335i took work to locate unless you ordered one from the dealership. The 335xi may just require the same.

Source[motor authority]

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Jeep JT Pickup Rumors Spoiled Again…

After numerous concepts and showings and a tease just yesterday of spy shots of a Jeep JT Pickup testing it turns out yet again… No Jeep Truck For You! According to a clarification from Off-Road Magazine the test mule of the Jeep JT are for a line of military Jeeps aimed toward Isreal and Egypt.

So if the contracts get done with Isreal or Egypt and Jeep actually builds their pickup it will be yet another vehicle that we can add to the list of autos not available in the U.S. No make matters worse it was reported that the JT Pickup is powered by a European prefered diesel engine. Now if Jeep can provide a diesel engine for the overseas version of a Jeep not to be sold here why can they not do the same for a Wrangler that is sold in North America?
(more…)

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The parking meter that sends out alerts

Using parking meters and pay as you go car parking lots, can be very stressful at times. You put the amount in that you think should be enough, and yet it never seems to be so, therefore you often find yourself having to rush back to the meter or parking lot in order to add a few more cents in order to prevent the inevitable parking ticket.

Never fear, there is a trail of a new type of parking meter being tried out in Vancouver, where technology has really taken over from the traffic cop or parking attendant, as this machine has a brain and a cell phone, what could possibly be worse than that? But in ways the meter is doing you a favor because it will alert you when your time is almost up, this will give you time to either get back to your car and leave or use your credit card to send an electronic payment.

Of course if you decide to ignore the alerts and take your chances on getting back, you can always pay the fine through the machine by using your credit card, all very civil and polite. What the hell has happened to the world is there nothing that us drivers can get away with at all?

Source [Auto Blog]

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