Shark Attack! Corvette Style.

1961 Chevrolet Corvette Mako Shark

We love to find and feature awesome Corvettes on “One of A Kind”. You may have seen our 1957 Airbox Corvette.  Looks like Amelia Island was the place to be for those of us who ‘em…

The Corvettes of Amelia Island Concours 2012

One can find it challenging to define an automotive “golden age”.  For someone growing up in before WWII, it might have been the roaring twenties and the rise of custom bodied cars.  That sun settled with the depression and the start of WWII.  After which gave rise to the nimble sports car which in turn gave birth to the “golden age” of the American muscle car.

In the fifties, the big 3 were focused on profit and marketing strategies.  Big was in as suburbia ventured out on the exponentially increasing highway system.  Even as the bean counters sought sturdy profits in comfortable sedans, there was an undercurrent coming from the youngsters. (read more at Velocity Channel).

Four Pontiacs of the Carpocalypse.

Pontiac "One of A Kind Cars".

A good friend of “One of A Kind” (and master collector), Joe Bortz will soon be showcasing  a few more of his one of a kind cars.

“Catching an old concept car at a show or concours always provides a thrill, but to see four in one place is a rare opportunity indeed. Members of the Pontiac-Oakland Club International will have that opportunity later this year when concept car collector Joe Bortz brings four Pontiac concepts to the club’s annual convention in St. Charles, Illinois.” (read the rest at Hemming’s).

SEVEN THINGS I WOULD BE ARRESTED FOR IF I OWNED THE FERRARI 330 GTO.

This "One of A Kind" Ferrari 330 GTO won Best in Show Concours de Sport at Amelia Island.

SEVEN THINGS I WOULD BE ARRESTED FOR IF I OWNED THE FERRARI 330 GTO.

    1. Shattering speed-limit sensors everywhere I drove.
    2. Loitering. Because I would lean against that car anywhere and everywhere, just to look cool.
    3. Breaking the land speed record going to the grocery store.
    4. Practicing for the Daytona 500 – while driving the Daytona 500.
    5. Waiting for drawbridges to raise halfway, then launching myself over.
    6. Never leaving the car, even to bathe and shower.
    7. Screaming wildly every time I punched the accelerator.
One thing I wouldn’t be arrested for: winning the Amelia Island Concours de Sport. That honor has already gone to Jim Jaeger, who owns one of the first four-liter GTOs built by the Ferrari factory – and now, a prestigious show award.

“One of A Kind” Classic Car Conversations w/RM Restorations.

1939 Bugatti Type 57C

Here at Velocity we are incredibly lucky to work with experts from all over the automobile world – whether it’s racing, auctions, history or restorations we are fortunate to have a window into their worlds.

We are excited to bring you part one of a Q&A with Don McLellan from RM Restorations. When a classic car is entrusted to RM they are there for every step of a restoration. The team researches the history behind the car and can restore, repair or rebuild everything from the trim to the transmission of the special vehicles that cross their shop floor.

This week we asked Don about some classics that have stood out in his mind – you can read about the 1939 Bugatti Type 57 here and tune in to One of a Kind tonight at 9:30 pm E/P to see it happen.

There seem to be two types of classic car fans – those that want to enjoy the car that’s been restored and drive it and those who want museum pieces that remained garaged. Which seems to be the most common?

In the past, it was 50/50 for guys that wanted to drive and those that wanted to put their classic car in a polished collection. At this particular point in time, the trend seems to be moving towards cars for driving, even when it is an investment quality piece. Some of this shift towards driving comes from the show circuit, many of which have participant tours that are an important part of the judging. There is a lot involved in preparing for this component, we drive and thoroughly test the cars, including both open road driving as well as via a chassis dynomometer in our shop to test horsepower, vibrations, leaks, overheating and emissions in order to get the cars to turn-key condition.(Click here to keep reading @ Velocity)

In the Air Tonight. ’57 Airbox Corvette. Only on Velocity. Watch it now!

'57 Airbox Corvette

Fire Powered. Air Cooled.

How do you cool a high-performance engine?

This is one of the questions automotive engineers have struggled with since the first internal combustion engine. The sheer explosive propulsion of fuel-fired pistons could theoretically result in limitless power. But at some point, that power becomes destructive, warping the very pistons it was designed to move.

For years, engineers have pushed the envelope, trying to balance maximum power with optimal cooling. Most of these experiments, by design, result in cam seizures, blown gaskets, or thrown rods. They self-destruct.

But the rare ones live on. In 1957, GM engineers thought they had an answer to performance engines’ thorniest problem. And the answer was so simple, it made perfect, head-slapping sense.

Air.

The Airbox Corvette is one of the great experiments in engine cooling, and the crazy thing is that it almost worked. Find out how the engineers ingineously designed airflow, and what ultimately went wrong, tonight. Only on One of a Kind: Cars. Only on Velocity at 9:30.

ENZO FERRARI’S SECRET WEAPON. TONIGHT ON ONE OF A KIND. 9:30E/P. 8:30CST.

1967 Ferrari 412P

Enzo Ferrari’s Secret Weapon

In the 1960’s, Enzo Ferrari frantically defended his speed empire. After a failed takeover attempt, Henry Ford III made it his mission to dethrone Ferrari on the European auto circuit, and Ferrari’s venerable position was under attack.

When you’re under pressure, you’re capable of genius — and madness. Ferrari threw everything but the kitchen sink at Ford to keep his fleet of Ferraris one step ahead — on the track, and in the pole position for auto enthusiasts everywhere.

The Ferrari 412P is the kitchen sink.

With the body of a 330, the 412P is almost a stealth weapon. The main difference between the 330 and the 412 is a two-valve, twin overhead cam engine. With a slightly shortened wheelbase, the 412P was easier to handle, and the 420 horsepower rocketed its 1700 pounds around the European tracks.

When this secret weapon was launched, Ford had to answer. What happened next? Find out, only one One of a Kind: Cars. Only on Velocity at 9:30.

Born to be Wild. The incredible true story of the 1953 Buick Wildcat Concept I. Tune in Tonight.

1953 Buick Wildcat Concept I

Most “Dream Cars” were anything but.

With deadlines looming, and pressure building, the heat was on GM designers to get concept cars out the door. In order to wow the crowds at Motorama, the cars just had to look good. In most instances, they didn’t even have to run.

The 1953 Buick Wildcat was completely different. GM engineers took the time to outfit this classic from bumper to bumper, from the engine to the radio. They made sure the Buick Wildcat could have been driven off the showroom floor — unlike any other concept car made by GM.

Then this Wildcat helped kill the concept car altogether.

What made this car both the pinnacle of the Motorama era, and the beginning of the end? You’ll find out, if you watch One of a Kind: Cars. Only on Velocity. Only at 9:30 E/P. 8:30 CST. And don’t forget to check in with @VelocityTV1 or @OneofAKindTV at 5pm EST for details on tonight’s photo caption contest (photo will be released at 5).